I'm just going to comment on the backlog issue. The VA has a penchant for manipulating facts and figures to their advantage. Yes, the claims backlog is at 95,387. he definition of claims backlog is a subset of the VBA Claims Inventory, the backlog number represents claims that have been awaiting a rating decision for more than 125 days since receipt. Looks good? The next figure is the Claims Inventory which includes disability compensation and pension claims that have been received by VBA and that require development and a decision by a VBA claims processor. That stands at 389,824. Wow, that number is 3x claims backlog. There is a third category which goes unreported. Those are the claims which have been denied and are in appeal or being remanded. Once a claim has been adjudicated it is no longer in backlog. I will not speculate on what that number might be, I just don't know. Modernization will only shorten the flow of information. The biggest obstacle is getting a decision that is correct. This needs the human touch. Today the burden of proof is on the Veteran. A Veteran with diagnosed Diabetes Type II, who has been in the Vietnam Theatre of Combat must prove he was exposed to herbicides. I would like to see a policy change where the Veteran is assumed to have a legitimate claim, unless proven otherwise. 1. The Veteran has an illness that could be attributed to toxic exposure. 2. The Veteran was in a war zone where toxic chemicals were used. 3. The Veteran then is more likely than not been exposed to these toxins. The first thing the VA will do is deny this claim without a letter supporting his claim by a physician. What does logic tell you?