Tony Cook

tony.cook@indystar.com

In a rare move, one of America’s largest veteran organizations on Monday demanded the resignation of U.S. Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki amid allegations that medical treatment delays have caused the deaths of scores of veterans.

Daniel Dellinger, national commander of the American Legion, called for Shinseki and two of his top lieutenants — Robert Petzel and Allison Hickey — to step down immediately.

It’s the first time the veterans group, with 2.4 million members, has called for the resignation of a public official in more than 30 years.

“Patient deaths are tragic, and preventable patient deaths are unacceptable,” Dellinger said Monday at the group’s headquarters in Indianapolis. “But the failure to disclose safety information, or worse, to cover up mistakes, is unforgivable — as is fostering a culture of nondisclosure.”

The call for resignations comes amid reports that veterans across the nation have died because of screening and treatment delays at the VA.

Dellinger, who was visibly angry as he delivered his remarks, called the demand for Shinseki’s resignation one of the most difficult decisions he has ever made.

But as new reports surfaced, including a USA TODAY report that found some VA clerks were trained to falsify records, the decision became inevitable, Dellinger said. The group sent its demand to President Obama on Monday.

Following Dellinger’s announcement, U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski, R-Jimtown, added her voice to those calling for Shinseki’s resignation. Walorski is a member of the House’s Veteran Affairs Committee.

“There is no excuse of delayed care for the millions of men and women who have fought and defended our country,” she said. “Nowhere else in the country would this lack of accountability and transparency be allowed.”

Indiana’s U.S. senators, Dan Coats and Joe Donnelly, both expressed outrage about recent reports and called for accountability at the VA.

“A proper investigation will tell us who is responsible for this calamity and, therefore, who should lose their jobs,” said Donnelly, a Democrat.

VA officials revealed last month that the deaths of 32 veterans were linked to delayed cancer screenings dating back four years.

More recently, a retired doctor, Sam Foote, alleged that 40 other veterans died because of treatment delays at a VA hospital in Phoenix. VA officials say there’s no evidence to support those claims, but the hospital administrator was placed on leave pending an investigation by the agency’s inspector general.

USA TODAY also reported that a VA investigation at one of its outpatient clinics in Colorado found that clerks were instructed last year how to falsify appointment records to make it appear the small staff of doctors was seeing patients within the agency’s goal of 14 days.

At the same time, Dellinger said, VA executives received sterling performance reviews and bonuses of more than $60,000.

The VA defended Shinseki’s leadership in a statement Monday evening, noting accomplishments that include a 24 percent reduction in veteran homelessness.

“The Department of Veterans Affairs takes any allegations about patient care or employee misconduct very seriously,” said Drew Brookie, a spokesman for the VA. “If the VA Office of Inspector General’s investigation substantiates allegations of employee misconduct, swift and appropriate action will be taken. Veterans deserve to have full faith in their VA care.”

VA officials also pointed out that not all veterans organizations are on the same page.

William Thien, national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, said it disagrees with the Legion’s call for Shinseki’s resignation.

“It is paramount that Secretary Shinseki get publicly in front of this immediately to address the valid concerns of veterans and their families, and to re-establish the credibility of the entire VA health and benefits systems, and that of his own office,” Thien said.

Records obtained by the Center for Investigative Reporting show that the VA has paid out more than $200 million in wrongful-death claims to the families of nearly 1,000 veterans since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Those payments included $1.4 million for 13 wrongful deaths in Indiana. Eight of those cases involved the VA Medical Center in Indianapolis.

USA TODAY contributed to this story. Call Star reporter Tony Cook at (317) 444-6081. Follow him on Twitter: @indystartony.