Audit of Veterans Benefits Administration Transition Assistance for Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom Service Members and Veterans

The OIG conducted an audit to determine if Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) controls over transition assistance ensured (1) prompt processing of seriously disabled veterans’ compensation claims from Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) and (2) effective outreach to OEF/OIF service members and veterans. The audit covered VBA transition assistance controls in effect during Fiscal Years (FY) 2006–2008 (through January 2008). VBA controls over VA Regional Office (VARO) processing of seriously disabled OEF/OIF veterans’ compensation claims needed strengthening to meet VBA’s 30-day claim processing goal. To improve claim-processing timeliness, VBA needed to obtain DOD data identifying seriously disabled OEF/OIF veterans and monitor case-managed claims more effectively. VAROs did not process 3,776 (76 percent) of 4,969 seriously disabled veteran compensation claims within VBA’s 30-day goal. In addition, VAROs only case managed,1,049 (21 percent) of the 4,969 seriously disabled OEF/OIF claims requiring case management, which is intended to ensure VAROs meet the 30-day goal.