News

VA temporarily expanded burial benefits for certain Veterans, per the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act.

VA temporarily expanded burial benefits for certain Veterans, per the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act.

VA temporarily expanded burial benefits for certain Veterans, per the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act.

VA on pace to reduce total VA staff by nearly 30,000 employees by the end of fiscal year 2025, eliminating the need for a large-scale reduction-in-force.

VA on pace to reduce total VA staff by nearly 30,000 employees by the end of fiscal year 2025, eliminating the need for a large-scale reduction-in-force.

VA on pace to reduce total VA staff by nearly 30,000 employees by the end of fiscal year 2025, eliminating the need for a large-scale reduction-in-force.

VA processed more than 2 million disability benefits claims for Veterans in fiscal year 2025, faster than ever before.

Grants in the amount of $42 million are available for eligible organizations to assist homeless Veterans and those at risk of homelessness with various legal services.

VA's Health and Benefits mobile app reaches more than 3 million downloads.

Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins today releases statement ahead of Memorial Day.

<p style="font-family: myriad pro, calibri, arial, sans serif; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0 0 16px 0;">Blind Veteran Deanna Callender is making her sixth trip to the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic this week. She tells Veterans to focus on what you can do and then do it. <a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2018/April/Army_Veteran_Finds_Inspiration_through_Sports.asp" style="color: #0482BE;">Read the full story</a></p><a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2018/April/Army_Veteran_Finds_Inspiration_through_Sports.asp"><img src="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/images/ivh-images/20180403_DeannaCallender_thumb.jpg" alt="Army Veteran Deanna Callender joins nearly 400 Veterans at the 2018 National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass Village, Colorado." title="Army Veteran Deanna Callender joins nearly 400 Veterans at the 2018 National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass Village, Colorado." /></a>

<p style="font-family: myriad pro, calibri, arial, sans serif; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0 0 16px 0;">Army Veteran Nicole Bundas has the strength to talk about something which would have made the upstairs folks at Downton Abbey swoon. She&apos;s more than willing to tell her story to help other Veterans. <a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2018/March/Preparation-Key-for-Veteran-with-Chronic-Condition.asp" style="color: #0482BE;">Read the full story</a></p><a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2018/March/Preparation-Key-for-Veteran-with-Chronic-Condition.asp"><img src="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/images/ivh-images/20180327_NicoleBundas_thumb.jpg" alt="Nicole Bundas, Army Veteran and human resources staffer at the Ann Arbor VA" title="Nicole Bundas, Army Veteran and human resources staffer at the Ann Arbor VA" /></a>

<p style="font-family: myriad pro, calibri, arial, sans serif; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0 0 16px 0;">VA researchers are looking for better treatments for Veterans with Gulf War Illness, a group of symptoms found in about one third of Veterans deployed in Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield. <a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2018/March/Gulf-War-Veterans-Research-Volunteers-Needed.asp" style="color: #0482BE;">Read the full story</a></p><a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2018/March/Gulf-War-Veterans-Research-Volunteers-Needed.asp"><img src="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/images/ivh-images/20180320_Interviewer_thumb.jpg" alt="VA researchers are looking for better treatments for Veterans with Gulf War Illness." title="VA researchers are looking for better treatments for Veterans with Gulf War Illness." /></a>

<p style="font-family: myriad pro, calibri, arial, sans serif; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0 0 16px 0;">Dr. Seth Holst believes Veterans are true heroes, and he is honored to help care for them. An ophthalmologist at VA Pittsburgh, he considers his time with VA rewarding professionally and personally. <a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2018/March/Meet-Dr-Holst-Another-One-of-VAs-Top-Doctors.asp" style="color: #0482BE;">Read the full story</a></p><a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2018/March/Meet-Dr-Holst-Another-One-of-VAs-Top-Doctors.asp"><img src="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/images/ivh-images/20180313_DrHolst_thumb.jpg" alt="Dr. Holst examines a Veteran patient" title="Dr. Holst examines a Veteran patient" /></a>

