Schumer wants VA to process Nassau claims

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Thursday that he has asked the federal Department of Veterans Affairs to immediately expedite claims for more than 100 veterans whose applications had been delayed, sometimes for years, by the Nassau County Veterans Services Agency.

“I pledge to do everything in my power to make sure the federal VA processes these cases and pays our vets [all] the benefits they deserve ASAP,” Schumer said in a release.

The applications for benefits, including claims for widows and health care benefits dating to 2005, were found in the county agency’s office by its new director earlier this year, according to the Republican leaders of the county administration and legislature.

Schumer’s statement urged the VA not to “punish blameless Long Island veterans ... because of the negligence of county officials” and urged the federal agency to “thoroughly investigate” the problem and propose changes to keep it from happening again.