Essay On Disability Rating Claims

One of VBA’s highest priorities has been reducing the disability claims backlog, defined as rating claims pending over 125 days. VBA has made great strides toward achieving this goal. An aggressive and comprehensive plan was implemented that has transformed the decades-old, paper claims approach into a state-of-the-art electronic process. More than 99% of disability rating claims are now processed electronically. This process leverages digital data transfer and automated calculators to reduce processing time and input errors. Productivity of the claims processing workforce and the quality of decisions were increased through enhanced training, streamlined business processes, new organizational structures, and other initiatives such as prioritizing the oldest claims. VA reduced the claims backlog (i.e., claims pending over 125 days) from its peak of 611,000 in March 2013 to 77,502 as of July 31, 2016 – an 87-percent reduction. At the same time VBA also reduced the claims inventory from its peak of 884,000 claims in July 2012 to 377,125 as of July 31, 2016 – a 57% reduction. Veterans are now waiting less time for their decisions and benefits. Claims currently in the inventory have been pending an average of 91 days, a 68-percent reduction from the peak of 282 …show more content…
Operational overtime continues to serve as an effective tool to help reduce the inventory and the number of claims pending more than 125 days. VBA’s original allocation of overtime for compensation rating claims in FY 2016 was $47M and VBA plans to allocate a similar level in FY