Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) continues to help alleviate the VA backlog

Office of the Governor Texas sent this bulletin at 04/05/2013 04:42 PM CDT
  
    Office of the Governor Rick Perry
    Committee on People with Disabilities
  

Texas Veterans Commission (TVC)  continues to help alleviate the VA backlog

 

The Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) will host a “Beating the VA Backlog” event in Amarillo on April 27 in order to provide specific, one-on-one guidance to Texas Veterans, family members and survivors with pending disability claims from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).This event will take place in at the Holiday Inn West Amarillo Medical Center from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

 

TVC holds backlog events in order to serve Veterans through the State Strike Force Teams, which were created by Governor Rick, Perry, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst, and House Speaker Joe Straus in July 2012. The teams were created to help reduce the backlog of disability claims in Texas since the number of backlogged claims had more than doubled since 2010 and the wait times for Veterans were continuing to increase.

 

"Since the TVC State Strike Force Teams were authorized by the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House in July, we have already helped more than 11,000 Veterans with their backlogged claims, and provided over 3,000 cases to the VA for action," said Thomas Palladino, TVC Executive Director. "This 'Beating the VA Backlog' event is one of several events that the TVC is holding around the state as we try to help Texas Veterans get the benefits they deserve."

 

The success of the State Strike Force and Fully Developed Claims Teams, as well as the continued need to serve Veterans with claims in the backlog, led Lt. Governor Dewhurst, Speaker Straus, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Tommy Williams, and House Appropriations Committee Jim Pitts to provide another $500,000 to add another 16 staff members for these initiatives.  Moreover, both the House and Senate versions of the state budget continue this funding through 2015.

 

The upcoming “Beating the VA Backlog” event is open to all Veterans, their families, and survivors and all services, free of charge. Preregistering will give staff an opportunity to research your claim prior to the event and provide you with the ability to select an appointment time. Walk-ins are allowed on a first-come, first-served basis as time allows.

 

For details regarding this event, contact information and registration, please visit: http://www.tvc.state.tx.us/Beating-the-VA-Backlog.aspx