The VA Appeals Backlog Must Be Addressed Expeditiously

Ohio is home to more than 800,000 veterans and I am honored to represent thousands living in Ohio’s 16th District. Those who have sacrificed so much to serve our country deserve to receive the benefits they have earned once they return home, yet widespread mismanagement within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) continues to stand in the way. 

In May, we learned of secret wait lists and extensive wait times for an initial appointment at VA hospitals throughout the county. It is important to note, however, that corruption within the VA extends far beyond unacceptable waiting periods at VA hospitals. Though the Veterans’ Benefit Administration has cut the backlog of initial claims in half, appealed claims have grown to more than 250,000. This is partially due to an administrative decision to move decision review officers from the appeals teams to initial claims processing. The Veterans’ Benefit Administration must now answer to Congress and the American people. 

Several veterans living in Ohio’s 16th District have expressed concerns about the appeals backlog that continues to grow in Cleveland. That is why I recently visited the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Cleveland Regional Office to meet with the new director, Anthony Milons Sr. and several Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) to discuss the appeals process and the backlog of appeals. According to the VA Cleveland Regional Office, the average appeals claim has been pending for more than 400 days; however, during my visit, I learned of one veteran that has been waiting 23 years to have his claim adjudicated. This is unacceptable. We can and must be doing better. 

In Cleveland, there are five decision review officers at the Cleveland Veterans’ Affairs Regional Office (VARO) processing nearly 12,000 appealed claims. Despite the fact that there are more appeals pending in Cleveland than initial claims, the decision was made to transfer 13 decision review officers to initial claims processing, which has only served to increase the appeals backlog. 

It is critical that Director Milons takes the appropriate steps to develop and implement an efficient and effective process to eliminate the appeals backlog. We have a responsibility to ensure that all veterans’ claims are processed in a timely manner. 

Though there is much work to be done, I am proud of Congress’ ability to come together to pass legislation that will bring much-needed accountability to the VA. The Veterans’ Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act provides $10 billion for veterans to seek private care at hospitals and clinics outside the VA, and $5 billion to allow the department to hire more doctors, nurses, and medical staff. It provides $1.5 billion to be spent on leases to use other medical facilities at 27 sites around the country. It makes it easier for the VA Secretary to fire staff at a department where officials covered up long wait times and prevents the VA from awarding bonuses to employees for the next two years. Lastly, it requires public colleges to provide in-state tuition to veterans and eligible dependents. I was pleased to see President Obama sign this legislation into law on August 7, 2014. 

The Veterans’ Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act will provide meaningful reforms to the VA and is a step in the right direction to turn the troubled agency around.  Now, it is up to the VA to take the appropriate steps to reduce the appeals backlog. We owe it to our veterans. 

I remain committed to ensuring that veterans receive the benefits they have earned, and I encourage my constituents to use our office as a resource – we stand ready to assist anyone who may be experiencing issues with the VA. 

If you have any questions or if our office can be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to call us at our Wadsworth office: (330) 334-0040, Parma office: (440) 882-6779, or Washington office: (202) 225-3876. I also encourage you to visit our website at renacci.house.gov and subscribe to our Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube pages to get the latest updates on my work in Washington and Ohio's 16th District.