If I had to pick one thing Veterans are most vocal about when it comes to VA, it would be the disability claims backlog. Due to more Vets seeking compensation, two long wars with unprecedented and complex injuries, a still-recovering economy, and an outdated claims processing system, Veterans are continually waiting for long periods for their claims to be decided. It’s a problem that we’re working on, but we also understand we’re not fast enough.

The Associated Press has a behind the scenes look at the issue, which includes a look at how the nature of modern war injuries has impacted the process:

A staggering 45 percent of the 1.6 million veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now seeking compensation for injuries they say are service-related. That is more than double the estimate of 21 percent who filed such claims after the Gulf War in the early 1990s, top government officials told The Associated Press.

What’s more, these new veterans are claiming eight to nine ailments on average, and the most recent ones over the last year are claiming 11 to 14. By comparison, Vietnam veterans are currently receiving compensation for fewer than four, on average, and those from World War II and Korea, just two.

I’m sure the piece won’t answer all of your questions on the claims process and backlog. That’s why we’re hosting a Twitter Chat in conjunction with the Associated Press tomorrow, May 30 from 3:00 – 4:00 PM ET. We’ll have experts from the benefits and health administrations answering questions about the backlog. Use the hashtag #APVetChat to tweet us questions.

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58 Comments

  1. Ron Wilson June 7, 2012 at 10:59

    Nowhere in this article does it mention that WWII, and Vietnam Veteran were not forced to deploy 3 and 4 times for 12 to 15 months each time. That is the major difference that VA has not mentioned. Maybe we should consider this before we start wars. Since Sep of 2001, our military has been deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan, the same soldiers 3 and 4 deployments. Please show me a WWII , or Vietnam Veteran that deployed 3 and 4 times. I am sure it may be a few but not thousands. Get out of Afghanistan now, we are just making thousands more Disabled Veterans and we are not taking care of the current ones.

  2. Carmen A Cantalupo May 30, 2012 at 17:01

    I had contacted them Months ago they never responded the VA is not going too do it either.

  3. Leonard Sapp May 30, 2012 at 16:01

    I agree fully with everything previously stated. The system isn’t broken, many of thepeople working there aren’t qualified. Just visit one of the regional VA centers and observe just what is happening. No leadership, organization or structure. Proper training and adequate supervision would go a long ways. My wife has had to continually fight to get me as far as I am with my claims. My records were burned in the St. Louis fire. I was in one of the first groups of soldiers to go to Korea when the war broke out. Now let me tell you that was total hell here on earth. Was seriously wounded there but because I have no medical records the VA thinks I’m just making things up. There are numerous articles about the conditions the soldiers endured in Korea but it still is a nightmare for me. I can appreciate the volume of claims being handled by the VA but again as stated earlier a grear deal of this could be alleviated with some proper management. The VA provides me with adequate health care for which I am grateful. I certainly sympathize with all the other vets who are suffering and waiting.

    • veterans wife May 31, 2012 at 22:15

      No they are not qualified, thats why there is so many claims being denied. then after a million complaints realizing they made to many claims that should have been award, they finally get rid of them. in the mean time the problem continues on with the veteran.

  4. David Hill May 30, 2012 at 15:55

    Well Folks,

    I have even written the President of the United States and Have thanked him for helping a bit with the Veterans and the Claims….Then I asked about my situation and explained that I haven’t heard a thing, and that the wait to hear something or to be treated is a nightmare…..Only to be given a list of his accomplishments for the Vet’s behalf…..Wow, couldn’t even get the Commander-In- Chief to go any further than saying “I have accomplished so much” and this is an election year……hmmmmm.
    Seems like a sham to me
    Don’t even go to my health e-vet website you can’t find out a thing except what the results of your last blood or urine test was….
    But, it helps them sleep at night and that’s all that matters……..Dang even when the VA’s main office send a remand to the Regional office on your behalf you can’t seem to get the mountain to move out of the way to allow things to get to working……must be a genetic thing they put in the workers drinks….No vet left behind?

  5. James L. Smith May 30, 2012 at 15:28

    What is the time frame for receiving back pay, I have been waiting since January 2012? Please advise.

    • veterans wife May 31, 2012 at 22:11

      you wont get an answer back james and i wish i knew the answer. thats another problem with the system , they never tell you any time frame on anything , like sry veterans i guess just keep the blinders on until we get around to your number that has been denied serveral times or not rated properly.

