Our nation’s veterans risked their lives to defend American freedom, yet the government they fought for is failing them at every turn.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), riddled with bureaucratic inefficiency and corruption, has allowed nearly 400,000 veterans to languish in a backlog of unprocessed disability claims.
Behind the VA’s shiny facade of supposed progress lies a system overwhelmed, underfunded, and outright dishonest.
The blame lies squarely at the doors of the politicians and bureaucrats who prioritize optics over action and leave America’s heroes trapped in endless red tape.
The crisis begins with Veterans Service Officers (VSOs), who are meant to help veterans navigate the labyrinth of VA claims.
These individuals are crucial in ensuring veterans submit accurate, complete claims the first time, avoiding appeals that drag on for years. Yet, VSOs are woefully outnumbered and drowning in caseloads.
The VA claims there are enough VSOs to meet demand, but the reality is far different. States like Georgia report hundreds of VSOs, but a closer look reveals the true numbers are far lower.
Some VSOs are double counted by multiple organizations, and in some cases, one individual is listed as many as 27 times.
This deliberate inflation of numbers gives the false impression that the system is functioning when it’s barely holding together.
The result?
Veterans in desperate need of benefits are waiting months — sometimes years— for help.
The average processing time for a disability claim is now over 153 days, well above the VA’s own definition of a backlog.
This is not progress; it's a dereliction of duty. While veterans wait, many struggle with worsening health conditions, mental health crises, and financial hardship.
Is this how America treats its heroes?
Yes, The System Is Rigged Against Veterans
The VA’s failure goes beyond inefficiency — it borders on criminal negligence.
The claims process is so convoluted that many veterans give up altogether, forfeiting the benefits they desperately need.
Those who persist are often met with rejection due to minor clerical errors or incomplete documentation, forcing them into a byzantine appeals process.
Meanwhile, VA bureaucrats collect their paychecks and pat themselves on the back for "streamlining" processes that clearly aren’t working.
This incompetence has real consequences. The VA Crisis Hotline has seen a 15% surge in calls in recent years, with many veterans citing delays in benefits as a contributing factor to their mental health struggles. This system isn’t just broken—it’s destroying lives.
A Call to Action
It’s time to stop pretending that the VA cares about veterans and demand real change.
First, the VA must provide accurate, transparent numbers for VSO availability. Second, Congress must dramatically expand the number of VSOs to meet the growing demand.
Third, we must embrace legislation that allows veterans to seek assistance from private-sector experts since so many are frustrated from working with the inefficient free options available to them.
For too long, the federal government has exploited veterans for photo ops and campaign slogans while leaving them to rot in a broken system.
It’s time to fight back.
Veterans didn’t abandon this country when it needed them. We must not abandon them now. The VSO shortfall is not just a failure — it’s a disgrace.
Fix it now or prepare to answer for the lives lost while our heroes wait.
Mitchell Brown is an Army veteran with extensive experience as a linguist, intelligence collector, and reconnaissance asset. Mitchell eventually took a legislative role in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he began his work on policy for the chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security. Mitchell was subsequently appointed to serve as deputy White House Liaison for the Department of Labor for the Trump administration. Mitchell was tasked with leading in lowering the unemployment rate during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read Mitchell Brown's Reports — More Here.
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