of Veterans Affairs , a professor and an official from the Disabled American Veterans . The GAO report said the number of initial claims the VA annually completes has increased from the 1999 to 2008 fiscal years . But it says the number of pending claims at year 's end has grown during the same time period . The review cites `` increases in disability claims received , growing complexity of claims , court decisions and changes in regulation . '' There have been mixed results for claims workloads at the appellate level . The number of resolved claims has increased from 2003 to 2008 , but it took an average 96 days longer to resolve appeals during that same time period . `` One factor that affects workloads at the appellate level is the submission of new evidence or claims that must be evaluated , '' the report said . The report said the VA has worked to improve the handling of claims but said the results of those efforts `` is not yet known . '' It mentions an increase in staff from 2005 to 2009 , `` which has helped to increase the total number of decisions
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The Veterans Administration 's handling of disability claims has seen improvements and setbacks , a congressional watchdog said Wednesday . Sen. Daniel Akaka says , `` Our goal is to provide veterans with accurate and timely resolution to their cases . '' `` Over the past several years , VA disability claims workloads at both the initial and appellate levels have improved in some areas and worsened in others , '' the Government Accountability Office said in a report . The Senate Veterans ' Affairs Committee asked the GAO to present its preliminary findings on the processing of disability claims , which were under discussion at a committee hearing . `` Our goal is to provide veterans with accurate and timely resolution to their cases , '' said Sen. Daniel Akaka , D-Hawaii , the committee 's chairman . Ranking member Sen. Richard Burr , R-North Carolina , said , `` For the men and women who have served and sacrificed for our nation , they deserve a system that meets their needs without hassles or delays . '' Along with a GAO representative , the hearing invited testimony from the Pentagon and the Department