<p style="font-family: myriad pro, calibri, arial, sans serif; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0 0 16px 0;">Bay Pines VA has performed over 2,000 LDCT lung cancer screening exams and they&apos;re saving lives. If you ever smoked and are over 55, you should have a screening every year. <a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2018/March/LDCT-Screening-Enhances-Cancer-Care-for-Veterans.asp" style="color: #0482BE;">Read the full story</a></p><a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2018/March/LDCT-Screening-Enhances-Cancer-Care-for-Veterans.asp"><img src="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/images/ivh-images/20180306_PatientInCT_Scanner_thumb.jpg" alt="U.S. Army Veteran Jim Altman receives lung cancer screening facilitated by CT Technologist, Miguel Santiago at the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center." title="U.S. Army Veteran Jim Altman receives lung cancer screening facilitated by CT Technologist, Miguel Santiago at the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center." /></a>

<p style="font-family: myriad pro, calibri, arial, sans serif; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0 0 16px 0;">Want to avoid the flu? Dr. Jane Kim, VA&apos;s Chief Consultant for Preventive Medicine, shares some quick and easy ways to increase your chances of staying healthy during this nasty flu season. <a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2018/February/Veterans_Heres_how_to_Avoid_Getting_the_Flu.asp" style="color: #0482BE;">Read the full story</a></p><a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2018/February/Veterans_Heres_how_to_Avoid_Getting_the_Flu.asp"><img src="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/images/ivh-images/20180227_AvoidTheFlu_thumb.jpg" alt="Dr. giving patient an injection" title="Dr. giving patient an injection" /></a>

<p style="font-family: myriad pro, calibri, arial, sans serif; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0 0 16px 0;">VA&apos;s Tennessee Valley Healthcare System has a new system that lets doctors find harmful microorganisms in blood samples in just a few hours vs. three days with the old method. <a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2018/February/New-Blood-Culture-ID-System-Improves-Care-for-Vets.asp" style="color: #0482BE;">Read the full story</a></p><a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2018/February/New-Blood-Culture-ID-System-Improves-Care-for-Vets.asp"><img src="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/images/ivh-images/20180220_Tech_at_machine_thumb.jpg" alt="Medical Technologist Dionne Hockett operates the new BioFire Blood Culture Identification system " title="Medical Technologist Dionne Hockett operates the new BioFire Blood Culture Identification system " /></a>

<p style="font-family: myriad pro, calibri, arial, sans serif; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0 0 16px 0;">All this week, VA medical centers across the country are saluting our Veteran patients with valentines, musical performances and special ceremonies. You can salute Veterans all year by volunteering. <a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2018/February/National-Salute-to-Veteran-Patients-Week.asp" style="color: #0482BE;">Read the full story</a></p><a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2018/February/National-Salute-to-Veteran-Patients-Week.asp"><img src="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/images/ivh-images/20180213_VetWithVisitors_thumb.jpg" alt="National Salute to Veteran Patients Week" title="National Salute to Veteran Patients Week" /></a>

<p style="font-family: myriad pro, calibri, arial, sans serif; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0 0 16px 0;">If you feel sad in the winter, you may have Seasonal Affective Disorder. It is sometimes called winter depression. Here&apos;s information on treatment, including light therapy, from a VA psychiatrist. <a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2018/February/Help-for-Veterans-with-Seasonal-Affective-Disorder.asp" style="color: #0482BE;">Read the full story</a></p><a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2018/February/Help-for-Veterans-with-Seasonal-Affective-Disorder.asp"><img src="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/images/ivh-images/20180206_SAD_VetCrisisLine_thumb.jpg" alt="Help for Veterans with Seasonal Affective Disorder " title="Help for Veterans with Seasonal Affective Disorder " /></a>

