How Long Is The Backlog Of Va Claims?

[broncovet]

If each Veteran waiting on the VA to process his claim were to line up, in Washington DC. How long would the line be? And how long would the wait be?

Answer: Not counting the backlog is Education benefits claims (the NEW GI BILL), if the 1,000,000 "backlogged" Veterans lined up, fingertip to finger tip, (Assuming 6 feet tall Veterans), the line would reach more than 1,136 miles. In other words, the line of Veterans waiting for benefits would stretch from Washington DC to Kansas City. Since Mr. Shinseki took over, the backlog has grown by about 15%, or the line has grown about 170 miles longer in the past year.

The wait averages about 2 years. The VA says that it takes about 6 months, however, since far less than 50% of Veterans claims get initial approval, an appeal process is required. Right now, a BVA appeal takes about 2 years. So the Average wait is about 2 years.

[LarryJ]

How Long Is The Backlog Of Va Claims?, How long is the "line"?

I dunno, you dunno, WE dunno.

So let's go to the "experts", let's go ask the VA..........NAW, that wouldn't work, because they've lied about soooo long that, whatever figure they came up with....they'd believe!

Ya know, I know that there are concientous people like James that are doing the very best that they can. But, I also know that there are people that are incapable of doing their job. Unfortunately, if the VA is like every other LARGE organization that I have ever been in or had dealings with (for example, I used to have a running sub-contract for engineering services with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, so, I have some experience....) as I was sayin', unfortunately, as in most LARGE outfits, those that are capable, are kept at their posts, those that are not, get promoted. And, in the case of how many claims are actually in the system and how many are, say, more than two years old, nobody knows, simply because those that are UNaccountable are UNable to count (little play on words there, hope ya don't mind).

[sgmdae]

The back log is going to get larger, the IRAQ vets are going to come home. Many of them are career soldier, who will not ask for help while on Active Duty. We need to remember how many RVN vets just kept operating with PTSD, or other aliaments because of their career status. The current Veterans are better informed and the VA claims are growing everyday. Why do you think the initiative of No stressor verification came to life. Its to steamline the time for claims to be processes. If I was a Vet, I would worry about the life of the PTSD claim. More C&P for already awarded disabilities are coming.

[carlie]

The back log is going to get larger, the IRAQ vets are going to come home.

Why do you think the initiative of No stressor verification came to life.

Its to steamline the time for claims to be processes. If I was a Vet, I would worry about the life of the PTSD claim. More C&P for already awarded disabilities are coming.

sgmdae,

Iraq vets have been coming home for over five years already.

I believe the "initiative of No stressor verification" you mentioned

only pertains to cases in which PTSD was actually diagnosed and of record,

while on active duty,

and of course the "combat vet" rule that pertains to stressor ,

which was already in place many years ago prior to this.

Someone will correct me if I am wrong in the above part of this post.

sgmdae - regarding "no stressor verification",

are you referring to the PROPOSED rule change?

Example:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...isrc=newsletter

"The Veterans Affairs Department has proposed reducing the paperwork required for veterans to show their experience caused combat-related stress. Even just the fear of hostile action would be sufficient, as long as a VA psychologist or psychiatrist agreed.

The VA says the change would streamline claims and recognize the "inherently stressful nature" of war service. The agency is accepting comment until Oct. 23."

It is important to keep in mind that many vetarans will not have the advantage

of an actual PTSD diagnosis shown in their SMR's/STR's.

I feel positive that DOD will slap many of the service member's with

a PD diagnosis, which as far as I know can only be overcome

1)if there is medical evidence of the PD being comorbid with a brain injury

that was incurred on AD

or

2) a change in diagnosis.

Also, PTSD can be the result of many things that do not fit into the

VBA's definition of under combat conditions, or as a combat vet.

bronco,

Sorry the topic is getting a bit trampled on.

jmho,

carlie

Edited October 19, 2009 by carlie
added a link

[Pete53]

I wonder if the Veteran can demonstrate an incident of the stressor in his SMR's but misdiagnosed and corrected by IMO would that work?

[sgmdae]

Sorry for my incorrect post!

[Commander Bob]

Sorry for my incorrect post!

I don't know what post you're apologizing about, sqmde. I agree with most of your previous post on this thread. I agree with your RVN vets increase, as well as other points you made. Your observations will stretch Broncovet's backlog line farther on down the road.