Veterans Affairs Could See Backlog of Disability Claims Exceed One Million by 2013
Jun 29, 2012
Northville, MI (Law Firm Newswire) June 28, 2012 – As more service personnel are returning home, Veteran’s Affairs is seeing a surge in disability claims.
Veterans with disability claims are experiencing delays due to a growing backlog at Veteran’s Affairs. This year, the VA reported that they had a backlog of 897,566 disability claims. Nearly 65% of those claims have been pending for over four months.
Over the last four years, the VA has been plagued by a 48% increase in disability claims. The backlog is expected to exceed one million before the end of 2012. These claims are more than filling out forms; they represent veterans that are waiting out these excessive delays to get their claims processed.
“For those seeking justice through the Veterans Affairs Department, patience might need to be a bit more than just a virtue,” said veterans’ disability lawyer, James Fausone of Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC.
Aside from the growing number of disability claims, the VA is also dealing with a 16% error rate. Veterans Affairs Secretary, Eric Shinseki explained to the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee that the VA would process all claims in less than 125 days by 2015. He also said it would be done with 98% accuracy.
While the VA aims to make their process more efficient over the next two years, they are currently bracing for an estimated 50,000 new claims to filled by injured veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan in 2013.
To make the process more efficient, the VA is adopting a digital system to replace the current paper-heavy system, which is proving to be incapable of dealing with the volume of claims being filed. Unfortunately, once the paperless claims system is in place, Veteran’s Affairs will still have to work through their backlog of “legacy claims”.
“With the delays we are seeing, it is now more important than ever to work with an experienced veterans’ attorney,” said Fausone. “If an error is made on a disability claim, it could lead to greater delays due to the VA’s backlog.”
James G. Fausone is a Veterans disability attorney and Veterans attorney with Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC. To learn more or to contact a Veterans disability attorney or Veterans attorney call 1.800.693.4800 or visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com.
Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC
41700 West Six Mile Road, Suite 101
Northville, MI 48168
Toll Free Phone: 800.693.4800
