Let’s review the April 2022 veterans disability benefits statistics report from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Every month, the VA reports on all pending disability, pension, and survivor’s claims that need ratings or payment approvals. We’ll explain how the latest numbers may impact veterans who recently filed benefit claims and their families.
April 2022 Veterans Disability Benefits Statistics: Claims Inventory Status
The April 2022 veterans disability benefits statistics report shows all claims now waiting for the VA’s determination decision. On April 2, the VA’s report listed at least 613,000 outstanding total claims in the inventory category:
- As of April 2, 2022: 613,219
- As of March 5, 2022: 611,696
- Difference: +1,523
- Daily churn: +76 claims
Unfortunately, unprocessed VA claims are on the rise again for April, it seems. Right now, veterans and families filing VA benefit claims must wait at least 112 days for a response. Depending on how you file, you could wait almost 5 months before hearing a decision on your VA claim. But it’s not all bad news! The VBA’s ratings accuracy for individual medical issues on claims filed in the last 3 months is currently 97.2%.
The people who should be most interested in this number are veterans who filed VA disability claims since 2022 began. If this describes you, that means the VA likely approved the maximum monthly disability benefit payment for all your service-connected injuries.
April 2022 Veterans Disability Benefits Statistics: Claims Backlog Status
After 125 days, the VA moves any unprocessed claims into the backlog category. We’re seeing a steady downward trend in backlogged claims since the start of 2022:
- As of April 2, 2022: 234,435
- As of March 5, 2022: 250,083
- Difference: -15,648
- Daily churn: -782.4 claims cleared from the backlog
Once again, Vietnam vets make up most of this month’s backlog. More than 1 in 4 (26%) backlogged claims for April are for Agent Orange-related health issues. It’s important to note that appealed claims never appear in the VA’s backlog. In February 2022, the VBA listed 116,901 outstanding claims in its legacy appeals inventory. Based on that report, the agency reviews about 2,813 appealed VA claims every month.
You May Qualify for Legal Assistance
Veterans: You don’t have to pay out of your own pocket to get expert claim assistance right away. We can connect you with a local VA-accredited lawyer to review or file your paperwork free of charge. In fact, every lawyer in our network can give you confidential claim help by phone for free! Since most VA offices aren’t open to the public, it’s the fastest and easiest way to get claim help today.
Unless your case wins, you pay the lawyer $0 for helping you. And if you do win, then you’ll only pay a small, one-time fee.
Ready to see if you may qualify? Click the button below to start your free online benefits evaluation now!
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Lori Polemenakos is Director of Consumer Content and SEO strategist for LeadingResponse, a legal marketing company. An award-winning journalist, writer and editor based in Dallas, Texas, she's produced articles for major brands such as Match.com, Yahoo!, MSN, AOL, Xfinity, Mail.com, and edited several published books. Since 2016, she's published hundreds of articles about Social Security disability, workers' compensation, veterans' benefits, personal injury, mass tort, auto accident claims, bankruptcy, employment law and other related legal issues.