Military and Veteran News

Military & Veterans News Through 2027, Veterans no longer need to pay copays for their first three outpatient mental health care visits of each year Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that Veterans no longer need to pay copays for their first three outpatient mental health care and substance use disorder visits of each calendar year through 2027. This benefit expands Veterans’ access to mental health services and lowers their out-of-pocket costs.

Military & Veterans News VA improves access to care, reduces wait times for new patient appointments in primary and mental health care Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced improved wait times for new patient appointments in primary care and mental health care across the VA health care system.

Military & Veterans News VA to grant 1 millionth benefit claim for Veterans and their survivors under the PACT Act Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs expects to grant its 1 millionth PACT Act-related disability compensation claims to Veterans and survivors since President Biden signed the bill into law on Aug. 10, 2022. The grant rate for these claims is 75% – a sharp increase from pre-PACT levels – and VA has delivered more than $5.7 billion in earned benefits to these Veterans and survivors. 

Military & Veterans News VA named one of the top 10 fastest rising research institutions in North America The Department of Veterans Affairs has earned a spot among the top 10 fastest rising research institutions in North America, according to the prestigious Nature Index. VA research has a long history of medical breakthroughs, including the development of the CAT scan, the innovation of the pacemaker, and performing the first-ever liver transplant. Recent research by VA researchers has supported critical initiatives such as the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, women’s health, telehealth, suicide prevention, the PACT Act, President Biden’s Cancer Moonshot, and many others.

Military & Veterans News VA expands health care services for Veterans in Florida Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced the official opening of one of its newest clinics in South Tampa, Florida. Sabal Park Clinic provides a comprehensive suite of services —including primary care, mental health, social work, and dietetics.

Military & Veterans News VA announces new grant program to help service members and their spouses transition from the military to civilian life Today, on Military Spouse Appreciation Day, VA announced the creation of a new grant program to help service members and their spouses transition from the military to civilian life. These grants will be awarded to eligible organizations that provide employment-based resources and tools for transitioning service members and spouses — including resume assistance services, interview training, job recruitment training, employment placement services, and additional services that lead directly to a successful transition.

Military & Veterans News  VA announces expansion of “Close to Me” cancer program as part of the Cancer Moonshot, bringing cancer diagnosis and treatment closer to thousands of Veterans Today, as a part of the Biden Cancer Moonshot, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced an expansion of its Close to Me cancer care program. This expansion will bring new cancer diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance services to an additional 9,000 Veterans and 30 locations by the end of October 2025.

Military & Veterans News VA expands access to care and benefits for some former service members who did not receive an honorable or general discharge Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs posted a final rule amending its regulations regarding character of discharge determinations, expanding access to VA care and benefits for some former service members discharged under other than honorable conditions or by special court-martial.

Military & Veterans News VA announces new program to help more than 40,000 Veterans stay in their homes On May 31, 2024, the Department of Veterans Affairs will launch a new program — the Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase (VASP) program — to help more than 40,000 Veterans experiencing severe financial hardship avoid foreclosure and stay in their homes.

Military & Veterans News 400,000+ Veterans enrolled in VA health care over past 365 days, 30% increase over last year Under the PACT Act, VA has also upgraded the health care priority groups for 693,962 Veterans over the past year — meaning that many of those Veterans are now paying lower copays. Since the PACT Act was passed into law, VA has upgraded the priority groups of more than 746,500 Veterans.

Military & Veterans News VA opens new osteoarthritis research center at Philadelphia VA Medical Center Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced the opening of the Cartilage Regeneration using Advanced Technologies to Enable Motion Center — the CReATE Motion Center — at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center.  

Military & Veterans News VA sets all-time record for benefits delivered to women Veterans Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it is delivering disability compensation benefits to a record number of women Veterans. Right now, 702,557 women Veterans are receiving disability compensation benefits from VA — an all-time record and an increase of 180,959 women Veterans (or 26%) over five years ago.

Military & Veterans News VA has processed more than one million Veteran benefit claims in fiscal year 2024, the fastest rate in VA history Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it has processed its one millionth Veteran benefits claim in fiscal year 2024. VA reached this milestone March 4 — the earliest in VA history and nearly six weeks faster than the previous all-time record (from fiscal year 2023). VA has completed almost 35% more claims than at this point last year.

Military & Veterans News President Biden Fiscal Year 2025 Budget proposes critical investments in Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors Budget outlines critical investments in delivering care and benefits to toxic-exposed Veterans, improving mental health outcomes, supporting women Veterans, and more

Military & Veterans News VA makes historic commitments to hire and support military spouses Days after Biden-Harris Administration released the first-ever government-wide plan to tackle employment barriers and expand opportunities for military-connected spouses, VA signs the 4+1 Commitment to support military spouses

Military & Veterans News In one of the largest-ever expansions of Veteran health care, all Veterans exposed to toxins and other hazards during military service — at home or abroad — will be eligible for VA health care beginning March 5 At the direction of President Biden, VA is expanding health care eligibility to millions of Veterans — including all Veterans who served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, or any other combat zone after 9/11 — years earlier than called for by the PACT Act

Military & Veterans News VA launches new surgery initiative across the nation, a critical step to saving the lives of Veterans considering surgery This week, VA’s Surgical Pause Initiative was recognized with 2023 John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Award. This initiative, which is now expanding to all VA facilities that provide surgical care, is proven to decrease mortality among Veteran patients.

Military & Veterans News VA announces 2024 Equity Action Plan, new actions to ensure that all Veterans receive the health care and benefits they earned Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs released its 2024 Agency Equity Action Plan to help ensure that VA delivers on its promise to provide world-class care and benefits to all Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors ― regardless of their age, race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or geographic location.

Military & Veterans News VA announces $5M in grant funding for transitional supportive housing for homeless Veterans Announcement comes just days after VA announced housing more than 46,000 homeless Veterans in 2023

Military & Veterans News VA to award $52.5 million in grants to local organizations working to prevent Veteran suicide Today, VA announced the availability of $52.5 million in funding for grants to community-based organizations that provide or coordinate suicide prevention services for Veterans and their families — including conducting Veteran mental health screenings, providing case management and peer support services, delivering emergency clinical services, reaching out to Veterans at risk of suicide, and more.

Military & Veterans News More than 31,000 Veterans sign up for new VA life insurance program in the first year Under the Biden-Harris Administration, VA is now providing more insurance coverage to more Veterans, service members, and their families than ever before in our nation’s history

Military & Veterans News To improve care for Veterans, VA to fund studies on new therapies for treating mental health conditions New research would determine the benefit of psychedelics for treating PTSD and depression in Veterans

Military & Veterans News VA has screened 5 million Veterans for toxic exposures, paving the way for early detection and treatment of health conditions A key component of the PACT Act and President Biden’s Unity Agenda for the nation, these toxic exposure screenings begin an important conversation about exposure health risks between Veterans and their medical providers

Military & Veterans News VA adds three new Vet Centers and six satellite locations to increase access to counseling for Veterans and service members Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced the addition of three new Vet Centers and six Vet Center Outstations (smaller satellite locations) to improve access to counseling for Veterans and service members.