VA deleted nearly half a million Ohio veterans' home loan records, oops!

Almost half-million VA loan, grant files mistakenly deleted
Federal Times
By NICOLE BLAKE JOHNSON and ANDY MEDICI
Jun. 6, 2013

Roughly 464,000 electronic files, including active loan files, were mistakenly deleted from a Veterans Affairs Department computer system last month, Federal Times has learned.

A VA database administrator mistakenly deleted the materials, which had been uploaded to the VA’s home loan programs online application since mid-March, according to VA spokeswoman Jo Schuda.

The incident happened May 24 at the Cleveland VA Regional Office, which according to the office’s website serves 1.1 million Ohio veterans and their dependents. The online application is used by VA staff and the department’s loan partners, including lenders and appraisers.

Among the hundreds of thousands of deleted files were active loan files, appraisal documents and grant documents for veterans and service members who qualify for the Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant, Schuda said. This program helps disabled vets and service members obtain homes that are specially equipped or renovations that accommodate their disabilities, according to VA’s website.

Schuda could not say how many veterans and service members are affected, where they live, or whether they have or will be contacted. It also isn’t clear to what extent the incident will add delays to VA’s grants and loan process.
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