Senator Jon Tester recently introduced bipartisan legislation that will streamline the lengthy VA disability appeals process, provide faster care for Montana veterans, and save millions of dollars.

According to the VA, over the past three years, the number of veterans who are appealing their VA disability rating has risen by more than 30 percent.  The VA estimates this bill will reduce the amount of time a veteran waits for their ruling by up to 1,000 days.

“Thankfully the VA is making progress on reducing the overall disability claims backlog, but unfortunately veterans who file an appeal often wait years to get a final determination by the VA,” Tester said.  “By cutting bureaucratic red tape, this bill gives veterans the option of having their disputes determined in a much more timely manner.  This is a common-sense bipartisan bill that reflects our commitment to veterans and their families, while also saving taxpayers millions.”

The VA backlog of disability claims has dropped by over 530,000 cases since 2013.

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