The Department of Veterans Affairs processed over 2 million disability claims in 2025, breaking records for speed. Average processing time dropped to 132 days, down from 141 days at the start of the year. The backlog fell below 200,000 claims for the first time since spring 2023.
That’s good news if you're thinking about filing. Better news if you file in January. Here’s why:
Medical Records Start Fresh
Your medical records for 2025 are complete. Doctor visits, emergency room trips, prescriptions filled, procedures done. Everything from last year is documented and ready to submit.
The VA needs evidence of current disability. Recent medical records carry more weight than old ones. A diagnosis from December 2025 matters more than one from 2020. Treatment records from the past 12 months show the VA how your condition affects you now, not how it affected you years ago.
January gives you a clean window. You can gather all of last year's records at once. Many medical providers make annual records requests easier than pulling files from multiple years. Your VA medical center can print your 2025 visit summaries in one request.
Private doctors keep records by calendar year, and requesting 2025 records gets you everything in one file. No need to piece together visits across different time periods or track down multiple record requests.
Tax Season Means Documentation Season
You need your medical expenses documented for taxes anyway. Gather records for your accountant, and use the same records for your claim.
Veterans filing for individual unemployability status need income documentation. Tax season forces you to compile employment records, W-2s and proof of job loss or reduced hours. You’ll already have everything organized for your tax return. Submit the same documentation to the VA.
Compensation and Pension exams require travel. If you're tracking mileage for tax deductions, you're already documenting dates and distances. Use that same log for your claim file.
The Backlog Drops in Winter
VA claims show seasonal patterns. The backlog peaks in late spring and summer, drops in fall and winter. As of December 2024, the backlog sat at 260,000 claims. Compare that to over 400,000 earlier in the year.
Fewer claims get filed during the holidays. Veterans focus on family, travel and time off. The January surge hasn't hit yet. February and March bring tax refunds and New Year motivation, flooding the system with new claims.
File in January, and your claim enters the queue before the spring rush. Processing times stay lower when the backlog is smaller.
The VA hired more staff and improved technology for processing. Automated decision support helps identify evidence faster. But staffing and technology can only do so much when the claim volume spikes. Beat the rush.
Intent to File Locks In Your Date
Not ready to file a complete claim? Submit an Intent to File.
An Intent to File sets your effective date. File it in January 2026, and submit your complete claim by January 2027, and your benefits start from January 2026 if approved. You get retroactive pay for the full year.
The one-year window gives you time to gather evidence, schedule exams, and get nexus letters from doctors. But the effective date stays locked at your Intent to File date.
This matters for thousands of dollars. A 70% rating pays $1,716.28 per month in 2025. Wait to file in December instead of January, and you lose 11 months of back pay. That's $18,878.
File the Intent to File online through VA.gov. It takes five minutes, no evidence required, and simply establishes your date.
What You Need Before You File
Get your DD-214 or discharge papers. The VA needs proof of service dates and discharge status.
Document your current disability. See a doctor if you haven't recently. The VA rates your current condition, not what you dealt with five years ago. Recent diagnoses and treatment records prove you have the disability now.
Establish service connection. Show the link between your military service and your disability: service treatment records, buddy statements, or a nexus letter from a doctor explaining the connection.
Fully developed claims process faster. Submit all evidence upfront instead of waiting for the VA to request records. The VA still schedules your Compensation and Pension exam, but you’ll have already provided everything else.
Work with a Veterans Service Organization if you need help. Disabled American Veterans, VFW, American Legion and others employ accredited representatives who help file claims for free. They know what evidence the VA wants and how to present it.
File Now
The VA is processing claims faster than ever. The backlog is the lowest it's been in years. Your 2024 medical records are ready to request. Tax season hasn't created chaos yet.
File in January. Or at minimum, submit your Intent to File to secure your effective date.
Stay on Top of Your Veteran Benefits
Military benefits are always changing. Keep up with everything from pay to health care by subscribing to Military.com, and get access to up-to-date pay charts and more with all latest benefits delivered straight to your inbox.
