Many veterans have to wait too long to get the help they need for their mental health at Department of Veterans Affairs health facilities. The VA has done a poor job of providing veterans with timely mental health care or giving them the option to seek community care. In a time when veteran suicides are… Read more »
“The VA was not built for the VA; the VA was built for the veteran.” That’s the message Rep. Mike Bost wanted to make sure veterans understood in a new episode of Congress Convos with Concerned Veterans for America. CVA Executive Director Russ Duerstine joined House VA Committee Chairman Bost in his home district in… Read more »
Veterans should always come first at the Department of Veterans Affairs. But unfortunately, many veterans don’t have that experience. At a recent town hall meeting hosted by CVA, Rep. Mike Bost shared his perspective on ensuring veterans have access to timely, quality care, whether that’s at the VA or in community care. “We want to… Read more »
Army veteran Jessica Villarreal once dreamed of helping her fellow servicemen and women at the Department of Veterans Affairs. But instead, what she found was a bureaucratic nightmare. “My whole goal is to work with veterans. It’s my population of choice and my passion. I think no one can help a veteran better than their… Read more »
The Latin phrase “nemo resideo” means “leave no one behind.” For service members, it is a foundational tenet. Every person has dignity and worth. But Department of Veterans Affairs left Tom Hayden behind, recently marking him dead in their system even though he is alive. Hero lost in the system Tom Hayden is a… Read more »
The VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA) is supposed to ensure people who engage in protected disclosure — whistleblowers — are free from fear of retaliation for bringing problems to light. But in many instances, the Department of Veterans Affairs tries to silence VA staff who speak up about wrongdoing at the department. The… Read more »
The Department of Veterans Affairs has a responsibility to implement laws Congress passes to manage veterans’ health. The department should also be educating veterans on what their medical care options are, whether the VA is delivering that care or not. In the case of the VA MISSION Act and community care, the VA has failed… Read more »
