VA returns medical professionals currently serving unions to serving Veterans
Today the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it will be moving nearly 430 medical professionals from taxpayer-funded union work back to health care jobs serving Veterans.
VA scientists elected as National Academy of Medicine members for outstanding professional achievement, commitment to service
WASHINGTON -Four senior U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) researchers were recently elected as new members of the National Academy of Medicine (NAM), one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine.
VA accelerates pending Veterans benefits appeals claims for victims of Super Typhoon Yutu
WASHINGTON - Today the U.S. Department of Veterans (VA) announced that it is prioritizing Veterans benefits appeals claims, effective Nov. 1, for victims in the Northern Mariana Islands who have been impacted by Super Typhoon Yutu.
VA mobilizes federal agencies to offer free legal services to help Veterans
WASHINGTON - Today the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) together with representatives from the departments of Labor, Justice, Defense, Homeland Security, the U.S. Navy and others, signed a joint statement aimed at improving access to free legal services for...
VA recognizes Vietnam Veteran with first Medal of Honor Medallion during ceremony at Mississippi cemetery
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) furnished the first Medal of Honor (MOH) Medallion for the private headstone of Pfc. Milton L. Olive III, a decorated Vietnam-era war hero, during a ceremony Nov. 1 at West Grove...
VA celebrates National Family Caregivers Month
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is commemorating National Family Caregivers Month this November by honoring the service of 5.5 million family members and friends who have dedicated their lives to providing much-needed care for chronically ill,...
Trump Administration announces decline in Veteran homelessness
WASHINGTON - Veteran homelessness in the U.S. continues to decline, according to a new national estimate announced today by U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson.
VA celebrates National Veterans and Military Families Month 2018 with events honoring Veterans and their families
WASHINGTON - Yesterday evening President Donald J. Trump declared November 2018 the second annual National Veterans and Military Families Month to 'salute the brave and dedicated patriots who have worn the uniform of the United States, and…celebrate the extraordinary military...
VA amends regulations on VA pension and other needs-based programs
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently amended its regulations governing entitlements to VA pension and Parents' Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, which are need-based programs.
VA prioritizing all pending Veterans benefits appeals claims for victims of hurricanes Florence and Michael
WASHINGTON - Veterans impacted by recent hurricanes Florence and Michael will now have their pending appeals claims for benefits prioritized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), department officials announced.
VA joins Military Spouse Employment Partnership
WASHINGTON - Today the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) announced it is advancing employment opportunities for military spouses by joining the Department of Defense (DOD) Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP).
VA achieves major milestone in effort to modernize claims processing
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently completed a significant modernization effort in which more than 7.8 million paper files were removed from 60 locations in fewer than 22 months, enabling rapid scanning into VA's electronic claims...
VA Debt Management Center reduces average wait times for Veterans contacting call center
WASHINGTON -The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Debt Management Center (DMC) reached a recent milestone this July when it reported it had lowered the average wait times for Veterans contacting the call center, from over 21 minutes in fiscal...
VA employee survey shows improving morale: Increase in workforce retention rates tied to uptick in job and VA satisfaction scores
WASHINGTON - Today the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that results from a recent VA job satisfaction survey showed a general trend of improving employee morale.
VA appoints new director for DC VA Medical Center
WASHINGTON - Today the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced it has appointed Michael S. Heimall, a former director at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, to take on new duties as director of the Washington DC...
President Trump approves appointment of four additional judges to VA's Board of Veterans' Appeals
WASHINGTON - Today the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that President Donald J. Trump recently approved the appointment of four new Veterans Law Judges to VA's Board of Veterans' Appeals.
VA online health portal wins government innovation award
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently won a 2018 Government Innovation Award for the VA Medical Images and Reports feature in My HealtheVet, VA's online health portal. VA will be recognized for the award at a...
VA study on cholesterol genetics could lead to new treatments for heart disease, diabetes
WASHINGTON - In the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) drive to help improve lives of Veterans through health care discovery and innovation, a team led by VA researchers recently identified three genetic mutations that govern cholesterol levels, which could...
VA and DOD senior leaders commit to aligned electronic health records system rollout
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Secretaries of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Defense (DOD) signed a joint statement Sept. 26 pledging that their two departments will align their plans, strategies and structures as they roll out a new electronic health records (EHR)...
Survey shows VA sustains high customer satisfaction in burial and memorial services for Veterans and families
WASHINGTON - The results of a recent VA customer survey indicates Veterans and their families continue to experience high customer satisfaction in burial and memorial services for Veterans and families from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)'s National Cemetery...
VA forms search commission to locate candidates for the Under Secretary for Health
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on Oct. 1 established a search commission, who will help identify candidates for the Under Secretary for Health position, which oversees the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).
