The number of Veteran Disability claims waiting to be handled in Ohio rose 30 percent last year to just over 350,000. With many veterans waiting 180 days to receive their disability checks, Senator George Voinovich says something must be done. At a roundtable discussion Monday, it was revealed that part of the backlog problem is due to an overly complicated letter. It's asks veterans for more information that's integral to their claims, but many of them go unanswered. Voinovich thinks a simpler letter is a start to the backlog solution.
George Voinovich: They've been getting that letter since 2001 or 02 you'd think by now someone would have raised the issue and said the veterans don't understand it. Because they don't understand they aren't able to respond properly and it that delays the issue.
Voinovich also says veterans aren't taking advantage of current policies that could expedite their claims. He says he wants to get veteran groups and VA administrators to start working together on the issue by the end of this summer.
Lisa Ann Pinkerton, 90.3.