TheRepublic.com - U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs News

Maine man gets 3 years for stealing VA benefits

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:13:56 -0400

BANGOR, Maine - A Maine man has been sentenced to three years in prison for fraudulently obtaining veterans' disability benefits from the federal government.

Perfect scores for Nebraska state veterans homes

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 05:06:25 -0400

LINCOLN, Nebraska - Nebraska's four state-run veterans homes have received perfect scores on their most recent annual Health Care System Surveys from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

VA expands mental health services in Wichita

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:41:23 -0400

WICHITA, Kansas - A new $4.6 million building scheduled to open by Thanksgiving on the campus of the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita will bring improved mental health care to veterans in the region at a time when demand is growing, medical center officials said.

Ohio House: process veterans' claims faster

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 16:53:04 -0400

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio lawmakers want federal officials to reduce the processing time for veterans' disability claims.

VA Sec. Shinseki talks military ed with UNC's Ross

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 20:08:55 -0400

CHAPEL HILL, North Carolina - North Carolina's public universities are trying one of the most coordinated approaches in the country for drawing military veterans who've left the service into higher education, U.S. Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki said Tuesday.

VA Texas center accidentally deletes data files

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 17:06:43 -0400

CLEVELAND - The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs accidentally deleted 464,000 electronic data files last month that contained information about home loans.

Obama calls for end to mental illness stigma

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 16:35:09 -0400

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama said Monday that he wants to end the stigma of mental illness and enrolled the star power of actors Bradley Cooper and Glenn Close at a White House conference organized in response to the December shootings at a Connecticut elementary school.

Veterans advocates want Ohio to expand Medicaid

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 15:35:31 -0400

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Advocates for Ohio's veterans urged the state to expand Medicaid on Monday and give more low-income people access to health care because not every veteran is eligible for free care from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

VA hospital director says troubles are in the past

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 12:23:42 -0400

JACKSON, Mississippi - The new director of the veterans' hospital in Jackson is struggling to change perceptions of the institution as members of Congress and a government oversight office pursue investigations into misconduct.

Richmond VA hospital joins DNA project

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 14:25:08 -0400

RICHMOND, Virginia - A veterans hospital in Richmond has joined a national research initiative to develop a genetic database with DNA samples from 1 million veterans.

Veterans Golden Age Games continue in Buffalo

Sat, 01 Jun 2013 09:47:03 -0400

BUFFALO, New York - Competition is continuing through the weekend at the National Veterans Golden Age games being held in Buffalo.

Federal dollars to house homeless vets in WA, OR

Wed, 29 May 2013 18:15:07 -0400

SEATTLE - About 135 homeless veterans in Southwest Washington and Northern Oregon will benefit from a federal grant to provide permanent housing for them.

Deaths at Atlanta VA hospital prompt scrutiny

Sat, 25 May 2013 14:30:22 -0400

ATLANTA - One patient with a history of substance abuse and suicidal thoughts was left alone in a waiting room inside the Atlanta VA Medical Center, where he obtained drugs from a hospital visitor and later died of an overdose.

Pentagon: New record plan won't help vet backlog

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:01:17 -0400

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon has decided to buy a new computerized health records system to be able to better share and merge its data with the Department of Veterans Affairs, but officials cautioned that it was part of a "long-term modernization" effort and would not help ease the backlog in VA disability claims.