WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon has decided to buy a new computerized health records system to be able to better share and merge its data with the Department of Veterans Affairs, but officials cautioned that it was part of a "long-term modernization" effort and would not help ease the backlog in VA disability claims.

The announcement Wednesday came on a day when Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki were called to Capitol Hill to explain to frustrated lawmakers what progress they were making in speeding up decisions on disability claims applications.

Veterans groups and congressional lawmakers have criticized the VA for the number of disability claims pending longer than 125 days — about 570,000, nearly two-thirds of all claims pending.

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