Veterans Disability Claims

Timely processing of veterans’ disability claims remains a daunting challenge, according to a recently released study by the Government Accountability Office. As the number of claims for veterans’ benefits has increased, so have processing deadlines, according to the study. Several factors have contributed to increased processing timeframes and backlog, including the higher number of claims and the higher number of disabling conditions, including traumatic brain injuries, which require more complex assessment, the GAO study found. The report indicated that design and implementation of the compensation program also contributed to processing delays. The report contains several recommendations.