{"id":40841,"date":"2025-01-07T21:40:57","date_gmt":"2025-01-07T21:40:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sasquatchnewsonline.com\/?p=40841"},"modified":"2025-01-07T21:40:57","modified_gmt":"2025-01-07T21:40:57","slug":"whistleblower-the-clock-is-ticking-for-the-department-of-veterans-affairs-to-rein-in-burgeoning-liabilities-part-two","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sasquatchnewsonline.com\/?p=40841","title":{"rendered":"Whistleblower: The Clock is Ticking for the Department of Veterans Affairs to Rein in Burgeoning Liabilities, Part Two"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Image: Wikimedia Commons and Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In part one of a two-part series<\/a>, federal whistleblower and combat veteran Sonny Fleeman revealed the potential collapse of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).<\/p>\n

While the VA continues to grow at \u201can unsustainable rate,\u201d Fleeman admitted that some people are inclined to blame veterans for abusing the system.<\/p>\n

Although he does agree that a significant number of veterans abuse the system, he argued that \u201cthe system itself creates structural incentives that drive these outcomes.\u201d<\/p>\n

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And through this process, he said, \u201cmost veterans are simply navigating a system that encourages claims as part of its design.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fleeman explained that the VA operates under the \u201cas least likely as not\u201d standard, a key part of its non-adversarial system designed to give veterans the benefit of the doubt.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile this approach is rooted in fairness,\u201d he said, \u201cit\u2019s important to recognize that the system\u2019s structure inherently invites overuse\u2014not because veterans are intentionally abusing it, but because of how the system incentivizes growth.\u201d<\/p>\n

He disclosed that \u201cveterans service organizations, contractors, and even the VA itself benefit from the increase in service-connected claims, as their funding, roles, and influence expand with each additional claim.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to him, \u201cThis creates a self-perpetuating cycle where the system becomes less about need and more about sustaining itself\u2014and this is not the fault of veterans.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe dynamic doesn\u2019t just affect individual veterans\u2014it shapes the mindset within the broader veteran community, undermining the values of service and integrity that the military stands for,\u201d said Fleeman.<\/p>\n

\u201cUltimately, it exploits the very people we are meant to serve\u2014the taxpayers\u2014who fund this system with the expectation that it supports those in genuine need.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thus, he said, \u201cthe focus should be on examining the structural incentives and ensuring the system remains sustainable and focused on its mission.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c[In part one<\/a>], the examples of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or military sexual trauma (MST) are just a few of many examples that highlight how systemic inefficiencies are driving unsustainable growth,\u201d Fleeman shared.<\/p>\n

\u201cA one trillion-dollar liability for a single diagnostic code like PTSD underscores the urgent need for reform.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPTSD is just one example of how these liabilities are spiraling out of control, [and while] it\u2019s a vivid illustration, [it is] hardly the only condition racking up astronomical expenses,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Despite knowing how these expenditures could soon reach an unsustainable point, he is disappointed by government officials who appear to have little inclination to fix the underlying issues.<\/p>\n

Fleeman fears that there is no real incentive for change. What\u2019s more, he said, \u201cReforming the system would require tough decisions\u2014ones that might be spun as \u2018anti-veteran.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

And according to him, \u201cNo politician wants to risk that kind of backlash, so the cycle goes on, with each new claim adding to an already staggering total.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the end,\u201d he lamented, \u201cit\u2019s taxpayers who are forced to shoulder the endless costs, and veterans who risk being left high and dry if the rug ever gets pulled out from under them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAddressing these issues requires public engagement and innovative solutions,\u201d Fleeman shared, proposing a severance-based system as a solution.<\/p>\n

He said, \u201cA severance-based compensation system would replace lifetime monthly benefits with a one-time lump-sum payment.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to him, this approach would provide the following:<\/p>\n