Senator presses for answers for backlog on veterans claims

U.S. Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV) recently requested updates on veterans wait times and the disability claims backlog from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Acting Under Secretary for Benefits Thomas Murphy.

As a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee and co-chair of the VA Backlog Working Group, Heller is committed to ensuring that veterans receive timely services from the VA. He said in his letter that the VA had committed to eliminating the disability claims backlog by the end of last year.

"It is now September 2016, and the backlog has remained stagnant nationwide at 20 percent, or around 77,000-80,000 backlogged claims, for the past year," Heller said.

Heller said he remains committed to improving the VA's services to veterans and providing timely decisions for disability claims. The VA's stated goal is to provide a decision within 125 days.

Heller requested a meeting with Murphy to discuss improvements in the claims process, how the VA plans to address the 20 percent backlog and information about the newly implemented National Work Queue. He also had questions on several issues, including how members of Congress will be able to track progress of their local Veterans Affairs Regional Office if the claims are processed out of state and if caseworkers will be given contact information and updated statuses on veterans' claims.