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/
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