WASHINGTON -- Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi took a critical step today in fulfilling his -- and President Bush's -- promise to veterans and their families to reduce backlogs in applications for benefits when he officially accepted the report of a blue-ribbon panel studying the issue.
"The president and I promised a top-to-bottom review of our claims process, " said Principi. "That promise has been kept, and now is the time to get to work to fix this problem so that veterans get the benefits they earned through their service to this nation."
The 12-person Claims Processing Task Force, created in May and headed by retired Vice Admiral Daniel L. Cooper, examined a wide range of issues affecting the speedy processing of claims, from medical examinations and information technology, to efforts to shrink the backlog and increase the accuracy of decisions.
The task force gave Principi 34 recommendations, more than half of which can be accomplished within six months. The goal is to reduce the claims backlog and processing times by 50 percent during the next two years.
The task force identified ways to allow VA's employees to spend more time on processing claims, to improve the basic claims process, to enhance accountability at all levels, and to emphasize and encourage all VA offices to attack this problem.
"The task force has been honored to participate in this extremely important endeavor," said Chairman Cooper. "It is my hope that our report will serve as a catalyst to further the secretary's goals to have consistent, equitable and timely answers to veterans claims."
During a 120-day period, the task force reviewed past studies and recommendations, visited VA regional offices, examined training, records and data processing centers, and held numerous open hearings with both the general public and private sector organizations.
"It's important to remember this problem was caused by ineffective processes, not people," added Principi. "The men and women of VA who process claims have worked diligently to help America's veterans."
Overall, VA has about 668,000 claims of all types awaiting an initial decision or an appeal. That includes 355,000 cases in VA regional offices ondisability claims for service-connected compensation.
Nearly 2.7 million veterans receive compensation for disabilities incurred in service or pensions for wartime veterans who become totally disabled in civilian life. In addition, more than a half million widows, children and parents of deceased veterans are paid survivor compensation or death pensions.
"Providing benefits to veterans is a core mission of VA. It is the foundation upon which VA rests," said Principi. "We can -- and will -- do better."
For more information on the report and the issue of VA claims processing, go to http://www.va.gov/whatsnew/ under the "Claims Processing Task Force Report" site.
