February 2018 veterans disability benefits statistics report

February 2018 Veterans Disability Benefits Statistics Report Analysis

The February 2018 veterans disability benefits statistics report from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is out. Our analysis highlights changes in the VA claims inventory and backlog numbers over the last 30 days.



February 2018 Veterans Disability Benefits Statistics: Claims Inventory Status

The February 2018 veterans disability benefits statistics report from the Veterans Benefits Administration lists both compensation and pension claims. On February 5, 2018, the VA claims inventory category held 328,257 applications. This reverses the increase we saw in last month’s report. In fact, pending claims in the February 2018 veterans disability benefits statistics report are closer to November’s numbers.

  • As of February 3, 2018: 328,257
  • As of January 6, 2018: 338,972
  • Difference: -10,715
  • Daily churn: -535.75 claims

We see a big jump in the claims inventory every January. So, we expected February’s numbers to fall back to what we saw a few months ago. Still, if you’re considering applying, the time is now! The 2% COLA increase is now in effect, so the faster you get your claim ready to review, the better. With VA staff clearing hundreds of claims out daily, disabled vets are getting benefits faster this month.

February 2018 Veterans Disability Benefits Statistics: Claims Backlog Status

Any undecided VA claims automatically transfer to the backlog category after 125 days. The February 2018 veterans disability benefits statistics report shows a smaller backlog compared to January’s update. Much like the claims inventory category, we hoped to see a reversal of the spike in backlogged applications for January. Still, just over 1,500 claims were cleared from the backlog category last month, which shows the VA’s efforts are working.

  • As of February 3, 2018: 81,872
  • As of January 6, 2018: 83,375
  • Difference: -1,503
  • Daily churn: -75.15 claims added to the backlog

If you believe the VA mistakenly denied your claim, don’t give up! The VA rejects many claims from qualified vets on accident. You may qualify for legal assistance. A lawyer can help you fight the VA and file your appeal. Scroll down and then click the button below to see if you may qualify for legal assistance now.

Are you getting the most pay you’re rightfully owed from the VA? If you don’t already have a 100% VA disability rating, you can fight for a higher number. In fact, a VA-accredited attorney can review your case for free. If you haven’t yet filed, a lawyer can help you avoid basic mistakes that get many eligible claims denied. According to the VBA, 82% of disabled vets with lawyers prevailed at the appeal stage.

If you’re worried about paying for a lawyer, we offer legal help for disabled vets who qualify. That means you won’t pay a single dime for a lawyer unless you win benefits. If your application’s approved for benefits, then you’ll pay a small, one-time fee. It’s the best way to get the most benefits you’re rightfully owed from the VA. A lawyer can also ensure you’ll get much-needed monthly benefits faster than you would applying on your own.

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.