News Releases
VA Announces Transition of Deputy Secretary Donald Remy - Today, Deputy Secretary Donald Remy announced that he will be stepping down as VA’s deputy secretary on April 1. A former Army captain and longtime public servant, Mr. Remy was nominated by President Biden on April 23, 2021 and has served honorably as deputy secretary since he was sworn in by Secretary Denis McDonough on July 19, 2021. (3/1/23)
VA increases maximum life insurance coverage for Veterans and service members by $100,000 - Beginning March 1, VA is increasing the maximum amount of life insurance coverage available to Veterans and service members from $400,000 to $500,000 for Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI) and Servicemembers Group Life Insurance (SGLI). This increase in coverage reflects the current cost of living and helps ensure that the fa (3/1/23)
VA to award $16 million in grants to help Veterans and service members with disabilities participate in adaptive sports - Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced the availability of nearly $16 million in grants to qualifying organizations to help more than 13,000 Veterans and service members with disabilities participate in adaptive sports. This funding will help these organizations plan, develop, manage, and implement a variety of sports and equine therapy activities, including life-improving programs for Veterans and training for providers. More information about these grants can be found in the two Notices of Funding Availability. (2/24/23)
Veterans can now access their disability benefit decisions online - Veterans can now access their disability benefit claim decision notice letters electronically on VA.gov, empowering them to quickly and easily see their disability decisions. (2/23/23)
VA’s National Cemetery Administration leads all public and private organizations in 2022 customer satisfaction ratings - VA’s National Cemetery Administration (NCA) — which provides Veterans and their families with burial benefits and memorial services — led all organizations, public or private, in the prestigious American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) for 2022. NCA received a score of 97, the highest score ever achieved by any organization rated by the ACSI. This is the seventh consecutive time NCA has ranked first overall in customer satisfaction. (2/21/23)
Winners revealed in VA’s $20M Mission Daybreak Grand Challenge to reduce Veteran suicides - 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. (2/16/23)
VA and NFFE reach key agreements to better serve Vets and support VA employees - 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: (2/15/23)
VA offers $30M in grant funding to assist formerly homeless Veterans - 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. (2/2/23)
VA housed more than 40,000 homeless Veterans in 2022 - During 2022, the Department of Veterans Affairs permanently housed 40,401 homeless Veterans, providing them with the safe, stable homes that they deserve. This exceeded the department’s goal to house 38,000 Veterans in 2022 by 6.3%. (1/26/23)
VA adds several new political appointees - 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. (1/17/23)
Starting Jan. 17, Veterans in suicidal crisis can go to any VA or non-VA health care facility for free emergency health care - 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. (1/13/23)
VA proposes rule that would waive copays for eligible Native American and Alaska Native Veterans - 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. (1/11/23)
VA reaches 1M Veterans in military exposure screenings - 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. (1/4/23)
VA will begin processing PACT Act benefits claims for all Veterans and survivors on Jan. 1 - On Jan. 1, 2023, the Department of Veterans Affairs will begin processing PACT Act benefit claims for all Veterans and their survivors. (12/29/22)
VA to begin processing PACT Act benefits claims immediately for terminally ill Veterans - Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced it will begin processing PACT Act benefits claims for eligible terminally ill Veterans. (12/12/22)
