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WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced the 10 winners of Mission Daybreak, a $20 million grand challenge aimed at developing innovations to reduce Veteran suicides. During this challenge, VA received more than 1,300 innovation submissions from Veterans, Veteran Service Organizations, community-based organizations, health technology companies, startups, and universities – with solutions ranging from lethal means ... Read more

WASHINGTON — This month, VA reached three key agreements with the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) that will help VA better serve Veterans and support VA’s employees. Specifically, VA and NFFE agreed to memorandums of understanding that will: Significantly expedite the hiring process for NFFE’s bargaining unit employees, which will help VA implement the PACT Act and ... Read more

As a part of ongoing efforts to prevent and end Veteran homelessness, the Department of Veterans Affairs is announcing $30 million in grant funding for organizations to help formerly homeless Veterans maintain their independence and housing stability.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has added several key leaders to the team in recent months, all of whom will help VA serve Veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors.

Starting Jan. 17, Veterans in acute suicidal crisis will be able to go to any VA or non-VA health care facility for emergency health care at no cost – including inpatient or crisis residential care for up to 30 days and outpatient care for up to 90 days. Veterans do not need to be enrolled in the VA system to use this benefit.

Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs proposed a rule that would waive copayments incurred on or after Jan. 5, 2022, for eligible American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans. Upon publication of the notice, there will be a 30-day period for the public to provide comments on this rulemaking. VA will review the comments and develop the final rule.

The Department of Veterans Affairs marks a historic milestone by screening 1 million Veterans for military exposures as part of the PACT Act signed into law Aug. 10.

On Jan. 1, 2023, the Department of Veterans Affairs will begin processing PACT Act benefit claims for all Veterans and their survivors.

Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced it will begin processing PACT Act benefits claims for eligible terminally ill Veterans.

This weekend, VA will kick off a PACT Act Week of Action to inform Veterans, their families, and survivors about the PACT Act and encourage them to apply for the health care and benefits they have earned.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is hiring qualified individuals to join the benefits team as VA begins processing PACT Act claims starting in January 2023.These new VA employees will help ensure Veterans and survivors get the PACT Act-related benefits they've earned in a timely manner.

On Jan. 1, 2023, the Department of Veterans Affairs will open enrollment for Veterans Affairs Life Insurance - the first new VA life insurance program for Veterans in more than 50 years - extending VALife access to millions of Veterans.

Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that its Veterans Benefits Banking Program has converted more than 200,000 Veterans and beneficiaries from paper checks to direct deposit for receiving their VA benefits payments.

As of today, more than 1 million Veterans have downloaded the Department of Veterans Affairs' new VA: Health and Benefits mobile app for fast, secure, on-demand access to the health care and benefits they've earned.

Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it will establish a Vet Center (Readjustment Counseling Service) Scholarship Program to assist individuals pursuing graduate degrees in psychology, social work, marriage and family therapy, or mental health counseling.

Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that twelve VA senior leaders will receive 2022 Presidential Rank Awards (PRA) - one of the most prestigious awards in the federal career civil service - for their extraordinary service to Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors. Chosen by President Biden, the PRAs recognize the hard work and important contributions of dedicated civil servants in the American federal workforce.

Today, on National Cancer Awareness Day, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced it will prioritize the processing of Veterans' benefits claims for cancers associated with the PACT Act. VA will expedite these claims to ensure Veterans with cancer are getting timely access to the care and benefits they need and deserve.

Beginning tomorrow, Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers and clinics across the country will offer enrolled Veterans a new toxic exposure screening. These screenings are a key part of the PACT Act, a new law that empowers VA to deliver care and benefits to millions of toxic exposed Veterans and their survivors.

Today, VA released a study showing the medication Paxlovid can reduce the risk of symptoms of 'Long COVID,' which affects millions of people in the U.S. and around the world. In the interest of public health, the study, 'Nirmatrelvir and the risk of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19,' was released before peer-review on the pre-print server medRxiv.

Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness announced preliminary results of the 2022 Point-in-Time Count showing an 11 percent decline in Veteran homelessness since early 2020, the last time a full count was conducted. This is the biggest drop in Veteran homelessness in more than five years.

This week, as a part of ongoing efforts to end Veteran homelessness, the Department of Veterans Affairs published three grant opportunities for Fiscal Year 2024 that will help Veterans who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is inviting the public to participate in the annual VA Medication Take Back Days, to safely and securely dispose of unused or expired medicine - including controlled substance prescriptions.

Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced it is delaying upcoming deployments of the Oracle Cerner electronic health record (EHR) until June 2023 to address challenges with the system and make sure it is functioning optimally for Veterans and for VA health care personnel.

Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it is closing a gap in survivor benefits for certain survivors of LGBTQ+ Veterans - specifically, for those who were unable to wed until the 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court decision, and who, therefore, were not married to their now-deceased Veteran spouses for long enough to qualify for survivor benefits.

The Department of Veterans Affairs awarded nearly $16 million in grants to qualifying organizations to help more than 13,000 disabled Veterans and members of the Armed Forces participate in adaptive sports.

As a part of ongoing efforts to end Veteran homelessness, the Department of Veterans Affairs published a Notice of Funding Opportunity for more than $11 million in legal services grants for Veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

WASHINGTON - Today, VA's Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers is expanding to include eligible Veterans and family caregivers of all eras.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is offering a suspension of debt repayments for Veterans and family members affected by Hurricane Fiona or Hurricane Ian.

Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs and Food and Drug Administration announced a collaboration that aims to accelerate the time it takes for medical innovations to reach Veterans and non-Veterans alike.

On Oct. 1, The Department of Veterans Affairs will expand and extend eligibility for VA health care for certain Veterans of the Vietnam War, Gulf Wars and post-9/11 era under the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act. This expansion increases health care eligibility for generations of toxic-exposed Veterans, giving them access to the health care they've earned and deserve.