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Appeals and Claims Reform

Modernizing VA Claims and Appeals Processing so that Veterans Receive Timely and Accurate Decisions

Ensuring that veterans, dependents and survivors receive timely and accurate decisions on their claims for earned federal benefits remains a critical focus for DAV. Over the past five years there have been significant changes to the VA claims processing system and the backlog of pending claims dropped by over 80%. DAV continues to work with VA and other VSOs to improve the claims processing system.

However, the backlog of appeals for claims decisions rose significantly – topping 470,000 – and veterans today wait an average of three to five years for a final decision. DAV worked closely with VA, the Board of Veterans’ Appeals and other stakeholders to develop and pass the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017. This new law will give veterans multiple options to resolve appeals more quickly while fully protecting their due process rights.

DAV is now focusing on ensuring that this landmark law is fully and faithfully implemented so that all veterans’ appeals – including all those pending today – are resolved more quickly and accurately.