Some of the factors may be that some of the veterans may not have access to a family physician. It may take time to get the information together that is required to support the physician's analysis or assessment. I don't know; it may take a few sessions to meet with the veteran to determine his or her mental health and to put together an assessment and send it in to Veterans Affairs.
Those are a couple of examples. I'm sure there are other reasons why it may take longer.