|
Crapo co-sponsors bill to improve VA appeals |
|
June 28, 2017 |
Idaho Senator Mike Crapo on Monday
announced his co-sponsorship of S. 1024, the
Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization
Act. His endorsement follows years of statewide
veterans surveys, hundreds of town halls, and
numerous direct communications with Idaho
veterans.
This extensive work provided Crapo with many
detailed, personal accounts of the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) claims
appeals process and how it could better serve
veterans. S. 1024, the product of collaborative
discussions among veterans, Veterans Service
Organizations (VSOs) and the VA, would overhaul
the current appeals process and replace it with
a new multi-track system to ensure veterans and
their families receive timelier decisions on
essential benefits provided by the VA.
“Through my interactions with Idaho’s veterans,
I learned of the challenges veterans and their
families face while going through the slow
claims process at the Veterans Benefits
Administration (VBA),” said Crapo. “I made a
promise to Idaho’s veterans that I would
continue to press for sensible reforms at the
VA, and this measure would address unnecessary
delays and current shortcomings at the VBA.”
A March 2017 Government Accountability Office
report indicated that in 2015 veterans waited an
average of 3 years for decisions on their
appeals. With over 370,000 disability
compensation and pension claims waiting for a
rating decision by the VBA, reforms are needed
so veterans can receive timely decisions
regarding their eligibility status for benefits.
S. 1024 includes the following key reforms:
* Establishment of a new three-lane process for processing appeals with
flexibility to change lanes;
* Expedited treatment of claims remanded to local VA offices due to staff
error;
* Ability for certain veterans with claims pending in the old system to
opt into the new system;
* Requirement that the VA design a comprehensive solution for addressing
the backlog in the current system;
* Protection of the effective date of a benefits award based on the
original filing date;
* Facilitation of independent medical opinions needed to file an appeal;
and
* Requirement for the VA to educate veterans on how to use the new
system.
“The Veterans Appeals Improvement and
Modernization Act has broad bipartisan support
to address issues surrounding the current claims
and claims appeal processes at the VA,” said
Crapo. “This measure would establish a
veteran-centric process to make the claims and
appeals process easier for veterans, their
families and VSOs.”
Senator Johnny Isakson (R-Georgia), Chairman of
the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee,
introduced S. 1024. |
|
Questions or comments about this
article?
Click here to e-mail! |
|
|
|
|
