WASHINGTON (AP) — The Veterans Affairs Department is hoping the installation of a new computer system will eliminate the growing backlog of disability claims, but when officials showed the new program off to congressional staff last week, it didn’t work.
That example as well as the ever-growing number of backlogged claims led lawmakers to question the VA Wednesday about whether it can realistically meet its 2015 target of ending the backlog entirely.
The number of claims pending more than 125 days has jumped from 180,000 to 600,000 over the past 3 1/2 years.
Lawmakers on the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs say they’re tired of hearing about the longstanding problem.
VA Undersecretary Allison Hickey emphasized the VA was processing more claims than ever — more than 1 million annually.
