Some PA Veterans Waiting Up to a Year for Disability Claims to Be Resolved
Senator Urges DOD to Better Share Information, VA to Implement Recommended Reforms in IG Report
Washington DC- After an Inspector General’s report highlighting the need to reform how veterans’ disability claims are processed in order to reduce backlogs U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) called on the VA to implement the reforms recommended in the IG report and urged the DOD to better share information to reduce the backlog.
“The fact that some veterans in Pennsylvania have waited a year or longer to get their disability claims is unacceptable,” Senator Casey said. “The Department of Defense and the VA can take steps to reduce this backlog and should act right away.”
Veterans across the country and in Pennsylvania have been forced to wait up to a year or more for their claims to be processed. In his letter to the VA, Senator Casey asked the agency to implement reforms recommended in a new report by the agency’s Inspector General that could speed up the processing of claims. Senator Casey specifically cited the backlog at the Philadelphia VA where the IG report says veterans are having a particularly challenging time receiving their benefits. Casey also urged the DOD to speed up the process of transferring claims to electronic form.
The full text of Senator Casey’s letters are below:
April 11, 2013
The Honorable Charles T. Hagel
U.S. Department of Defense
Dear Secretary Hagel:
I am writing to express my concern regarding the challenges the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is having in providing timely claims decisions for our Nation’s veterans. As I meet with veterans and other constituents from across Pennsylvania, they continually talk to me about the frustration and difficulties they encounter due to the backlog of claims decisions. I am particularly concerned about the long wait time for first time disability claims throughout Pennsylvania with some wait times of 510 days in Philadelphia and 625 days in Pittsburgh.
While I understand that the VA is implementing a plan to transform the compensation claims system, constituents continue to reach out to me about ways we can decrease the claims backlog. The Department of Defense (DoD) can play an important role in assisting the VA in this effort. For example, we need to ensure that the DoD and the VA work in a collaborative manner to ensure a seamless transition of records. The DoD also must work in collaboration with the VA to automatically enroll all troops into the VA health care system when they leave active duty.
I am encouraged that the DoD and VA have been working together to develop processes to share the information and evidence that is necessary to process claims in a timely manner. However, I am concerned that the DoD is still transferring complete packages of records to the VA in a paper format. I am requesting that the DoD transition to a system where records are electronically transferred to the VA as soon as possible. Furthermore, the DoD and VA must create a common information technology solution that allows for a seamless electronic transfer of the information needed to speed up benefit decisions.
Thank you for your consideration of this important matter. I look forward to working with you on addressing the claims backlog within the VA to ensure that all of Pennsylvania’s servicemembers and veterans who have served our country receive the benefits they earned and so rightly deserve.
Sincerely,
Robert P. Casey, Jr.
United States Senator
April 11, 2013
The Honorable Eric K. Shinseki
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Dear Secretary Shinseki:
I am writing to express my concern regarding the challenges the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is having in providing timely claims decisions for our Nation’s veterans. As I meet with veterans and other constituents from across Pennsylvania, they continually talk to me about the frustration and difficulties they encounter due to the backlog of claims decisions. I am particularly concerned about the long wait time for first time disability claims throughout Pennsylvania with some wait times of 510 days in Philadelphia and 625 days in Pittsburgh.
While I understand that the VA is implementing a plan to transform the compensation claims system, constituents continue to reach out to me about ways we can decrease the claims backlog. For example, we need to ensure that the VA works with the Department of Defense (DoD) in a collaborative manner to ensure a seamless transition of records. The VA also must work in collaboration with the DoD to automatically enroll all troops into the VA health care system when they leave active duty.
I am encouraged that the VA and DoD have been working together to develop processes to share the information and evidence that is necessary to process claims in a timely manner. However, I am concerned that the DoD is still transferring complete packages of records to the VA in a paper format. I am also asking Secretary Hagel to work with you on transitioning to a system where records are electronically transferred to the VA as soon as possible. Furthermore, the VA and DoD must create a common information technology solution that allows for a seamless electronic transfer of the information needed to speed up benefit decisions.
I also want to express my serious concern with the information brought forth in the VA Office of Inspector General, Office of Audits and Evaluations report that was released on April 9, 2013. The report shines a light on the severe problems the Philadelphia VA Regional Office (VARO) has in processing disability claims. These issues are only adding to the backlog and wait times in this region. I am particularly concerned with the high percentages of claims that were found to be “inaccurate because of lack of effective management and oversight.” I urge the VA to immediately work to implement the recommendations made within the report.
Thank you for your consideration of these important matters. I look forward to working with you on addressing the claims backlog within the VA to ensure that all of Pennsylvania’s servicemembers and veterans who have served our country receive the benefits they earned and so rightly deserve.
Sincerely,
Robert P. Casey, Jr.
United States Senator
