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VA Slated To See Largest Budget Ever
Earlier this month, it was announced that the Department of Veterans Affairs would see a 10 percent budget increase for the 2021 fiscal year bringing the total to $240 billion – the largest budget ever. However, veteran advocates believe that the government should be spending even more than allocated in order to meet the increasing health care needs…
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New Electronic Health Records System Delayed
The launch of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ new electronic health records system will be delayed until employees have been trained to use it and it is confirmed to work within the current IT framework. According to an article published by MilitaryTimes.com, “A VA official confirmed the delay Tuesday after lawmakers issued a press release late Monday…
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Further Delays on Agent Orange Decision
Advocates are putting pressure on lawmakers to make a final decision on whether or not to add new illnesses to the list of diseases presumed to be linked to Agent Orange exposure. Last week, veterans groups wrote to the president in protest of a decision to delay the addition of Agent Orange illnesses until two VA…
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Claims Wrongly Denied and Mishandled by the VA
This month Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Undersecretary Willie Clark told Congress that one in five military sexual trauma claims were wrongfully denied or improperly handled by the Department of Veterans Affairs over the last two years. According to an article published by Radio.com, “In September 2019, VBA completed a review of about 9,700 previously-denied MST claims from…
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Veterans Exposed to ‘Black Goo’ Asked To Come Forward
This month the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that service members who were deployed to an Uzbekistan base used after the 9/11 attacks may have been exposed to a toxic “black goo” and are now requesting that they come forward to get help. According to an article published by McClatchyDC.com, VA secretary Robert Wilkie told reporters…
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Military Use of Cancer-Causing Firefighting Foam Under Review
The Department of Defense (DOD) will be reviewing the military’s response to the use of firefighting foam that consists of cancer-causing chemicals also known as PFAS. According to an article published by The Hill, “A class of chemicals abbreviated as PFAS has contaminated water in at least 425 military sites, pushing Department of Defense (DOD) Secretary Mark Esper to…
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VA Disputes Findings on Proposed Agent Orange Diseases
Officials from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have argued a scientific panel’s findings and are now under pressure from lawmakers to decide whether or not to add four diseases to the list of Agent Orange-related conditions. The decision is not expected until later this year. According to an article published by MilitaryTimes.com, the VA “will wait for…
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Updated List Released Identifies Agent Orange Sites Outside Vietnam
An updated list of locations outside of Vietnam where Agent Orange herbicides were used, tested or stored was released by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). According to an article published by the VAntage Point, VA Secretary Robert Wilkie was quoted as saying, “This update was necessary to improve accuracy and communication of information. [The]…
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Disabled Veterans Now Exempt from Beach Buggy Permit Fees
New Jersey recently passed legislation that exempts disabled veterans from having to pay a fee for beach buggy permits. According to an article published by WHYY.org, “The law, which passed both houses of the New Jersey legislature unanimously, grants free permits to any state resident “who has been honorably discharged from any branch of the…
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Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 Claims Now Being Decided
This month the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that they had begun the claims decision process for veterans exposed to toxins such as Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. According to an article published by Sierra Sun Times, “The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 extends the presumption of herbicide exposure, that…
