Graphic shows disability claim backlog for veterans; 2c x 3 inches; 96.3 mm x 76 mm; (The Associated Press)
WASHINGTON – Veterans groups are criticizing an Obama administration proposal that's designed to streamline how disability claims are administered.
The application process is supposed to be so simple that even a handwritten note on a napkin initiates a claim.
But the Department of Veterans Affairs says the many ways that compensation requests arrive actually hamper the agency's ability to administer benefits and contribute to a stubbornly high backlog.
The VA wants to require that veterans use a standard form when they file for disability compensation or appeal a decision. And it's throwing in incentives for those who use a computer.
The veterans groups worry that the time it takes to gather records and successfully complete the standard form could financially penalize many veterans, primarily those without computer access.
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