WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Veterans Affairs announced that its backlog of disability compensation and pension claims has fallen below 100,000 for the first time since May 2020, marking a 63% reduction since January 20, 2025.
What This Means for You
- Fewer veterans are waiting longer than 125 days for disability or pension decisions.
- The backlog has dropped from 264,717 claims on January 20, 2025, to under 100,000.
- VA says overall claims processing has reached record levels.
A disability compensation or pension claim is considered “backlogged” when it has been pending for more than 125 days.
According to the department, the backlog stood at 264,717 claims on January 20, 2025. VA officials said it remained above 100,000 from 2021 through 2024. The department said that in 2013, 70% of claims were older than 125 days, compared with 17% today.
During President Donald Trump’s first administration, the department reported its lowest disability claims backlog on December 21, 2019, at 64,783 claims.
“Under President Trump, VA is providing Veterans, families, caregivers and survivors all of the benefits they have earned as quickly and conveniently as possible,” VA Secretary Doug Collins said. “VA’s claims processing productivity is the highest it has ever been, and we look forward to continuing to provide record levels of service to Veterans and VA beneficiaries.”
Claims Processing and Performance
VA said it processed more than 3 million disability compensation and pension claims in fiscal year 2025, describing it as an all-time high and surpassing the previous record set in fiscal year 2024.
The department also reported offering more than 2.2 million appointments outside normal operating hours in fiscal year 2025, and permanently housing 51,936 homeless veterans during the same period.
Officials said 33 new VA health care facilities have opened during the current administration to expand access nationwide.
How Veterans Can Apply
VA encouraged veterans to visit choose.va.gov to learn more about eligibility and apply for benefits and health care services.
The department did not provide a specific current backlog total beyond stating it is now consistently below 100,000 claims.
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