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- Oct 23, 2006
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Subject: VA Watchdog dot Org - VA NEWS FLASH - 12-01-06 #1http://www.vawatchd og.org/nfDEC06/ nf120106- 1.htm
VETS' COMMISSION SURVEY: WHY ARE THEY ASKING ALL OF THESE
PERSONAL QUESTIONS? -- The Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission
survey is supposed to quiz vets about "VA views and experiences. "
However, it appears to be more of a probe for personal
information. VA Watchdog now advises all veterans NOT to co-operate with
this survey.
The Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission (VDBC) is conducting a
nationwide poll of disabled veterans and surviving spouses.
Background on the survey here...
http://www.vawatchd og.org/nfNOV06/ nf111806- 1.htm
Documents being sent to veterans here...
http://www.vawatchd og.org/nfNOV06/ nf112106- 3.htm
Initially, I felt that this survey would not delve into extremely personal
information. I was wrong!
I have received feedback from a regular VA Watchdog reader who took the
survey.
Now, I must advise all veterans NOT to take part in this survey.
There is no reason for the VDBC to be probing veterans for highly-personal
information.
It should be noted that the VDBC says the survey will take 30 minutes. The
reader who forwarded the survey information tells me it took over 80
minutes, the surveyor had a difficult time reading the questions and
entering the responses. This can only lead to errors in the information
gathered.
Again, do NOT take part in this survey. The VDBC should not be data-mining
veterans!
And, we have no verifiable guarantees about how this information might be
used in the future.
Also, this survey is being conducted by a third-party contractor, ORC Macro.
This company advertises itself with this statement: "We are recognized as
one of the top companies providing research to the Federal Government."
Information on ORC Macro here...
http://www.orcmacro .com/06_MobisBro chure.pdf
You will notice some of the services ORC Macro provides to the Federal
Government: Data Mining, Behavioral Interviewing, Cognitive Interviewing
Techniques, Disease Registries, Emotional Intelligence, Income Verification,
Knowledge Acquisition and Record Matching.
Not a company I'd be letting get into my personal and medical information!
Below are excerpts from the email I received from the veteran who took the
survey.
I, most certainly, would not answer these questions!
------------ ---
"The questions were tricky ones, they repeated the questions in a different
way to see if you were telling the truth."
"They kept asking me about my disabilities and work."
"They also asked me about my volunteer work."
"Can I work without the VA pension? was one question."
"If I did not have the VA would I look for work?"
"How badly am I hurting right now? Can I at least vacuum as a daily chore.
Can I take care of my yard? Can I do yard work?"
"Do I get along with my family? Do I get along with my spouse? No questions
about my relationship with my son."
"How injured was I?"
"They wanted to know what I can do as far as my injuries related to the
service. Asked about was there a difference between when I left for the
service and when I got home? How I was treated?"
"They asked about my hearing."
"They were interested in last week's activities. They asked if I have
hobbies but not what kind."
"They asked who told you you cannot work? I said doctors and they wanted to
know which doctors as far as VA and regular doctors."
"How do I feel about working? Would I ever want to work again? Could you
ever work again?"
"They did ask if I was getting enough compensation for my injuries."
"They asked me about when I have energy, what do I do? Also where do I
sleep? And where do I sleep the most?"
