Veterans Affairs claims remain unprocessed

Credit: Arwen Ham, 2009

Many veterans have a difficult time getting their VA claims processed because of a lack of claims processors, an out-dated manual exchange system between VA officials and the Pentagon, and complex claims involving mental health issues.

Unprocessed claims can lead to financial difficulties for those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, forcing them to go into credit card debt or to take out loans they have no hope of paying off. Part of the backlog is related to the fact that VA claims have risen 13% in the last year, and processing of current claims takes approximately four months.

The issue of determining viability of mental health-related Veterans Affairs claims dates back to at least the Vietnam War when Vietnam veterans were unable to claim benefits based on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) because the diagnosis was removed from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). PTSD is an anxiety disorder caused by psychological trauma, in the case of veterans, exposure to war and disaster circumstances. Veterans suffering from PTSD often re-experience traumatic situations through flashbacks and nightmares. This, combined with their avoidance of trauma-related stimuli, anger, and inability to sleep, often leads to problems at work and at home. Groups such as the Vietnam Veterans Against the War worked to get PTSD added to the next version of the DSM, just as Wounded Warrior Project now attempts to help veterans receive compensation for their injuries, both physical and mental.

Hopefully, President Obama’s current order for Veterans Affairs and the Pentagon to streamline the record exchange system by 2012, as well as the hiring and training of additional claims processors, will keep the VA from reaching 1 million unprocessed claims.

For more info: Seattle Times article 
Swedish Medical Center PTSD information page