The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced a significant milestone in reducing its disability benefits compensation claims backlog, which is now under 200,000 for the first time since March 5, 2023. A claim is considered backlogged if it has been pending for more than 125 days.
Since President Trump took office on January 20, the backlog has decreased from 264,717 to 198,378, marking a reduction of 25%. This achievement was facilitated by several record-breaking production milestones within the VA.
Among these milestones were processing one million disability claims during a fiscal year faster than ever before and achieving the highest monthly production rate in VA history in April with 256,178 claims processed. Additionally, May 20 saw the highest daily production rate in VA history with over 15,000 claims processed.
"Under President Trump, VA’s claims processing productivity is the highest it has ever been," stated VA Secretary Doug Collins. "We will continue working overtime on behalf of Veterans until the backlog is at record lows. Veterans and VA beneficiaries deserve timely and accurate claims decisions, and that is exactly what we will deliver."
The backlog had increased by 24% during the Biden Administration from January 20, 2021 to January 20, 2025. The peak of the backlog was recorded at its highest point ever with 611,000 cases in March of 2013. Conversely, the lowest point was achieved in December of 2019 with a backlog of just 64,738 cases.
