VA to prioritize pending benefits appeals for hurricane victims

VA to prioritize pending benefits appeals for hurricane victims

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will begin prioritizing claims for veterans affected by hurricanes Florence and Michael, the department announced. The catastrophic impact of the two hurricanes was cause for VA’s Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA) to prioritize pending benefits appeals claims for veterans whose addresses of record are in affected counties in North and South Carolina, Florida and Georgia. Pending appeals before BVA will be automatically advanced.

The advancement on docket for hurricanes Florence and Michael will last 6 months from the date of events and be reassessed at the conclusion of the six-month periods.

“Accelerating the decision process on pending appeals claims for those veterans and their families affected by hurricanes Florence and Michael is the right thing to do,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie.

To see if your county is listed, visit https://www.bva.va.gov/.