Last fall, Edward “Ward” Snyder of Beavercreek was battling two life-threatening illnesses, including cancer of the larynx and esophageal cancer, which doctors attributed to his exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam. It looked like he would have to do battle on yet another front: obtaining his Veterans Administration benefits before it was too late to receive life-saving treatment.

Snyder and his wife, Sylvia, said they expected to wait a year or longer to receive the 100 percent disability compensation for which he qualified. “We were struggling to pay the bills,” Snyder recalled. “I had been laid off for three years with no benefits.”

The couple’s friend, Candy Prystaloski of Beavercreek, suggested they contact the office of U.S. Rep. Steve Austria, R-Beavercreek. The call helped Snyder receive his benefits in seven weeks. “Once they understood the situation, the VA was very responsive,” said Lee Martin, the veterans’ caseworker for Austria’s office.

Snyder’s case was hardly unique. He was one of 1.5 million American veterans waiting for his Veterans Administration benefits, according to Joe Davis, a spokesman for the Veterans of Foreign Wars. “It’s a huge backlog, especially as more and more veterans return from Iraq and Afghanistan,” he said.

Taking care of vets

Davis said the typical veteran waits for six months to receive benefits and compensation claims to be decided, while appeals can take as long as two years. “That’s egregious,” he said. “That’s good to hear about your local veteran, but there are thousands like him. We have an inherent responsibility to take care of them for life when they have donated their youth and their health to defend America.”

Davis added the VA claims adjudicators “are well-trained people, but they’re overwhelmed.”

Austria said he also is concerned about the problem: “I think there is a lot of bureaucracy and red tape for veterans seeking their retirement claims and benefits.”

Regional VA officials could not be reached for comment.

The U.S. House Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (part of the appropriations committee) is addressing the issue. “We want to find out how we can improve and expedite claims and services to our veterans,” said Austria, a committee member. “We understand with two wars winding down in Iraq and Afghanistan that this is an issue we are faced with. We have to be adaptive and responsive to veterans’ needs and work more cost-efficiently.”

Austria attended a Dec. 28 reception at VFW Post 8312 in Beavercreek during which Snyder thanked the congressman and his staff for their help. Two days later, Austria announced he will not compete in the Republican primary with U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Centerville, for the newly redrawn 10th district covering Montgomery and Greene counties and the northern half of Fayette County.

Snyder said he is cancer-free after 33 radiation treatments and eight rounds of chemotherapy. “It’s looking good right now,” he said.

Snyder filed for his disability benefits in May, and the couple expected a much longer wait. “People just don’t realize that help is out there,” Sylvia Snyder said. “The VA has been fantastic to us. They have been there for us and so has our congressman and VFW Post 8312. These days I’m crying tears of happiness. I’ve still got my husband, and he’s still cancer-free.”

96,000 veterans helped in 2011

Austria said he wants veterans to know his office can assist them to answer questions and apply for benefits. Martin, the caseworker in Austria’s office who is a disabled veteran himself, is paid through the federal “Wounded Warrior” program, which is designed to employ injured veterans. “Being a veteran himself and having been wounded, (Martin) has experienced these issues first-hand and can help the veterans through the process,” Austria said.

Davis said that VFW service officers also are available to help veterans, whether or not they are members. “Last year, we helped 96,000 vets to recoup $1.4 billion in earned benefits,” he said.

The key is filing the claims properly the first time, he said, to avoid a lengthy appeals process. It’s also important to start working on a claim before retiring, when access to medical records is easier.

Many claims are denied because of missing paperwork, he said, recommending veterans find an accredited service officer from the VFW, the American Legion or Disabled American Veterans who can help them with their claims.

“The onus is on the veteran to prove it’s a service-connected disability, and the government wants all the accreditation it can possibly have,” Davis said. “It’s a lot easier to get documentation when you’re young, rather than put out advertising such as, ‘Does anybody remember the time in 1955 when I jumped off a truck with a full rucksack and injured my knee?’”

Austria said it’s gratifying to help veterans like Snyder, who recently won the 50/50 pot at a fundraiser and donated the money to the charity, in spite of his own financial difficulties. “It’s a great feeling to help one of our veterans to get the benefits they deserve,” he said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2209 or mmccarty @DaytonDailyNews.com.