The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced significant progress in reducing wait times for disability claims and survivor benefits, highlighting major improvements in service for Veterans and their families.

According to the VA, processing times for disability claims have dropped sharply, with the average time to complete a claim falling from 141.5 days to just over 80 days — a decrease of more than 40 percent. At the same time, accuracy rates have climbed to just over 94 percent, marking the highest level in the past two years.

The agency says it is on pace to match last year’s record-breaking workload after processing more than 3 million claims in fiscal year 2025. So far in fiscal year 2026, more than 1.5 million claims have already been completed, including 1 million processed faster than ever before.

Improvements also extend to pension and survivor benefits. The VA reports major reductions in processing times for Veterans Pension, Survivors Pension, and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation claims. In many cases, wait times have been cut in half or better, while long-standing backlogs have been reduced by more than 80 to 90 percent.

Officials say these gains are the result of focused leadership, increased efficiency, and expanded use of overtime, along with a workforce that includes a large number of Veterans who understand the needs of those they serve.

VA Secretary Doug Collins says the improvements reflect a broader commitment to ensuring Veterans, families, and survivors receive the benefits they have earned as quickly as possible.