Apr 04 VA says it fixed the veteran suicide hotline, but critics say it’s still broken By Hope Yen, Associated Press The Department of Veterans Affairs told skeptical lawmakers Tuesday it has already fixed problems with its suicide hotline that were highlighted in an internal watchdog's report released just two weeks ago. Continue reading
Mar 23 VA urges ‘hiring surge’ to reduce veterans’ appeals backlog By Hope Yen, Associated Press The Department of Veterans Affairs is warning of a rapidly growing backlog for veterans who seek to appeal decisions involving disability benefits, saying it will need much more staff even as money remains in question due to a tightening Trump… Continue reading
Mar 07 VA secretary urges extension of troubled choice program By Hope Yen, Associated Press Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin is urging Congress to act quickly to temporarily extend a troubled program aimed at widening veterans' access to private-sector health care. Continue reading
Nov 12 Four things Trump can do to improve mental health care for veterans By Leah Samuel, STAT Donald Trump will take office in January with strong support among veterans, and he’s made reforms to the Department of Veterans Affairs a key part of his platform. Continue reading
Sep 26 More than one-third of calls to VA suicide hotline are left unanswered, official says By Matthew Daly, Associated Press More than one-third of calls to a suicide hotline for troubled veterans are not being answered by front-line staffers because of poor work habits and other problems at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Continue reading
Jul 06 VA health care still has ‘profound deficiencies,’ report says By Matthew Daly, Associated Press Two years after a scandal over long wait times for veterans seeking health care, the Department of Veterans Affairs still has "profound deficiencies" in delivering health care to millions of veterans, a new report says. Continue reading
Jun 16 VA benefits chief retiring, was suspended in relocation scam By Matthew Daly, Associated Press The acting head of the Veterans Benefits Administration is retiring — three months after he was suspended for allowing two officials to manipulate the agency's hiring system for their own gain. Continue reading
Jun 16 Justices rule against VA in disabled vets contract dispute By Associated Press The Supreme Court says the VA has failed to comply with a law aimed at increasing the number of federal contracts awarded to small businesses owned by disabled veterans. Continue reading
Jun 03 How veterans see the wait time issue By Joshua Barajas Last week, the head of the Department of Veteran Affairs compared wait times to the wait for rides at a Disney theme park. Now veterans share their reactions to McDonald's comments and suggestions for improving care. Continue reading
May 25 Watch 4:07 Long wait times for health care still dogging troubled Veterans Affairs department By PBS News Hour When Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald compared the exceptionally-long wait times veterans still endure to get health care to lines at Disneyland, a national firestorm erupted. House Speaker Paul Ryan said his words reflected a “culture of indifference” and McDonald… Continue watching