August 2022 Veterans Disability Benefits Statistics Report Analysis

August 2022 Veterans Disability Benefits Statistics Report Analysis

The August 2022 veterans disability benefits statistics report from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is now available. It lists all VA disability, pension, and survivor’s claims that need disability ratings or payment approvals. See how this month’s updated numbers may impact veterans waiting on VA benefits in our analysis below.



August 2022 Veterans Disability Benefits Statistics: Claims Inventory Status

The August 2022 veterans disability benefits report shows every claim currently waiting on the VA’s determination decision. As of August 6, we noted slightly more than 603,000 total unrated applications in the VA’s inventory:

  • As of August 6, 2022: 603,050
  • As of July 2, 2022: 594,961
  • Difference: +8,089
  • Daily churn: +404.5 claims

August’s report shows it takes at least 123 days (4+ months) for the VA to process each claim.

Here are the most prevalent service-connected disabilities awarded VA disability compensation during the past year:

  • Tinnitus11% of claims
  • Knee problems/joint replacements – 7%
  • Back strain/chronic muscle pain – 5%
  • Shoulder pain/loss of range of motion in either one or both arms – 4.5%

August 2022 Veterans Disability Benefits Statistics: Claims Backlog Status

After 125 days in the system, the VA automatically moves pending claims into its backlog category. The VA managed to clear out more than 700 claims daily since last month’s report came out:

  • As of August 6, 2022: 162,680
  • As of July 2, 2022: 177,074
  • Difference: -14,394
  • Daily churn: -720 claims cleared from the backlog

At this point, it’s clear that anyone filing claims now will end up backlogged before hearing an answer.

Here’s a closer look at the veterans with backlogged claims in the August 2022 veterans disability benefits report:

  • 40% are Vietnam vets
  • 32% served in the Gulf War
  • 17% served in either Iraq or Afghanistan
  • 9% are peacetime vets
  • 2% served in some other era

You May Qualify for Legal Assistance

The VA denies at least 1 in 10 veterans benefits they rightfully earned or pays them the wrong monthly amount. Why not let an attorney review your claim for potential mistakes free of charge? Click the button below to sign up for a free, no-obligation phone call with a local VA-accredited lawyer today.

You pay $0 for legal assistance if your appeal doesn’t win. And if you 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.