VA Ends Informal Claims Process

In what the agency champions as a way to streamline the bogged-down claims process, the Department of Veterans Affairs is doing away with its “informal claims” program. Using the informal claims process, a veteran could begin a benefits-claims process simply by writing a letter to VA stating he or she would like to file a claim. The letter then would secure a place in VA’s sequence of pending claims, allowing the veteran to provide substantiation for his or her claim later on in the process. Now, veterans must complete a four-page form that includes acknowledgement that it is their responsibility to obtain all relevant medical records before filing their claim. The move drew sharp criticism from veterans’ advocates. “We believe the most immediate response to the new regulation will be a sharp reduction in claims filed – potentially hundreds of thousands,” Glenn Bergmann, a partner in a Washington, D.C., based law firm that specializes in veterans’ issues, said. The new VA policy, veterans’ advocates say, shifts the responsibility to help veterans away from the department and contains confusing language. “We suspect the next month – the next year – will be a boondoggle as veterans try to figure out the new process and keep tabs on their paperwork,” Bergmann said.