VA Claims Backlog Drops Below 70,000 for First Time in Six Years
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reduced its disability claims backlog to under 70,000, a 74% drop since January 2025, driven by automated systems, hiring 9,000 adjudicators, and reinstated overtime. The backlog peaked at 410,000 in 2023 after the PACT Act expansion. Average wait time is now 78 days, with over a million claims processed in under 30 days. VA Secretary Doug Collins called the milestone historic.
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VA Claims Backlog Drops Below 70,000 for First Time in Six Years
The Department of Veterans Affairs' disability claims backlog has fallen below 70,000 for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, marking a 74% reduction since President Trump took office in January 2025. VA officials attribute the milestone to investments in automated systems, hiring 9,000 additional claims adjudicators, and reinstating mandatory overtime. The average wait time for a claim is now roughly 78 days, and over a million claims have been decided in fewer than 30 days since January 2025. The backlog peaked at 410,000 cases in 2023 following the PACT Act expansion. The approval rate for compensation and pension benefits remains at 60%, consistent with the last decade. Top approved conditions include tinnitus, sciatic nerve paralysis, and migraines.
Military TimesVA Claims Backlog Drops Below 70,000 for First Time Since COVID-19 Pandemic
The Department of Veterans Affairs' disability claims backlog has fallen below 70,000 for the first time in six years, marking a 74% reduction since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025. VA officials attribute the milestone to investments in automated systems like Automated Decision Support, hiring 9,000 additional claims adjudicators from fiscal 2022 through 2024, and reinstating mandatory overtime in May 2025. The backlog now represents just 11.6% of all pending claims, down from 70% a decade ago. The average wait time for a claim is approximately 78 days, and over a million claims have been decided in under 30 days since January 2025. The backlog had surged to 410,000 cases in 2023 following the PACT Act's expansion of benefits for veterans exposed to environmental pollutants. VA Secretary Doug Collins hailed the progress as 'putting veterans first.' The approval rate for compensation and pension benefits remains at 60%, consistent with the past decade.
Marine Corps TimesVA Claims Backlog Drops Below 70,000 for First Time in Six Years
The Department of Veterans Affairs' disability claims backlog has fallen below 70,000 for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, marking a 74% reduction since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025. VA officials announced that only 11.6% of all pending claims are older than 125 days, compared to 70% a decade ago. The reduction is attributed to investments in automated systems like Automated Decision Support, hiring 9,000 additional claims adjudicators between fiscal 2022 and 2024, and reinstating mandatory overtime in May 2025. The VA has decided over one million claims in under 30 days since January 2025, with the average wait time now roughly 78 days. The backlog had peaked at 410,000 cases in 2023 following the PACT Act's expansion of benefits for veterans exposed to environmental pollutants. VA Secretary Doug Collins praised the progress as 'putting veterans first.' The approval rate for compensation and pension benefits remains at 60%, consistent with the past decade.
Navy TimesVA Claims Backlog Drops Below 70,000 for First Time in Six Years
The Department of Veterans Affairs' disability claims backlog has fallen below 70,000 for the first time in six years, a milestone not seen since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. VA officials reported a 74% reduction in backlogged claims since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025. Currently, only 11.6% of all pending claims are older than 125 days, compared to 70% a decade ago. The VA attributed the progress to investments in automated systems like Automated Decision Support, hiring 9,000 additional claims adjudicators from fiscal 2022-2024, and reinstating mandatory overtime in May 2025. The department has decided over a million claims in under 30 days since January 2025, with an average wait time of roughly 78 days. The backlog had peaked at 410,000 cases in 2023 following the PACT Act expansion. VA Secretary Doug Collins hailed the numbers as historic progress for veterans.
Air Force TimesVA Claims Backlog Drops Below 70,000 for First Time in Six Years
The Department of Veterans Affairs' disability claims backlog has fallen below 70,000 for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, marking a 74% reduction since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025. VA officials reported that only 11.6% of all pending claims are older than 125 days, compared to 70% a decade ago. The reduction is attributed to investments in automated systems like Automated Decision Support, hiring 9,000 additional claims adjudicators between fiscal 2022 and 2024, and reinstating mandatory overtime in May 2025. The VA has decided over a million claims in under 30 days since January 2025, with the average wait time now roughly 78 days. The backlog had peaked at 410,000 cases in 2023 following the PACT Act's expansion of benefits. VA Secretary Doug Collins hailed the milestone as historic. The approval rate for compensation and pension benefits remains at 60%, consistent with the last decade.
