VA Experiencing Unprecedented Number of Backlogged Claims Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
June 06, 2020
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the shut down of in-person compensation and pension (C&P) examinations to assess veteran disability claims, there is now an unprecedented backlog of veterans’ claims and decisions.
There are now over 125,000 claims backlogged, up from 70,000 in January. According to the VA, claims that have been pending for more than 125 days are considered a part of the backlog.
The VA paused over 230,000 in-person C&P examinations on April 2nd to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and switched to virtual C&P examinations. However, this move to virtual examinations has contributed to the backlog. Without the in-person C&P examinations, the claims backlog results in thousands of veterans waiting for decisions.
Even House lawmakers are stepping in to get the VA to reduce this backlog. At a forum on May 27, 2020 lawmakers gathered to discuss the backlog, but no one from the VA attended the meeting. Representatives called for VA to provide a plan for reducing its backlog and figuring out its C&P exam process.
The next day, the VA initiated in-person examinations at 20 facilities across the country to start to address this backlog. Veterans who are not patients at one of these 20 facilities will continue to be seen through telehealth. Paul Lawrence, the VA undersecretary for benefits, stated, “We know how to drive it down. We are not proud of this. Our team is embarrassed. We want to open up, get the [compensation and person] exams done, and get back to that very low number.”
Lawrence has pressed lawmakers for legislation that would help the VA lower the number of backlogged exams, to include allowing the department to give doctors the ability to see patients across state lines and letting other providers, such as nurse practitioners, conduct the exams.
However, VA did not say how it would improve its virtual offerings or explain how it would resume in-person exams in a relatively safe manner amidst COVID-19.
Legal Help for Veterans will continue to monitor the situation and will be available to help our veterans in any way possible. If you are a veteran or know someone who is a veteran with a claim for disability and need assistance, please contact us online or call (800) 693-4800.