Ackerman Calls for Improvements to Disability Claim Process for Veterans

U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-Bayside, is calling on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to review its timeline for completing compensation claims made by New York soldiers following a recent study that found the agency’s regional office is falling way behind the national average.

A July 28th report by the Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General found that New York’s VA Regional Office averaged 257 days to complete compensation claims submitted by veterans.

The Veterans Affairs department’s national target for completing claims is 175 days, according to the report.

“The unreasonable delays and processing errors at the New York VARO must end,” Ackerman said. “Our veterans must not continue to be subjected to these dreadful and frustrating practices. They deserve better.”

The report also found that only 75 percent of claims are processed accurately, which is below the 90 percent target set by the Veterans Benefits Administration.

The VA office of the inspector general cited a need for improving the accuracy of processing disability claims, including temporary 100 percent disability evaluations, traumatic brain injury residual disability claims and post traumatic stress disorder claims.

“With so many troops returning every day from Afghanistan and Iraq, we are greatly concerned that the New York VARO may not be performing at the level our veteran constituents need,” a group of lawmakers, including Ackerman, recently wrote to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki. “

The New York VARO, which could not be reached for comment, is one of 57 regional offices across the country that provides benefits and services to veterans. The Manhattan-based chapter serves an estimated 800,000 vets in the five boroughs, Long Island and the state.