  6. Donnie Scott May 30, 2012 at 15:11

    #AP VetChat: What must be done for VA to back pay you for a condition that was complained about and went undiagnosed until some years later?

  7. Nicole May 30, 2012 at 14:42

    1st there is NO excuse for having a backlog. If you guys can’t handle the jobs then get some Veterans in there who care about their fellow vets. How is it that when we transition from active duty to vet status one year later my whole disability payment is taken because of miscommunication between DFAS created an overpayment? Snatched away. I am on the verge of poverty I busted my butt served in Iraq for 18 months and this is the thanks I get. Now my finances are all screwed up everything is behind and I have no idea if I will get paid this in June. I attend college full time and have been paying back nearly 2,000 because you guys say I dropped classes after the drop date when in fact that is not what happened. But once again you have access and you can stop our pay at the drop of a dime. Why do we have to wait forever to get money when its owed to us? Why don’t we get break pay? Why in the world would anyone want to take that away from us? Veterans are treated like garbage and the civilian population has no idea what we go thru on a daily basis. Maybe your schedules should be adjusted to work 7 days a week until you get that back log situation cleared up. The 9/11 GI Bill wasn’t all that you hyped it up to be. I’ve contacted my state officials and guess what no response. They don’t care unless its re-election time and they want a photo op. to make themselves look as if they care. Quite frankly I’m disgusted by the crap we have to endure to get what we deserve. Instead you penalize us every chance you get. How would you like your pay to be taken after all the years and hard work you’ve put in? Homeless vets there is no excuse whatsoever for a vet to be living in the streets. But dealing with you guys we all will end up homeless, vehicless and who knows what else. There needs to be changes made and fast. Talk is cheap. You talk the talk but don’t walk the walk. I am truly a disgusted disgruntled vet.

    • Deb June 4, 2012 at 10:52

      I agree with you. The paperwork should be handled properly the first time around and the records should not be mishandled or misfiled this would take care a lot of the backlogs that is going on with the VA. You follow their exact procedures and still there is a 2 – 3 year wait.

  8. David Hill May 30, 2012 at 14:25

    I guess my biggest question is why is it that when a vet goes to the VA Hospital it is a different organization than the Veterans Administration that is handling our claims, and no matter where I go I am treated by one side of the VA and the claim is handled by Some other side of the VA.That is completely separate …..why can’t these two departments talk to one another and use the professional diagnosis with our claim?…This makes me feel like we are being shammed more and more…Keep vets running in circles.
    I ask the medical side how I get this new info into my claim and they say we don’t handle it…..no one seems to know how to get the medical info into the claim……..The vet reps don’t seem to be too worried they will get paid either way, or are volunteer and really don’t seem to want to do it today. The phone numbers don’t work.
    You never hear a word about your claim..then all of a sudden they say there isn’t enough evidence….Yet, the medical side is treating you for your injuries, and can’t seem to help with you suddenly losing your job, your house or anything when they diagnose you with something and put you on the meds. When they discharged me for Seizures, now they say it is extreme PTSD I couldn’t even use my SGLI cause Seizures is not one their list to cover..Yet, I paid for it out of my monthly paycheck just in case something were to happen during my career.
    There needs to be a way that a Dr from the VA can state to the “other” VA this is what it is and this is what needs to happen…….Wishful thinking I guess

  9. Jesse f Ramon May 30, 2012 at 12:19

    ALL THIS DOES IS GIVE THE V.A. ANOTHER PAPER TRAIL TO SHOW THAT THEY CARE!!!!!! I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS, AND I HAVE TO CARE FOR THEM WITH THE 70% DISABILITY PAY OF $1272.00 DOLLARS A MONTH!!!! THAT’S $318.00 DOLLARS A WEEK!!!! I’LL SAY ONE MORE THING, THE DAY OF OUR DAM GOVERMENT HONORING THEMSELVES AT OUR EXPENSE WILL COME TO AN END…………SOONER THAN THEY KNOW!!!! ONE DAY VETERANS WON’T WAIT!!!

