i used the bdd. because i filed when i had over, i think i did it at 180 days.nd that was a program that was currently being pushed by the va that said if you file this way, your claim will be processed, and you'll receive benefits as soon as you exit the military. maybe some of the issue is that these claims go to certain regional offices, and a lot of members started filing the claims in either winston-salem or utah started seeing the claims, and what we started seeing the claims was that the bdd and quick start claims became a backlog because every service member that was trysting was advised this would be the

bdd was launched back in 1995 as a pilot program and became operational in 1998. bdd was to assist disabled service members in making a seamless and successful transition to civilian life by allowing them to get the claim completed as early as possible while they have all medical information readily available. quick start was launched in 2008. it's similar in nature to bdd and was to provide an expedited disabilities process to those who would be discharged within 59 days. despite having long been established and having enough time to get over growing pain and problems in the early stages, all of the programs continue to face challenges and are performing far below expectations. the one similarity they have is they suffer from a continued poor performance in the adjudication of the claims in each of the three programs. of particular interest to see is a number of oh claims under the bdd and quick start that's dropped off. there are fewer claims than there used to be i'm concerned that the reason for that is that service members are choosing to bypass the programs

bdd claim is the dd214. so theoretically, they get to the rating officer fully developed, and you theoretically should be able to rate that day. however, they're kind of pushed to the side and kind of waited on as they work their other cases. so if you treated them as the same process you would an ftc claim, you'd likely see a fall in the processing times. but it's also important to recognize that the you shift the resources there -- if you shift the resources there, you're essentially taking resources from elsewhere. but we believe these service members are in need of the benefits the most. they're transitioning their wounded. they still may be looking for a job. so they're going through a lot of transition process, and they really need that income to help them through that process, so i think it's appropriate to requiretize those claims. prioritize those claims. >> well, thank you for your help. thank you, mr. chairman, for the time. >> thank the gentlelady and recognize the gentleman from texas, mr. o'rou

i used the bdd. because i filed when i -- i had over, i think i did 180 days. that was a program that was currently being pushed by the va. they said if you file this way your claim will be processed and you'll receive benefits as soon as you exit the military. maybe some of the issue is that these claims go to certain regional offices and a lot of members started filing the claims and either went to winston-salem or utah and what we started seeing is that the bde and quick start claims became a backlog because every service member transitioning was advised this is to most advantageous way and by everybody filing we created a backlog. i believe now that bde and the quick start claims have come down a bit. i mentioned the benefits of the discharge which is another initiative started. you submit your claim along with your medical documentation and ask the va to adjudicate the claim because they have all the information available. right now these claims are being adjudicated -- depending on the regional office -- between 130 and 135 days. i deal with ides and mayb