U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson, the White House physician, has withdrawn his nomination to be the next secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Ronny Jackson Withdraws As VA Nominee

11:44am April 26, 2018

by Jessica Taylor

Jackson decried "baseless and anonymous attacks on my character and integrity," following detailed accusations including improper prescribing of drugs and wrecking a government vehicle while drunk.

Ousted Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin demurred from pointing a finger squarely at President Trump but described a VA riddled with political pressure and conflict.

Fired VA Secretary Says White House Muzzled Him

12:16pm March 29, 2018

David Shulkin, the ousted Veterans Affairs chief, tells NPR that political forces in the Trump administration want to privatize the VA and that he was not allowed to respond to an ethics controversy.

Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin speaks during a House Committee on Veterans' Affairs on Capitol Hill in Washington earlier this month.

Inspector: 'Serious Derelictions' By VA Secretary Related To Overseas Travel

2:48am February 15, 2018

by Scott Neuman

An investigation detailed an 11-day trip to Europe at taxpayer expense in which Secretary David Shulkin was accompanied by his wife and spent much of the time on sightseeing and at leisure.

Less than half of the 22 million veterans in the U.S. get their health care through the Veterans Affairs system. Many rely on Medicaid, which is slated for reductions under the health plan making its way through the U.S. Senate.

Veterans Helped By Obamacare Worry About Republican Repeal Efforts

5:44pm June 28, 2017

by Stephanie O'Neill

The rate of uninsurance among veterans dropped dramatically after the Affordable Care Act rolled out. Those who rely on Medicaid say they are particularly concerned about losing that care.

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The House of Representatives passed a bill on Tuesday aimed at overhauling the Department of Veterans Affairs and protecting whistleblowers.

Congress Passes Bill To Increase Accountability Among VA Employees

6:07pm June 13, 2017

by Geoff Bennett

The bipartisan legislation aims to transform the culture at the Department of Veterans Affairs. It shortens the process for removing negligent staffers and adds protections for whistleblowers.

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Left Behind: Treating The Crisis Of Veteran Suicide

12:21pm June 01, 2017

by David Ford

Suicide is a major health concern across the U.S., especially among military veterans.

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Physician assistant James Williams, right, describes the treatment of burn patients as "a very tactile type of medicine."

Civilians With Severe Burns Treated At Texas Military Hospital

4:50pm April 11, 2017

by Wendy Rigby

The U.S. military's burn center in San Antonio is responsible for treating service members who are badly burned. But, to stay sharp, the medical teams there also treat civilians.

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Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin is working with Congress to renew the Veterans Choice program, which allows some veterans to get medical care outside the VA system, and provides money for medical staff.

'The VA Is On A Path Toward Recovery,' Secretary Of Veterans Affairs Says

8:29am March 30, 2017

by Rebecca Hersher

Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin says preventing suicide among military veterans is his "number one clinical priority," and that he is working to fill some 45,000 open jobs in the agency.

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Coning left the Marines in 2013. His wife says she thinks it's likely he had post-traumatic stress disorder, but he was never tested for it by the VA.

National

After A Vet's Suicide, Getting VA Benefits Can Compound A Family's Grief

4:28pm August 31, 2016

by Quil Lawrence

A former Marine who served in Afghanistan took his own life recently. But there was no diagnosis linking his service to his suicide, making it hard for his family to receive full death benefits.

Psychologist Diane Adams devotes a portion of her private practice in Renton, Wash., to veterans. But she said the bureaucracy involved in the Veterans Choice program has proved frustrating and veterans have had a hard time getting approval to see her.

For Doctors And Patients, 'Veterans Choice' Often Means Long Waits

7:11pm June 06, 2016

The $10 billion Veterans Choice has not cut backlogs, critics say. This problem can be particularly urgent when it comes to mental health cases.

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