VA Disability Claims Backlog Falls Below 100,000 for First Time in Six Years

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced that its disability claims backlog has fallen below 100,000 for the first time since 2020, a milestone that VA Secretary Doug Collins called 'record levels of service.' The achievement comes as the Trump administration touts its efforts to cut bureaucratic delays and improve care for the nation's veterans — a priority that drew bipartisan applause during the State of the Union address. The backlog had ballooned during the pandemic era, leaving hundreds of thousands of veterans waiting months or years for benefits decisions.