Veterans Wait 4 Years for VA Claim Appeal

Alabama State Veterans Director Says Veterans Wait 4 Years for VA Claim Appeal
Jane McCardle


Wiregrass Aviator

Apr 24, 2008

April 22, 2008 - Enterprise, AL -- Area veterans took advantage of an opportunity to ask questions about the benefits claims process from a state Veterans Affairs officer during a recent meeting.

Richardo (Rick) F. Randle, director of Alabama Department of Veteran Affairs, was the guest speaker at the April 19 meeting of the Lower Alabama Veterans Alliance Saturday at Ryan’s in Enterprise.

Randle told the filled-to- capacity crowd of LAVA members and guests that staffing is a critical issue with the department, and until more resources become available, staffing will remain a problem.

“We are doing the best we can with the resources available to us,” said Randle.

“Since 2006, the number of claims has grown 15 percent. The amount of time it takes to make decisions on disability claims is two to three year. On an average, it takes four years to get an appeals decision.”
go here for more
http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/ArticleID/9914

In other words, up to 4 years with no income for wounded veterans who cannot work,,,,,up to 4 years of being told they are not worth having their wounds taken care of no matter what happened to them serving this country!