Backlog has been cut by 74 percent since January 2025.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has announced the backlog of veterans waiting for VA disability compensation and pension benefit claims fell below 70,000 for the first time since February 2020.
Hitting this milestone means the department has now cut the backlog of veterans waiting for VA benefits by over 74 percent since Jan. 20, 2025.
A VA claim for compensation or pension is considered backlogged once it has been pending in the claims inventory for more than 125 days. In 2013, 70 percent of claims were older than 125 days — the most ever — compared to just 11.6 percent today.
VA has also reduced the average time it takes to process a claim to a record low. Today, claims take an average of 77.7 days to process – the fastest ever. Since January 2025, VA has decided more than 1 million claims in less than 30 days.
“Weare incredibly proud of these historic numbers, which mean faster decisions, better service and more benefits for the men and women who have worn the uniform,” said VA Secretary Doug Collins.
VA encourages all veterans to visit Choose.VA.gov to learn more and apply for the care and benefits they have earned.
- Veterans Benefits