Military and Veteran News

Military & Veterans News VA delivered all-time record care and benefits to Veterans in the 2024 fiscal year Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced it delivered more care and more benefits to more Veterans than ever before in fiscal year 2024 — exceeding last year’s record totals.

Military & Veterans News VA housed nearly 48,000 Veterans experiencing homelessness in the 2024 fiscal year These final FY 2024 numbers surpass VA’s goal by over 16%, marking the largest number of Veterans housed in a single year since FY 2019

Military & Veterans News VA awards more than $44.5M in grants to state Veterans cemeteries Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Cemetery Administration awarded $44,553,338 in grants for the expansion and/or improvement of state Veterans’ cemeteries during fiscal year 2024. These grants help deliver timely and accessible burial and memorial services to Veterans.

Military & Veterans News VA proposes new legal services grant program to help Veterans upgrade their military discharge status and increase access to earned benefits Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs proposed establishing a first-of-its-kind grant program aimed at increasing access to VA programs and benefits. The proposed program would fund entities that provide legal support to help Veterans and former service members access VA programs, improve their military discharge status or characterization of service, and seek a review of a military record before a board of correction for military or naval records.

Military & Veterans News VA awards nearly $16M in grants to help Veterans and service members participate in adaptive sports Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced the award of $15.9 million in grants to fund adaptive sports, recreational activities, and equine therapy for Veterans and service members living with disabilities.

Military & Veterans News VA awards $4.3M in cooperative agreements to states and territories to help understand and prevent Veteran suicide Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced it will award more than $4.3 million in cooperative agreements to states and territories to help fund and provide technical assistance to suicide mortality review committees, which aim to identify and characterize local suicide deaths to better inform Veteran suicide prevention strategies.

Military & Veterans News VA makes tele-emergency care available nationwide, offering Veterans more virtual care options Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced that tele-emergency care (tele-EC) is now available nationwide, a step that increases timely access to virtual emergency care options for Veterans enrolled in VA health care. This expansion of care — piloted in recent months — has already shown promise for Veterans, helping more than 61,182 callers with a 59.4% case resolution rate (meaning Veterans’ needs were resolved without having to travel from their homes to urgent care or an emergency department).

Military & Veterans News VA to review possible service connection between PFAS exposure and kidney cancer Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it will conduct a scientific assessment to determine if there is a relationship between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure during military service and kidney cancer among Veterans.

Military & Veterans News VA awards $52.5M to community organizations working to prevent Veteran suicide Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced several new steps in VA’s ongoing fight to prevent Veteran suicide — including awarding $52.5 million in grants to community organizations implementing tailored suicide prevention programs and services for Veterans and their families.

Military & Veterans News VA marks 23rd anniversary of 9/11 with National Day of Service and Remembrance events at VA national cemeteries nationwide Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it will host more than 60 National Day of Service and Remembrance events, Sept. 11, at VA national cemeteries across 34 states and Puerto Rico. These events are open to all and will honor the Veterans, service members, law enforcement personnel, firefighters, and other first responders who served and sacrificed for the nation, Sept. 11, 2001, and in the years since.

Military & Veterans News VA health care outperforms non-VA care in two independent, nationwide quality and patient satisfaction reviews Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced that VA hospitals outperformed non-VA hospitals in two major independent, nationwide reviews for patient satisfaction and care quality

Military & Veterans News VA awards over $800 million in grants to help homeless and at-risk Veterans and their families Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced it will award $806.4 million in grants to help homeless and at-risk Veterans through the Supportive Services for Veteran Families and Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem programs.

Military & Veterans News VA awards over $800 million in grants to help homeless and at-risk Veterans and their families Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced it will award $806.4 million in grants to help homeless and at-risk Veterans through the Supportive Services for Veteran Families and Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem programs.

Military & Veterans News VA and the Biden-Harris Administration announce new government-wide website & call center to protect Veterans from fraud and scams Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Biden-Harris Administration announced the launch of VSAFE.gov and 1-833-38V-SAFE (1-833-388-7233) — a new government-wide website and call center designed to protect Veterans, service members, and their families from fraud and scams.

Military & Veterans News VA accepting proposals for new graduate medical education initiative to expand health care access for Veterans Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs launched the online application portal to accept applications for the new Pilot Program for Graduate Medical Education and Residency, aimed at expanding health care access for Veterans across the country.

Military & Veterans News VA launches updated Burn Pit Registry, paving the way for improved research into health of Veterans exposed to toxins and other hazards while serving Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced the launch of the redesigned Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry (Burn Pit Research Registry). The Burn Pit Registry is a database that combines Veteran and service member data to help VA better understand, research, and ultimately improve treatment for the health challenges facing Veterans exposed to airborne hazards and burn pits during their military service.

Military & Veterans News VA accepting grant applications for a new program helping Veterans & their spouses transition from military service Eligible organizations providing employment-based resources and tools to help recently separated members of the Armed Forces and their spouses may now apply for grants from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Military & Veterans News Two years since launch of Dial 988 then Press 1, Veterans Crisis Line is supporting more Veterans than ever Two years ago, the launch of Dial 988 then Press 1 made it easier than ever for Veterans and their loved ones to access lifesaving support via the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Veterans Crisis Line. In these past two years, VCL has answered more than 1,638,138 calls, representing a 22.7% increase in calls per day since the launch. This means that more Veterans than ever are getting the support they need from caring, qualified responders during times of crisis.

Military & Veterans News VA awards $26.8M in grants to support legal services for Veterans experiencing or at risk for homelessness Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is awarding $26.8 million in legal services grants to a total of 108 public and non-profit organizations, all with the goal of increasing access to legal services for eligible Veterans experiencing or at risk for homelessness.

Military & Veterans News VA announces $10M in new funding opportunities for state, territory, and Tribal governments to help understand and prevent Veteran suicide The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced $10 million in new funding for eligible states, territories, and Tribal governments through cooperative agreements to better inform Veteran suicide prevention strategies.

Military & Veterans News VA awards more than $2.4M in grants to research and increase public engagement with Veteran stories Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced that the National Cemetery Administration awarded nine grants totaling more than $2.4 million as part of the Veterans Legacy Program (VLP), a project that honors America’s Veterans and service members by uncovering and sharing their stories.

Military & Veterans News VA extends presumptions of service connection for three new cancer types Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is including three new cancer types in the list of presumed service-connected disabilities due to military environmental exposure under the PACT Act. This announcement marks the continued commitment under the Biden-Harris administration’s Unity Agenda and the Biden Cancer Moonshot to support the nation’s Veterans.

Military & Veterans News More than 50,000 women Veterans enrolled in VA health care over past 365 days, marking the largest enrollment year ever for women Veterans VA is now providing more care and benefits to women Veterans than ever before in our nation’s history

Military & Veterans News VA announces updates to help Veterans using VA home loan benefits remain competitive in the housing market Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced that eligible Veterans, active-duty service members, and surviving spouses who use the VA-guaranteed home loan benefit can pay for certain real estate buyer-broker fees when purchasing a home beginning Aug. 10, 2024.