Military discharge

The Department of Veterans Affairs says it has set a new processing record, handling more than 3 million disability benefit claims in 2026 as of September 18, already surpassing the prior record of 3.001 million set in fiscal year 2025. VA Secretary Doug Collins credited the improvement to efforts to make benefits delivery faster and more efficient under the Trump administration.

The VA says it has cut its claims backlog by more than 70% and reduced average processing time to about 75.6 days, nearly half of previous timelines, while raising claim accuracy to 94%, the highest in two years. The agency also reported that more than 1.4 million veterans who enrolled in VA health care this year have had or scheduled appointments, including mental health and emergency visits, and that 41 new clinics have opened since January 2025. A recent executive order directing faster record-sharing between the Defense Department and VA is expected to further shorten claims processing for recently separated service members. Applicants still face a demanding evidentiary burden to prove service-connected conditions.