VA sees 50% more claims since 2008

Veterans Disability Backlog Nears 900,000; New Allsup Report Examines Contributing Factors
BY BryanClix
Posted: Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Allsup provides 10 tips for veterans navigating disability compensation program

Belleville, Ill.—Nov. 14, 2012—Nearly 900,000 veterans with disabilities are awaiting an initial decision on whether they will receive financial support from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Disability Compensation Program. A report released today by Allsup, a nationwide provider of services for people with disabilities, examines factors contributing to the VA disability backlog and provides tips for veterans seeking service-connected disability benefits.

“As we commemorate veterans’ contributions, Allsup honors those who have served our country,” said Allsup founder and CEO Jim Allsup, an Air Force veteran. Allsup provides Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) representation and the Allsup Veterans Disability Appeal ServiceSM. “We owe all of our veterans, especially those who became disabled in defense of our nation, the very best care. The Veterans Benefits Administration is doing a tremendous job dealing with overwhelming demands on the program. It’s vital that we understand the causes of the increased strain on the program and equip veterans with the tools they need to get the help they deserve.”

The report, “Veterans Living with Disabilities: A Closer Look at Factors Affecting the Veterans Disability Compensation Program,” found that at the end of 2011, nearly 3.4 million veterans were receiving service-connected disability compensation from the VA. Since 2008, the VA has seen an increase of nearly 50 percent in disability claims, and the department processed more than 1 million disability claims in 2012.

The recent surge in applications has strained the VA and created long wait times for veterans, who face an average wait of 259 days for an initial decision on their claims. Recent reports from the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) show that nearly 900,000 claims are pending. Two-thirds of those have been pending more than 125 days, the VA’s target processing time. Denial of a claim is not unusual. Unfortunately, it can take as long as four to five years, or longer, for a resolution for the veteran.
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It took my husband's claim 6 years to be approved and that was in the 90's, so while these claims are heartbreaking for the veterans, it is not new that they suffer waiting for what they paid for the day they were sent into combat.

You can read what it was like for us by going to the link above for a copy of my book, FOR THE LOVE OF JACK, HIS WAR/MY BATTLE