  10. RC May 30, 2012 at 12:15

    Can someone from the VA or whom ever can answer a question I have? Through some research my wife has been doing on the misdiagnosis that veterans may have recieved when discharge for personality disorder, why are they only going back to 2001? My C/P examinor who denied my claim for PTSD is no longer with the VA, and i can see why that is. I was Honorably discharged from the vietnam war(army) for personality disorder and since then I have medical evidence from a private MD and a VA counselor stating i was misdiagnoised and have been living with PTSD from the time i got my honorable discharge. They also provided all my stressors i endure while in firefights. It has currently been sitting in the appeals process(VA Office) for over 1 1/2 years even though i have provided all the medical evidence stating i was misdiagnoised and should be award for C/P. If they are only going back to 2001, are you saying that my service to this country did not matter? Its bad enough we hung our head down when we returned, now we continue to hang our heads down. This is a disgrace to not only me but my brothers and sisters who have layed there life down for this country. Any response would be greatly appreciated inregards to why they are only going back to 2001. This has been going on since day one.

  11. Jesse f Ramon May 30, 2012 at 12:01

    CAROL, THANKS FOR THE ADVICE BUT IM STUCK IN TEXAS WHERE GOV PERRY IS AND I’VE WRITTEN HIS OFFICE TWICE!!! ALL I’VE HEARD BACK IS TWO MALE CRICKETS STRUTING IN THE BACK YARD!! OUR SENATORS HAVE NOT SENT BACK A REPLY EITHER!!!! ITS BEEN A YEAR!!!!

    • RC May 30, 2012 at 13:23

      sry to hear that jesse and they should have replied within 30days.. mine replied but it really didnt help i got the same answers, there is a backlog of claims. so basicly it didnt help or at least not yet. that was 3mths ago when he said there is a backlog of claims. well i already heard that a million times. i really didnt need him to repeat it.

  12. Jesse f Ramon May 30, 2012 at 11:54

    OH, BY YHE WAY… THIS EBENIFITS WEBSITE WAS DESIGNED TO ASSIST VETERANS BUT WHAT NOBODY WAS TOLD IS THAT IT WAS SET UP SO THEY DON’T HAVE TO TALK TO YOU!! WHAT THEY DID NOT TELL YOU IS THAT THERE’S NO WAY FOR ANYONE TO EMAIL THE V.A. BECAUSE THEY DON’T WANT TO TAKE THE TIME TO REPLY!!!!! HENCE THE REASON THERE’S NO EMAIL ADDRESS NOR IS THERE ONE TO RELEASE TO YOU FOR QUESTIONS!!! THEY EVEN GOT SMART AND SET UP THE ONLY PHONE NUMBER YOU CALL SO THEY DON’T HAVE TO ANSWER THE PHONE!!!!!!!!!!!!! IF YOU DON’T CALL FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, YOU CAN FORGET GETTING IN CONTACT WITH THE V.A. FOR THE REST OF THE DAY.!!!!!! SO TO ALL OF YOU GOVERMENT PERSONEL, PUT UP OR SHUT UP!!!! STOP GIVING US MEDALS AND PARADES!!!! WE NEED YOU TO HELP US NOW!!!!!!!!! WE ARE TIRED OF THIS GOD FOR SAKEN LIES, WE PROTECTED OUR COUNTRY, NO ITS YOUR TURN TO TAKE CARE OF US!!!!!

    • Deb June 4, 2012 at 10:58

      The e.Benefits website is good for viewing and looking at various information. It is not capable of answering your questions. Therefore, you may need to start making visit to your local VA Regional office and try to obtain some answers from a real person oppose to using the phone and computers. You have to remember – sometime you have to make people do their jobs and remind them that your situation is real and it is impacting your life.

      • tom June 5, 2012 at 12:23

        I didn’t no you could see someone directly from the va. Do you need appointment? I’m having problems getting answers with my one claim. I’ve been calling for 1year now and nothing ever changes

        • Veterans Benefits Administration June 7, 2012 at 14:36

          Tom, you can visit your local regional office or vet center to talk with someone about your claim. See their locations here – http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/division_flsh.asp?dnum=3. For Vet Centers – click on “Vet Centers” on the left side of the page.

