The Office of the Veterans Ombud has released a tidy infographic detailing the process of challenging a Veterans Affairs Canada decision made about individuals’ cases.
To help veterans fight back against a decision on their file that they don’t agree with, the Office of the Veterans Ombud (OVO) recently released an infographic in both official languages called What to do if You Disagree with VAC’s [Veterans Affairs Canada’s] Decision.
This infographic is an update to one published in 2018. VAC has introduced new benefits since then and the ombud’s office wanted this resource to continue to be relevant to veterans.
The 2018 infographic was created because the ombud’s office experienced an influx of calls from clients requesting information about the appeal process and looking for advice on what they should do if they disagree with a decision from VAC. In a 2017 poll of 1,000 individuals and 100 businesses, Infographic World, a New York marketing agency, released a study saying infographics are outpacing video, blogs, articles and podcasts and visual communication as by far the most common delivery method of advertising and marketing messages today. A full 76 per cent of respondents described infographics as an “essential tool.”
The ombud’s office is hoping that by providing information about the review processes, veterans will know what to expect. And they also want to provide advice and paths to take when considering whether to appeal.
There are two main review and appeal streams for VAC decisions: the Veterans Review and Appeal Board stream and the Internal Review and Appeal stream. The Veterans Review and Appeal Board has full and exclusive jurisdiction to hear, determine and deal with all applications for review and appeal that may be made to the board under the Pension Act, Veterans Well-being Act, War Veterans Allowance Act and other acts of Parliament.
The board also adjudicates duty-related pension applications for the RCMP.
There are 171 policy entries listed on VAC’s website. The entries can be long and full of legal jargon, so the ombud’s office recommends talking to the Bureau of Pensions Advocates, the OVO itself and the Royal Canadian Legion. All of those services have professionals who will provide free service in helping make the decision on whether to request a review.
Visitors to the OVO website meanwhile will gain firsthand insights on the activities of the veterans ombud and the OVO, including the publication of reports and outreach visits across the country, through social media on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. The OVO also communicates with the veterans community through the veterans ombud’s appearances before Parliamentary committees, media interviews and advertising. That said, the OVO plans more infographics in the future because they say that veterans find them useful.
How to request a review
The new OVO infographic begins with the clear statement in bold that “when you disagree with a VAC decision you have the right to request a review.”
It then gives five points to consider in numerical order:
- You have the right to get a decision in writing;
- Read your letter carefully;
- Get help early;
- Consider the following questions before deciding to ask for an interview;
- Make a decision on whether to request a review.
Each section contains bullet points reflecting their headline and describing a numerical order for clients to consider when choosing to request a review.