VA backlog buries veterans’ claims

UPDATE
Veterans for Common Sense has published an article on a lot of questions veterans have.

Unknown Impacts of Government Shutdown of VA on Our Veterans
Written by VCS
Thursday, 07 April 2011 11:52
Tea Party Presses for Shutting Down Government - and Our VA

The Tea Party folks do not stand by our veterans. They have proven this whenever they are asked about the debt we owe our veterans. They say turn their care over to private companies and let them be used for profit. That is what it boils down to no matter what they actually admit to wanting to do. They take pride in the fact they want to privatize the VA, get rid of Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid. The fact the troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan right now, along with the forces serving with NATO addressing the Libya crisis may not end up getting their pay does not bother them at all. They want what they want and they don't care who has to suffer for it. What really gets me angry is that there are some really good people in the Tea Party and their care for our veterans along with the troops are deeper than words. So why don't they stand up to the hacks they elected and demand they stop their plans to hurt the veterans? I do not blame Democrats on this one for standing their ground. Someone has to fight for regular people and not just the rich. These same people also demanded the tax breaks for the rich.

When you read about the backlog of claims the VA already has, know this will make their lives even worse because as far behind the VA is on processing claims, they will end up with a bigger pile of claims and more veterans suffering waiting for the debt we owe them.

VA backlog buries veterans’ claims
By Gregg Zoroya - USA Today
Posted : Thursday Apr 7, 2011 6:23:51 EDT
WASHINGTON — The number of veterans’ disability claims taking more than four months to complete has doubled, prompting criticism from veterans and Congress that the Veterans Affairs Department failed to prepare for a rise in cases it knew was coming.

“Without question, I believe that the VA disability claims system is broken,” Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., chairwoman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, said Wednesday.

The number of claims that take more than 125 days to decide has gone from 200,000 a year ago to 450,000 today, according to administration budget documents. As a result, veterans must wait even longer to receive payments for disabilities.

VA says the delays are due in part to a generation of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with more complex claims, and a decision two years ago to expand compensation for Agent Orange-related illnesses. Claims also increase in a poor economy.

But veterans groups and Murray said VA was aware that claims would rise.

“The explosion in the claims backlog is another predictable, preventable insult to thousands of veterans of all generations,” said Paul Rieckhoff of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

It now takes VA six months on average to process each compensation demand for illnesses or injuries. And the delay will reach an eight-month average next year, according to documents.
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VA backlog buries veterans claims