The Department of Veterans Affairs has significantly reduced its backlog of disability compensation and pension benefit claims, reaching the lowest level since 2020. VA Secretary Doug Collins highlighted the progress, noting a 63% reduction since 2017 and a decrease in processing time. This has been praised by veterans' advocates and congressional leaders, who emphasize the impact on veterans' access to healthcare and benefits.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has pushed its backlog of disability compensation and pension benefit claims consistently below 100,000 for the first time since 2020. VA said it has cut the backlog by 63% since President Donald Trump took office, following an increase of 24% under the Biden administration.
VA Secretary Doug Collins also told The National News Desk Correspondent Kristine Frazao this week that they’ve shortened the typical time for a claim decision from over 130 days to 80 days. “So, what does that mean? Means the veteran gets their answer. They get their answer, they can move forward with their life,” Collins said. “They're not in this constant limbo. That's putting veterans first.”“What gets measured gets done, and it wasn't being measured,” he said. “It was just, it was accepted.” Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins talks to The National News Desk Correspondent Kristine Frazao about reducing the backlog of VA benefit claims, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. In 2013, 70% of claims were older than 125 days. That was the most ever, according to VA.Collins said about 260,000 claims were in backlog when the administration came into office. House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mike Bost, an Illinois Republican, applauded Collins and VA employees for reducing the backlog. “As my Committee continues to look at ways to cut through the red tape and modernize VA’s benefits program, we will continue our oversight to ensure that veterans receive quality and accurate decisions on their claims,” Bost said in an emailed statement. “I look forward to working in lockstep with the Trump administration to accomplish this goal.”, which is a group that works on behalf of veterans, said the reduction in the claims backlog will have a significant impact. Not only are fewer old claims still pending, but it frees up VA to move new claims along at a faster clip. “So, you freed that dam up, and now the water can flow, and now they can stay up, stay current, keep the claims process working,” Lorraine said. Lorraine said a VA disability claim is a vital “gateway” to health care and other earned benefits for veterans. America’s Warrior Partnership works with veterans all the time who have a claim stuck in the backlog. Lorraine said the veterans are frustrated with the amount of time it takes, but also with the barriers they sometimes face in accessing military records to verify their claims.Some claims are pretty cut and dry, and those can go through pretty quickly.“We just had a case yesterday where the gentleman was injured, clearly military service-related. There was no documentation in his military medical record of it, because he was in theater, but he had four buddies that are willing to do a witness statement. ... Those are the cases that take a little bit of time, but now they can be moved along much quicker,” Lorraine said.A car crashed into a home, slamming through a garage. Fortunately, no one was hurt.U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno took to the Senate floor on Wednesday to request unanimous consent for his bill -- one that would levy large fines against publAbout 6,000 pigs killed after fire engulfs Madison County farm A massive fire tore through a farm in Madison County, drawing a large multi-agency response and leaving the property appearing to be a total loss.Lawyers representing the state of Ohio want a lawsuit over the state’s unclaimed funds thrown out.The lawsuit was filed last year on behalf of several Ohioans a
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VA cuts disability, benefit claims backlog by over 60% under Trump administrationVA has pushed its backlog of disability compensation and pension benefit claims consistently below 100,000 for the first time since 2020.
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VA Claims Backlog Reduced to Lowest Level Since 2020The Department of Veterans Affairs has significantly reduced its backlog of disability compensation claims, with the number dropping below 100,000 for the first time since 2020. VA Secretary Doug Collins highlighted the progress, including a reduction in average claim decision time. This positive development is expected to improve veterans' access to healthcare and benefits.
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