Legislation passed by Congress opened up additional coverage for toxic exposure.
Since updating disability services to include illnesses resulting from toxic exposure in the line of duty, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has received approximately 113,000 disability claims from veterans. The department is receiving 1,000 more claims per day than usual, with a 19 percent increase in claims last month compared to October 2021.
According to VA Secretary Denis McDonough, the department is now processing around 7,500 claims a day. “With the promise of so many more veterans coming to VA for care under these provisions, we need aggressively to hire the people who will deliver the benefits,” Secretary McDonough said during a press conference in Washington, D.C. The department has also instituted an automated system to shorten the processing time of certain claims.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Secretary McDonough as he oversees the Veterans Affairs Department.
- For VA officials and staff as they care for American veterans.
- For veterans whose health has been compromised due to their military service.
Sources: AP, Military.com