Army TimesVA Claims Backlog Drops Below 70,000 for First Time in Six Years
The Department of Veterans Affairs' disability claims backlog has fallen below 70,000 for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, marking a 74% reduction since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025. VA officials reported that only 11.6% of all pending claims are older than 125 days, compared to 70% a decade ago. The reduction is attributed to investments in automated systems like Automated Decision Support, hiring 9,000 additional claims adjudicators from fiscal 2022 through 2024, and reinstating mandatory overtime in May 2025. The VA has decided over a million claims in under 30 days since January 2025, with the average wait time now approximately 78 days. The backlog had peaked at 410,000 cases in 2023 following the PACT Act expansion of benefits. VA Secretary Doug Collins hailed the milestone as historic. The top five approved conditions for initial filings include tinnitus, sciatic nerve paralysis, knee flexion limitation, lumbosacral or cervical strain, and migraine.
Air Force TimesVA Claims Backlog Drops Below 70,000 for First Time in Six Years
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that its disability claims backlog has fallen below 70,000 for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, marking a six-year low. VA officials reported a 74% reduction in backlogged claims (those pending 125 days or more) since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025. Currently, only 11.6% of all pending claims are older than 125 days, compared to 70% a decade ago. The VA attributed the improvement to investments in automated systems like Automated Decision Support, hiring 9,000 additional claims adjudicators from fiscal 2022 through 2024, and reinstating mandatory overtime in May 2025. The department has decided over a million claims in under 30 days since January 2025, and the average wait time is now about 78 days. The backlog had peaked at 410,000 cases in 2023 following the PACT Act expansion. VA Secretary Doug Collins hailed the progress as historic. The approval rate for compensation and pension benefits remains at 60%, consistent with the past decade.
Air Force TimesVA claims backlog drops below 70,000 for first time in six years
The Department of Veterans Affairs' disability claims backlog fell below 70,000 for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, marking a 74% reduction since President Trump took office in January 2025. VA officials attribute the decline to investments in automated systems like Automated Decision Support, hiring 9,000 additional claims adjudicators from fiscal 2022-2024, and reinstating mandatory overtime in May 2025. The average wait time for a claim is now roughly 78 days, and over a million claims have been decided in under 30 days since January 2025. The backlog had peaked at 410,000 cases in 2023 following the PACT Act's expansion of benefits. VA Secretary Doug Collins hailed the progress as 'putting veterans first.' The approval rate for compensation and pension benefits remains at 60%, consistent with the past decade.
Military TimesVA Claims Backlog Drops Below 70,000 for First Time in Six Years
The Department of Veterans Affairs' disability claims backlog has fallen below 70,000 for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, marking a 74% reduction since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025. VA officials attribute the milestone to investments in automated systems like Automated Decision Support, a 33% increase in processing staff (adding 9,000 adjudicators from fiscal 2022-2024), and reinstated mandatory overtime in May 2025. The department has decided over a million claims in under 30 days since January 2025, and the average wait time is now roughly 78 days. The approval rate for compensation and pension benefits remains at 60%, consistent with the past decade. The backlog had peaked at 410,000 cases in 2023 following the PACT Act's expansion of benefits for veterans exposed to environmental pollutants. VA Secretary Doug Collins called the numbers 'historic' and said they reflect a commitment to putting veterans first.
Military TimesVA claims backlog drops below 70,000 for first time in six years
The Department of Veterans Affairs' disability claims backlog has fallen below 70,000 for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a milestone announced on July 10, 2026. VA officials reported a 74% reduction in backlogged claims (those pending 125 days or more) since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025. Currently, only 11.6% of all pending claims are older than 125 days, compared to 70% a decade ago. The VA attributed the improvement to investments in automated systems (Automated Decision Support), hiring 9,000 additional claims adjudicators from fiscal 2022-2024, and reinstating mandatory overtime in May 2025. Over one million claims have been decided in fewer than 30 days since January 2025, and the average wait time is now roughly 78 days. VA Secretary Doug Collins praised the progress. The backlog had peaked at 410,000 cases in 2023 following the PACT Act expansion. The approval rate for compensation and pension benefits remains at 60%, consistent with the last decade.
