VA urged to improve benefits program

Compensation is coming more quickly these days to veterans applying for disability benefits, but the Government Accountability Office is recommending that the Veterans Administration improve a program meant to streamline the application process.

Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have steadily increased the number of new veterans needing disability benefits. The VA recently implemented the Benefits Delivery at Discharge program, which allows service members to file a claim or get a thorough exam before being discharged.

GAO officials looked into how the VA is managing the program, visiting several VA regional offices, including one in Salt Lake City, before releasing its report Thursday. The GAO found problems with the VA's ability to ensure claims are being fully developed before being rated, which determines the amount of an award. The GAO also said the VA isn't measuring the time local VA personnel are taking to develop claims before rating them.

"As a result of these gaps in oversight, VA has limited information on how well the program is working or whether further improvements are warranted," the report said.

The GAO was also critical of the VA and Department of Defense for not developing a plan to get the word out to veterans about the BDD program.

But Terry Schow, executive director for the VA in Utah, said the VA in Salt Lake City "has had a tendency to be among the best in the country in terms of their timeliness factor."

The VA has hired hundreds of new employees in recent years to handle a rising number of health-related claims, he said. "It does become a learning-curve issue. It's going to take a while for folks to learn how to do that."

Schow said BDD claims filed by new vets in Utah and in other regional states through the VA in Salt Lake City are given high priority. Meanwhile, he wants to make sure that vets from World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars aren't being overlooked.

"That's the only concern I would have," Schow said. "I think all vets ought to be treated fairly."

E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com

Recent comments

• Most Popular
• Most Commented

1. Deseret News 2008 Mr. Football: Craig Bills
2. 2008 All-State Football Team
3. 2008 Deseret News MVPs always delivered in clutch situations, displayed great leadership
4. Glenn Beck sees new project as 'most important' of his life
5. Collie has made his All-American case
6. Utah State football: Andersen to Boise State: 'Here we come'
7. MSNBC names Buttars 'worst person in world'
8. Hit parade - Box sets and greatest hits
9. Operative budget word: cut
10. BYU, Weber State basketball: Cougars shoot down Wildcats

1. Sore losers won't let go in California 671
2. Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, oldest apostle, 91, dies at home 252
3. Buttars says bah to 'holiday' greetings 197
4. BYU football: Destination is unknown for Cougars 195
5. Smith's journals made available to public for 1st time 151
6. MSNBC names Buttars 'worst person in world' 140
7. Utah Utes football: Johnson, Sakoda, Whittingham headline All-MWC honors 115
8. Collie has made his All-American case 114
9. USU football: Andersen is the Aggies' new guy 112
10. Benson had it right 107
11. (Stories published in the last five days with the most comments)

• A & E
• LDS news
• Sports