Economic Crunch, System Glitch Led to Surge in Veterans’ Claims

There has been an increase of 37.1 percent in veteran claims compared to the same period last year.

An Australian war veteran takes part in the annual ANZAC Day Parade in Sydney on April 25, 2014. PETER PARKS/AFP via Getty Images

Veterans’ claims have surged dramatically over the past year, driven by what some are calling an “economic crunch” combined with improved processing times at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA).

Many veterans, once deterred by delays in the claims process, are now filing as they find the DVA’s response times accelerating.