The Department of Veterans Affairs provided more details of its plans to make provisional decisions in unprocessed benefits and disability claims for veterans whose cases have been pending for a year or longer. Among them:
* Veterans who are granted provisional decisions will begin receiving compensation immediately.
* The Veterans Health Administration will expedite examinations necessary to substantiate a rating.
* Once a veteran is awarded benefits, those benefits will be paid retroactively to the original date the veteran submitted the claim.
* Veterans who incurred wounds during combat operations in Afghanistan or Iraq will be given top priority. Those who are homeless, terminally ill, are former prisoners of war, hold the Medal of Honor, face financial hardship, or are most seriously injured will also receive priority.
