february 2021 veterans disability benefits statistics report

February 2021 Veterans Disability Benefits Statistics Report

The February 2021 veterans disability benefits statistics report from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is here. This VA report covers each month’s trends in unrated disability compensation, pension, and survivor’s benefits applications. Learn how this data changed during the past 30 days, and what it means for veterans.



February 2021 Veterans Disability Benefits Statistics: Claims Inventory Status

The February 2021 veterans disability benefits statistics report lists all unrated claims waiting on the VA’s determination decision. On February 6, the claims inventory held more than 478,000 unrated claims. We’re delighted to finally see the inventory shrinking again in February after months of growing larger! This includes both initial and supplemental benefits applications, but does not include appealed claims, which the VA tracks separately:

  • As of February 6, 2021: 478,032
  • As of January 2, 2021: 483,302
  • Difference: -5,270
  • Daily churn: -263.5 claims

One strange thing to note in this month’s report: Claims filed directly through the VA’s website take longer to process. If you file through the VA’s fully-developed claims (FDC) system, it takes 119 days, on average, to complete. File your claim through a VA-accredited attorney, and it takes just 109 days! That means you’ll get your first VA check almost two weeks faster if a lawyer files your claim. Overall, supplemental applications for additional benefits make up about 62% of the claims inventory for February. Veterans who file these claims already receive at least some VA benefits each month but have new or worsening conditions. Veterans initially applying for disability benefits account for less than 1 in 3 VA claims (31%) for February.

February 2021 Veterans Disability Benefits Statistics: Claims Backlog Status

Unrated VA claims more than 125 days old automatically transfer into the backlog category. We noted yet another increase in the claims backlog in the February 2021 veterans disability benefits statistics report. Since we’re still not back to “business as usual” and VA field offices remain (mostly) closed, that’s hardly surprising. Still, it is possible to schedule C&P exams in certain locations, which may help slow this growth:

  • As of February 6, 2021: 212,851
  • As of January 2, 2021: 211,608
  • Difference: +1,243
  • Daily churn: +62 claims added the backlog

How likely is it that your claim will move into the VA’s backlog? Here’s the breakdown by service era:

  • 32% are from Vietnam vets
  • 32% are from Gulf War vets
  • 21% are from veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan
  • 12% are from peacetime vets serving between the Vietnam and Gulf Wars
  • 2.2% are from Korean War veterans
  • .7% are from WWII veterans

Interestingly, 1 in 10 vets filing supplemental claims already have a 100% P&T rating. That means they already receive at least $2,800/month in VA benefits.

You can talk to a VA-accredited lawyer on the phone for free about your claim. Since this phone call costs nothing and doesn’t obligate you to do anything else, what have you got to lose? It’s the best way to get fast, confidential advice about your case without ever leaving your house!

All lawyers providing free legal advice to veterans work on contingency. That means if the VA doesn’t award you a cash settlement, then you pay $0 for legal assistance. But 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 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.