VA recently started digitizing older, inactive paper records, which will save taxpayer dollars through reduced, leased office-space that currently houses these records.

“This is just one of the ways in which we are modernizing our capabilities, not only to be more responsive to Veterans and their families, but also to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars,” said VA’s Acting Under Secretary for Benefits Thomas Murphy.

This new “paper-extraction” process ensures that when a claim is filed, the Veteran’s electronic record is already available in VA’s computer systems, reducing processing time for benefit claims from Veterans and their survivors. In the past, when a Veteran filed a new or supplemental claim, if a medical condition had worsened, the retired paper files were boxed and shipped to a central site to scan into VA’s systems before work would begin on the new claim.

Nearly 2 million inactive files were housed in 33 regional offices across the country before the change. As of April 14, more than 500,000 files have been collected from eight regional offices for scanning. Once the records have been digitized, VA will archive and store them in less expensive long-term storage for safekeeping.

The agency plans to remove and scan paper claim records from the remaining regional offices by the end of 2018.

“This modernization initiative seeks to eliminate delays caused by shipping and digital conversion,” said Bradley Houston, director of VA’s Office of Business Process Integration, which oversees the initiative. “It will give claims processors nationwide the ability to instantly access millions of inactive claim records when needed.”

Over the past five years, VA has made concerted efforts to modernize the way it processes compensation and pension claims. Since 2012, 397 million records — consisting of 2.6 billion images — have been scanned, indexed and uploaded into the agency’s electronic-claims processing system, Veterans Benefits Management System. In fiscal 2016, VA provided compensation and pension benefits to more than 5.1 million Veterans and family members, totaling over $80 billion.

For more information about VA’s benefits, go to http://benefits.va.gov/benefits/ or call 800-827-1000.

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15 Comments

  1. Aaron L Brown May 5, 2017 at 10:00

    DMZ Vets serving in Korea after 1971 aren’t given any consideration for the affects of Agent orange use on the DMZ I received a reply of denial for on my appeal it stated clearly there was no agent orange used on the DMZ in Korea as a Imjin Scout of the 2nd Inf Division I find this to be one of the lowest of incompetences from those who represents the VA

  2. jerry l hobbs April 29, 2017 at 10:59

    I am vienam vetveran and I have agent orange now I have lung cancer I also have skin cancrs ann I only got 70 peer cent I thank I should 100 pert cent

  3. Earl Train April 28, 2017 at 22:46

    It seems the only answer is to close the VA and outsource everything. I believe nothing is going to change.

  4. Calvin Johnson April 28, 2017 at 19:49

    I am a Viet nan veteran. I have carried other veterans to the Veterans hospital at Biloxi mississippi, the hospital staff were wonderful ln every way possible
    AOC Calvin Johnson

  5. Verta Jones April 28, 2017 at 12:29

    Why does it take so long to get benefits that are deserved for veterans? My husband died from cancer associated with the Camp LeJeune water contamination. Someone should be working to settle these claims timely. Veterans are dying everyday from that water contamination. So sad and hurtful that my husband couldn’t get any benefits and now it appears that I as his surviving spouse can’t either. There has got to be a more timely way to process these benefits.

  6. James Tobleck April 28, 2017 at 12:03

    Continuation, met nurse, seems new doctor has been talked to by her boss in Battle Creek Mi. Tow the cpay line or out ! I believe there’s a article of law where Doctors are required to put the patient health treatment first an for most above orders from morons I B.C. what would you do if someone was tormenting, abusing, and malpractice, malfeasance fir 41 years. Simply killing doesn’t seem enough.

  7. James Tobleck April 28, 2017 at 11:53

    Continuation, met nurse, seems new doctor has been talked to by her boss in Battle Creek Mi. Tow the cpay line or out ! I believe there’s a article of law where Doctors are required to put the patient health treatment first an for most above orders from morons I B.C. what would you do if someone was tormenting, abusing, and malpractice, malfeasance fir 41 years. Simply killing doesn’t seem enough.K9

  8. Benjamin M Raymond April 28, 2017 at 11:19

    Served in the us army from June ‘1969 till March 1971 How do I get a copy of my DD214 discharge papers Children want something to show my service (redacted)

  9. James Tobleck April 25, 2017 at 20:28

    June 27. 2017 will be 41 years to the day the VA has delayed, denyed, my total knew replacement. Numerous VA personal have blocked
    My health care , dental care, so they can get bonus and promotion money. Bone on bone for 41 years has taken a toll on 3 marriages, my son , our homelessness, bankruptcys. All so Detroit VBA , and Battle Creek Director look good go Washington brass. My doctor canceled a meeting this week to talk why going to a local 5 mile away isn’t in the VA’s best interest. A nurse will meet me , I say more BS. I’m selling my house ,hiring an attorney, but I bought a great new equalizer. Sulkin didn’t do a thing under mconald .nothing changes. 22 vets a day die and VA personal are laughing at the loosers. My thoughts are perhaps the wrong people are dieing.yP24

  10. Elliot Walker April 24, 2017 at 11:32

    This is just a starting. VA’s are suffering, and I hate too much who is responsible for this to happen.

  11. Edward Dickson April 22, 2017 at 22:16

    hello,i am writing to say that the archives.gov told me that there are no records of me spending 6 years of my life in the army national guard and 6 months in the active army,and because of that I cant apply for a va loan. The veterans affairs require a ngb22 form which states your ng history and nobody seems to give it to me. 1966 to 1972. Viet-Nam-Erra

    • Ted Doucette April 28, 2017 at 13:44

      Have you checked with your National Guard State Headquarters in the state in which you enlisted?

    • Ted Doucette April 28, 2017 at 13:46

      Have you checked with the National Guard State Headquarters in the state in which you enlisted.

    • Cindy Ward April 28, 2017 at 23:11

      Do you have any military documents at all? Have you tried going to the DAV for help? The DAV helped me through a lot of problems.

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