September 2019 veterans disability benefits statistics report

September 2019 Veterans Disability Benefits Statistics Report Review

The September 2019 veterans disability benefits statistics report is now out from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Learn how VA disability compensation and pension claims changed during the last 30 days below.



September 2019 Veterans Disability Benefits Statistics: Claims Inventory Status

The September 2019 veterans disability benefits statistics report lists all unrated claims still pending a VA determination decision. On September 7, there were 374,362 unrated applications in the VA claims inventory. However, just 115,290 were first-time claims for VA disability compensation from injured veterans (about 31%). Almost 65% were supplemental claims for additional or worsening conditions. However, those veterans already get some benefits from the VA each month. However, they might not yet have combined 100% P&T ratings for all those service-related disabling conditions.

  • As of September 7, 2019: 374,362
  • As of August 3, 2019: 343,565
  • Difference: +30,797
  • Daily churn: +1,539.85 claims

As you can see, this is a massive jump since last month’s report came out. Veterans and eligible family members added more than 1,500 unrated VA claims every day between August and September. The September 2019 veterans disability report also lists VA pension and survivor’s benefits claims from eligible families. Surviving spouses, children or parents filed 9,847 claims this month, making up 2.6% of this month’s inventory. The September 2019 veterans disability statistics report’s final 2.1% comes from first-time VA pension applications.

September 2019 Veterans Disability Benefits Statistics: Claims Backlog Status

Any unrated VA claims automatically transfer into the backlog after 125 days. Unlike the claims inventory, this month’s backlog report shrank instead of growing month-over-month. The September 2019 veterans disability benefits statistics report shows that backlogged claims fell for a second month in a row:

  • As of September 7, 2019: 72,821
  • As of August 3, 2019: 73,775
  • Difference: -954
  • Daily churn: -48 claims cleared from the backlog

Claims requesting either higher VA disability ratings or that list additional disabling conditions make up 54% of this month’s backlog. Today, about 1 in 4 first-time claimants ends up in the VA’s backlog. According to the September 2019 veterans disability benefits statistics report, here’s how that backlog breaks down:

  • 32% are from Gulf War-era veterans
  • 27% are from Vietnam War veterans
  • 23% are from vets who served in the recent Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts
  • 12% come from peacetime veterans who served between the Vietnam and Gulf Wars
  • 4% are from Korean War veterans
  • 2.2% are from World War II veterans

A VA-accredited lawyer can get you the most VA benefits you qualify for paid faster the first time you apply. Right now, 9 in 10 veterans with attorney representation prevail against the VA in court when they appeal. According to the VBA’s website, veterans hoping to fast-track their fully developed claims online save just six days’ wait time. In other words, using the VA’s official online system isn’t any faster than using a lawyer. And those claims still have a 12% error rate after the VA adds their disability ratings! An attorney will make sure your application’s error-free and includes all medical documents needed to support your claim.

All lawyers we match you with for legal assistance through this website work on contingency. You’ll never pay the lawyer a dime unless they help you get VA benefits. And if you do win, then you’ll only pay a small, one-time fee.

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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.