Some say the claims backlog is the VA’s signature issue. The backlog has been a problem for years. Here, with the current story, are some stories from past years. I could go on, but you get the picture. I think as soon as we send troops to combat zones, we should start hiring VA raters so they can get up to speed when the claims start rolling in. Honestly, though, I only know what I read in the papers, and I am no expert.
Here’s the latest and a little history.
In 2012 we saw this alarming headline…
In 2013
At The American Legion’s Convention in Milwaukee in 2010, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Eric Shinseki put forth the bold statement that “This is the year we will break the back of the backlog” and set forth the goal that by 2015 there would be “no claim waiting more than 125 days and all claims would be adjudicated with 98 percent accuracy.” In the two years since that statement, the VA has not made improvements on the road towards that goal but has instead seen a growth in backlogged claims to the point where over double the number of claims waiting past their due date are now in the system.
In 2014 the Federal News Network new tools to battle the backlog…