Veterans' Disability Benefits Challenges to Timely Processing Persist
Abstract
I am pleased to discuss the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)disability benefits program, which provides monetary support to veterans with disabling conditions that were incurred or aggravated during military service. In fiscal year 2013, VA estimates it will provide $59.6 billion in compensation benefits to 3.98 million veterans and their families.1 For years, the disability claims process has been the subject of concern and attention by VA, Congress, and Veterans Service Organizations (VSO),due in part to long waits for decisions and the large number of pending claims. For example, the average length of time to complete a claim increased from 161 days in fiscal year 2009 to 260 days in fiscal year2012.2 Moreover, VAs backlog of claims defined as claims awaiting a decision for over 125 days has more than tripled since September 2009.In August 2012, approximately two-thirds of the 568,043 compensation rating claims which include pension and disability rating claimswerebacklogged.3 In addition, timeliness of appeals processing at VA regional offices has also slowed by 56 percent over the last several years.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 13, 2013
- Accession Number
- AD1179445
Entities
People
- Daniel Bertoni
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office