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Bay County veterans office reports claims trends, staffing shortages and raises concerns about VA use of AI on disability forms
Summary
County veterans office staff told the committee new claims are down about 20% while supplemental claims rose roughly 60%; they reported a driver shortage affecting transportation, outlined accreditation and training steps for a new service officer, and discussed recent VA proposals to use AI to scan private DBQs for fraud.
Veterans office staff briefed the Bay County Veterans Affairs Committee on March 17 about 2025 service statistics, staffing constraints and training requirements, and discussed recent Department of Veterans Affairs activity involving artificial intelligence and medical documentation.
"We're currently down to 2 drivers," the veterans office staff said when explaining why transportation events have declined. Staff emphasized that several report lines in the packet reflect "events" (repeated service contacts) rather than counts of unique individuals, and flagged steady levels of burial assistance alongside fluctuations in emergency assistance events.
On claims activity, staff said new claims were down roughly 20% while supplemental claims — refiled or reworked claims — had increased by about 60% compared with the prior year. Staff attributed the 2022 spike in filings to implementation of the PACT Act and noted the VA provided an additional filing window in 2023 that produced further volume.
Staff also updated the committee on accreditation of a new service officer, Andrew. "He has just finished his accreditation," staff said, and has filed paperwork with VA general counsel and must complete an additional roughly 40 hours of VA-specific training before full access to VA systems; annual online training and other state association requirements also apply.
Committee members discussed local service coverage: staff said Keishan Counts, employed through the American Legion, provides at least one service officer presence at the Vet Center on Mondays, and the county noted an influx of referrals from Saginaw County where the VFW lacks a service officer.
The committee spent time on a broader national issue: several members described a recent VA proposal to run artificial intelligence against private Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs). One member summarized that the VA had considered retrospective AI review of DBQs dating back to 2010, then said it would not proceed, and later indicated the agency plans to use AI on new claims once a system is developed. Staff characterized the VA’s intent as primarily focused on identifying potential fraud, and reminded the committee that VA policy allows rating changes if fraud is discovered regardless of how long a veteran has been rated.
Members also noted other agencies' access to VA records — for example, FAA and Social Security — in the context of verification and adjudication of benefits.
The committee moved and approved a motion to receive the office’s 2025 statistical report by voice vote. Staff and members said they will publish appointment notices for the committee expansion and circulate a roster with term-expiration dates when available.
