“Among the many challenges facing new Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie is the long-standing backlog in disability claims appeals, which currently totals more than 400,000 cases.”
“As acting secretary at the VA in May, Wilkie said, “VA is committed to transforming the appeals process” through the Rapid Appeals Modernization Plan (RAMP).”
“However, Congress was told last week that the technology improvements needed to make the new system work are behind schedule…”
“At a committee hearing last week, VA officials testified that the original plan was to have about 75 percent of the information technology (IT) updates in place by August; instead, only about 35 percent of the improvements will be ready.”
“Despite the IT delay, Paul Lawrence, the VA’s new undersecretary for benefits, said the agency is on track to meet…” Read the full article here.
Source: New VA Secretary Faces 400,000-Case Appeals Backlog, IT Delay – By Richard Sisk, July 31, 2018. Military.com.
