VA processes record 3.11 million disability claims in FY26
The Department of Veterans Affairs processed more disability compensation claims in Fiscal Year 2026 than in any year before, pushing past the record it had set just one year earlier.
Snapshot
According to Military.com, the VA processed 3.11 million disability compensation claims in Fiscal Year 2026, topping the 3 million claims processed in FY25. VA Secretary Doug Collins credited the milestone to efforts the agency says have cut paperwork, expanded automated processing, and reduced the claims backlog.
Key points
- New record: The VA says 3.11 million compensation claims were processed in FY26, up from 3 million the prior fiscal year.
- Backlog response: The agency says it cut paperwork by nearly two-thirds and leaned harder on automated processing after the 2022 PACT Act drove a surge in filings that grew the backlog by 24%.
- Reported results: The VA says the backlog has dropped more than 70%, processing times are down 46%, and claims accuracy has climbed to 94%, its highest mark in two years.
- Claims outcomes: More than 60% of submitted claims are granted, while about 3% are appealed to the Board of Veterans' Appeals.
- Beyond claims: The VA reports more than 1.4 million veterans had or scheduled medical appointments this year, including over 300,000 mental health visits, alongside 41 new health care clinics opened since January 2025.
Quick take
For veterans who've waited months or years on a claim, the numbers Secretary Collins cites point to real movement on a backlog that ballooned after the PACT Act. Whether the pace holds, and whether accuracy keeps pace with volume, is worth watching as the VA reports on future quarters.
Read the full story: military.com