The Hill: The VA’s backlogs epidemic

Last week, The Hill ran an op-ed I wrote for their Congress Blog about the multi-dimensional backlog problem at the VA, beyond the regular claims backlog that everyone already knows about and which the VA has sought recently to redefine. Check out the full piece here, but here’s the gist:

Backlog #1: 

“Everyone in Congress knows by now that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has a massive claims backlog problem that has outraged the American public…”

Backlog #2: 

“However, as the VA makes one step forward in one area, it is making two steps backward in another, as the backlog of claims appeals is now growing to a staggering level…”

Backlog #3:

“Equally frustrating for Congress, however, is yet another growing VA backlog - the VA’s backlog of information requests from members of Congress….”

For more on the individual veterans stuck in backlogs 1 & 2, visit The Wait We Carry. For more on the congressional info requests comprising backlog 3, visit Trials in Transparency.