Senator demands VA expedite disability claims


August 14, 2013 at 7:21p.m.

Senator demands VA expedite disability claims

YOUNGSTOWN

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Avon, said the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs must speed up disability claims processing and eliminate its backlog of nearly 490,000 claims.

“It’s made progress, but it’s still taking far too long,” the senator said of the VA during a Wednesday news conference at Oakhill Renaissance Place.

“Unlike almost any other federal agency, we increased the budget significantly for the Veterans Administration,” the senator added.

Brown, a senior member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, advocated for two bills he said would help alleviate the problem.

He introduced the Veterans Services Outreach Act, which would require the VA to notify veterans filing claims electronically that they can receive help and important information that could significantly reduce their waiting time.

Brown said he also supports the Claims Processing Improvement Act of 2013, which would require the VA to publicly report its projected monthly goals and actual attainment to enable Congress and the public to evaluate the VA’s progress toward eliminating the backlog.

That bill would also establish a task force to hire and train claims processors and develop strategies to eliminate the backlog.

Brown acknowledged that the VA faces several challenges in reducing the backlog:

More than 1 million new claims filed annually.

An increase in claims complexity.

An influx of veterans who have returned recently from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.

The VA’s recognition of the service connection for conditions related to Agent Orange exposure.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ media relations department did not respond to a request for comment on the senator’s statements.

Brown urged veterans whose claims have been delayed to call Laura Pechaitis, an aide in his Cleveland office, who serves as an advocate for military personnel and veterans, toll-free in Ohio at 1-888-896-OHIO.

Read more in Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com