  13. Jesse f Ramon May 30, 2012 at 11:40

    MY MEDICAL RECORDS SHOW MY INJURIES!! I WAS DENIED IN 2005 BECAUSE THE GENTLEMAN WHO WAS WRITTING UP MY CLAIM WAS AT LEAST 75 YEARS OLD AND HIS HANDS WERE SHAKING AND COULD HARDLY WRITE!! HE LEFT OUT PERTINENT INFO!!! WHY SHOULD IT BE MY FAULT?!! AS A VETERAN WE DON’T KNOW WHAT’S IMPORTANT ON THESE FORMS THE FIRST DAM TIME!! THEN AFTER STRUGGLING WITH MY HEALTH AND LOSING JOB AFTER JOB, I RESUBMITTED IN 2009! I NEVER KNEW MY HEALTH WOULD GO BAD SO FAST!! SO FINALLY A YEAR LATER THEY GAVE ME 70% DISABILITY!! WHICH COMES OUT TO $1272.00 DAM DOLLARS!!! WHO IN GODS NAME CAN RAISE A FAMILY ON THAT?? AND SINCE HAVE STILL NOT RECVD MY DEPENDENTS PAY!! I RESUBMITTED AND IN JULY IT WILL BE 2 YEARS THAT I’VE BEEN WAITING!!! I LEFT THE USN AND THE USMC WITH TWO HONORABLE DISCHARGES WITH A1 REENLISTMENT CODES!!!! ALL OF THE VETERAN ADMINISTRATION AND GOVERMENT STAFF ALONG WITH THE SENATE, CONGRESS AND THE HOUSE STAFF SEEM TO HAVE TIME, MONEY AND PAY RAISES FOR THEMSELVES!!! WE ARE ONLY IMPORTANT TO THEM WHEN THEY WANT TO BE PROTECTED, WHEN THEY WANT THIS COUNTRY PROTECTED!! YES IM PROUD OF MY SERVICE! BUT IM ASHAMED OF OUR GOVERMENT !!!!!!! AND IT’S OBVIOUS THAT THEY JUST DON’T GIVE A DAM…….

    • RC May 30, 2012 at 12:40

      Its really ashame, to see so many veterans and families fighting the system. Nobody is going to enlist in the military of any kind. Then what….. Draft time ….. all over again….. Wake up america and demand change..

  14. Carol May 30, 2012 at 11:36

    Fellow Veterans…My recommendation would be to contact your state senator and house of representative member to help you in your fight for your disability claims. They can move mountains. A well written, one page letter stating what you would like the senator and or representative’s help with is best. Google’how to write to a senator’ for tips and pointers. I’m so sorry you have all had trouble with your claims. My thoughts are if you served you deserve VA health care and benefits and you shouldn’t have to jump through hoops and then some to reeive what is rightfully yours. Don’t give up and keep fighting for what is yours.

    • RC May 30, 2012 at 13:08

      I contacted my state rep and his response was they have a backlog of claims going on now. well my original claim was back in 2010. if the va would have properly handled my claim as they should have it wouldnt still be sitting in the va office for over 18mths and thats with medical evidence provided by a private MD. what more do they need. nothing is needed except for someone to pick up the evidence and provided a correct evaluation this time. the problem is they are not doing it properly the first time around. that is why there is hundreds of thousand backlog claims. they are making veterans and or family members fight for what is rightfully theres. they did there fights, and shouldnt have to continue to fight with the system. im tired of hearing this backlog crap. do it right the first time…

    • Tina May 30, 2012 at 14:56

      Carol, the state representatives such as Congressmen and Senators aren’t doing anything to assist the Veterans’. The VA states if you have a foreclosure notice or an electric termination notice, they might consider moving your claim faster. What about all the Veterans’ who are already homeless? The state representatives are doing nothing. Trust me, I have done 2 Congressionals. One with a Congressman and one with a Senator and they have both come back saying the same thing.

    • Eric May 30, 2012 at 18:35

      I have written my congreswoman–she gets letters from the VA with the same BS- she wrote them twice now–in 18 months–and they tell her exactley what they tell me… granted, she gets a response quicker. She even told me–by asking her to inquire for me–its slowing the process down even more. Claim submitted in 2009, denied, appealed and still no decision. I had a C&P exam in oct 2011–no decision yet.

    • Joseph Simpson May 30, 2012 at 22:55

      Actually Carol the VA laughs at Senate members and Congress and delay claims even more when there is an inquiry of any kind. They then send the Representative the same document that they will look into it and then in 30 days send a supplementel statement of the claim explaining the same thing they told you and the Reps Always accept that as an answer. Now your claim starts over again. We need a mass protest with All Vets and family, until there is that sort of action Nothing will ever change.

