WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced a major milestone in reducing the disability claims backlog today. U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), who has called on the VA to work closely with veterans service organizations (VSOs) to reduce the backlog, commended the VA for eliminating 97 percent of the claims from the backlog in the last two months.

“It’s unacceptable that our nation’s veterans are forced to wade through endless red tape to receive the benefits they’ve earned and deserve,” Brown said. “That’s why today’s news is so important. The VA and Sec. Shinseki have made decreasing the backlog a priority, but we can’t let up until the backlog is completely eliminated. The best way to address delayed claims is to ensure that they are never backlogged in the first place. That’s why I’m working on legislation that would require the VA to notify veterans of resources available through local VSOs for filling out their disability claims.”  

The VA has committed to end the backlog in 2015 and process claims within 125 days. Brown is working to advance that goal by connecting veterans with veterans’ service organizations (VSOs) to ensure that veterans properly and fully complete their disability claims. In May 2012, Brown introduced the Veterans Services Outreach Act, which would require the VA to notify Ohio veterans and their families of assistance available to them in filing for VA benefits electronically. The bill would alert veterans to trusted third-party advocates, like VSOs, that can help veterans assemble detailed, accurate, and complete claims that are more likely to be processed quickly–shrinking the current backlog.

Last year, VA processed 1 million claims from our nation’s veterans, but 1.3 million new claims were submitted to the VA. Because of understaffing and technology issues, the backlog has delayed or prevented veterans from receiving the benefits they have earned.

Brown is the first Ohioan to serve a full term on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.

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