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The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, a Federal Agency, is the second largest employer of the U.S. Government, second to the Department of Defense. It is a Cabinet Level Agency with a secretary appointed by the President. It has 38+ Regional Offices and 172+ Medical Centers, Clinics and contract Medical facilities.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is a mega bureaucracy of the government and is tasked solely with the aftercare of our nation's injured veterans and non-injured veterans in administering compensation and pension benefits, medical care, education, housing and special needs of the veteran.
When the veteran is denied these needed benefits or is in disagreement with a decision in regards to these benefits, he or she has the right to file an appeal.
The Appeal process begins first with the veteran filing a Notice of Disagreement to the Regional Office for review and determination. If his or her claim is continually denied, then the claim will go to the Board of Appeals in Washington, D.C. for review and determination of a decision.
When the veteran is faced with the decision to file an Appeal on his or her claim decision, he or she presently has the following options and resources for assistance in the development and representation in filing of an Appeal claim to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs:
- Direct filing to the VA on their own;
- Appoint and hire an attorney;
- Appoint a Veterans Service organization; or,
- Counties Veterans Services Offices.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, overwhelmed with a tremendous workload of claims and cases, hampered by short staff and time tables in processing claims, has led to frequent backlogs and claim delays. The VA presently has been giving case and claims priorities with the returning Iraqi Freedom War Veterans.
Still new and pending claims and appeals are being filed from World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War and the Persian Gulf War veterans.
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