As a veteran and advocate, I'm glad to see the Department of Veterans Affairs processing over 1 million claims in fiscal year 2024 at the fastest rate in its history. After decades of struggling with immense backlogs, it's a relief that more of us are finally getting the compensation and benefits we've earned through our service. (https://news.va.gov/press-room/va-processed-its-one-millionth-veteran-benefits-claim-fy2024/)
The PACT Act has been a gamechanger, allowing the VA to provide care for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic hazards. With over 3.5 million new claims filed since that landmark legislation, it's no wonder the VA has expanded its workforce by 50% and looked to technology to meet the increased demand.
But let's be clear - the VA still has a long way to go to make things right for America's veterans.
While they hit the 1 million claims milestone almost six weeks faster than last year, the backlog of pending claims over 125 days still sits at over 42,000. That's 42,000 injured or ill veterans stuck in limbo, unable to access the care and compensation they desperately need after sacrificing for this nation.
I'm pleased the overall grant rate is up to 60.4% this year, including 75.1% of PACT Act claims. But that also means hundreds of thousands of claims are still being denied or delayed each year. As someone who has been through the VA bureaucracy, I know how grueling and dehumanizing that process can be for veterans already struggling.
And even when claims are granted eventually, the VA's work is not done. I've heard far too many stories of veterans with approved claims who still faced unconscionable wait times, lack of access to quality care, or bureaucratic runarounds when trying to actually utilize their hard-earned benefits.
So while I absolutely commend the VA staff working hard to make progress on the backlog, I caution against any sort of victory lap. This is merely the baseline of what our nation owes its veterans - taking them at their word, believing their testimony about injuries and toxic exposures, and providing them with timely, fully resourced health services and disability compensation.
For every headline about percentages and numbers, there are thousands of human stories of veterans suffering from depleted cancer treatments, mental health crises, homelessness and financial ruin because of the VA's Byzantine processes. We cannot allow fatigue or complacency to set in.
As an advocate, I will continue pushing for an end to the stratification and inequities still plaguing the system. Why are claims for certain groups of veterans approved at higher rates than others? Why are appeals processes so onerous and tilted in the VA's favor? Why do rural and minority veterans disproportionately lack access to high quality VA care and services?
The pressure must stay on the VA and our elected leaders to fully fund, streamline and humanize the entire benefits system. We will accept nothing less than having every veteran's sacrifice honored through fair and timely care and compensation.
These
metrics are nice. But until no veteran falls through the cracks, the VA's work
is truly never done.