Army TimesVA Claims Backlog Drops Below 70,000 for First Time in Six Years
The Department of Veterans Affairs' disability claims backlog fell below 70,000 for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, marking a 74% reduction since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025. VA officials reported that only 11.6% of pending claims are older than 125 days, compared to 70% a decade ago. The reduction was achieved through investments in automated systems like Automated Decision Support, hiring 9,000 additional claims adjudicators from fiscal 2022-2024, and reinstating mandatory overtime in May 2025. The VA has decided over a million claims in under 30 days since January 2025, with average wait time now 78 days. VA Secretary Doug Collins praised the progress. The backlog had peaked at 410,000 in 2023 following the PACT Act expansion. The approval rate for compensation and pension benefits remains at 60%, consistent with the last decade.
Army TimesVA Claims Backlog Drops Below 70,000 for First Time in Six Years
The Department of Veterans Affairs' disability claims backlog has fallen below 70,000 for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a milestone announced on July 10, 2026. VA officials reported a 74% reduction in backlogged claims (those pending 125 days or more) since President Trump took office in January 2025. Currently, only 11.6% of all pending claims are older than 125 days, compared to 70% a decade ago. The VA attributed the improvement to investments in automated systems like Automated Decision Support, hiring 9,000 additional claims adjudicators from fiscal 2022-2024, and reinstating mandatory overtime in May 2025. The department has decided over a million claims in under 30 days since January 2025, with the average wait time now roughly 78 days. VA Secretary Doug Collins hailed the numbers as historic. The approval rate for compensation and pension benefits stands at 60%, consistent with the past decade. The backlog had peaked at 410,000 cases in 2023 following the PACT Act expansion.
Navy TimesVA Claims Backlog Drops Below 70,000 for First Time in Six Years
The Department of Veterans Affairs' disability claims backlog has fallen below 70,000 for the first time in six years, a milestone not seen since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. VA officials reported a 74% reduction since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025, with only 11.6% of pending claims older than 125 days. The VA attributed the improvement to investments in automated systems like Automated Decision Support, hiring 9,000 additional claims adjudicators from fiscal 2022 through 2024, and reinstating mandatory overtime in May 2025. The department has decided over a million claims in under 30 days since January 2025, and the average wait time is now roughly 78 days. The approval rate for compensation and pension benefits stands at 60%, consistent with the past decade. The backlog had peaked at 410,000 in 2023 following the PACT Act's expansion of benefits for veterans exposed to environmental pollutants.
Marine Corps TimesVA Claims Backlog Drops Below 70,000 for First Time in Six Years
The Department of Veterans Affairs' disability claims backlog has fallen below 70,000 for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, marking a 74% reduction since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025. VA officials attribute the milestone to investments in automated systems like Automated Decision Support, a 33% increase in processing staff (adding 9,000 adjudicators from fiscal 2022-2024), and reinstated mandatory overtime in May 2025. The department has decided over a million claims in under 30 days since January 2025, with the average wait time now roughly 78 days. The backlog peaked at 410,000 cases in 2023 following the PACT Act's expansion of benefits. The approval rate for compensation and pension benefits remains at 60%, consistent with the last decade. Top approved conditions include tinnitus, sciatic nerve paralysis, and migraines.
Navy TimesVA Claims Backlog Drops Below 70,000 for First Time in Six Years
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that its disability claims backlog has fallen below 70,000 for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. VA officials reported a 74% reduction in backlogged claims since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025. Currently, only 11.6% of all pending claims are older than 125 days, compared to 70% a decade ago. The VA attributes the improvement to investments in automated systems (Automated Decision Support), hiring 9,000 additional claims adjudicators between fiscal 2022 and 2024, and reinstating mandatory overtime in May 2025. The department has decided over one million claims in under 30 days since January 2025, and the average wait time is now roughly 78 days. VA Secretary Doug Collins hailed the numbers as historic. The backlog had peaked at 410,000 cases in 2023 following the PACT Act's expansion of benefits. The approval rate for compensation and pension benefits remains at 60%, consistent with the past decade.
Marine Corps Times