VA Not Making the Grade

James G. Fausone

Veteran Disability Lawyer

An annual survey of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ services was circulated to veterans by Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC.  The direct e-mail and social media survey went to hundreds of veterans involved with the VA disability claim process around the country.

Veterans with disability claims were asked to grade VA’s handling of their disability claim.  VA did not make the grade – 51% gave VA a D grade.  Only 6.1% gave VA an A or B grade.

The survey found that nearly half, 47.9%, felt that VA should take less than 6 months to decide a disability claim.  Deciding a claim in 6-11 months was supported by 28.1% of respondents and 16.7% thought the end of the year would be an acceptable time period.  Only 7.3% of the veterans felt a claim should take more than a year.

The vast majority, 73%, of the survey respondents had been waiting over one year.  In fact, 42% had a VA experience that took over 3 years.

The customer service problems from long delays, misplaced records, asking for the same information again, and scheduling repeated exams are all well documented.  This survey asks the customers – the veterans – to rate VA.  The response is a failing grade by 75% of the respondents.

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC is a national firm representing veterans before the VA since 1998 and has helped thousands of veterans obtain over a million in veteran disability compensation benefits.