Hundreds of thousands of veterans are returning from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan only to face another battle here at home. Some are waiting years to get their disability benefits. The Department of Veterans Affairs has promised to fix the problem, but has only made a small dent in the backlog. This backlog isn’t isolated to only Iraq and Afghanistan veterans but is also a nightmare for veterans from earlier wars and conflicts, including Vietnam and Korea.
Veterans are often faced with the stark reality of going to the closest regional office, filling out paperwork and then waiting for years to get the proper treatment they are entitled to. Often times, the veterans turn to the only sources they know about, service organizations like the Disabled American Veterans (DAV). While there is a place for service organizations, such organizations are not legally trained to handle cases like legal cases. The reason is obvious, service organizations don’t care if they win or not, they just need to handle the case because their funding is based on how many veterans they service, regardless of positive outcomes.
As of July 6, 2013, 501,895 claims have been pending more than 125 days. The average wait is nine months, but too many wait years.
The VA has completed more than a million claims a year in each of the past three years as claims have surged. Each claim typically contains an average of 8 to 10 medical conditions.
The VA acknowledges too many veterans are waiting too long. The backlog accounts for 67 percent of disability compensation claims.
The VA now has a computerized veterans management system in all 56 regional offices. Its plan is to eliminate the backlog by 2015 with 98 percent accuracy using a more streamlined process, retraining workers and converting to electronic medical records. So far, progress has been slow.
Compared to the same time last year, claims more than 125 days old only dropped from 571,682 to 501,895 claims. Meanwhile, vets continue languishing in limbo, many unable to work and with no income.
The VA already has 250,923 appeals pending. In some cases, veterans die waiting.
The VA attributes the backlog to a combination of factors: the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, a larger number of medical conditions per claim today and expanded benefits for Agent Orange, PTSD and Gulf War illness. Despite the reasons, all too many veterans feel they have been forgotten.
Too often veterans are forced to fight their own government for their benefits longer than they had to fight the enemy overseas. A National Tragedy for sure! For more information check out www.lawyershelpingwarriors.com.
Until Next Time,
David A. Standridge
