Mon, Dec 22, 2008 (2:06 a.m.)

Once in a while a judge will express sympathy for a plaintiff, only to rule against that individual or group because of lack of jurisdiction. That’s what happened Wednesday when U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton in Washington turned down a claim from two veterans groups that think the Veterans Affairs Department drags its feet when it comes to processing disability claims.

Walton recognized the plaintiffs, Vietnam Veterans of America and Veterans of Modern Warfare, have a legitimate complaint against Veterans Affairs. “As much as I as an individual would like to see claims expeditiously concluded, I just don’t see how I could provide the relief,” he said in court. “If I did, I would be reversed in a heartbeat.”

Instead, the judge advised the groups that if they wanted Veterans Affairs to be required to process initial disability claims within 90 days and resolve appeals within 180 days, they would have to take their fight to Congress and to the secretary of Veterans Affairs.

We agree with the judge and encourage Congress and retired Army Gen. Eric Shinseki, President-elect Barack Obama’s choice to be the next secretary of Veterans Affairs, to revamp the agency’s unwieldy bureaucracy. There is no reason to force veterans who put their lives on the line to defend this country to wait six months for disability benefits and years for resolution of appeals, as is often the case.

Veterans Affairs says it has been working to reduce those delays, but it needs to work much harder, especially at a time when many veterans are out of work and live on the streets.

Obama, to his credit, has said he intends to fix the agency’s bureaucracy. It looks to be a sure bet Shinseki is on board with that strategy based on comments he directed to veterans this month when he was announced as Obama’s choice: “If confirmed, I will work each and every day to ensure that we are serving you as well as you have served us.”