The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has reached a significant milestone in processing disability benefit claims, surpassing 2 million claims for the fiscal year 2025. This marks the first time the VA has achieved this feat, surpassing its previous all-time record set in fiscal year 2024. The department is processing claims at a record-setting pace, having reached the milestone over a month faster than last year’s record.
This rapid progress indicates that the VA is on track to exceed last year’s total by more than 14 percent, a promising trend for veterans seeking compensation and support for service-connected disabilities. So far in 2025, the VA has distributed over $120 billion in compensation and pension benefits to veterans and their families.
Why It Matters
The VA disability benefits program provides monthly, tax-free payments to 6.2 million veterans across the U.S. These payments support veterans whose disabilities stem from injuries, illnesses, or conditions that occurred or worsened during their active military service.
In addition to helping veterans, the program also offers monthly compensation to surviving spouses, dependent children, and parents, helping offset the financial impact of a service member’s death—whether during service or due to a service-connected condition after discharge.

“Veterans have fought for our country, and they deserve the timely and efficient benefits they’ve earned. The VA’s efforts to streamline the claims process and reduce the backlog are significant steps in ensuring veterans get the care and compensation they need without unnecessary delays.”
Faster Processing and Reducing the Backlog
According to the VA’s June 24, 2025 press release, the average time to complete a disability claim has decreased to 131.8 days, a significant improvement from 141.5 days in January 2025. This marks a substantial reduction in processing time, ensuring that veterans are receiving the benefits they deserve more quickly.
In addition to processing claims faster, the VA has made substantial progress in reducing the backlog of disability applications. Since President Donald Trump took office, the number of backlogged disability claims has decreased by more than 74,000. As of May 2025, the backlog has fallen to 198,378 claims, a reduction of 25 percent from earlier this year. This marks the first time since spring 2023 that the backlog has dropped below 200,000 claims.
The continued efforts to address the backlog, streamline processes, and increase efficiency have led to faster decisions for veterans, improving the overall claims experience.
New Steps for Survivor and Dependent Benefits
The VA also announced that it is taking steps to make it easier for survivors and dependents of deceased veterans to access benefits. Key changes include moving the Office of Survivors Assistance (OSA) to a more accessible location, creating a dedicated “White-Glove” Survivor Outreach Team, and increasing automation within the benefits system to speed up processing.
These changes aim to provide personalized support and accelerate the delivery of benefits to the families and survivors of veterans, addressing the unique challenges they face after losing a loved one.
What People Are Saying
VA Secretary Doug Collins expressed pride in the VA’s efforts to improve claims processing and reduce backlogs. “VA has reduced the claims backlog and processed these claims faster than ever for a simple reason: we are focused on getting results for veterans. We are just getting started in our mission to help veterans, families, caregivers, and survivors get the care and benefits they’ve earned,” Collins said.
What Happens Next
If you are a veteran looking to apply for disability benefits or have questions about the status of your claim, visit VA.gov to learn more about the process and your eligibility. With the VA’s continued improvements in processing times and claims management, veterans can expect a more efficient system and quicker access to the benefits they deserve.
Looking for help with an appeal? Think your disability rating is too low? Need help applying for SSDI? Veterans Guide can help. Reach out to our team today to see how we can help you secure your benefits today.