The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Digital Service announced their launch of an improved Appeals Status tool to increase transparency and enable Veterans to track the progress of their benefits claims appeals.
It’s important that our veterans have the opportunity to track their appeals process in a timely and efficient manner, said VA Secretary David Shulkin. For the first time ever, veterans can see their place on the Board of Veterans’ Appeals’ docket, including the number of appeals that are ahead of them.
The tool, which went live March 21 on VA’s Vets.gov website, will allow veterans to access detailed information about the status of their benefits appeals and will include alerts about needed actions as well as estimates of how long each step of the process takes.
Some veterans who have previewed the new tool said it had given them hope and helped them understand that the process might take longer than expected.
Richard Schleeter is the veterans service officer for the La Plata County Veterans Service Office. He can be reached at 759-0117 or schleeterrs@co.laplata.co.us.
For more information
The La Plata County Veterans Service Office provides information and assistance to veterans and their families. For more information, visit the county website at www.co.laplata.co.us and type “veterans services” in the search window. The Veterans Service Office and the Durango VA Clinic are located at 1970 East Third Ave. The office phone number is 759-0117. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays except holidays. Appointments are encouraged. To schedule an appointment, call 382-6150. For clinic appointments, call 247-2214.
Help for vets
The Veterans Crisis Line offers free, confidential support to veterans, family and friends. Call (800) 273-8255 and press 1. You also can text professional responders at 838255 or chat online at www.VeteransCrisisLine.net.
Health care van service
Disabled American Veterans is running a VA health-care van from Durango to Albuquerque on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and from Farmington to Albuquerque on Mondays and Wednesdays. If you want to use the DAV transportation network, contact DAV coordinators at:
Durango area – 442-0149
Cortez area – (970) 676-1116
Farmington/Aztec – (505) 793-1782
