ROAR survey available until March 1

VA’s growing backlog of undecided benefits claims continues to affect hundreds of thousands of veterans nationwide. The problem has long been identified as a high priority in Congress and among veterans service organizations. Last summer, VA Secretary Eric Shinseki vowed to bring the backlog under control over the next two years. The American Legion is taking an active role in solving the problem with its Regional Office Action Review (ROAR) study – an initiative that sends the organization’s national staff members to VA Regional Offices around the country to see how claims are being handled at the local level.

The Legion representatives will speak with regional office managers, VA staff and local veterans about efforts to reduce the backlog. The study will also examine the Regional Offices’ commitments to veterans preference hiring, facility access and staff morale.

Veterans and their families are urged to help the Legion by filling out a confidential online ROAR survey. The survey asks veterans to rate the performance of their regional offices, state the status of their claims and offer opinions about accessibility and professionalism. The completed surveys will be reviewed by American Legion Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation staff in order to provide a clear picture of the situations at VA Regional Offices across the country.

Those who fill out the survey will be asked if they are willing to discuss their cases further with American Legion National Headquarters media staff. No information about a VA claim or case will be shared without written consent of the veteran involved.

As of Jan. 7, more than 1,300 surveys have been completed. The survey will be available until March 1.