The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has been regularly shredding thousands of documents related to veterans' claims, possibly including those needed to treat and fulfill benefits for veterans, according to an investigation by the inspector general. 

Investigators with the Department of Veterans Affairs arrived unannounced at 10 regional offices and sifted through 438,000 documents awaiting destruction. Of the 155 claims-related documents, 69 were found to have been incorrectly placed in shred bins at six of the regions.

Investigators determined that two of the 69 documents directly affected benefits of veterans, nine had the potential to affect benefits and 58 did not affect benefits but were still required to be included in the veteran’s claims folders prior to destruction but were not included.

"The potential effect should not be minimized," read the report, "considering that there are 56 [VA regional offices], and if weekly shredding is conducted, it is highly likely that claims-related documents at other [VA regional offices] are being improperly scheduled for destruction that could result in loss of claims and evidence, incorrect decisions and delays in claims processing."