House panel issues subpoena in probe of mismanagement of veterans claims at Philadelphia VA

FILE - In this Feb. 11, 2015 file photo, Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington. A House committee voted Thursday to issue a subpoena of the Department of Veterans Affairs for personnel and complaint files at its Philadelphia office, part of an expanding probe into mishandling of veterans' disability and pensions claims. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this July 25, 2014 file photo, House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Miller, R-Fla., walks on Capitol Hill in Washington. A House committee voted Thursday to issue a subpoena of the Department of Veterans Affairs for personnel and complaint files at its Philadelphia office, part of an expanding probe into mishandling of veterans' disability and pensions claims. (AP Photo, File) (The Associated Press)

A House committee has voted to issue a subpoena to the Department of Veterans Affairs for personnel and complaint files at its Philadelphia office, part of a widening probe into the mishandling of benefits.

Rep. Jeff Miller, who chairs the House Veterans Affairs Committee, says his panel has repeatedly asked for information with limited success from VA Secretary Robert McDonald and other officials.

It was only the third time in the committee's history that it has resorted to a subpoena.

The committee is probing allegations of leadership misconduct and whistleblower retaliation at one of the VA's largest facilities.

In a scathing audit this month, the VA inspector general confirmed a litany of problems first raised by whistleblowers in Philadelphia, such as manipulation of dates to make old claims look new.