Investigators: VA not doing enough to help veterans from Iraq

[babylonsister]

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2007/03/13/investigators_va_not_doing_enough_to_help_veterans_from_iraq/

Investigators: VA not doing enough to help veterans from Iraq

By Hope Yen, AP

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Veterans Affairs' system for handling disability claims is strained to its limit, and the Bush administration's current efforts to relieve backlogs won't be enough to serve veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, investigators said Tuesday.

In testimony to a House panel, the Government Accountability Office and Harvard professor Linda Bilmes detailed their study into the VA's claims system in light of growing demands created by wars. They found a system on the verge of crisis due to backlogs, cumbersome paperwork and ballooning costs.

The House hearing is the latest to review the quality of care for wounded troops returning from Iraq -- from emergency medical care at military hospitals, to long-term rehabilitation at VA clinics and eventual transition to civilian life with VA disability payments.

According to their findings, the VA:

--Took between 127 to 177 days to process an initial claim and an average of 657 days to process an appeal, resulting in significant hardship to veterans. In contrast, the private sector industry takes about 89.5 days to process a claim.
GLOBE SPECIAL REPORT: A promise to keep

--Had a claims backlog of roughly 600,000.

--Will see 638,000 new first-time claims in the next five years due to the Iraq war -- 400,000 by the end of 2009 alone -- creating added costs of between $70 billion and $150 billion.

--Maintained a system for determining a veteran's disability that was complex and applied inconsistently across regional centers. Results varied; for example, Salt Lake City took 99 days to process a claim, while Honolulu spent 237 days.

--Had antiquated technology for processing claims, such as unreliable old fax machines.

more...

[TheBaldyMan]

1. Is it true that Iraq and Afghanistan vets are only getting 2 years health cover?

I saw an interview on Democracy Now and an American Legion rep seemed to be implying that unlike other veterans, who have helthcare for life, returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans will only be covered for the first two years.

[babylonsister]

2. If their injuries are severe, as many are, I can't imagine healthcare

wouldn't be provided, but I don't know. IF no injuries, they don't get a lifetime of care. Vets who are 'lifers', putting in 20+ years, are covered.
I hope a Vet pipes in with more knowledge than I have.

[TheBaldyMan]

3. I'll post the question in the veterans forum

I'm sure to get a full answer there.

thanks.