VA employees among federal government workers honored with Sammies awards
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Marcella 'Marcy' Jacobs and VA's Digital Service team received the Management Excellence Medal during the 17th annual Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals (Sammies) awards gala Oct. 2 at the Andrew W....
End of fiscal year hospital Star rating shows large improvement in overall quality of services of VA medical centers across nation
Today, as part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) efforts to remain transparent and hold VA facilities accountable, VA released end of fiscal year 2018 (FY2018) hospital Star ratings, which evaluate and benchmark quality of care delivery at...
VA, partner organizations launch innovative approach using long-term employment to improve lives of Veterans with PTSD
WASHINGTON - With research showing that Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) face significant barriers to employment, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and several state, city and nonprofit organizations recently created a first-of-its-kind 'Pay for-Success' project to improve...
VA awards new leases to provide health care facilities to Veterans
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently awarded 13 major leases to improve access to care and deliver health care facilities to Veterans.
VA announces extension, expansion of contract with TriWest for community care: Also announces closeout plan with Health Net, extension of dialysis partnerships
WASHINGTON - Today the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that it has reached an agreement with TriWest Health Care Alliance (TriWest) on a one-year extension of its current coverage of the Patient-Centered Community Care (PC3) and Veterans Choice...
VA awards up to $9M in Adaptive Sports Program grants to aid disabled Veterans
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on Sept. 26 awarded up to $9 million in grants to eligible recipients for adaptive sports programs that will benefit disabled Veterans and disabled members of the armed forces.
VA marks Gold Star Families Remembrance Week
This week, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is commemorating Gold Star Families Remembrance Week, designated to honor families affected by the loss of a service member who died while serving in the U.S. armed forces. Beginning this week (Sept....
VA Releases National Suicide Data Report for 2005-2016: Analysis Is Part of VA's Data-driven Approach to Suicide Prevention
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) released national and state-level findings from its most recent analysis of Veteran suicide data, from 2005 to 2016. The analysis is part of VA's ongoing examination of non-Veteran and Veteran...
VA researchers work to create 3D-printed artificial lung that may revolutionize treatment of Veterans with lung disease
WASHINGTON - U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) scientists at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System in Michigan recently announced that they are working to create a 3D-printed artificial lung that could potentially revolutionize treatment of Veterans affected by lung...
VA national cemeteries welcome nonprofit volunteers providing tree-and landscape-care services
WASHINGTON - Today the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced that its National Cemetery Administration is partnering with more than 2,000 green-industry professionals across the country Sept. 19 to host 'Saluting Branches: Arborists United for Veteran Remembrance,' an opportunity for...
VA SAIL report scorecard shows majority of VA medical centers have improved over past year in quality of services provided to Veterans
WASHINGTON - Using a web-based report scorecard that measures, evaluates and benchmarks quality and efficiency at its medical centers, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently released data that showed significant improvements at the majority of its health care...
VA achieves historic goal by delivering 81,000 appeals decisions to Veterans in fiscal 2018
WASHINGTON - On Sept. 14, two weeks ahead of schedule, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) exceeded its goal to deliver 81,000 appeals decisions of disability benefits and services to Veterans in fiscal year 2018 - 28,000 more decisions...
President signs bill into law requiring VA to hire 50 outreach specialists to support Veterans involved in justice system
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that it is ready to hire an additional 50 Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) specialists following President Trump's signing today of the Veterans Treatment Court Improvement Act of 2018, a new law shoring...
Veterans gather in San Diego for VA's 11th annual Summer Sports Clinic
WASHINGTON - About 120 Veterans from across the country were expected to participate in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) 11th National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic in Southern California, which began Sept. 16.
VA implements new fiduciary regulations
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently updated regulations related to how it governs the oversight of beneficiaries, who, because of injury, disease, or age, are unable to manage their VA benefits, and the appointment and oversight of fiduciaries...
VA marks Suicide Prevention Month in September with ‘Be There' campaign: Initiative urges communities to support at-risk Veterans through simple actions
WASHINGTON - To mark Suicide Prevention Month this September, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is shining a light on effective ways to prevent Veteran suicide with its Be There campaign.
VA to fund first national center of excellence for Veteran and caregiver research
WASHINGTON - Today the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it will fund a new center of excellence to expand the department's capacity to deliver innovative, data-driven and integrated approaches to improve services for Veterans and their caregivers.
VA releases data on vacancies as required under MISSION Act
Today the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) released its figures on employment vacancies as of June 30, as mandated each quarter under the recently passed MISSION Act.
VA announces upcoming awards of nearly $326M in grants to help at-risk Veterans and family members
WASHINGTON - Today the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that thousands of low-income Veteran families around the nation will continue to receive benefits under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program.
