Sen. Cramer: Massive decrease in VA’s benefits backlog in just one yearWASHINGTON, D.C. (KVRR) — Proposed changes to the Veterans Health Administration could affect veterans in North Dakota and the rest of the nation. Sen. Kevin Cramer is already commending VA Secretary Doug Collins about the massive decrease in VA’s benefits backlog in just one year. “You could come into this mess right here with 264,000 backlogs and turn that into 105,000 in one year?” asked Cramer. That now numbers closer to 600,000 to 550,000,” VA Secretary Doug Collins responded. Cramer is backing a bill to allow veterans living in rural areas to seek health care services at local Critical Access Hospitals or Rural Health Clinics if they don’t live near a VA hospital.