Veterans disillusioned by years of bureaucracy and broken promises may want to take another look at the Department of Veterans Affairs, according to VA Secretary Doug Collins.
As reported by the Daily Caller, Collins is pushing to rebuild trust with veterans by streamlining claims, cracking down on fraud, and reinforcing mental health support, all while undoing what he described as years of neglect under prior leadership.
Collins, who took office in February, aims to overhaul the VA's reputation from a sluggish bureaucracy to a responsive service provider for the nation’s veterans. “Why would you leave [your benefits] on the table?” he said, urging former service members to give the system another chance.
Processing claims through the VA has historically been a paperwork nightmare. The average claim still takes 114 days to process, with some veterans waiting decades for resolution.
Collins admitted that the initial paperwork burden deters many from even starting the process. “We’re too paperwork-heavy on the initial end, which tends to get people wary of the system,” he said, pledging to simplify the process and reduce confusion for claimants.
Complicated filing procedures have driven many veterans to hire outside legal help, a choice that often opens them up to scams and bad actors. The secretary is focused on restoring confidence in the VA, so veterans don’t feel compelled to go elsewhere.
Fraud has become an increasing concern, with scammers exploiting the complexity of the claims process. In 2024 alone, veterans and retirees lost $419 million to fraudulent schemes, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
Collins emphasized the VA’s commitment to defending veterans against these threats. “They deserve what they get, and they deserve what they have earned,” he said, adding that reforms are underway to ensure only legitimate claims are processed.
He criticized the manipulation of veterans by bad actors who claim that using outside services is the only way to access full benefits. “There’s a game going on in many ways, and it’s not a game for our veterans,” Collins warned.
One of the most critical challenges facing the VA is its ability to provide timely and effective mental health care, especially for veterans suffering from PTSD or at risk of suicide.
The VA Office of the Inspector General reported in 2024 that psychology was among the most understaffed specialties in the system. Collins acknowledged this shortfall and is seeking support from Congress to offer retention bonuses and other incentives.
“It just tells us that we need to do better for our veterans,” Collins said, emphasizing that bolstering mental health care is central to his mission to revitalize the agency.
Collins has thrown his support behind the Community Cares provision of the VA MISSION Act, which allows veterans to seek treatment outside the VA system when needed. This option, signed into law during President Trump’s first term, gives veterans access to faster and often superior care when VA wait times or services fall short. Collins called it one of the most vital tools available to veterans today.
During the previous administration, the VA’s backlog ballooned to 378,000 claims as the agency shifted focus to diversity and inclusion initiatives. Since taking over, Collins has trimmed the backlog by 25% while hitting record processing rates. Still, skepticism remains.
But Collins insists his team is listening and ready to serve. “Come back and try again,” he urged veterans, inviting them to help shape a better VA for the future.