<p style="font-family: myriad pro, calibri, arial, sans serif; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0 0 16px 0;">Betty Cunar served as a nurse in the Vietnam war. During American Heart Month, she shares her story of care she receives from VA to remind Veterans of the importance of knowing your heart numbers. <a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2018/January/February-is-Heart-Month-Veteran-Nurses-Story.asp" style="color: #0482BE;">Read the full story</a></p><a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2018/January/February-is-Heart-Month-Veteran-Nurses-Story.asp"><img src="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/images/ivh-images/20180130_NursePatient_thumb.jpg" alt="February is Heart Month – A Veteran Nurse’s Story" title="February is Heart Month – A Veteran Nurse’s Story" /></a>

<p style="font-family: myriad pro, calibri, arial, sans serif; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0 0 16px 0;">VA&apos;s TeleHealth service utilizes health informatics to care for Veterans and helps them live independently and stay out of the hospital &mdash; essential for their overall health care and personal goals. <a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2018/January/Telehealth_Revolutionizing_Veterans_Health_Care.asp" style="color: #0482BE;">Read the full story</a></p><a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2018/January/Telehealth_Revolutionizing_Veterans_Health_Care.asp"><img src="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/images/ivh-images/20180123_Telehealth_thumb.jpg" alt="Telehealth Revolutionizing Veterans Health Care" title="Telehealth Revolutionizing Veterans Health Care" /></a>

<p style="font-family: myriad pro, calibri, arial, sans serif; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0 0 16px 0;">Modernizing is one of VA&apos;s top priorities and the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System is in the vanguard of medical centers which are modernizing their facilities and services for the Veterans it serves. <a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2018/January/Bay-Pines-VA-in-Florida-Modernizing-for-Veterans.asp" style="color: #0482BE;">Read the full story</a></p><a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2018/January/Bay-Pines-VA-in-Florida-Modernizing-for-Veterans.asp"><img src="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/images/ivh-images/20180116_ModernizingForVeterans_thumb.jpg" alt="Bay Pines VA in Florida " title="Bay Pines VA in Florida " /></a>

<p style="font-family: myriad pro, calibri, arial, sans serif; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0 0 16px 0;">Minneapolis VA opens new &ldquo;Integrative Center for Health & Healing, part of VA&apos;s new emphasis on &ldquo;Veteran-Centric&rdquo; care. Once considered &ldquo;alternative&rdquo; therapy. <a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2018/January/Minneapolis-VA-Opens-Healing-Center.asp" style="color: #0482BE;">Read the full story</a></p><a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2018/January/Minneapolis-VA-Opens-Healing-Center.asp"><img src="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/images/ivh-images/20180109_HealthCenter_thumb.jpg" alt="L-R: Chief of Staff Kent Crossley, Chief Experience Officer Martina Malek, nurse practitioner Judy Wagner, Chief of PM&R Mike Armstrong, nurse practitioner Laurie Kubes and Director Patrick Kelly" title="L-R: Chief of Staff Kent Crossley, Chief Experience Officer Martina Malek, nurse practitioner Judy Wagner, Chief of PM&R Mike Armstrong, nurse practitioner Laurie Kubes and Director Patrick Kelly" /></a>

<p style="font-family: myriad pro, calibri, arial, sans serif; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0 0 16px 0;">Thanks to innovative research at the Baltimore VA, older Veterans are making strides &mdash; literally &mdash; in their ability to move about, stay balanced, prevent falls and get up from a fall if they do have one. <a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2018/January/Research-builds-balance-and-strength-in-Veterans.asp" style="color: #0482BE;">Read the full story</a></p><a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2018/January/Research-builds-balance-and-strength-in-Veterans.asp"><img src="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/images/ivh-images/20180102_Research_thumb.jpg" alt="Army Veteran Gary Lucas navigates a hurdle exercise with the help of study coordinator Lydia Paden" title="Army Veteran Gary Lucas navigates a hurdle exercise with the help of study coordinator Lydia Paden" /></a>

