This tool provides estimates for educational purposes only. We are not accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs and do not file claims, provide legal advice, or represent veterans before the VA (38 U.S.C. § 5904). For official assistance, contact a VSO, CVSO, or VA-accredited attorney.
VA Pulse
What's happening with VA benefits
A snapshot of recent VA news, rule changes, processing-time baselines, and updates we have made to the site.
Recent VA news
Curated headlines from official VA sources.
- Processing timesQ1 2026 disability claim processing averages published
VBA published quarterly processing-time averages for initial disability claims and review lanes. Veterans can compare regional office averages against the national median when planning for a decision.
VBA Performance Reports
- HealthcareWomen Veterans health care services expanded
VA expanded availability of gender-specific primary and specialty care at additional VAMCs. Women veterans enrolled in VA care can locate the nearest Women Veterans Program Manager through their facility directory.
VA Women's Health
- HealthcareTelehealth C&P exams available for additional conditions
VA expanded telehealth eligibility for Compensation & Pension exams to cover more conditions, including certain mental health and tinnitus claims. Availability varies by VAMC; veterans in rural areas may request a telehealth exam through their facility.
VA News
- HealthcareCommunity Care eligibility criteria refreshed
VA updated guidance on Community Care eligibility, including drive-time and wait-time access standards. Enrolled veterans who do not meet VA wait-time or drive-time thresholds may be eligible for community care referral.
VA Community Care
- PACT ActPACT Act presumptive list expands under VA rulemaking
VA has continued to expand the list of conditions presumed to be service-connected under the PACT Act. Veterans with toxic-exposure-era service may be eligible to file or refile claims for newly added conditions.
VA.gov
Recent statute and rule changes
Verified changes to 38 CFR, 38 USC, and VA-published rates.
2026 COLA: 2.8% increase to disability compensation
Before: 70% veteran alone: $1,759.19 monthly. 100% veteran alone: $3,831.30 monthly. (2025 rates, effective Dec 1, 2024.)
Now: 70% veteran alone: $1,808.45 monthly. 100% veteran alone: $3,938.58 monthly. (2026 rates, effective Dec 1, 2025.)
VA processing times
National baselines from VBA published averages.
Disability compensation — initial claim
Typically 108 to 205 days
~152d
Disability compensation — increase claim
Typically 100 to 200 days
~140d
Higher-Level Review (HLR)
Typically 90 to 180 days
~125d
Supplemental Claim
Typically 105 to 210 days
~145d
Site changelog
What we updated recently and why it matters.
- High impact
M21-1 Update: Revised Procedures for PACT Act Presumptive Claims
VBA updated M21-1, Part IV, Subpart ii to clarify documentation requirements for burn pit exposure claims. The update streamlines the evidence standard for conditions added under the PACT Act.
- Medium impact
March 2026 Regional Office Processing Times Released
Average claim processing time for initial disability claims was 128 days in March 2026. The fastest ROs were Salt Lake City (98 days) and Roanoke (105 days).
- Medium impact
VA Expands Telehealth C&P Exam Availability
VA announced that telehealth Compensation & Pension examinations are now available for 12 additional conditions, including tinnitus and certain mental health conditions. Veterans in rural areas may request telehealth exams through their VAMC.
- Low impact
February 2026 VBA Workload Report
VBA completed 148,203 disability rating claims in February 2026, with a pending inventory of 512,847 claims. Supplemental claims accounted for 31% of completions.
- Medium impact
BVA Precedential Decision on Sleep Apnea Secondary to PTSD
The Board issued a precedential decision recognizing the nexus between PTSD and obstructive sleep apnea, citing the 69% comorbidity rate in treatment-seeking veterans.
Full changelog
Filterable feed of every site update and curated VA-policy entry we have logged.
Recent updates to VA benefits policy, procedures, and processing. Reviewed weekly; last reviewed 2026-04-25.
M21-1 Update: Revised Procedures for PACT Act Presumptive Claims
VBA updated M21-1, Part IV, Subpart ii to clarify documentation requirements for burn pit exposure claims. The update streamlines the evidence standard for conditions added under the PACT Act.
VA KnowVAMarch 2026 Regional Office Processing Times Released
Average claim processing time for initial disability claims was 128 days in March 2026. The fastest ROs were Salt Lake City (98 days) and Roanoke (105 days).