      • veterans wife May 31, 2012 at 22:00

        how do we get a mass protest, you arent the first one who recommended that but nobody seems to know the answer. please if anyone out there knows how respond back, so we can all follow through instead of sit here and read and submit the same old crap for years and years. i just pray that all these veterans live through all this , thats what makes me most upset. when someone serves to protect this country and our government does this there is nothing that makes me more angry in life. i dont care what else is going on, without these men/women we wouldnt have a country worth living in . just think about it for a minute.

  15. veterans wife May 30, 2012 at 11:26

    Is it necessary to have this twitter conversation when they already know what the veterans needs are? Backlog of claims means one thing, do your job and do it well. End of story, no twitter needed.

  16. GEORGE F. REESE May 30, 2012 at 11:24

    HOW DO THE VA HANDLE THERS CLAIMS. FIRST COME FIRST SERVE. VIETNAM VETERANS WAS NOT RECONIZED WHEN WE CAME HOME FROM SERVING OUR COUNTRY. NOW WE WILL HAVE ONE FOOT IN OUR GRAVE BEFORE OUR COUNTRY SREVES US.

  17. veterans wife May 30, 2012 at 10:46

    I watched C-span3 about backlog of claims, and i can tell you all those executive people who spoke to Patty Murray are lieing about why there is hundreds of thousand of backlog claims. None of them gave a direct answer to Patty Murray as how they are going to fix this problem and im sure in another 6mths they still wont have any true answers. Someone truely needs to be held accountable from both departments NOW. If i were to handle my job in the same manner they are doing, i can tell you that i would have been Fired along time ago. Dont they know how to plan ahead(meaning they knew all these veterans from the Iraq and Afganistan war will be coming home with some disabilities). Its not like this is the first war we ever had, unless they assumed that the veterans wouldnt know what truely was owed to them, like the older veterans didnt know. People/veterans get it now, thats why there is so many claims. So one would think, man i better get the ball moving fast on these older claims so when the current veterans come home, we can help them.. The day they help veterans in a timely manner will be a miracle. When Patty Murray asked them are they short handed etc.they didnt respond with a direct true answer. I could see that Patty Murray and others were not happy with what they had heard but the question still remains how and when are they going to get people that truely can resolve so many issues. I would say, get every single man/women power they have , hire more if needed and get all the OLD claims handled once and for all. Then work there way up and do it in a timely manner.Its always the same old thing, NOTHING will change untill someone steps up to the plate and demains changes NOW.

    • John May 30, 2012 at 16:28

      Hi I’m a veteran of United States Marine Corps I served in the 1970s I had a back injury that was in my medical records whoen I was discharged from the service I started going to the VA health clinic Lakeside Chicago .This clinic closed many years I ago records were suppose to be transferred to the Jessie Brown VA hospital southside of Chicago . I am in the va system since 1978 but they can’t find my medical records I filed my va claim in 2005 ,My BVA hearing took place Jan 2011 they denied me two issues related to my back injury and remand two other issue for C&P exam both doctors state most likely due or related to military service they also stated due to back injury.This was in April 2011 haven’t heard anything from the VA I also appeal my two issues for back injury that were denied by a woman VLJ Jordon in Washington DC to the CAVC their lawyers at the Dept of VA agreed on a joint motion for a remand this was in Nov2011 claim sent back to BVA denied again by same VLJ Jordon . And I feel they never looked at any evidents their law clerks do all the work and the Juges just sign with so many cases it’s denied denied denied for years they win or beat the veterans down by delay after delay and from what I am told if at any level they grant to many benefits they won’t be in that position very long .It’s seem that the whole VA system is corrupt and they should all hang their heads in shame.So I am waiting to see what my lawyer will do this is going on the 7th year.Gio

  18. Gene J May 30, 2012 at 08:14

    The VA announced that the Veterans Health Benefits Personalized Handbooks started mailing this last February. Where can see the current status of shipments? At least would you announce when a Priority class mailing has been completed?

    • RC May 30, 2012 at 12:25

      I am priority 1 and i still havent recieved mine?

