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-   -   FAA Looking at VA Records (Indictments!) (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/pilot-health/116448-faa-looking-va-records-indictments.html)

rickair7777 08-30-2018 04:35 PM

FAA Looking at VA Records (Indictments!)
 
I suspected this would happen eventually. Looks like it's now rather than later....

2 Bay Area pilots indicted on charges of lying on medical forms - Story | KTVU

If you have a "discrepancy" between your VA and FAA medical files, better get a lawyer now. If YOU clear it up before THEY catch you, it's probably just a paperwork drill.

WhisperJet 08-30-2018 06:03 PM

This sounds similar to the dragnet a few years ago that was also in CA. Think these guys would have learned from the others' mistakes. FAA can and will crosscheck medical applications with VA records, Social Security, and the NDR. Best to have all ducks in a row and be honest!

ZippyTWS 08-30-2018 07:24 PM

Having read the article, each of them was receiving disability payments from the VA for conditions they told the FAA they didn't have
(3xMental Disability, 1xChronic Tension Headaches) so I'm not sure getting your heart rate going that the FAA is cross checking all your VA records is warranted.

If your collecting disability for a disqualifying condition that you lied about then you should probably consider rectifying that in some way before they find out.

Chill out with the sensationalism.

Excargodog 08-30-2018 09:09 PM

This looks a whole lot like what the Feds are REALLY mad about is bogus VA claims, but the easiest thing to prosecute is falsifying the FAA form.

Disability fraud is rife in Workers Comp, Social Security Disability, and yes - regretfully even in the VA.

Money going to these programs is finite. Money going to people who don't actually warrant it is subtracted from that available to cover those who really do warrant it. When they went to MEDEXPRESS they made it simple to retrieve all this data. You had to assume they would eventually use it as a tool to detect fraud.

USMCFLYR 08-31-2018 03:01 AM


Originally Posted by Excargodog (Post 2665559)
This looks a whole lot like what the Feds are REALLY mad about is bogus VA claims, but the easiest thing to prosecute is falsifying the FAA form.

Disability fraud is rife in Workers Comp, Social Security Disability, and yes - regretfully even in the VA.

Money going to these programs is finite. Money going to people who don't actually warrant it is subtracted from that available to cover those who really do warrant it. When they went to MEDEXPRESS they made it simple to retrieve all this data. You had to assume they would eventually use it as a tool to detect fraud.

Not sure it is fraud if the VA gave these people a disability rating based off the VA exams.

The illegal thing is thing not reporting the medical condition to the FAA on a federal form.

sherpster 08-31-2018 04:05 AM

I have talked with retiring military folks who are stressing over VA disability and getting a FAA physical. The FAA will give you a Class 1 medical even if you have all kinds of crap wrong with you. Just report it and deal with it. If you havent reported it yet then contact your regional FAA flight medical office and tell them the TRUTH today and they will get you squared away. They are the medical side of the FAA, not the enforcement side. If it is true these 3 guys were major airline pilots then can you imagine what a dumb move this was for these guys to not report their conditions?????? I have no idea if they will go to prison or not but it would not surprise me if they do. They say the VA hands out disability like candy (true) but the FAA hands out Class 1's like candy also. They dont care about your knee, wrist, elbow, or whatever else you have wrong with you. If you are claiming some mental issue with the VA then maybe you shouldnt be flying until you get that squared away. JUST BE HONEST PEOPLE!

galaxy flyer 08-31-2018 05:56 AM


Originally Posted by Excargodog (Post 2665559)
This looks a whole lot like what the Feds are REALLY mad about is bogus VA claims, but the easiest thing to prosecute is falsifying the FAA form.

Disability fraud is rife in Workers Comp, Social Security Disability, and yes - regretfully even in the VA.

Money going to these programs is finite. Money going to people who don't actually warrant it is subtracted from that available to cover those who really do warrant it. When they went to MEDEXPRESS they made it simple to retrieve all this data. You had to assume they would eventually use it as a tool to detect fraud.

Why do you think the FAA cares about VA fraud? It’s the problem with pilots hiding material health problems such as depression or PTSD. The fraud issue is the FAA’s.

GF

Excargodog 08-31-2018 06:43 AM


Originally Posted by galaxy flyer (Post 2665688)
Why do you think the FAA cares about VA fraud? It’s the problem with pilots hiding material health problems such as depression or PTSD. The fraud issue is the FAA’s.

GF


Because it's the same federal government and money is fungible. It isn't the FAA that charges these people. The FAA actions are like an article 15 in the military. They propose an action, but if you don't comply they have to go to an actual court to get punishment levied.

These cases are done by federal attorneys. They go for the easy win. If you swear under oath that you are NOT getting disability and they have the receipts that you were, that's pretty open and shut. Proving to a jury that a vet was exaggerating or entirely faking a claim is a lot harder. Proving a lie is a lot easier than disproving a diagnosis.

Excargodog 08-31-2018 06:50 AM


Originally Posted by USMCFLYR (Post 2665611)
Not sure it is fraud if the VA gave these people a disability rating based off the VA exams.

I assure you it is:

https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/...ram/930597001/

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/22/one-...its-fraud.html

http://www.khq.com/story/10144047/id...its-fraud-case


Disability claims are based not merely on exams but on the history provided by the patient. Some disabilities, such as PTSD, are based entirely on history.



The illegal thing is thing not reporting the medical condition to the FAA on a federal form.
The proof of fraud is reporting something DIFFERENT on one sworn history than is reported on the other. The guy who reports a disabling back condition to the VA but reports no back problem to the FAA has committed fraud.

WhisperJet 08-31-2018 06:54 AM

Seems simple. If you are getting disability (or have any other issue), check yes and deal with the process. Then sleep easy knowing you're square.


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