Veteran Medical Benefits: Clear Out Backlogs

Veteran Medical Benefits: Clear Out Backlogs
The Ledger.com
Published: Friday, June 14, 2013

Too many veterans are forced, by paperwork backlogs, to wait a long time for their disability benefits. Solutions are needed, but it appears they, too, will take longer than anyone wished.

Washington has not ignored the delays — which stem from a number of causes — but it must keep applying pressure to simplify the system and whittle down the backlog. Progress so far is unsatisfactory.

Last week, the U.S. House approved legislation that includes more funding to help ease the backlogs, through such means as 94 additional claims processors and an ongoing transition to electronic records. The measure — a $73.6 billion spending bill for veteran projects and military construction — also would take some existing money and redirect it to help regional Department of Veterans Affairs centers with the worst backlogs.

Three U.S. representatives with Polk districts voted for the bill, HR 2216: Tom Rooney, R-Okeechobee, Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland, and Daniel Webster, R-Winter Garden. U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Orlando, voted against the bill.

Less than 40 percent of the backlogged claims are from first-time filers. The majority are "supplemental" claims, said VA Undersecretary Allison Hickey.

Demand for disability benefits is "at an all-time high," Hickey said. "We have added more than 940,000 veterans, almost a million veterans to the VA compensation rolls.
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