      • Jerry H June 7, 2012 at 01:07

        I am priority group 2 and received my personalized handbook on 5/17/12. I am at 40% for hearing loss and tinnitus for 26 months in Vietnam , 22 of which were combat. I had never been to the VA so I went to my county Veterans service office to see what could be done. These people were amazing! In less than six months I had my rating and back compensation pay from the day I filed. I got an appointment with a primary doctor and a referral to audiology within the next 90 days. Six weeks after seeing the audiologist I had my new, very state of the art , hearing aids which have changed my life. Vets, please tell all other vets to start at their CVSO. They work FOR US and they know exactly how to file the paperwork correctly the FIRST time. Trying to file at a VA clinic or a regional office is a nightmare. You get a form and a pencil and that’s it. If you leave the wrong box checked or unchecked or don’t know an answer you are basically screwed and your claim might be held up for more information or just denied. Once you are denied it’s a long process to try and straighten out. Please pass this on as it can help other vets get what they deserve. By the way, my great experience has been with the Contra Costa County VSO in Martinez Ca. And the Martinez Ca. Clinic.

    • Veterans Benefits Administration June 7, 2012 at 15:22

      Gene, thanks for the comment. We sent your question to the VA Health Eligibility Center. Priority Group 1 & 2 Veterans have begun to receive personalized handbooks. There are plans to add the distribution status to the Health Benefits Handbook website at http://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/vhbh/, where you can find an electronic copy in the meantime.

      • rc June 7, 2012 at 21:12

        I call the VA and told them i havent recieved my handbook and im priority 1 and she looked it up and said everything was ok but there was problems with the mailings and if i dont receive it by Jan. 2013 to call back. Im still confused as to why they are saying priority 1 will receive thiers first then? How is it that Jerry(the above name is priority 2 and has already received his, yet i and serveral of my fellow vets who are priority 1 might have to wait until jan. Once again, things never seem to run the way they are suppose to.

  19. Donovan May 30, 2012 at 08:05

    The back log is ridiculous….Another thing wrong with the system is the mail order medication system. My medication is always late and sometimes I begin to detox. Thank God I’m not a diabetic or I would be dead.

    • John May 30, 2012 at 18:12

      And contact your congress or senators are you for real the VA has a special dept for that it’s called blow sun shine up their you know what! The VA is a curupted system that only take care of friends relatives and bonuses . On the blood sweat and pains of the veterans if that grant benefits to many times you can bet they won’t have a job !

      • veterans wife May 31, 2012 at 21:46

        The only thing i can recommend to all these veterans, please if at all possible get second and third opinions from the private medical field. Yes, it will cost you , but im speaking from my heart, if you have proof from a professional MD they cant deny you again. Its impossible, to go against what other private MDS have diagnois They would have a law suit big time. so please get as many other opinions outside the va that you possibly can. Yes, they would not have a job very long if they truely granted all these backlog of claims that are deserving of these veterans and dont try to do it alone, its to over whelming. I was handling all my husbands records,calls,meds, research,private mds etc and its getting overwhelming for me and im not disabled but i have other family members helping me out now.

  20. tommy palmertree May 30, 2012 at 01:25

    I am a 100% disabled Viet Nam vet. I do receive disability payments from the VA, but missed out on the settlement from Dow Chemical that ended in 1984. If you became sick after that , you got nothing, Several of us have tried to go through a law firm to sue Dow, but they said that illnesses from
    Agent Orange were too difficult to diagnose. I flew my helicopter through Agent Orange every day for a year, while they assured us there was no danger from it. Out of my unit there are five that I know of who have some ilness caused by Agent Orange that is on the list of diseases. I have prostate cancer and had my prostate removed in 2000 (the cancer is now in remission), Parkinsons Disease, a Pace Maker, surgery three times to drain bleeding hematomas on my head, and have gradually lost all my teeth from the radiation treatments. I fall constantly, and must use a cane because of the Parkinsons. To sum it all up, my quality of life is zero. I would appreciate any input from anybody. My helicopter unit was Robin Hoods, 73rd Assault Helicopter Company out of Lai Khe.

  21. Joseph Simpson May 29, 2012 at 23:34

    I would like to know; 1) When they are going to get around to dealing with vets who were waiting with the claims backlog Before Iraq and Afganistan even started. We were told there was One Million back then 2) How a claim can be continually denied even with VA doctor’s report’s to prove claim and the fact the condition is extremely rare, even for doctors to treat. Pension and comp reports to support claim, private doctors and military medical reports. I even have a BVA Remand from 2009 that has never been addressed by Regional and was also ordered epedited due to significant violations of Due Process Of Law and the repeated failures of Philadelphia Regional to consider evidence including the VA doctors medical reports and oppinion who have seen me since 2004. they have never even addressed my Full Claim since May 24, 2004. I even have evidence of several request from me to the Philly Regional Manager for information and legal that was totally ignored and never answered, he has since been transferred after several violations found by OIG and multiple complaints by vets and independent studies on the treatment of vets and family members by Philly VA Regional employees. One was done by a radio station and broadcast complete with ignorante employees and the wrong information given to vets and families. Vets are suffering due to VA Negligence and they do not care.

