Key VA claims-related provisions of the 2014 military construction, Veterans Affairs and related agencies measure as approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee would:
* Address VA’s backlog of unresolved benefits claims, pegged at 816,839 as of June, by upgrading the computer hardware used by claims processors, and completing the switch to a paperless claims system;
* Require VA to train claims processors to do their jobs more quickly and accurately;
* Establish centers of excellence to handle complex claims such as those related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI);
* Establish quality-review teams to monitor performances of claims processors;
* Require the inspectors general of the Veterans Affairs and Defense departments to monitor the process of transferring medical records and recommend improvements, and;
* Increase funding for the Board of Veterans Appeals, to be used to hire additional staff to speed up the appeals process. Veterans Affairs expects the appeals inventory to rise to 46,860 cases by next year, with an average processing time of 625 days.
