The Department of Veterans Affairs announced last week it has processed more disability benefits compensation and pension ratings claims in a single year than ever before.
In fiscal year 2024, VA processed a total of 2,517,519 ratings claims, and in 2025 the department reached an all-time high of 2,524,115 ratings claims issued August 8, nearly two months before the end of Fiscal Year 2025.
The milestone is the latest in a string of noteworthy VA claims processing achievements. Since President Donald Trump took office for a second term, the backlog of veterans waiting for VA benefits has dropped by more than 37 percent, after rising 24 percent during the Biden Administration.
In July, the VA completed more than 300,000 ratings claims in a single month for the first time ever. The VA is processing claims faster in FY25 than in FY24, completing claims 17.8 percent faster even as receipts are 10 percent higher than the same time in 2024.
“Under President Trump, VA is making major improvements to better serve veterans, and this announcement underscores that fact. We look forward to implementing more reforms to increase customer service and convenience for those we are charged with serving,” VA Secretary Doug Collins said in a press release.
Other accomplishments include:
VA has opened 16 new health care clinics in the United States.
Since January, VA has offered veterans nearly 1 million appointments outside of normal operating hours.
Early-morning, evening and weekend appointments are giving veterans more timely and convenient options for care.
VA is spending an additional $800 million on infrastructure improvements to ensure VA facilities provide safe and effective patient care.
VA has made it easier and faster for VA-enrolled veterans to access care from non-VA providers at the department’s expense.
VA has implemented major reforms to make it easier for survivors to get benefits, after serious problems during the Biden Administration.
VA is accelerating the deployment of its integrated electronic health record system, after the program was nearly dormant for almost two years under the Biden Administration.
VA partnered with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to identify and recover $106 million in duplicate billing.
VA is phasing out treatment for gender dysphoria.
VA ended DEI at the department and stopped more than $14 million in DEI spending.
VA has brought tens of thousands of VA employees back to the office and ended remote work options, where VA can work better as a team to serve veterans.
VA encourages all veterans to visit online to learn more and apply for the care and benefits they have earned.
Related stories:
Warner reintroduces legislation to help reduce benefit claims backlog for veterans
Spanberger pushes for explanation, remedy of VA claims backlog
Department of Veterans Affairs layoffs total 2,400 positions in February
VA no longer pays for gender care: Transgendered veterans can ‘on their own dime’
Veterans Affairs department ends collective bargaining in response to Trump executive order
Support AFP
Share
Rebecca Barnabi
