The backlog for veterans benefits have been piling up for a long time now, but qualifying veterans and their families should not give up on trying to get what is owed to them. With proper representation, these benefits can be fought for and procured by those who have dedicated their lives to helping the United States.
CBS News reported that the backlog is currently at more than 500,000 former soldiers, a number that Allison Hickey, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs director of benefits, called “way too many.”
“Forty-five percent of them are filing a claim,and that is unprecedented in terms of the number of veterans that will file a claim with us,” Hickey told the news source, saying that the system has been swamped lately by more claims than usual. There was recently a change in regulations that allow more Vietnam veterans to file for claims from having to live with the effects of the Agent Orange pesticide. Veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan are also filing for more claims than ever.
CBS said VA plans to switch from paper to electronic records by 2015, something that should help claims make their way through the system much quicker than they currently do. Until then, veterans should continue to submit needed paperwork and gave good representation to ensure they can get their needed benefits.
The law offices of Harold W. Conick & Associates is committed to helping veterans fight for their benefits. It is important for veterans not be discouraged by the backlog and pursue their claims.
