Monday, April 7, 2014

Fw: MOPH Region VI Weekly Report 3/6-26/2014



---------- Forwarded Message ----------
From: Shirley Pratt <shirley-pratt@hotmail.com>
To: "richardandshirley@netzero.net" <richardandshirley@netzero.net>, Jim Richards <jrichards@purpleheart.org>
Subject: MOPH Region VI Weekly Report 3/6-26/2014
Date: Mon, 7 Apr 2014 06:46:53 -0700

Commander Small and Jim Richards:

Weekly reports generated by Region VI NSOs, 3/27-4/2/2014.

San Diego VARO:

Reviewed Office/Sundry Budget for Region VI, to insure monies available for last quarter of fiscal year 2014.
Continue helping new NSOs and AAs in both VARO San Diego, VARO Los Angeles, VAMC Sepulveda and Wadsworth locations with any matter they are having difficulties in.
Review end of pay period timecards; and, end of month VCMS reports and submitted to those who needed corrections made, for final approval which was completed and submitted to National.
Planning on trip to Phoenix office to interview potential new NSOs in the near future.
Continuing with follow-up on NODs and Appeals, as well as responding to phone calls, emails, claim review, etc.
Continue to review data in VCMS and checking Share/Vacols, Virtual VA, etc. for accuracy. Continue daily sign offs and checking both Concur and ADP entries.
Eddie Kimes, NSO - Las Vegas:
General office duties and veteran consultations.  Assisted veteran with overpayment documents and sent to PMC.
Checked VCMS, VBMS and SHARE for claim statuses and awards.
Returned  phone calls and made appointments.  Filed new service connected  claims and POA�s.  Perused veteran�s c-file and submitted form 646 to prepare for May BVA hearing.  Mailed VA information to veterans.
Traveled to Vet Center and consulted with veterans.
Joseph Phillips, NSO - VAMC Long Beach, CA:
I continue seeing Vets about a myriad of veteran�s services.   Inputted award letters into VCMS and updated diary entries.   I went through files and removed unnecessary documents.  Assisted homeless Vet with a HUD VASH application.   I requested and received a commissary letter for 100% SC Vet.   Vet received $47,034.72 Retro Pay.  A surviving spouse donated a wireless printer to MOPH, which I have in my office (holding in case anyone needs one or if mine stops).
Tony DeVore, NSO - VARO San Diego, CA:
Has been a very busy week with month end.   Also prepared for hearing scheduled 04/03/14.  Preparing for 3 upcoming hearings for next week.  
Continued to process Awards and Rating Decisions.   Worked on the VCMS Facility Management Excel Spreadsheet as I am the RT for Region VI, VCMS Committee, in which our region had over 1200 addresses to be verified.
Continue to work on the purged files to verify nothing pending and destruction and proper disposal.  Very busy week.
Arthur Harris, NSO - VARO Oakland, CA:
This week I have been reviewing files for appeals to include catching up on phone calls and appointments from when we were at training.  The updating of VCMS and the monthly reconciliation report was done to include, the inputting of claims.
Tennell Brady, NSO - VARO Los Angeles, CA:
This office conducted daily operational procedures. Continued repair and updating procedures on office files. A retro amount in excess of $70,000.00 received by veteran this week.
Johnnell Jackson, NSO - VARO Los Angeles, CA:
During the dates shown I�ve preformed general office duties, interacted with veteran and their claims, went out of the office to purchase office supplies, and continued NOS duties.
Daniel Soto, NSO - VAMC Sepulveda/Wadsworth:
This week I was working at the federal building due to the VA IT department accidently deleting my username and email account.  I was still able to assist veterans at the federal building.  I was granted access today and I am working with the IT department to retrieve my emails in my account.
Ron Quinata, NSO - Guam:
Assisted appointments, walk-ins, veterans/dependents.  Attended VSO Video Conf Meeting on 03/16/2014, prior
to Training.  Issues discussed were Claims, Appeals, SEP etc.  Continued administrative work in the office i.e., updating VCMS, setting up appointments, following up on letters received, filing letters received, telephone calls, email/telephone call responses.
Jay Parker, NSO - VARO Phoenix:
We were notified this week the monthly VA meeting had been postponed due to the Travel Board.

I have a meeting today with hospital management pertaining to the VHA directive on DBQ�s.  This should be interesting.  I have accepted a request from the VA hospital to attend the opening of the new southeast clinic on the twenty fourth of this month.

NVLSP is here this month as a guest of American Legion.  I was finally able to catch up with Ron yesterday and we spoke for a while.  It is really too bad someone can�t put pressure on VA central office to allow the RO to work non rating claims. At least those where a veteran is waiting for special adaptive housing because he or she is constantly falling at home.

I have been developing a relationship with the new workers at the Vet Center.

Decisions have been slow coming in partly because the VA is back to holding a certain amount of claims as ready to rate simply to feed to the media. Raters with nothing to do because they are not allowed to take those below a set number.

General office duties.
Cheryl Paden, NSO - VAMC Tucson:
I have been very busy getting my office caught up from being closed for training.  I returned all my emails and messages.   I have been doing files and general office duties.

I have met with a lot of Veterans that are coming to see me about FDC claims.  Filed new claims.

I have reviewed decision letters and letters from VA requesting more info from our Veterans.

I now have my card reader for the PIV ordered, as soon as I receive that I will be doing classes with the VA once again.
Raphael Paris, NSO - VARO Honolulu:
No report received. He attended MOPH Annual Training, his mother passed away and he has been on PTO.
Breana Floyd, NSO - VAMC Loma Linda:
This week I worked on getting caught up on things since being at training.  Because it was the end of the month, I worked on getting all claims entered and all claims and made sure mail was sent out.  I saw quite a few Vets submitting a new claims and a few new POA.
Michael Mullen, NSO - VAMC La Jolla:
No report received.
Erin Hamlin, NSO - Salt Lake City:
Comp time off 4/1/2014.  I reviewed BDD/PLCP Rating Decisions and no PLCP SOCs.  I forwarded 1 BDD/PLCP Submittals, 2 BDD/PLCP Notification Letters, and 5 BDD/PLCP Development Letters for other Service Offices.  I also continue my efforts to go through my office files and get them in order.