Diverse News 2008®

NEWS FEEDS
VA Finally Moving in the Right Direction by Accepting Online Applications for Benefits
    GREENVILLE, S.C., Aug 05 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "It's about time!"
said John Rowan, National President of Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA),
upon reading today's news release from the Department of Veterans Affairs
that on-line applications are now being accepted from veterans, survivors,
and other claimants filing initially for disability compensation, pension,
education, and vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits without
the additional requirement to submit a signed paper copy of the
application.

    "The VA is finally waking up to the electronic age when it comes to
filing for benefits," Rowan said. "By accepting the electronic application
as sufficient authentication of a claimant's application for benefits, VA
officials are acknowledging that technology can be used to speed up a
process that is often as convoluted as it is confusing.

    "This is a nice first step," Rowan said. "But it is only a first step.
The VA must continue to innovate if it has any realistic hopes of reducing
the backlog of claims that have piled up over the past several years. The
VA is using in-house technology in its on-line claims applications process.
To speed the adjudication process, the VA now needs to explore the use of
artificial intelligence software.

    "An added benefit of going online is that the computer and the Internet
are the communications tools of the next generation," Rowan said. "Our
younger veterans have grown up with computers, and the VA needs to talk to
them in their own 'language.'"

    Contact: Mokie Porter 301-996-0901
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