The Department of Veterans Affairs has touted several historical accomplishments as the country marks Veterans Day on November 11.
Among these accomplishments are the highest-ever ratings from veterans for VA health care, a record number of veterans receiving disability compensation, and the highest number of major construction projects in a single year.
The VA has also decreased the backlog of pending benefit claims by over 40% from its peak in March 2013.
However, despite these successes, the department still faces many challenges. There are still nearly 1 million pending benefit claims, many of which have been pending for more than a year. Additionally, a 2017 Government Accountability Office report found that the VA had problems with maintaining timely appointment wait times and that the department is behind on its goal of eliminating the backlog of benefit claims.
