60 Minutes recently produced a story exposing the delays that Veterans are experiencing in claiming VA benefits. The story suggests that one of the VA's motives in such delay in awarding benefits is the fact that if the applicant dies prior to an award, no benefits are awarded retroactively.  The claim just ends.  "Deny, delay and hope that I die" is how one veteran interviewed explained his perception of the VA's the strategy.  Our office has noticed a greater delay in Aid and Attendance benefits over the past year, which is consistent with 60 Minutes report.  While I have attributed this delay to a greater number of veterans seeking the A&A benefits which were previously seldom known, and centralization of the application process which is now handled at one of 3 regional offices rather than at the local VA office, they cynic in me can't help but wonder if there is not a deliberate intent to delay claims of individuals who are, by definition elderly and feeble, usually suffering from multiple health problems, and as such have a greater likelihood of dying while their application is pending than would the general population.