Recent VA News Releases****

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To view and download VA news release, please visit the following Internet

address:****

http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel****

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*VA Partners with American Bar Association and Legal Services Corporation

to Launch a Pilot Program to Help Veterans Receive Decisions Faster and

Reduce Claims Backlog *

*Pro-Bono Pilot Program to Assist Veterans with Developing their Disability
Claims ***

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WASHINGTON (Aug. 9, 2013) – The Department of Veterans Affairs, the
American Bar Association (ABA) and the Legal Services Corporation (LSC)
announced today a new partnership and pilot program aimed at reducing the
claims backlog and making it easier for unrepresented Veterans to receive

assistance developing their claims for disability pay.  ****

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“Ending the backlog is an ‘all hands on deck’ effort that requires
teamwork, both in and out of government,” said Secretary of Veterans
Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “This partnership between VA, ABA and LSC is
aimed at surging resources to deliver earned benefits to Veterans more

quickly.”****

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In the coming months, ABA and LSC attorneys will provide free assistance to
a targeted group of unrepresented Veterans who request their help gathering

and obtaining evidence required by law to support their disability claims. *
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The development of the claim is often the longest part of the process that
determines whether a Veteran is entitled to VA compensation.  These steps
can take more than 200 days in the rating decision process.  The pilot will
offer pro bono attorney assistance to Veterans with claims pending at the
St. Petersburg and Chicago Regional Offices who do not currently have an

authorized representative.  ****

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