As a veteran, you’ve selflessly served and made sacrifices for your country. Now, you rightfully expect timely resolutions to your VA disability claims. Many veterans, however, find themselves asking, “Why is my VA disability taking so long?”
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Throughout the years, the VA backlog challenge has stood as a persistent concern.
The Department of Veterans Affairs anticipates that the claims backlog, identified as those claims older than 125 days, will grow "potentially up to 400,000" in the next year. This means veterans may have to wait months if not years for a decision on their claim.
The problem stems from the large influx of new claims related to the PACT Act: a new law that expands health care and benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances. This influx further compounds unto the the department's existing and ongoing switch from paper to electronic records.
The agency is therefore, maneuvering the best channels to process the increase in disability claims under the toxic exposure legislation passed last year, while seeking to avoid worker burnout.
Introduction to the PACT Act
The PACT Act is a significant piece of legislation for veterans affairs; it brought forward an overwhelming number of claims—approximately 700,000. This volume added a considerable pressure on the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA). Important to note is that the intent of the Act was to address and align certain areas of VA benefits; the immediate effect, though, was an influx that the VBA was not prepared for.
Despite the challenges, strides are being made to remediate. The VBA is undergoing a reconstruction of its corporate database. With this implementation, the initiative is poised to ensure more efficient data access while reducing wait times for veterans. Additionally, VBA employees who work directly with the system are encouraged to input their views that will foster the improvement of the systems.
The VBA presented a long-term modernization plan to Congress that speaks to a roadmap aimed at piloting automation technology to better manage the rising backlog. Furthermore, the increase resulting from the PACT Act has raised concerns about the VBA’s ability to manage both the existing backlog and the new claims. Although modernization efforts are present, the deployment needs to be expedited to offer significant relief.
What prompted the backlog?
Various reasons highlight historical inefficiencies such as the paper-based system used for processing, to more recent impacts such as the COVID-19 pandemic and challenges with the Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS).
Presenting a Strong Claim
With that in mind, to maximize the chance of a favorable outcome, it is crucial to produce a strong claim:
Thorough and Accurate Paperwork: Ensure that all your documentation, including medical evidence, is comprehensive and free of errors. A single oversight can delay your claim or result in an unfavorable decision.
Collaborate with Specialists: Working with us here at Veterans Claim Servants, we specialize in VA claims and can provide guidance on presenting your case most effectively.
Ready to Start?
If you are considering filing an initial claim or your claim was denied, you can contact us for an evaluation and we would be happy to assist you with the process.
At Veterans Claim Servants we are here to help break down the process from start to finish and support you with getting your claim! Click here to sign up today.
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