FOR RELEASE:  June 7, 2002

VA ACKNOWLEDGES CLAIMS BACKLOG REDUCTION REPORT GROSSLY INACCURATE

EVANS URGES COMPLIANCE WITH LAW MANDATING EXPEDITED TREATMENT OF REMANDED VA CLAIMS 

Washington, DC -- Congressman Lane Evans, the senior Democratic member of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, who had criticized the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for releasing inaccurate numbers concerning the extent of the VA’s reduction in the backlog of pending claims welcomed VA’s acknowledgement that the widely reported numbers are incorrect.  Although VA appears to have turned the corner in slowly reducing the pending backlog, the widely reported “200,000” claims reduction was grossly overstated.  As VA officials testifying before the Subcommittee on Benefits of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs acknowledged, the reduction is closer to 12,000 than the previously reported 200,000.

The Subcommittee also heard testimony from a number of witnesses who raised concerns that VA regional offices may be paying more attention to meeting office quotas than providing quality services to veterans.  Evans, a Vietnam era veteran has consistently urged VA to “get it right the first time.”  He was particularly disturbed to hear reports that remanded claims which are required by law to receive “expedited treatment” are being ignored or neglected in order to meet production quotas.  Evans had previously written to Secretary Principi concerning the 13,805 claims which had been in remand status for over 17 months as of February 27, 2002. 

Admiral Cooper, VA’s Under Secretary for Benefits has been quoted as saying, “you get what you inspect, not what you expect.”  Evans urged the Secretary to start inspecting regional offices’ handling of remanded claims.

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