  22. Hubert Gregory May 29, 2012 at 21:17

    My son was dianosed with PTSD when he returned from Kuwait. He filed several times and was denied for PTSD , but they gave him 10 percent for his hearing and he did not file on his hearing. Just another way the VA puts you off. God bless and I hope others have better luck.

  23. Rich Young May 29, 2012 at 21:16

    I spent my year on the ground in Viet Nam. I had a heart attack in 2003. In 2010 the VA told me that Agent Orange caused heart attacks and I should apply for disability. I did. The printout I have wants proof the heart problem existed from discharge. No,it did not. So why did the VA even tell me of the agent Orange connection if there was no chance of disability?

  24. Walter Shockley May 29, 2012 at 20:28

    For the past seven years I have had exams, the VA has my medical records, they will not read it, but tell me what I claims is not in the record. The best advice I received when. Retired is make a copy of the medical record. Now they will not take and copy I have, and whenI tell them what date something is in the record they still will not go back and read the record.

    Yes, I do understand some have tried to slip one by them and they are careful, but not everyone is out to fool them.

    One item lay on their desk for almost two years, and the keep tell me they are waiting on additional information and/or evidence. Yet, they do not ask for more info.

  25. Stephen May 29, 2012 at 19:48

    Is it true that the VA employees deciding the claims are not medical professionals, but low level clerks?

    • RC May 30, 2012 at 12:23

      I dont know either but i can tell you the so called MD who did my C/P exam is no longer with the VA due to so many false and incorrect denial C/P claims.

  26. David Hill May 29, 2012 at 19:40

    I have 14years of service and was medically discharges for a “seizure” disorder, only now to find out that the VA now suspects that it is severe PTSD from Operation Desert Storm that was causing night terrors.
    I have had claims that have been out there since 04and have been told there wasn’t enough to go on. Now in Aug 2011 I get a letter from the VA and I was told that my claims were reopened and I was to take another C&P physical in Oct 11, in my letter from the VA it states that a Service Connection from PTSD is awarded, only to hear nothing more about it.
    It is almost June of 2012 and my original claim in 04 was denied, appealed, denied and now reopened, because of a stated mistake made by the VA.
    Why do vets have to play this little game with the VA ?
    My injuries in Desert Storm have been more or less written off, cause they originally stated they suspected indirect fire as the cause. I thought a bullet hole was a bullet hole how am I supposed to know who was shooting at my helicopter?
    I wasn’t aware at the time that I should have gotten the Iraq soldiers name and address before we started shooting at each other.
    Then to hear about troops being hurt in hummer crashes and they all are awarded purple hearts is just unbelievable. This System isn’t working and too many Vets are getting brushed over before they get any help from the VA

  27. PARSONS May 29, 2012 at 19:25

    THE USUAL SAME STORY HERE ONCE AGAIN. THIS FALL’S INTO DENY DENY PLAIN ALONG WITH MY BADD DELAY DELAY SRATIGY THAT IS USED ALL TO OFTEN, GO AHEAD AND HAVE YOUR LITTLE MEETING TOMMOROW AND THEY WILL WITHOUT BLINKING AN EYE WILL CONTINUE THE CLAIM’S PROCESS AS USUAL. I DO HOPE THIS CHANGES FOR FUTURE VETERANS ! I’VE BEEN GOING FOR MY CLAIM SINCE 1995 AND THEY ARE JUST NOW STARTING THE PAPER TRAIL ON MY CLAIM’S, I WOULD’NT BE SURPRISED IF THIS TOOK ANOTHER YEAR.

  28. JOHN HUME May 29, 2012 at 19:25

    I had a claim back in the 1990’s , because the V.A. was just not interested I didn’t persue it when they told me I wouldn’t receive compensation because “my life had no value”. Now I’m living at a V.A. Hospital. Why not look at the records from that claim and use the facts that everything I claimed then has been varified by the hospital now? Why drag me through the system again and slow down the process for everyone with a claim behind me?

