Today, Congressman Jerry McNerney (CA-11) responded to the report issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Inspector General on the effectiveness of three regional offices in California, including the Oakland regional office. The Oakland regional office has a severe backlog of claims, affecting veterans with benefits claims from Bakersfield all the way up to the Oregon border.
"The backlog of claims at the Oakland regional office is unacceptable. I will continue to hold the VA accountable until we see some concrete results from its plan. The number of claims simply must be reduced. The veterans who have served our country deserve the benefits that they have earned and need," said Rep. McNerney.
"The Oakland facility must process claims as quickly and accurately as possible. The delays and inaccuracies we have seen are disturbing. The veterans who are being subjected to these problems cannot wait for another report from the IG to shed light on the issue. The VA needs to take steps now to right these wrongs," said Rep. McNerney.
Late last month, Rep. McNerney spoke on the House floor and questioned a representative from the VA in a hearing in the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs about the claims backlog. He also sent a letter to the VA, calling for the Oakland regional office to be granted the updated technology granted to twelve other regional offices. The Oakland regional office currently has one of the worst wait times in the country, with veterans waiting over 300 days to have their claims addressed.
"I've heard from many veterans in our region about the enormous and frustrating delays in processing their benefits claims. For the tens of thousands of veterans currently waiting to receive their benefits, any extended delay is inexcusable. I call on the VA to take steps to process the claims currently languishing at the Oakland regional office, and I will closely monitor the prog