Veteran Claims Files Stacked On File Cabinets

Inspector Finds Veteran Claims Files Stacked On File Cabinets In Winston-Salem
7:05 PM, Aug 15, 2012
Written by
Faith Abubey
Written by
Mark Geary

Winston-Salem, NC-- The Veteran's Affairs office in Winston-Salem is scrambling for space after an Inspector General's report found thousand of claims files stored improperly.

The recent report estimates about 37,000 claims folders stored on floors, on top of and filing cabinets. The report states that the problems have been piling up since 2005.

That's when the office took over processing some national veterans benefits claims. The office also caters to an additional 700,000 veterans in North Carolina alone.

Regional Director Cheryl Rawls says they simply ran out of space.

The Inspector's report says the "excessive number of claims folders" has caused concerns about unsafe workplace, "potential to compromise the integrity of the building" and "increased risk of loss or misfiling, as well as unnecessarily exposed to potential water and fire damage."
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