Va backlog---recommendations for Veterans

The VA backlog—recommendations for Veterans

Backlog history

     In June of 2012, the number of pending claims was at 878,620 with 577,562 older than 125 days.  In 2009, a claim was considered backlogged after 180 days. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Eric K. Shinseki believed that was too long and shortened the definition of a backlog to claims more than 125 days. Instantly, the backlog grew by nearly 70,000 claims.

     The VA has been improving the standards for disabilities. The VA established the presumptions for Agent Orange and PTSD according to a former director of communications at the VA.  With this change, Veterans who had been exposed to Agent Orange and suffered from Parkinson’s disease, ischemic heart disease or certain forms of leukemia were entitled to disability status.  Another change, was that Veterans of all wars no longer had to prove their PTSD was connected to a particular combat incident. With these changes, about another 250,000 Vietnam Veterans were added to the claims. By October 2012, the pending claims and backlog had doubled.  Other elements that have added to the backlog included the difficult economy that caused financial hardships for the Veterans, aging Veteran population, the number of claims from 2 consecutive wars, and that the claims are now more complex.

     An employee at the Veterans Benefits Administration says that on average, today’s disabled Veterans has 8-10 disabilities, double the Vietnam Veterans.  From June1 – September 7, 2013, the backlog was decreased from 523,356 to 473,373-average 6000 claims a week.  Since June, 97% of claims older than 2 years have been completed. Between 65-70% of claims had benefits assigned. Employee overtime, eBenefits program have helped to streamline the program. Service organization have also worked together to support the VA. It seems that the overwhelming time spent on a claim is spent waiting for other organizations to respond.

 

   The VA encourages Veterans to get help from Service Organizations

     Veterans Service Organizations, help thousands of Veterans each year with their compensation claims, to identify up front all evidence necessary to support a Veteran’s claim. Veterans then certify that they have no additional evidence to submit, and VA can process the claim in half the time it takes for a traditionally filed claim. The VA strongly encourages veterans to work with veterans service organizations to file fully developed claims and providing the VA the information it needs up front. At the same time, it helps reduce the inventory of pending claims by speeding the process.

 

     FDC (Fully developed claim)

 The fastest way to make a claim is by filing an FDC (Fully Developed Claim)    states Garry Augustine, the executive director of the DAV.  He stated that filing an FDC with all necessary evidence is key for the VA to rate the claim.

Retroactive benefits

"Veterans filing an original fully developed claim (FDC) for service-connected disability compensation may be entitled to up to one year of retroactive benefits. The retroactive benefits, which are in effect through Aug. 5, 2015, are designed to help reduce the VA claims backlog. Only veterans who are submitting their first compensation claim as an FDC are potentially eligible for retroactive disability benefits." Claims can only be considered "fully developed," according to information from the VA, "when Veterans submit all available supporting evidence, like private treatment records and notice of federal treatment records, to VA at the time they first file a formal claim and certify they have no more evidence to submit."

VA shrinking backlog

     The American Legion National Commander James E. Koutz stated then that he believed the collaborative effort would allow the process for claims to speed up. The Fully Developed Claims (FDC) program is described as being an optional new initiative that offers Servicemembers, Veterans, and survivors faster decisions from VA on compensation, pension, and survivor benefit claims."

 

Information obtained from USA today-Veterans issue, Vantage Point, and Examiner.com