Arkansas is home to almost 200,000 veterans, so it is no surprise that so many questions come to my office relating to the federal programs that impact them.

These requests range from help obtaining records and medals to support with long-term care needs, but assistance with the process to file a claim for a service-connected disability consistently outpaces the rest. Getting to a final decision is often cumbersome, requiring a lot of paperwork that can be difficult to track down on their own.

It can also be an emotional journey for veterans who feel unsupported or powerless. That only underscores the importance of ensuring they know these are benefits they have earned, as well as improving the internal processes of our bureaucracy so they work more efficiently.

I have been pleased to see the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) efforts over the last year to modernize the claims process for new applicants, and the hard work underway to address the enormous backlog of pending applications. In the last quarter of 2025 alone, the department reduced it by 25 percent, while also handling the enormous number of new applications made possible by the PACT Act.

Since that law was enacted, VA officials report more than 3.3 million related claims have been submitted nationwide and 3.19 million of those have been completed. 

As my staff and I work with veterans on these issues, one thing has become very clear –– much of the speed and success of a claim depends on having all the information former servicemembers need before submitting any paperwork.

In the past, it was common for veterans to enter a basic application and rely on the VA to track down the necessary service and medical records. That is no longer the case.

Veterans will want to provide their DD-214, medical records and other critical information at the outset. Proof of ongoing illnesses, injuries, chemical exposures or resulting complications is critical to help obtain earned benefits promptly.

Fortunately, there is a lot of help available, but many veterans are unaware of the services in their own community and across our state to assist them with service-connected claims and other VA-related issues.

In Arkansas, we have accredited veterans service officers (VSOs) at both the county level and through the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs (ADVA). In addition to helping find documents and prepare an application, they can help identify other valuable support. The easiest way to find a conveniently-located VSO is to use the search tool provided by the VA on its website. 

I am grateful for everything our military community does for Arkansas and our nation, so I hope veterans and their families will take advantage of the tools and resources dedicated to supporting them after they have given so much.

In Washington, I continue working to advance policies and priorities that improve the delivery of these and other benefits or services.

In the last few weeks, the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee has approved several bills I have championed, including legislation to eliminate bureaucratic red tape that significantly delays burial benefits – the Veterans Burial Timeliness and Death Certificate Accountability Act. I am pleased it, along with measures I am helping lead to address difficulties former servicemembers face when they fall victim to scams and to allow certain Purple Heart veterans to transfer their educational benefits to one or more of their dependents, are now headed to the Senate floor.