That's noted.
I would argue that they need to change the term “end date” because, when I hear “end date”, I think it's the end and that the veteran is getting a payment for the benefit for which he or she applied.
As was alluded in your report, it found in some cases that it didn't include the assessment step and the step to determine the severity including the impact. The end date also did not include the time it took for the veteran to receive it, which meant the veterans were waiting longer than the department had reported publicly. Perhaps calling it an end date, which is when the decision was made on the benefit.... The actual end date, I would argue, of when it concluded is when the veterans get the compensation they are entitled to.
My last question is this: Why were the processing times for critical injury benefits not reviewed in this audit? Are they not subject or assessed by the same officials that are reviewing VAC disability claims?