VA disability claims backlog falls below 70,000: what the numbers mean
The Department of Veterans Affairs says it has cut its disability claims backlog below 70,000 for the first time in six years. In October it also reported a record number of claims processed in fiscal year 2026. For veterans waiting on a decision, the question is what these numbers actually mean.
As of October 27, 2026. Nearly all figures below come from the VA itself, and the news reports we read did not independently verify them.
# What counts as the backlog
The VA counts a disability claim as backlogged once it has been pending for 125 days or more. According to Military Times, the backlog dropped below 70,000 in early July 2026, and the VA says it is down 74% since January 20, 2025. The VA also reports an average wait of about 78 days.
# How that compares with the past
- 2013: a record backlog of more than 611,000 claims.
- 2015 to early 2020: roughly 60,000, which officials then called close to the lowest realistic level.
- End of 2020: about 200,000, after COVID-19 closed many processing centers.
- 2023: a peak of about 410,000, after the PACT Act expanded benefits and claims surged.
# The record year
Stars and Stripes reports that the VA processed 3,111,399 disability claims in fiscal year 2026, up from the previous record of 3,000,734 in fiscal 2025. The VA says about 60% of claims were approved, about 3% of denials were appealed, and it awarded more than $207 billion in disability compensation and pension benefits.
# What the VA credits
The VA points to automation, including a program that gathers medical records and evidence for the people deciding claims, plus a large increase in claims staff between 2022 and 2024 and mandatory overtime reinstated in May 2025.
# What the numbers do not tell you
- "Processed" is not defined. The reports do not say whether it means a final decision or any action taken on a claim.
- The backlog is only one measure. It counts claims past 125 days. It does not show how many claims are decided correctly or how many are later appealed.
- Approval rates need context. The VA said its approval rate was 60%, in line with the last ten years, but did not give details about backlogged claims.
- Staffing is disputed. In January, Federal News Network reported that the VA had cut its backlog even as it lost about 2,000 claims processors. A former VA assistant secretary, Kayla Williams, said claims needing higher-level review had grown.
# If you have a claim pending
- Check your status on VA.gov or in the VA Health and Benefits app.
- A free, accredited representative, such as a veterans service officer, can help you file or appeal. Be wary of anyone who charges to file an initial claim.
- If a claim was denied, you can ask the VA to look at it again. The deadline matters, so ask a representative about your options soon.
Sources: Military Times, Stars and Stripes, Federal News Network.