News Releases

VA released a public COVID-19 Response Plan that it will be executing within medical facilities to protect Veterans, their families and staff. 

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) approved a request from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), March 19, to waive a section of federal law that governs retired VA workers.

All VA national cemeteries are open and will continue to provide interments for Veterans and eligible individuals. However, effective March 23 — as part of the agency’s response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) — committal services and the rendering of military funeral honors will discontinue until further notice.

Student Veterans will continue to receive their GI Bill benefits under S. 3503, which President Trump signed into law March 21.

VA will publish a proposed rule in the Federal Register March 6 that would improve and standardize VA’s Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) and ensure the program regulations reflect changes required by the VA MISSION Act of 2018. 

VA has released an updated DOD list of locations outside of Vietnam where tactical herbicides were used, tested or stored by the United States military.

VA and Walmart cut the ribbon in Asheboro, North Carolina, Dec. 10, for a new VA-led Accessing Telehealth through Local Area Stations (ATLAS) services pilot location.

Veterans can expect the Board of Veterans Appeals to launch [...]

The Podimetrics Mat, a new medical device that could prevent limb loss in Veterans with diabetes, is now in use at 15 VA medical centers. The mat uses thermographic monitoring of a patient’s feet to identify early onset of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), which can lead to limb loss if not detected early.

VA is transforming the way Veterans learn about and apply for benefits through a new video tutorial highlighting the digital Disability Compensation Benefits Claims tool released earlier this year.

VA is rolling out nationwide access for Veterans to their VA health data, alongside their health records from other health care providers, in the Health Records section of the Health app for iPhone.

The study also credits improved Veteran trust of the department to recent customer experience programs within the Veterans Health Administration. In September 2019, 88% of Veterans nationwide said they “trust the VA for their health care needs” when responding to an outpatient health care survey, up from 85% two years earlier. The percentage of Veterans who said they trust the VA to fulfill our country’s commitment to Veterans increased to 72% in April 2019, from 59% in July 2016.