The road to faster VA claims

Often the best way to unclog a congested highway is to add some lanes. That’s why The American Legion believes that, if enacted, the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017 will go a long way toward fixing a severely backlogged system that for too long has put bureaucracy ahead of the veteran.

As of last spring, there were 470,000 appeals of claims decisions pending. The average wait time for these appeals to be fully adjudicated is five years. If nothing changes, by 2027 veterans will wait an average of 10 years to get a decision. That’s twice as long as it took to fight and win World War II. “Slow” and “cumbersome” are some of the kinder terms veterans use to describe the current appeals process.

Under the new bill, which passed the House of Representatives by a rare unanimous 418-0 vote, three appeals “lanes” would be created. Veterans would choose the one that best suits his or her needs.

The “local higher-level review lane” reassures veterans about the accuracy of an original claim decision by allowing an adjudicator to review the same evidence considered by the original processor.

A “new evidence lane” allows veterans to bring additional information to be reviewed, and can include a hearing. This is especially important considering how time consuming it can be to gather evidence. Many veterans do not immediately realize the effect an injury, wound or illness can have on their overall health until long after they have left military service. Record-keeping is not always their priority during times of war.

A third appeal path is the “board lane,” where jurisdiction of the claim is immediately transferred to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.

The bipartisan bill, which was crafted with much input from The American Legion, is expected to shorten the average wait time for final appeal decisions from five years to a far more reasonable 125 days.

Just as important, veterans will have these additional options while still maintaining the effective dates of their original claims. Options often require explanations.

If this act becomes law, rest assured that your American Legion service officers will be fully trained on all the new requirements and work tirelessly with VA to ensure the new program is successful. They will continue to offer their expertise to veterans free of charge and assist them with their claims from beginning to end, regardless of a veteran’s membership status or eligibility for The American Legion.

Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., and his House colleagues deserve our thanks for passing this needed legislation. The Legion also appreciates the steadfast support of Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and ranking member Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.

Appeals modernization nearly passed in the last Congress. The prospects are even better this time. Unlike a typical traffic jam, this backlog is delaying needed care and support for thousands of veterans. It’s time to create more lanes and open up this highway.