Veterans Disability News

VA appointment delays, cancelations, and access to medical care on display with pending legislation


According to Stars & Stripes article, VA must disclose delays to see a doctor and alternatives for private-sector care under new legislation, the VA would be mandated to “inform veterans seeking health care appointments about the availability of non-VA care.” Known as the Complete the Mission Act of 2024, the legislation aims to require the…

VA adding new cancer types to list of presumed service-connected disabilities


On June 14, 2024, the VA reported on their website that three cancer types are now included in the “list of presumptive diseases” due to “military environmental exposure under the PACT Act”. The additions are male breast cancer, urethral cancer, and cancer of the paraurethral glands, all of which join a list of other cancers…

VA making PACT Act progress with claims expected to rise


According to Government Executive, “The Veterans Affairs Department is quickly outpacing its expectations for processing new claims made through a law designed to provide health care coverage to veterans exposed to toxic substances, but [VA] Secretary Denis McDonough said Tuesday there may be more to come.” The PACT Act expanded VA benefits eligibility to veterans…

VA authorizes “fast-track” disability benefits for Agent Orange


According to Military Times, “The move represents another major expansion of toxic exposure benefits for veterans, this time for individuals suffering from illnesses dating back to the Vietnam War era. The changes follow mandates included in the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act — better known as the PACT Act — passed by Congress in…

GAO reports on Reserve members and disability benefits access issues


“Members of the National Guard and the Reserves can claim Veterans Affairs disability benefits. But they may struggle to prove that disabilities are service-related when they only serve part-time—making it harder for them to access benefits.” This is according to the GAO. According to their report, the VA “approved 11 to 20 percent fewer initial…

“Glitch” blamed for delaying veterans disability claims for years


From AirForceTimes.com: “About 32,000 veterans’ disability claims were delayed — some as long as five years — due to a technical flaw in federal filing systems, Veterans Affairs officials acknowledged this week.” Although the number of claims is reported to be a “fraction” of the millions of claim filed since the beginning 2018, “Department leaders…