Four of the nation’s largest veterans’ service organizations presented its annual independent budget for the 114th Congress, calling for increased attention to health care, infrastructure, education, employment, training, and memorial affairs. The four groups – American Veterans (AMVETS), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) called upon Congress and the White House to address:
Timely access to health care at the Department of Veterans Affairs, with enough funding to enable VA to solve its information-technology, scheduling, and wait-time issues, among others. The organizations believe last year’s funding levels fell $2 billion short for fiscal year 2015, which began Oct. 1, and will fall another $500 billion short for fiscal year 2016.
Resolving the claims processing and appeals quagmire. The groups state that the target established five years ago, to resolve claims with 98-percent accuracy within 125 days by the end of 2015, is unrealistic. More training at VA, greater deference to private evidence that supports a veteran’s claim, and strengthening of the decision-review officer program are necessary, the groups said.
More oversight and income credits, and other improvements, for VA in-home caregivers.
More attention to the needs of female veterans. The VA needs to enhance gender-specific programs, take steps to ensure timely and quality access to care, and join with the Defense Department to eliminate sex-related crimes from their respective cultures.
