For the first time since May 2020, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has reduced its backlog of disability compensation and pension benefit claims to under 100,000. This marks a significant decrease from previous years when the backlog remained above this threshold from 2021 through 2024. As of January 20, 2025, there were 264,717 backlogged claims.
The VA defines a claim as backlogged if it has been pending for more than 125 days. In comparison to 2013, when about 70% of claims were older than this threshold, only around 17% are considered backlogged today.
Secretary Doug Collins emphasized the importance of reducing wait times for veterans. “Under President Trump, VA is providing Veterans, families, caregivers and survivors all of the benefits they have earned as quickly and conveniently as possible,” said Secretary Collins. “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.”
The department reports that since January 20, 2025—when the backlog was at its peak—it has managed to cut the number by about 63%. During President Trump’s first administration in December 2019, VA achieved its lowest disability claims backlog at just over 64,000.
In addition to addressing claims delays, other recent achievements include opening new health care facilities for veterans nationwide and processing more than three million disability compensation and pension claims in fiscal year 2025—a new record surpassing that set in fiscal year 2024. The VA also offered more than two million appointments outside normal hours in an effort to improve access.
Efforts have also been made toward addressing veteran homelessness; over fifty-one thousand homeless veterans were permanently housed across the country during fiscal year 2025—the highest total recorded in seven years.
Veterans seeking information or wishing to apply for benefits are encouraged by the department to visit choose.va.gov.
