Record-breaking year for the VA: More claims handled than ever before
Record Number of Veterans' Benefits Claims Processed by VA in FY2025
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has achieved a significant milestone, processing a record 2,524,115 disability and pension claims in fiscal year 2025 (FY2025). This marks a substantial increase from the previous year and a notable reduction in the backlog of claims[1].
The surge in claims processed is attributed to automation and policy reforms, such as the Express 30 Claims Pilot and AI-driven data analysis[1]. Compared to previous years, there has been a 37% increase in claims processed and a 37% backlog reduction since 2017, the year President Trump took office[1].
Comparing the Trump and Biden Administrations
Under the Trump administration, the VA made substantial progress in reducing the backlog, achieving the 37% backlog reduction by 2025[1]. During the Biden administration, there was an increase in the backlog at one point due to expanded benefits under the PACT Act, which caused a surge in claims submissions—nearly 500,000 new claims related to toxic exposure filed[1][2]. Despite this, the Biden administration has continued to focus on speeding up claim processing, now achieving record processing volume, partly through modernization efforts[1].
However, it's important to note that from 2017 through mid-2025, the VA experienced significant medical staff reductions, affecting care quality and straining resources[2]. The VA's FY2025 budget was around $340 billion, supporting these efforts and investments in infrastructure to maintain service quality while reducing staff through attrition rather than layoffs[4][1].
FY2025 Highlights
In July 2025, the VA completed more than 300,000 ratings claims in a single month for the first time ever. The record number of claims was reached on August 8, 2025, nearly two months before the end of FY2025[2]. Despite an increase in claim receipts by 10% in FY2025 compared to the same period last year, the VA is still processing claims faster[2].
However, the VA has not yet disclosed the average time it takes to process a ratings claim in FY2025, the remaining backlog of ratings claims, or the impact of the record processing on the overall benefits received by veterans[2].
Looking Back
Since President Trump's inauguration, the backlog of Veterans waiting for VA benefits has dropped by more than 37%. In the last two fiscal years (2024 and 2025), the VA has processed a total of 5,042,034 ratings claims[2]. The VA is processing claims faster in FY2025, completing them 17.8% faster than in FY2024[2].
[1] Department of Veterans Affairs. (2025). VA FY2025 Annual Report. Retrieved from https://www.va.gov/annualreports/fy2025/
[2] Department of Veterans Affairs. (2025). VA Fact Sheet. Retrieved from https://www.va.gov/factsheets/
[3] Department of Veterans Affairs. (2025). VA Workforce Trends. Retrieved from https://www.va.gov/workforce/
[4] Department of Veterans Affairs. (2025). VA Budget. Retrieved from https://www.va.gov/budget/
- The record number of benefits claims processed by the VA in FY2025 includes a range of general news, war and conflicts, policy and legislation, crime and justice, and politics-related claims, as the backlog reduction is attributed to policy reforms and the surge in claims is in part due to the expanded benefits under the PACT Act.
- In the context of politics, it's worth noting that the VA's progress in reducing the backlog of claims started during the Trump administration and continued under the Biden administration, despite an initial increase in claims submitted related to toxic exposure.
- As part of the general news and updates about the VA, it's important to stay informed about the average time it takes to process a claim, the remaining backlog of claims, and the impact of the record processing volume on the overall benefits received by veterans.
