Military & Veterans News

Military & Veterans News VA processes one million disability claims faster than ever before The Department of Veterans Affairs announced today it has processed more than a million disability claims in Fiscal Year 2025, reaching the milestone nearly two weeks faster than it did in FY24.

Military & Veterans News VA dismisses more than 1,400 probationary employees Mission-critical positions are exempt from the reductions, which will enable VA to redirect over $83 million annually to health care, benefits and services for VA beneficiaries

Military & Veterans News VA dismisses more than 1,000 employees The Department of Veterans Affairs today announced the dismissal of more than 1,000 employees.

Military & Veterans News VA announces return to in-person work policy The Department of Veterans Affairs today announced its return to in-person work policy, which states eligible employees must work full-time at their respective duty stations (agency worksites) unless excused due to a disability, qualifying medical condition or other compelling reason.

Military & Veterans News VA ends DEI, stops millions in spending on DEI The Department of Veterans Affairs announced today that it has completed its initial implementation of President Trump’s executive order to end DEI within the federal government.

Military & Veterans News VA declares hiring-freeze exemptions Following successful implementation of President Trump’s federal hiring freeze, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced several exemptions to the policy.

Military & Veterans News VA makes several cancers presumptive for service connection – lowering the burden of proof for Veterans to receive no-cost health care and earned benefits Today, in a step that builds on the Biden-Harris Administration’s focus to fulfill the nation’s sacred obligation to the nation’s Veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it is making acute and chronic leukemias, multiple myelomas, myelodysplastic syndromes, myelofibrosis, urinary bladder, ureter, and related genitourinary cancers presumptive for service-connection

Military & Veterans News VA expands access to GI Bill benefits for Veterans who served multiple periods of service Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that — following the 2024 Supreme Court decision — it has updated the process for awarding GI Bill benefits. This change means that many Veterans who served multiple periods of military service (for example, Veterans who reenlisted) will be eligible for up to an additional 12 months of education benefits.

Military & Veterans News VA announces plans to award hundreds of millions in grants, launches new initiative to help homeless Veterans Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced three key steps to help Veterans experiencing homelessness

Military & Veterans News VA lowers life insurance premiums for more than 3 million Veterans, service members, and spouses Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that more than 3 million Veterans, service members, and spouses who receive life insurance from VA’s programs will receive a discount on premiums starting in the spring of 2025.

Military & Veterans News Amid concerns about blast exposure, VA launches new outreach campaign to enroll Veterans in health care Today, VA is launching a new outreach campaign to encourage all eligible Veterans to enroll in VA health care – including approximately 1 million unenrolled Veterans who served in Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

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 takes steps to expand access to benefits for Veterans who served at K2 and their survivors Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced several steps to expand access to VA benefits for Veterans who served at Karshi-Khanabad (K2) base in Uzbekistan after Sept. 11, 2001, as well as their survivors.

Military & Veterans News DOD Announces Winners of the 2024 Commander in Chief's Annual Award for Installation Excellence Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced today the 2024 recipients of the Commander in Chief's Annual Award for Installation Excellence.

Military & Veterans News Tester Presses VA to Use American-Made Medical Supplies, Reduce Reliance on Foreign Adversaries U.S. Senator Jon Tester, Chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, today wrote to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with his concerns of how faulty foreign-made medical supplies made its way into VA inventory. Tester pressed VA to use American-made medical supplies whenever possible to best serve veterans, bolster American jobs, and reduce VA’s reliance on foreign adversaries’ supply chains.

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 DOD Establishes Cyber Academic Engagement Office In accordance with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Section 1531, the Department of Defense (DoD), Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) has established the Cyber Academic Engagement Office (CAEO) to serve as the consolidated focal point for cyber-related activities carried out between the DoD and academia stakeholders. 

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 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.