Stats On Pending Claims

[Berta]

"Vets group: VA still struggles with late claims

The new head of the nation's largest veterans group said the Veterans Affairs Department is trying to speed up the processing of claims, but progress is proving elusive so far.

Fang Wong, the retired Army chief warrant officer elected in August to head the 2.4 million-member American Legion, said he trusts that VA Secretary Eric Shinseki is "trying hard to get this under control."

Still, the number of pending benefits claims is bigger today than at the start of the year, as is the number of claims pending for more than 125 days.

On Jan. 1, VA had 764,476 pending claims, and 39 percent of those had been pending longer than VA's 125-day goal. The Sept. 26 workload report shows 849,709 pending claims, with 60 percent pending for 125 days or more.

"Improvement is possible," Wong said. "They are trying a lot of different things at VA. But I just don't know when we are going to see things get better."

http://www.federaltimes.com/article/20111002/PERSONNEL01/110020302/

If 39 % had been pending longer then the 125 day goal on Jan 1 that means a good portion of the 6o% on Sept 26th were probably denied right off the bat and might be part of the 60 % now pending on appeal.

But that assumes those denied claims have had their NODs filed already.

These are shocking stats. The BEST thing any vet can do is send them as much evidence as possible right from the git go and make sure they get a proof of mailing from the PO when they send it in.

[Pete53]

Berta:

You bring up a good point a bad decision made in less than 125 days usually is a denial.

Why not just do it right in the first place.,

[john999]

I have a feeling that sooner or later every OIF/OEF vet will file a claim. I mean there has been a war going on for ten years. This has got to produce a mountain of claims.

[JT24usn]

As crappy as it may sound, I think one way to speed things up is to get all paperwork up front and send it it all together. That way when you get your letter you can sen in you vcaa response stating you have no further information. That leaves only two options. Ready for decision or C&P. Either way, all evidence is there and done. It may cost you to get your records, but with a hopeful grant will pay for your costs (a stitch in time so to speak). Also sit down and think up front what do I want to claim? Don't file halfway through a claim, you WILL reset the clock. Plan ahead. It can and should be a quick process. Also bring concise will help. I wis to claim... Not a life story ( unless a stressor qurstionnaire). I am not trying to be short, but with a long letter I found they pick up things you did not mean to claim, but meant. It as a symptom of what was really meant to be claimed. Again, be short and concise. Jmho

[Pete53]

The better organized and the more information that proves it the better. The VA is notorious for not getting what it needs to make a good decision.

[JT24usn]

I agree with Pete, the better organized the quicker the process. All the ducks in a row.

[jbasser]

Ditto.