How to reduce the VA claim backlog?

SGT Ben Keen — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 13:06:59 -0500

For those Veterans in the audience, if you never checked out the Monday Morning Workload Report, check out the link below.  These reports can be pretty interesting to look through.<div><br></div><div>For those that haven't really been following this, a claim that has waited 125 or more days falls into the backlog.  This backlog continues to grow as more and more Veterans are putting in their claim.  One thing I would like to point that out is that Secondary/Supplemental claims make up 68% of the current back log.  36% of the total back log are claims filed by those that served in Vietnam while 23% are from those that served in Iraq and/or Afghanistan.</div><div><br></div><div>I'm sure each of us can share stories for days on how long we been waiting for our claims to go through.  Some were lucky and had it filed and completed right away while others have been waiting what I'm sure seems like an endless amount of time to have their claim processed.  </div><div><br></div><div>What I'm curious to see is what ideas do Veterans have to help reduce the backlog.  Is it as simple as hiring more people in the VA to process these claims?  Do we need to invest more money into the system so that our records can be accessible from anywhere?  Should the DoD and the VA work together to find a way to ensure transitioning service members have things completed prior to signing their DD214? </div><div class="pta-link-card"><div class="pta-link-card-picture"><img src="http://www.vba.va.gov/va_files/2012/images/header-logo.png"></div><div class="pta-link-card-content"><div class="pta-link-card-title"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.vba.va.gov/REPORTS/mmwr/">2013 Monday Morning Workload Reports - Veterans Benefits Administration Reports</a></div><div class="pta-link-card-description">Calendar Year 2013, Veterans Benefits Administration, Monday Morning Workload Reports</div></div><div style="clear:both"></div><div class="pta-box-hide"><i class="icon-remove"></i></div></div>

Response by SGT Jerokiah Darr made Jan 6 at 2014 1:12 PM

SGT Jerokiah Darr — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 13:12:52 -0500

Obviously the first thing to do would be to prioritize backlog claims.<div><br></div><div>First time claims should be processed first as they are not being compensated yet.</div><div><br></div><div>My suggestion would be to do 67% first-times and 33% second-claim reviews everyday per case worker. Or whoever reviews them.</div><div><br></div><div>I know they were prioritizing by era, which is fine, but at least try to optimize the structure so a backlog doesn't expand beyond a reasonable size.</div><div><br></div><div>Good post, Sgt Keen.</div>

Response by SFC William Farrell made Jun 9 at 2015 11:43 PM

SFC William Farrell — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 23:43:11 -0400

A suggestion would be to have Congress and the politicians get their heads out of their asses and place Veterans on the pedestal they belong on for doing a job that the vast majority of them never wanted to or were willing to do, defend this country. Once they start making Veterans a priority instead of trying to line their own pockets, the claims backlog will suddenly disappear!

Response by SrA Jimmy Conant made Jun 12 at 2017 7:05 AM

SrA Jimmy Conant — Mon, 12 Jun 2017 07:05:05 -0400

I think its going to require some out of the box thinking engaged management and some new hires to deal with backlog.