  29. Sherry May 29, 2012 at 19:22

    Why is it that a vet has to be told by someone other than a vet that there are programs out there for them? Also its hard for vets from the first gulf war to get what they are entitled to.

    • Maurice Brown May 30, 2012 at 19:43

      I am a Vietnam vet, who has been on Social Security dis. since 1992 for a mental mood disorder . When the VA became my primary care at age 64 I never knew anything about PTSD until they changed my doctor at the VA. She told me I should look into PTSD by looking at my service record. I filed for PTSD and got shot down the first time because they came up with PTSD, but PRE-service Shzicroid (Miss Spelled) personality disorder. I was so upset because I was a very social person before Vietnam. My second comp & Pen the VA evaluator took care of me and apologized. I will find out in about two days because my decision is in the mail. I was 20 when in Vietnam and will be 66 in November. I didn’t have a clue about PTSD even though I was married three times.

  30. Mike R May 29, 2012 at 17:24

    Yes, I understand the issue and response as stated. But the real shame is where the vets themselves stand in the food chain in America.
    Every Memorial Day people “pause” to rememeber the service people and the vets. Wave a flag, eat a hot dog.
    The services and vets are the people who literally put their lives on the line to keep America free. But in reality, get mostly lip service in return.
    Lets knock off the hypocrisy and tell it like it is. I don’t think any other special interest group in Washington would wait over one year (or more) to get a determination of any benefits. It is a disgrace.

    • veterans wife May 30, 2012 at 11:21

      Yes , it is a disgrace>>>> and something needs to be done NOW and not in 2years or 5years. My husband has suffered enough in life. Let him live what few years he has left, with honor and dignity for serving his country.

  31. Tom Dullaghan May 29, 2012 at 16:45

    Does the VA have a disability plan for paying Vietnam Vet’s who have suffered PTSD for
    the last 41 years, after being turned away for treatment from the VA 41 years ago?

  32. Tom Dullaghan May 29, 2012 at 16:38

    How does the VA handle Vietnam Vet’s who were turn away 41 years ago , when they went into the Va for help for PTSD?

  33. Rodney Watson May 29, 2012 at 16:32

    I’m a vietnam era was injured prior to being shipped out, therefore i was not assigned any duties in the combat zone. But it seems that because I have no combats wounds my case has been either put on the back burner or sweeped under the rug and I’m sure I am not the only veteran in this situation..Sure my comrades in arms who have more severe wounds and medical condition should have a higher priority, but the rest of us should not be ignored.

    • Rafael Sanchez, Capt, USAF May 29, 2012 at 18:26

      Aree 100% with Rodney it should not matter where you got injured at the end we were active duty when the injury occur. I’m very dissatisfied with the way the VA and USAF is handling my case at the end of the days in 10-15 years not a soul will join the armed forces voluntary and the gov will have to spent millions in recruiting propaganda and retention bonus.

      • veterans wife May 30, 2012 at 11:17

        I agree with you Rafael and until people see change , its only going to get worse. My husband enlisted into the army(vietnam) at age 18 and he realizes now that the army didnt treat him with what he truely so deserved but back then, things werent explained properly to these young veterans. My husband got a Honorable discharge but didnt get the benefits he deserved because instead of saying he has PTSD(which now they admit) they said he had personality disorder. Two mths into our marriage i realized he had mental problems but i didnt know from what, until i finally convinced him to seek out help through the private medical sector.Amazingly the MD diagnoised him having PTSD from the vietnam war and included all his stressors , from the fire fights etc. He has been living his life all these years in silence and pain, not even realizing he was suffering from PTSD. I am his third wife, and i will continue to be by his side until death do us part. The only reason I truely believe they are admitting to all these older claims is because the veterans didnt give into the system. Once they realized that they werent properly diagnoised they got second and third opinions from the private sector of the medical field,outside the VA. Even with all the private medical evidence showing they were misdiagnoised, they continue to delay and drag on these claims. Those older claims that veterans have proven with medical records from a MD to allow them to qualify for C/P , should be sent through immediately. Why let them sit in a pile, collecting dust. There is nothing else that needs to be done from that point forward , except for the claims to be awarded and C/P paid. Now there is hundreds of problems solved. Now move on to the next set of problems until 100% of all veterans get what they truely deserve for all there sacrifices.GOD BLESS ALL OUR VETERANS/FAMILIES.

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