VA General Counsel Jim Byrne named VA Acting Deputy Secretary
WASHINGTON - Today the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that its General Counsel, Jim Byrne, has been named Acting Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs effective Aug. 28.
VA announces $200M in funding for Grant and Per Diem Program to support homeless Veterans programs nationwide
WASHINGTON - Today the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it plans to provide approximately $200 million in fiscal year 2019 funding to support more than 13,000 transitional housing beds for its Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program.
VA expands Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program to improve service to Veterans: Hiring effort underway to reduce counselor-to-caseload ratio
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program (VR&E) recently began the process of reducing the average counselor-to-caseload ratio, to one to 125 or below, through the hiring of 172 vocational rehabilitation counselors (VRCs).
Secretary Wilkie Statement on the Passing of Senator John McCain
On behalf our nation's Veterans, we are all saddened by the passing of one of America's great warriors. Senator John McCain's life of courage and sacrifice continued a legacy of selfless service begun by his family over one hundred years...
Appeals Modernization: VA's Progress One Year Since Enactment of the Historic Law
Today marks one year since President Donald J. Trump signed into law one of the most significant statutory changes in decades to affect the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Veterans it serves. The Veterans Appeals Improvement and...
VA Secretary clarifies collective bargaining authority related to professional conduct, patient care
Today the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that VA Secretary Robert Wilkie clarified that unions can no longer use collective bargaining rights when it comes to professional conduct and patient care by VA providers. Specifically, Secretary Wilkie has...
At White House, VA Secretary underscores low unemployment for Veterans under President Trump
In his first White House Cabinet Meeting as Secretary of Veterans Affairs yesterday, VA Secretary Robert Wilkie underscored for President Donald Trump and the public how the President's policies have led to near-record-low unemployment rates for America's Veterans. Asked by...
VA, Walgreens collaborate to improve care coordination for Veterans
WASHINGTON - As part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) efforts to improve care coordination for Veterans, the department is working with pharmacy services provider Walgreens to coordinate patient and pharmaceutical care for VA-enrolled patients.
Veterans ‘TEE' up for 25th anniversary golf tournament sponsored by VA & DAV
WASHINGTON - More than 200 Veterans with visual impairments, severe illness or injury are set to tee up for the 2018 National Disabled Veterans Training, Exposure and Experience (TEE) Tournament, which will take place Sept. 9-14 near Iowa City, Iowa.
VA updates the disability rating schedule related to skin conditions
Effective Aug. 13, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) updated portions of the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD, or Rating Schedule) that evaluate conditions related to the skin.
VA announces leadership changes to take effect shortly
Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced several leadership changes that will take effect shortly. These leadership changes will build upon a strong current team that will continue to carry out the priorities of President Trump and newly...
VA releases health care benefit application for Spanish-speaking Veterans
WASHNGTON - Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) released the Spanish version of the application for health benefits, as part of VA's effort to simplify and improve the health care enrollment process for Veterans.
Secretary Wilkie meets with leaders at Washington DC VA Medical Center
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie visited the Washington DC VA Medical Center (VAMC), where he met with facility and regional leaders and received updates on recent progress in Veterans' care and plans for further improvements...
Forever GI Bill expands VA educational benefits
WASHINGTON - Effective Aug. 1, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) implemented 15 more provisions of the Harry W. Colmery Educational Assistance Act of 2017, also referred to as the Forever GI Bill.
President Trump selects Jake Leinenkugel to lead VA commission focused on Veterans' mental health treatment
Today the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that President Donald J. Trump has selected former VA White House Senior Advisor Thomas 'Jake' Leinenkugel to lead a key commission focused on the department's mental health care programs.
VA implementing presidential executive order governing union activities during official work hours
WASHINGTON - Today the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced it has begun implementing a recent presidential executive order (EO), which offered new guidelines for how union officials use work hours when representing federal employees.
VA and IBM Watson Health Extend Partnership to Support Veterans With Cancer
WASHINGTON - Today the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and IBM Watson Health announced the extension of a public-private partnership to apply artificial intelligence (AI) to help interpret cancer data in the treatment of Veteran patients.
VEText system transforming VA's medical scheduling process
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently launched VEText, a text messaging appointment-reminder system, which to date has helped VA reduce no-show medical visits by more than 100,000.
VA Establishes Office of Electronic Health Record Modernization to Support Transition From Legacy Patient Data System
WASHINGTON - Focused on ensuring a successful transition from a legacy patient data system, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced the recent establishment of the Office of Electronic Health Record Modernization (OEHRM).
VA's Board of Veterans' Appeals Using Innovative Tools to Make a Record Number of Decisions
WASHINGTON - Strengthened by innovative tools, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently issued a record number of decisions for Veterans appealing their disability benefits claims.
