United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office Health, Education, and Human Services Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1995-09-27 monographic deposited born digital 59 p. GA 1.13:HEHS-95-190 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-HEHS-95-190 P0b002ee1803a06fb f:he95190 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-HEHS-95-190 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-HEHS-95-190 HEHS-95-190 Veterans benefits Claims adjudicators Administrative hearings Appellate procedure Internal controls Claims processing Military benefits claims Claims settlement Pension claims Interagency relations Chapter Report HEHS Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO examined the need for organizations within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that are involved in processing claims to increase cooperation and coordination so that impediments to processing appeals can be identified and resolved.<p/>GAO found that: (1) legislation and Court of Veterans Appeals' rulings have forced VA to integrate new adjudication responsibilities into its already unwieldy adjudication process; (2) since 1991, the number of appeals awaiting Board of Veterans Appeals' action has increased by over 175 percent and the average processing time has increased by over 50 percent; (3) the current VA legal and organizational framework makes effective interaction among autonomous VA claims adjudication organizations essential to fair and efficient claims processing; (4) although VA believes it has implemented efficient problem solving mechanisms, problems are going unidentified and unresolved; (5) unless consistent Board interpretations are developed, VA decisions will continue to be remanded, delaying benefits for some veterans and increasing VA workloads; and (6) unless VA clearly defines its adjudication responsibilities, it can not determine whether it has adequate resources to meet those responsibilities and whether new solutions may be needed. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-HEHS-95-190/html/GAOREPORTS-HEHS-95-190.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-HEHS-95-190/pdf/GAOREPORTS-HEHS-95-190.pdf GAO/HEHS-95-190 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-HEHS-95-190 Chapter Report GAO/HEHS-95-190; Veterans' Benefits: Effective Interaction Needed Within VA to Address Appeals Backlog; Veterans benefits Claims adjudicators Administrative hearings Appellate procedure Internal controls Claims processing Military benefits claims Claims settlement Pension claims Interagency relations Public Law 100-687 Public Law 103-271 Public Law 103-446