Florida State legislators push for better veterans services

State legislators push for better veterans services
By Jeremy Wallace
Herald-Tribune
Sunday, May 12, 2013

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has added more workers, enjoys record funding and is installing better technology to address a backlog of unprocessed benefits claims for former soldiers.

Yet the backlog in processing medical and pension claims is not getting better, according to two key congressman from Florida who are vowing to put more public pressure on the VA.

"The situation is worse today than it ever has been before," said U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, a Pensacola-area Republican who is chairman of the House Veterans Committee.

Last year more than 800,000 claims were estimated to be in the backlog. That number has grown to almost 900,000, according to the most recent estimates. More Vietnam era soldiers seeking claims related to post traumatic stress and Agent Orange exposure, plus the returning soldiers from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have added to the list.

How many are on the waiting list from Sarasota and Manatee counties is uncertain, but VA records show the two counties have about 76,000 military veterans.
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