Claims questions raised in Senate hearing

Staff members from The American Legion's Legislative Division attended a U.S. Senate committee hearing this week centered on concerns of serious inefficiencies in the Department of Veterans Affairs' handling of benefits claims on behalf of veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress (PTS) and related mental health issues. 

During the May 25 Senate Veterans' Affairs session, witnesses repeatedly questioned the efficacy of VA's adjudication of veterans' disability claims. According to witnesses, some wounded, injured or ill servicemembers must wait a year or more for critically needed mental and physical health care. Criticism heard in the Senate committee session echoed that contained in a recent decision by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in California and a VA Inspector General report condemning services provided to veterans seeking care for TBI and PTS. Reflecting upon this, one hearing witness noted that VA received more than 14,000 calls to its suicide prevention hotline last month.

Committee members also questioned Department of Defense witnesses about claims that the department was falling short in ensuring the timely transitioning of wounded, ill or injured warriors into the VA health-care system. While DoD witnesses stated that its Integrated Disability Evaluation Service (IDES) component "continues to meet five primary goals," data presented at the hearing contrasted dramatically with that claim. During transition, the stated goal is to have a veteran receiving post-separation VA benefits within 295 days from his or her integration into the IDES system. The reported average wait currently is 404 days.

At the session, Legion staffers also heard of a shortfall in VA's proposed budget supporting research and development of prosthetic devices. The proposed funding is nearly $100 million less than what the Legion had testified in favor of earlier this year.

American Legion National Commander Jimmie L. Foster is sending a letter to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki expressing concern about these issues and reiterating the organization's pledge to work with VA and DoD to improve the speed and efficiency of the warrior transition and benefit claims adjudication processes.