California veterans returning home from duty in Iraq and Afghanistan are failing to get the care they need and deserve in alarming numbers. Errors and delays are rampant within the VA’s three regional offices in the Golden State, with the Oakland VAO coming under particularly heavy scrutiny in recent weeks.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n In Northern California, figures from the VA say returning soldiers have to wait an average of 320 days for disability claim decisions. Some 35,000 vets in Northern California are awaiting their fates regarding disability claims, with the overwhelming majority waiting over four months — and counting. Nationwide, some 566,000 veterans are waiting on claims.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The inspector general also said it took a look at a batch of cases and found that claims were handled correctly in the Oakland VA only 61 percent of the time, meaning the process would have to be done all over when mistakes were made. California veterans returning home from duty in Iraq and Afghanistan are failing to get the care they need and deserve in alarming numbers. Errors and delays are rampant within the VA’s three regional offices in the Golden State, with the…<\/span><\/p>\n
\nWhen it (more…)<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"