The VA has a new tool to help track your benefits appeals

VA and the U.S. Digital Service announced their launch of an improved Appeals Status tool to increase transparency and enable veterans to track the progress of their benefits claims appeals.

"It's important that our Veterans have the opportunity to track their appeals process in a timely and efficient manner," said VA Secretary Dr. David Shulkin. "For the first time ever, Veterans can see their place on the Board of Veterans' Appeals' docket, including the number of appeals that are ahead of them."

Also read: The VA is looking for LA veterans to share their stories

The tool, which went live March 21, 2018, on VA's Vets.gov website, will allow Veterans to access detailed information about the status of their benefits appeals and will include alerts about needed actions, as well as estimates of how long each step of the process takes.

Some Veterans who have previewed the new tool said it had given them hope and helped them understand that the process might take longer than expected.