When you get involved with the VA the very first thing they do is to issue you a VA claim number. I've never used that number once in all the years that I've dealt with them. The only people that ask me that number is the DAV when I have to talk to them about something.
One of the first things that I worked on years ago when I was in IT at UPenn was to change the SS numbers for the Alumni. Each record in a database is identified by what's called a 'unique identifier'. Some alpha/numeric string that is only for a particular alumni or a particular record. The reason is simple, use that number and you can steal someones identity. They had millions of records in that database.
So, jump to the VA, similarly huge system database. They have the unique identifier, your claim number but do they use it, no. How many numb nuts took home their lap tops from the VA with vet's personal info on them and then lost them. But still they use your SS number. They just recently changed the login system when you go to the hospital or vet center with a card scanner. The previous system worked fine but they had to spend that million+ on that.
So much of our info and stuff about us is out there on the internet, it's scarey. Anyone with a little and I mean very little knowledge of pc's and the internet could really mess you up if they wanted to. It's going to be tougher and tougher to maintain your own security as time goes on. And of course the VA, ain't helpin'.
