Technology employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs received millions of dollars in bonuses during 2007 and 2008 while hundreds of thousands of veterans’ unpaid disability claims continued to pile up, according to a report issued by the VA’s Office of the Inspector General.
The report, issued this month, cites the awards which totaled $24 million as “unusual and often absurd,” and “not fiscally responsible.”
In addition to bonuses that ranged from $58,000 to $73,000 for upper level employees of the VA, one new employee received an award of $4500 within three months of her hire date. The woman’s manager admitted she did not remember the recipient.
Nearly 4,700 bonuses were issued in 2007, and roughly 5,000 more bonuses were issued in 2008.
In response to the report, the VA issued a statement saying it will thoroughly investigate the situation, and adding that the department “does not condone misconduct by employees.” The statement also said the department will take “appropriate corrective actions” for anyone violating VA policy.
The backlog of veterans’ disability claims has been the center of a heated debate in Washington, where President Obama has called on Congress to reduce the number of claims which have been held up.
A report issued by the Government Accountability Office noted that 60% more claims were processed in the decade from 1999 to 2008 than it had in the previous decade. The number of pending claims has jumped by 65%, the report added.
Veterans are at special risk for developing mesothelioma, a rare cancer that attacks the membrane that surrounds internal organs. Veteran asbestos exposure reached its peak during World War II and in the following decade, as shipbuilding activities increased. Shipyards are a prime area for asbestos exposure. Unfortunately, mesothelioma symptoms can take years to become evident, and veteran mesothelioma claims have risen as WWII and Korean and Viet Nam veterans have grown older.
Mesothelioma symptoms are sometimes confused with symptoms of flu and other respiratory illness. Symptoms include persistent cough, chest pain, and shortness of breath.
Currently, there is no mesothelioma cure, and mesothelioma treatment is directed at easing symptoms and improving the quality of life for those affected by the fatal condition.
Today, veterans stationed overseas are at special risk for exposure to the fibers, which have been largely banned in the U.S. but continue to be sued regularly in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, as well as Asia and some other parts of the world. Soldiers can become exposed when buildings in these areas are demolished, as the tiny airborne particles of the mineral can be easily ingested or inhaled.
Researchers at medical centers across the country and around the world are focused on the effort to treat the disease and prevent it from occurring.
Dr. Hedy Lee Kindler is a world-renowned cancer expert and Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Chicago, specializing in the treatment of mesothelioma. Currently, she is engaged in an active investigation of drug therapies that target the unique underlying biology of mesothelioma. Dr. Kindler also serves as the University’s Director of the Mesothelioma Program, as well as chair of the mesothelioma subcommittee of the national cancer research group, Cancer and Leukemia Group B.
For up-to-date veteran health information, please visit the Mesothelioma.com Veterans Blog.
