VA hiring 2,000+ employees to process rising number of Veteran claims

WASHINGTON - The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to hire more than 2,000 employees in fiscal year 2027 to process a record number of benefits claims Veterans are expected to file in the coming years.

VA currently has more than 13,000 employees on board to process these claims, and the department's team processed a record-high 3.1 million compensation and pension claims in FY2026. VA granted 60.1% of all claims filed in FY2026, processed them with the highest accuracy rate in three years (93.88%), and only 3.2% of claims decisions were appealed to the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The volume of claims continues to rise, in part because VA is making an unprecedented effort to contact and enroll Veterans in its system. For example, in FY2026 alone, VA launched a campaign to reach millions of unenrolled Veterans featuring more than 11,000 live events. In response to these efforts, VA received a record of more than 3.15 million claims submissions in FY2026, an 80% increase from FY2022, and more than 300,000 new Veterans have enrolled in VA healthcare so far in calendar year 2026.

To ensure VA can keep up with demand, the department is inviting Veterans and others to apply for a career as a VA claims processor. Selected candidates will interpret and apply applicable laws, regulations and policies for processing disability claims.

VA is also working to identify members of the U.S. Armed Forces who may be interested in joining VA when they transition out of military service. VA's Warrior Training Advancement Course (WARTAC) gives all transitioning service members the opportunity to complete a national-level training program while still on active duty, and completing this training can lead to employment opportunities at one of VA's 56 Regional Benefits Offices.

"VA is putting Veterans first by making major improvements in claims processing volume, speed and accuracy. These new hires will help continue this landmark progress," said VA Secretary Doug Collins.

For more information on how to apply for VA benefits, visit VA.gov. For opportunities to join our team and work on behalf of our nation's Veterans, visit VA's Career website or WARTAC.