Oct 22, 2026
WASHINGTON – The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) announced today that its National Veterans Service (NVS) program has helped veterans and their families secure $17.92 billion in cumulative VA disability compensation in fiscal year (FY) 2026 alone, marking a new waypoint in the organization’s ongoing mission to ensure veterans receive the benefits they have earned through military service.
“Behind every dollar represented in this total is a veteran, a family member or a survivor who deserved to have someone in their corner,” said VFW National Commander Cory Geisler. “Our accredited service officers do more than help navigate a complicated claims process. They stand up for those who served, fight for the benefits they earned and deliver on the promise our nation made to them. They do this work at no cost to the people they serve, and I could not be more proud of their dedication.”
The VFW’s NVS program is supported by a nationwide network of 2,310 accredited service officers employed by the VFW, partner nonprofits and state and local government agencies. Accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), these professionals provide free claims assistance to transitioning service members, veterans, their families and survivors.
At the end of each fiscal year, VA provides the VFW with a report of their total VA award numbers, to include all benefit dollars paid to VFW-represented veterans as well as new awards processed for first-time claimants. For FY 2026, NVS processed approximately 165,000 new VA claim awards and represented more than 620,000 total claimants. This report does not include data on increased benefits, dependency awards, supplemental claims and other actions taken on behalf of claimants that also provide benefits – meaning the VFW’s impact on the veterans’ community is even greater than VA reports.
For example, nearly 15,000 new claims were filed through the VFW’s Pre-Discharge Claims program, which helps service members begin the benefits process before leaving the military. The program operates at more than 20 locations, including overseas locations in Hawaii and South Korea, helping ensure service members have support as they transition to civilian life.
“The men and women leaving service today and in the future deserve a fair opportunity to receive their benefits,” said Geisler. “This is why the VFW is committed to the preservation of service-connected disability compensation and ensuring this nation honors the contract with our transitioning service members.”
VA disability compensation provides tax-free monthly payments to eligible veterans whose illnesses or injuries were incurred or aggravated during military service. However, receiving compensation requires veterans to establish that their condition is connected to their service. This often involves documenting an in-service event, injury or exposure, establishing a current disability and demonstrating a link between the two. Accredited service officers help veterans gather supporting evidence, prepare claims and navigate the VA benefits system.
“Reaching $17.92 billion in cumulative benefits is a testament to the expertise and persistence of our accredited service officers, but the real measure of our success is the difference they make in people’s lives,” said VFW Washington Office Chief of Staff and acting National Veterans Service Director Michael Figlioli. “Our team works tirelessly to make sure veterans and their families do not have to face that process alone, and we remain committed to providing that assistance free of charge.”
The VFW’s National Veterans Service program relies on grants and donations to sustain its work and ensure veterans and their families continue to receive free claims assistance. To support this mission, visit the VFW Foundation’s National Veterans Service page.