<p style="font-family: myriad pro, calibri, arial, sans serif; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0 0 16px 0;">All this month, VA medical centers across America celebrate the holidays with Veterans and employees. At the Memphis VA, there are six Holiday Open House events to greet the season. <a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2017/December/Veterans_Enjoy_Holiday_Open_Houses_at_Memphis_VA.asp" style="color: #0482BE;">Read the full story</a></p><a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2017/December/Veterans_Enjoy_Holiday_Open_Houses_at_Memphis_VA.asp"><img src="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/images/ivh-images/20171226_ChristmasVAMC_thumb.jpg" alt="Holiday Open House… A Big Hit with Veterans and Employees" title="Holiday Open House… A Big Hit with Veterans and Employees" /></a>

<p style="font-family: myriad pro, calibri, arial, sans serif; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0 0 16px 0;">Veterans use art as a means of expression on the road to recovery, developing goals while gaining hope and a sense of accomplishment, which are critical to the recovery process. <a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2017/December/Veterans_Creating_a_Brighter_Future.asp" style="color: #0482BE;">Read the full story</a></p><a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2017/December/Veterans_Creating_a_Brighter_Future.asp"><img src="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/images/ivh-images/20171219_ArtTherapy_thumb.jpg" alt="Art work produce by Veterans who particpated in Art Therapy" title="Art work produce by Veterans who particpated in Art Therapy" /></a>

<p style="font-family: myriad pro, calibri, arial, sans serif; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0 0 16px 0;">Women Veterans attend Healing in Nature Retreat which promotes whole health and wellness to help women Veterans explore personal wellness goals. &ldquo;My best six days since coming home.&rdquo; <a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2017/December/Women-Veterans-Retreat-Healthy-and-Healing.asp" style="color: #0482BE;">Read the full story</a></p><a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2017/December/Women-Veterans-Retreat-Healthy-and-Healing.asp"><img src="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/images/ivh-images/20171212_CanoesInLake_thumb.jpg" alt="Women Veterans on the lake in canoes" title="Women Veterans on the lake in canoes" /></a>

<p style="font-family: myriad pro, calibri, arial, sans serif; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0 0 16px 0;">The VA is employing a relatively simple fix &mdash; known as the Rapid Access model &mdash; to make sure Veterans receive the follow-up care they need after being treated in an emergency room. <a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2017/December/VA-Using-Simple-Fix-to-Improve-ER-Visits.asp" style="color: #0482BE;">Read the full story</a></p><a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2017/December/VA-Using-Simple-Fix-to-Improve-ER-Visits.asp"><img src="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/images/ivh-images/20171205_ERVisits_thumb.jpg" alt="Nurse interacting with a Veteran patient" title="Nurse interacting with a Veteran patient" /></a>

<p style="font-family: myriad pro, calibri, arial, sans serif; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0 0 16px 0;">A joint study by VA and Boston University School of Medicine has found that women Veterans with depression had a 60 percent greater chance of having coronary artery disease than those without depression. <a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2017/November/Women_Depression_and_Heart_Disease.asp" style="color: #0482BE;">Read the full story</a></p><a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2017/November/Women_Depression_and_Heart_Disease.asp"><img src="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/images/ivh-images/20171128_WomenDepressionHeartDisease_thumb.jpg" alt="A distressed woman being comforted by a male companion" title="A distressed woman being comforted by a male companion" /></a>

<p style="font-family: myriad pro, calibri, arial, sans serif; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0 0 16px 0;">Compassionate counselors at the Huntington VA proved to be a lifeline for a woman Veteran in deep trouble, and desperately in need of someone to listen. Need help? Call the Women Veterans Call Center at 1.855.VA.WOMEN. <a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2017/November/She_Needed_Someone_to_Listen_VA_Did.asp" style="color: #0482BE;">Read the full story</a></p><a href="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2017/November/She_Needed_Someone_to_Listen_VA_Did.asp"><img src="http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/images/ivh-images/20171121_SuicidePrevention_thumb.jpg" alt="Female counselor comforting a female patient." title="Female counselor comforting a female patient." /></a>