Backlog Buries Veterans’ Claims. Usa Today

[allan]

Backlog buries veterans’ claims. USA Today

http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2011-04-07-1Abacklog07_ST_N.htm

9. Backlog buries veterans’ claims. USA Today The number of veterans’ disability claims taking more than four months to complete has doubled, prompting criticism from veterans and Congress that the Department of Veterans Affairs failed to prepare for a rise …

SOURCE: http://www.veteranstoday.com/2011/04/08/top-10-veterans-stories-in-today%e2%80%99s-news-167/

[Chuck75]

Nothing has changed in my opinion.

Before the VA admitted to a claims backlog, VSO's were saying that the only way to get a claim through the VA system in a reasonable time frame (less than a year) was to make a simple initial claim that was undeniable.

Other claims (multi-issue, etc.) were taking years to resolve.

In quite a few cases, exams were often scheduled more than a year after the claim was made, and were not even required due to the evidence of record.

To me, the VA's excuses don't deserve any belief or consideration. The only solutions that I can see is to penalize the government/VA for delays.

Another problem begging for a solution is simply that it's easier and faster for an RO to deny a claim than it is to grant a claim. I believe the denial process should be at least as complex as the approval process.

Further, less or no "credit" should be given for a denial, and negative credit should be applied to a denial or "low ball" rating that is reversed as a result of the appeals process.

"Pilot programs" may provide increased output of claims, but the primary purpose is to investigate revised claims processing.

Unfortunately, such programs often actually deal with claims that had the potential to be quickly resolved without the "pilot" program, and ignore those that have spent years in the system without resolution.