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Johnson Hosts VA Backlog Roundtable

Kealey Bultena
/
SDPB

A roundtable discussion Wednesday in Sioux Falls drew veterans representatives. U-S Senator Tim Johnson hosted the event to discuss his plan to reduce a backlog in VA disability claims. The Senator credits the South Dakota work ethic for being one of the more efficient offices in the country.

"Here in South Dakota, we are fortunate to have one of the higher-performing VA Regional offices. As of July 29, the Sioux Falls Regional Office had 299 pending more than 125 days," Johnson says.

Johnson says many offices have veterans waiting on claims for almost one year. Johnson expects the workload to increase as South Dakota begins to process claims from veterans around the country to ease the backlog.

Veterans’ representatives at the meeting agree that South Dakota’s veterans wait less time for disability claims to be processed than service members elsewhere. That’s one of the reasons Rick Barg has trouble accepting a new plan to alleviate a national claims backlog by shouldering more work on offices that have kept up with the demand.

"What I really feel is wrong is that they’re allowing our claims to be set back and take on people who weren’t doing their job correctly," Barg says. "And I don’t know why a young man with two children coming home from Iraq or now Afghanistan is waiting on a waiting list for six months so we can take care of someone else."

Despite his frustration with the offices, Barg says he believes the country has an obligation to provide all veterans prompt, appropriate responses to their claims. Barg is the state quartermaster for the VFW; he served in Vietnam.

Sen. Johnson is chairman of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee. He and 10 other leaders met to ask questions and address ongoing concerns about the VA services.

Kealey Bultena grew up in South Dakota, where her grandparents took advantage of the state’s agriculture at nap time, tricking her into car rides to “go see cows.” Rarely did she stay awake long enough to see the livestock, but now she writes stories about the animals – and the legislature and education and much more. Kealey worked in television for four years while attending the University of South Dakota. She started interning with South Dakota Public Broadcasting in September 2010 and accepted a position with television in 2011. Now Kealey is the radio news producer stationed in Sioux Falls. As a multi-media journalist, Kealey prides herself on the diversity of the stories she tells and the impact her work has on people across the state. Kealey is always searching for new ideas. Let her know of a great story! Find her on Facebook and twitter (@KealeySDPB).