At the beginning of each month, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs releases new disability benefits claims reports disclosing the total number of claims in current inventory and backlogged for more than 125 days. Review the numbers below to see how the numbers have changed since last month in our October 2016 veterans disability benefits overview.
October 2016 Veterans Disability Benefits Statistics: Claims Inventory Status
This month’s inventory status report generated by the Veterans Benefits Administration shows pension and compensation claims currently awaiting the VA’s determination decision. As of October 1, 2016, there were 378,468 claims belonging to this category. For the first time since summer, the number’s dropped over the course of 30 days. It’s a statistic that spells good news for both current and future applicants, as it shows that the VA is trying to expedite claim approvals in the short-term.
- As of October 1, 2016: 378,468
- As of September 3, 2016: 380,688
- Difference: -2,220
- Daily churn: -111 claims
October 2016 Veterans Disability Benefits Statistics: Claims Backlog Status
Backlogged claims indicate any application pending a determination decision from the VA for more than 125 days. As of October 1st, there were 71,240 claims still waiting in the backlog. That’s a massive reduction in October 2016 veterans disability benefits claims still in backlog status compared with previous months! In fact, it means that the VA cleared more than double the number of claims from the backlog in October as September and August’s backlog additions combined.
- As of October 1, 2016: 71,240
- As of September 3, 2016: 79,155
- Difference: -7,915
- Daily churn: -395.75 claims deleted from the backlog
Let’s hope this number is the start of an encouraging downward trend in backlogged claims. If so, it puts us on track to have less than 100,000 total backlogged claims through fall.
Let An Experienced Attorney Help You
If you’re considering filing your own disability claim, a VA-accredited attorney can help make the whole process much faster and easier. Attorneys who frequently handle VA benefits claims can help you gather medical evidence, check your current case status and file an appeal on your behalf, should you need it. With contingency-based fees, you’ll pay nothing upfront to get professional help now. And of course, you’ll never pay any legal fees unless your attorney gets your claim approved and you’re awarded disability benefits from the VA.
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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.