Disability Claims Overwhelming VA

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is facing a growing backlog of disability claims, fueled by veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and a policy change making it easier for Vietnam War veterans to file Agent Orange-related claims. The number of pending claims before VA stood at 853,831 on Friday, an increase of nearly 100,000 from last year and nearly 500,000 from three years ago.

“Nearly 1 million veterans today are stuck in the backlog, and more than half wait at least half a year to find out if their claim has been processed,” said Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee. Although VA has processed nearly a million claims over the past year, another 1.3 million new claims were filed during the same period...