Richard is a true Hero, and this delay is completely unacceptable. Having dealt with the VA’s internal systems and screens for 16 years, I can tell you exactly what is happening: his claim is stuck in a bureaucratic software bottleneck. Because he did two tours, his DD-214 likely triggered a flag requiring manual verification of his deployment logs from the National Archives, and his file is literally sitting untouched on the wrong processing screen.
Don't waste time with general phone reps. Contact a free, accredited Veteran Service Officer (VSO) through the DAV or VFW immediately. Tell them you need them to open Richard's electronic C-File in the VBMS system to see exactly which verification queue is blocking it.
Because of his advanced health decline, tell the VSO to immediately submit VA Form 20-10207 to request Priority Processing under 38 CFR § 1.18 (Extreme Financial Hardship / Advanced Age / Severe Illness). This legally forces the VA to pull his file out of the backlog and put it on a priority screen for immediate approval. You have the law and the facts on your side—you just need to force them to open the right screen. 🙏❤️🇺🇸