Something needs to be done soon as the backlog at the VA is causing unacceptable delays in getting veterans disability claims processed. Unfortunately, the wait times are getting longer and veterans frustrations are understandably increasing. I have seen similar problems like this in the processing of Social Security disability cases many years ago. Social Security has vastly improved its processing time for disability cases. I believe the Social Security Administration benefited from increase funding which allowed Social Security to hire more decision makers and support staff. Social Security also invested in technology which has also greatly decreased the Social Security disability claim processing time. The VA needs an overhaul similar to the one Social Security went through over the past 10 years. The first thing the VA needs to do is to get the veterans files transferred into electronic format. As it is now, there is one paper file, typically the size of one or two phone books, and these files have to be physically moved from one person to the next while the claims are being processed. Just moving this paper file from one person to the next, or one office to another, must be causing huge delays. The Veterans Administration also needs an increase in funding since it is quite clear the amount of employees they have is not nearly enough to handle the volume of cases put before them. This has led to bad communication between the VA and the veteran or the veterans representative.  It has become extremely difficult if not impossible to speak with someone at the VA about a particular case. The VA also does not have enough Veterans Law Judges or support staff to process the great volume of cases in a timely manner. I know economic times are tough, but I believe we need to find the money to take care of our veterans who have devoted a period of their lives to defending this country.   If you asked me ten years ago if I thought Social Security Disability claims would be were it is today, as far as processing of claims, I do not think I would have predicted the improvement.I hope in a few years I can be writing about how much the VA has improved its processing times as-well.