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Department Of Veterans Affairs

All articles tagged with #department of veterans affairs

legal-military1 year ago

Supreme Court Grants Army Veteran Extended GI Bill Benefits

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Army combat veteran James Rudisill, stating that he was entitled to education benefits under both the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post-9/11 GI Bill, allowing him to use up to 48 months of benefits. Rudisill, who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, sued the Department of Veterans Affairs after being told he only had 11 months of eligibility under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The decision could impact roughly 1.7 million veterans, and the VA is reviewing the ruling.

via Military.com|
#army-veteran#department-of-veterans-affairs#education-benefits
politics1 year ago

"VA Secretary Rescinds Memo Banning Iconic WWII Kiss Photo"

The Department of Veterans Affairs initially ordered the removal of the iconic World War II photo of a sailor kissing a woman in Times Square due to it being deemed a "non-consensual act," citing a no-tolerance policy toward sexual harassment and assault. However, VA Secretary Denis McDonough intervened, stating that the photograph can remain in VA facilities. The photo, taken on V-J Day in 1945, has sparked debates on consent and historical appropriateness, with different individuals claiming to be the couple in the picture. The decision to remove the photo was met with criticism, and the VA has emphasized its commitment to creating a trauma-informed environment while making its facilities more welcoming to all veterans.

via Military.com|
#department-of-veterans-affairs#historical-perspective#iconic-photo
politics1 year ago

"Congressional Concerns Mount as Federal Government Considers Yearlong Spending Stopgap"

With a potential partial government shutdown looming, the federal government is set to begin the formal process of preparing for it, marking the fourth time since September that lawmakers have faced a funding deadline. If no deal is reached, a set of departments will run out of money by March 1, with the rest funded until March 8. The Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Energy have outlined potential impacts in the event of a shutdown, including disruptions to services and furloughs of employees.

via CNN|
#congress#department-of-veterans-affairs#federal-agencies
veterans-affairs1 year ago

"Proposed Legislation Aims to Protect Veterans from Foreclosure on VA Loans"

Lawmakers are pressing the Department of Veterans Affairs to address a crisis that has left thousands of veterans at risk of losing their homes. The VA abruptly ended a crucial part of its COVID mortgage forbearance program, leaving many veterans in a financial predicament. As a result, veterans are being pushed to pay all missed payments immediately or accept costly loan modifications. The VA has promised a new loan modification plan to help veterans, but lawmakers are seeking answers on how the VA plans to assist veterans who have already ended up with more expensive mortgages due to the VA's actions.

via NPR|
#department-of-veterans-affairs#foreclosure#mortgage-forbearance
politics1 year ago

"Leading the Department of Veterans Affairs: A Look Inside Denis McDonough's Leadership"

Denis McDonough, former Obama chief of staff, now leads the Department of Veterans Affairs, aiming to restore trust in the agency and improve care for veterans. Facing challenges such as benefit claim backlogs and mental health care, McDonough emphasizes transparency and accountability. Under his leadership, the VA has made strides in addressing veterans' needs, including expanding benefits, tackling backlogs, and modernizing records. Despite facing criticism over policies regarding abortion and transgender care, McDonough remains focused on delivering quality care and benefits to veterans.

via USA TODAY|
#denis-mcdonough#department-of-veterans-affairs#leadership
crime2 years ago

"N.H. Veteran Admits to 20-Year Wheelchair Fraud, Receives $660,000 in Benefits"

Christopher Stultz, a New Hampshire veteran, admitted to faking his need for a wheelchair for 20 years, resulting in over $660,000 in fraudulent benefits. He pleaded guilty to making false statements and faces a maximum prison term of five years. Prosecutors revealed that he was observed walking normally despite claiming 100% disability, and he was seen using a wheelchair at VA medical centers but then walking around normally outside.

via NBC News|
#crime#department-of-veterans-affairs#disability-benefits
politics2 years ago

"Alarming Number of Veterans Found with Potential Toxic Exposures: Study"

The Department of Veterans Affairs has screened 5 million veterans for potential toxic exposures since the passage of the PACT Act in 2022, with 2.1 million veterans self-reporting at least one potential exposure. The screenings are part of the VA's efforts to expand healthcare coverage for veterans and identify related medical issues. The PACT Act takes a "presumptive" approach, linking certain chronic conditions to burn pit exposure and reducing the burden of proof for veterans. The most commonly reported exposures are to Agent Orange and burn pits.

via CBS News|
#department-of-veterans-affairs#health-care#pact-act
veterans-affairs2 years ago

"Biden's VA Bill Fails to Address Medical Worker Shortage Amidst Soaring Claims"

The Department of Veterans Affairs is facing a severe shortage of medical workers as burnout sets in and new legislation signed by President Biden increases work demands. A review by the department's inspector general found over 3,000 vacancies across various occupations at health centers, with practical nurses and medical support assistants being the most cited shortages. The VA is also dealing with a surge in claims related to the "burn pit legislation," which expands qualifications for veteran claims. The backlog of claims has exceeded 300,000, putting pressure on an already strained system. The VA is taking steps to increase support for claims processors and has hired and trained new processors, but concerns remain about the ability to fulfill claims and maintain confidence in the department.

via Fox News|
#biden-administration#burn-pit-legislation#claims-backlog
veterans-affairs2 years ago

"VA's COVID forbearance program termination leaves veterans vulnerable to foreclosure"

Thousands of U.S. military service members and veterans, including Army veteran Ray Queen and his family, are at risk of losing their homes due to the end of the Department of Veterans Affairs' Partial Claim Payment program (PCP) that allowed homeowners to move missed mortgage payments to the back end of their loan term. The VA is working on a new program to replace PCP, but it could take several months to implement, leaving many veterans vulnerable to foreclosure. Advocates are calling for a pause on foreclosures and the restart of the PCP program to provide immediate relief to veterans facing financial hardship.

via NPR|
#department-of-veterans-affairs#foreclosure#mortgage-forbearance
government2 years ago

VA IT workforce to receive Special Salary Rate despite governmentwide uncertainty.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is implementing a new pay model for its IT and cybersecurity employees, regardless of whether a governmentwide effort to increase tech workers’ salaries moves forward. The Special Salary Rate (SSR) is expected to significantly raise the salaries of more than 7,000 VA personnel nationwide. If adopted by all agencies, the SSR would increase the pay for about 100,000 federal IT and cyber employees governmentwide. However, the viability of a new governmentwide pay model for federal IT and cybersecurity employees is uncertain, as agencies brace for possible cuts to discretionary, nondefense spending as part of ongoing debt-ceiling negotiations.

via Federal News Network|
#cybersecurity#department-of-veterans-affairs#federal-employees
health2 years ago

Government Agencies Halt Major Programs in Latest 'Reset'

The Department of Veterans Affairs has halted the rollout of its Electronic Health Record program due to complaints from veterans and clinicians that it is not meeting expectations. The program is part of a $16 billion contract with Cerner Corporation, which was acquired by Oracle. The rollout has already been implemented in five VA health care systems across the country, but none in the Kansas City area. The VA and Oracle remain committed to improvements and hope to eventually resume the rollout.

via KSHB 41 Kansas City News|
#cerner-corporation#department-of-veterans-affairs#electronic-health-record-program