A sobering statistic: there is currently a nationwide backlog of nearly 900,000 VA claims with 65% of these claims left pending for more than 125 days. This is very bad news for veterans – worse is the fact that the current error rate in VA determinations is 16%.
Why so large a backlog? Experts estimate that the number of VA claims has increased by 48% since 2008. In fact, the number of backlog claims will most likely exceed 1.2 million by the end of 2012. This growth could be due to a number of factors, not least of which includes VA short-staffing and poor training of VA benefit policy decision makers.
The Silver Lining: VA Claims Will Be Quicker, More Accurate
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News of this scale has put pressure on the VA to streamline the claims process and ensure better accuracy in decision making. Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki promised that by 2015, the VA will process all claims in less than 125 days and with a 98% accuracy rate. This is a bold promise – but one that can be successfully achieved both by requiring better training for VA employees and streamlining the VA claims processing system.
A paperless Veterans Benefit Management System (VBMS) is scheduled to roll out by September of this year. This is a very good thing – a digitized system will make processing claims faster and more accurate. Experienced staff members will still handle the most complex cases, but the more routine VA claims will speed through the system, ensuring that deserving veterans don’t have to wait long to receive their benefits.
The news is also potentially good for those who wish to hire VA disability attorneys. Some have argued that counsel like lawyers and representatives of veterans’ service organizations should be allowed access to the VBMS in order to better serve their clients. The VA will be taking this argument into consideration.
If you’re a veteran whose case is one of the 900,000 currently stuck in the backlog, take heart. Though waiting for a benefits decision is difficult, the VA is aware of the problem and is taking steps to streamline the VA claims process by the end of this year. For more information call Texas Disability attorney Marc Whitehead at 800-562-9830 or visit disabilitydenials.com
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