Backlog of disability cases hard on veterans

[maddezmom]

Midstate groups active in drive to speed benefits

By TIM GHIANNI
Senior Writer


Many military veterans and their families suffer financial hardship, even bankruptcy, while waiting for the Department of Veterans Affairs to make a decision about their disability cases and pension claims, according to veterans advocates in Washington, D.C.

As of March 3, the VA had almost 401,000 pending cases for disability compensation, with almost 115,000 having languished for six months. And the numbers are increasing because of the claims of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

~snip~

The VA "has proactively gone out and done what they call outreach to inform veterans that you may be entitled to something," Burleigh said.

But the federal government "hasn't increased the budget" enough to cover the services, according to Burleigh, executive director of Operation Stand Down Nashville, a nonprofit organization serving veterans, with a particular focus on the homeless.

~snip~

"Some veterans have died while their claims ... were unresolved for years at VA," he said in Washington.

more:http://www.fairviewobserver.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070308/NEWS07/703080392

[Heidi]

1. Kick.

:kick:

[fed-up]

2. kick and this needs more recs nt

[ninkasi]

3. K&R

This should give it 5 rec, but needs more so that it will be seen.

[babylonsister]

4. I have not read one good thing about how the Iraqi vets have been

treated. This is beyond infuriating.