Faster #VA Claims for Disability Compensation

VA secretary: Automation will help agency ‘make better, faster, more informed decisions’

A Secretary Denis McDonough said the department is poised “to deliver a completely new, fully integrated experience” for veterans as officials expect a further increase in PACT Act claims.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has launched numerous modernization efforts in recent years to enhance its veteran-facing services, but more must be done to meet the coming deluge of PACT Act-related benefits claims — including using more artificial intelligence tools to bolster existing processes — VA Secretary Denis McDonough said at the DigitalVA Expo Thursday.

The PACT Act, which was signed into law by President Joe Biden last August, increased the number of veterans and their family members eligible to receive benefits as a result of exposure to burn pits and other toxic substances. A VA official said during a media roundtable last month that over 560,000 disability benefits claims had already been filed since the law’s enactment.

While McDonough noted the department’s progress in modernizing and enhancing many of its digital and telehealth services, he said conducting a simple task — such as having a veteran update their personal information — “in too many cases still requires visits to multiple outdated websites.”

As the VA experienced a surge in telehealth visits as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the department worked to streamline many of its disparate claims, benefits and health services into a centralized mobile app that launched in July 2021.

With VA’s backlog of benefits claims expected to peak later this year as a result of the PACT Act, McDonough said the department must continue “building on the innovation that our providers have led” over the past several years, since “we don’t have a choice.”

He said this includes prioritizing technologies that will allow the department to speed up its claims processing timeframe while also reducing system outages and downtimes — efforts that have been bolstered by VA partnering with private sector companies “to leverage best practices in AI, natural language processing, machine learning [and] robotic process automation technology.

“That means using automation to help us make better, faster, more informed decisions, improving veteran health outcomes and benefits decisions, while eliminating redundant administrative tasks and workflows and promoting jointness across VA — including with our federal and community partners,” McDonough added.

A report released by the VA Office of Inspector General earlier this month noted that the Veterans Benefits Administration, which oversees veterans’ benefits programs within the department, plans to use IT system modernization tools and automation to help meet the influx of PACT Act claims.

The report’s release came after lawmakers on two House Veterans’ Affairs subcommittees also called earlier this month for the department to speed up its deployment of advanced automation tools to help reduce menial tasks that could prolong the processing of veterans’ claims.

McDonough said VA is “early in this journey” when it comes to using more advanced technologies and automation, but that the department is poised “to deliver a completely new, fully integrated experience in which the support vets need is just a few clicks away.

“These emerging technologies promise to serve more veterans more efficiently, more effectively, more equitably and more accurately,” he added.

[jerrybaker]

That’s great for the PACT act folks but what about us that have been fighting for years???

[elibroussard]

I really appreciate all the information you give to us

[mickturner]

I submitted my claim for TDIU from PTSD in December 2022, I had a C&P in first week of January, Got a positive Decision on June 9th, 2023. About a 6 month time. The VA is getting better at this. Don't forget to use all their Forms, Lay Statements, Medical Evidence, if it's PTSD, any events that would cause you not to be able to work (I had some). I also refiled all my prior records as I heard the VA only looks at what you file for THAT claim and doesn't look back at what you filed for prior claims, I just wanted to be sure they didn't miss anything.

[Kris-vczv]

Thank you for what you do it really is awesome to know and informed....

[godswill]

The thing is the influx of claims especially the ones for the PACT act is due to the system avoiding the truth about toxins and not having enough personal to process normal flow claims.

[MrOmar]

At the beginning of them using this technology their are going to be denials left and right, probably double or triple the amount currently. BUT if they calibrate it correctly, it could definitely work in the veterans favor taking the human factor of inexperience or misinterpretation out of the equation!!!

[donwhigham]

With today technology it shouldn’t take 125 days to process a claim

[robinroegner]

My husband was denied for copd. He was sent to the Gulf war not once but twice. He was right where the burn pits were. Filled an appeal.

[mguizar]

I was in Camp Lejeune during that time frame.

[BleedCubbieBlue]

Yeah really fast been waiting since January, finally had c&p Friday. Have to wait even longer have to get x-rays on Monday, and the Dr that did c&p now has to wait for PFT results taken over 2 weeks ago at the VA hospital.

[LeatherNeck-]

was in camp geiger and camp lejeune 79-82 should be something coming my way frosty brother

[jerrybaker]

BTW Good job on getting info out to us. 👍👍👍

[robertortiz]

First off: Happy 4th of July and thanks for your videos and up to date info. I think all this is great for the pact act, but what about us vets who’ve filed years back and still waiting for claim approvals, BvA hearings, etc. I’m already at 2 years just waiting for my hearing and I’m sure there are thousand more vets who have waited longer. I wouldn’t change a thing and never regret doing my part for this country, my injuries and ptsd have for ever changed my life but yet I still believe in 🇺🇸❤ it’s just a dam shame us vets have to fight and go through so much BS to get what’s due.

[stalingarcia]

That's not true you can only get back pay if your va rating goes up otherwise it doesn't matter if the va granted anyone back pay two years back

[SpaceRanger]

At this point it should be automated.. Not that hard to set it up where boxes are checked by the Veteran and by a Doctor and then it gets approved. Literally could be done in seconds.. Instead of scamming Veterans. Thats why they deny claims its done on purpose

[QuDotG]

Sounds like eventually you’ll be able to beat the system by using the right words and terminology when you submit your claim. Same way some folks get jobs by tailoring their resumes to meet job requirements.

[rogersmith]

I had already read this article before seeing this video and I wouldn't expect any changes to these processes for quite a while yet. The most telling statement in this article for me were "VA Secretary Denis McDonough said that the agency will continue to look to automation technologies to meet growing PACT Act benefits claims" and "McDonough said VA is “early in this journey” when it comes to using more advanced technologies and automation". This means they have no plan other than they want to use technology to speed up claims. I suspect we are looking at years before any technology changes are made.