Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Criminal Justice

Advisor

Carolyn Dennis

Abstract

The Department of Veterans Affairs failed to process service disability claims promptly, which resulted a backlog from 1993 to present. This impacted veterans by limiting medical care and affected their quality of life. For the past 30 years or longer, military veterans have complained about their quality of life and the status of their service-connected disability claim. The fundamental purpose of the study was to discover how veterans’ quality of life was affected while waiting for their final word on disability comprehensive benefits and or their appeal cases. Human resource theory and the Institutional Analysis and Development assessment were used to understand organizational and professional identity. The qualitative research methodology encompassed Monday Morning Workload and Board of Appeals Reports, and National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics charts, as reference of data on how many claims were still pending. The research questions were related to the veteran’s barriers with processing claims from paper to electronic submissions, the quality of life from failed return of claims, and lack of understanding of electronic portal eBenefits. The findings show the benefits claim process was a complex system. The research participants were not discouraged by the backlog, and 62% submitted a claim. Even with new acts, executive orders, and improved programs within VBA to reform process claims, the reality was that the backlog of disability claims will continue to exist. The implication for positive social change is military veteran should be initiative-taking in reaching out to representatives of the Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign War, and other veteran groups to change their quality of life.

Download

Share

 
COinS