VA.govVA Expands Telehealth C&P Exam Availability
VA announced that telehealth Compensation & Pension examinations are now available for 12 additional conditions, including tinnitus and certain mental health conditions. Veterans in rural areas may request telehealth exams through their VAMC.
VA NewsFebruary 2026 VBA Workload Report
VBA completed 148,203 disability rating claims in February 2026, with a pending inventory of 512,847 claims. Supplemental claims accounted for 31% of completions.
VBA ReportsBVA Precedential Decision on Sleep Apnea Secondary to PTSD
The Board issued a precedential decision recognizing the nexus between PTSD and obstructive sleep apnea, citing the 69% comorbidity rate in treatment-seeking veterans.
BVAM21-1 Clarification on Buddy Statement Weight
VBA issued guidance clarifying that lay statements from fellow service members carry probative weight for establishing in-service events, particularly for conditions where service treatment records are incomplete.
GUARD Act Advances in Senate Committee
The GUARD VA Benefits Act, which would reinstate criminal penalties for unaccredited individuals charging fees for VA claim assistance, passed the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee with bipartisan support.
Congress.govBVA Decision Addresses Aggravation Standard for Pre-Existing Conditions
A precedential BVA decision clarified the evidentiary standard for showing that a pre-existing condition was aggravated beyond its natural progression during military service, applying the clear-and-unmistakable evidence standard under 38 U.S.C. 1111.
BVAVA Proposes Adding Hypertension to Agent Orange Presumptive List
The VA has published a proposed rule in the Federal Register to formally add hypertension as a presumptive condition for veterans exposed to Agent Orange. Public comment period closes April 20, 2026.
Federal RegisterJanuary 2026 Higher-Level Review Processing Times
Average processing time for Higher-Level Reviews was 82 days in January 2026, a decrease from 89 days in December. Informal conferences were requested in 44% of HLR filings.
VA.govVA Launches Updated Claims Status Tool
VA.gov released an updated version of the claims status tracker with improved milestone tracking and estimated completion dates. The tool now shows which phase of the eight-step process a claim is in.
VA.govProposed Rule: Additional Cancers Under PACT Act Concession
VA published a proposed rule to add bladder cancer, ureter cancer, and a rare form of renal cancer to the list of conditions eligible for burn pit/airborne hazards concession under the PACT Act.
Federal RegisterBipartisan Bill Proposes TDIU Earnings Threshold Increase
A bipartisan bill introduced in the House would increase the substantial gainful employment threshold for TDIU eligibility from the federal poverty level to 150% of the poverty level, if enacted.
Congress.govFY2026 Q1 Claims Completion Summary
VBA completed 437,812 disability rating claims in Q1 FY2026 (Oct-Dec 2025), an 8% increase over the same period in FY2025. The grant rate for initial claims was 57.3%.
VBA ReportsM21-1 Update: Revised Mental Health Exam Requirements
VBA updated M21-1 guidance on initial PTSD examinations, clarifying that a single comprehensive exam may satisfy the requirement for both diagnosis confirmation and nexus opinion when conducted by a qualified psychologist or psychiatrist.
BVA Rules on GERD Secondary to PTSD Medications
A precedential Board decision found that GERD caused by long-term NSAID and SSRI use prescribed for service-connected PTSD may be granted as a secondary condition, establishing a medication-pathway nexus.
BVAVA Announces Intent to Hire 2,000 Additional Claims Processors
VA announced a hiring initiative to bring on 2,000 additional Veterans Service Representatives and Rating Veterans Service Representatives across all Regional Offices by Q3 FY2026.
VA NewsJanuary 2026 SMC Rate Tables Published
Updated Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) rate tables reflecting the 2.8% COLA increase are now available. SMC-S (housebound) for a veteran with no dependents is now $4,352.72 per month.
VA.govAnnual NDAA Includes Provision on Toxic Exposure Registry
The FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act, signed into law, includes a provision requiring DOD to share deployment-linked environmental exposure data with VA for use in future presumptive determinations.
Congress.gov2026 VA Compensation Rates Effective December 1, 2025
The 2.8% COLA increase is now reflected in disability compensation payments. A veteran rated at 100% with no dependents now receives $3,938.58 per month.
VA.govUpdates are compiled from official VA, Congressional, and Federal Register sources.