The September 2018 veterans disability benefits statistics are now available from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. See how unrated VA claims changed in the past month and what the report means for disabled vets below.
September 2018 Veterans Disability Benefits Statistics: Claims Inventory Status
The September 2018 veterans disability benefits statistics report tracks unrated VA claims waiting for decisions from the Veterans Benefits Administration. At September’s start, the VA claims inventory category held 370,495 unrated applications, rising for the third month in a row. VA data shows that disability ratings are now at 95% accuracy, which may reduce the number of appeals going forward. According to the September 2018 veterans disability claims update, just 36% of unrated applications this month are from first-time filers.
- As of September 1, 2018: 370,495
- As of August 4, 2018: 360,505
- Difference: +9,990
- Daily churn: +500 claims
While we’d love to see unrated claims fall, fewer than 1 in 4 applicants land in the backlog, on average. Of the current claims inventory, 64% are supplemental claims from disabled vets already getting paid some benefits each month.
September 2018 Veterans Disability Benefits Statistics: Claims Backlog Status
All VA claims more than 125 days old automatically transfer into the backlog category. The September 2018 veterans disability benefits statistics report shows a small increase in this category compared to last month’s numbers. However, less than half this month’s backlogged claims are from first-time applicants. And it’s no wonder some claims take longer to process — about 32% of backlogged applications list more than eight conditions.
- As of September 1, 2018: 83,665
- As of August 4, 2018: 81,383
- Difference: +2,302
- Daily churn: +115 claims added to the backlog
About half the backlogged claims this month (e.g., 49%) come from Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam-era service members. Another third come from Gulf War veterans applying for additional benefits or a higher VA disability rating.
You May Qualify for Free Legal Assistance
Want professional help with your September 2018 veterans benefits claim? You’ll pay nothing unless a lawyer helps you win benefits when you file or appeal a denied claim. In fact, legal assistance is the best way to get paid the most benefits you’re rightfully owed faster. Recently, at least 82% of disabled vets with lawyers representing their cases prevail against the VA in court. 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 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.