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 »

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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 post #VAFail: VA mistakenly marks Nevada veteran dead, shutting off access to benefits and bank account appeared first on Concerned Veterans for America.

Veterans and the Department of Veterans Affairs are still at odds over community care.  On a recent episode of the American Potential podcast, Jeff Crank spoke with veteran Chris Enget, who shared his challenging experience with the VA and his advocacy for community care.   Chris, who was injured by an RPG in Afghanistan, faced difficulties... Read more »

The post #VAFail: What happens when the VA doesn’t tell veterans about health care options? appeared first on Concerned Veterans for America.

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 post #VAFail: Silencing those who question quality of VA care appeared first on Concerned Veterans for America.

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 »

The post CVA sister organization provides information on the VA MISSION Act, filling a gap left by the VA appeared first on Concerned Veterans for America.

According to American Addiction Centers, more than 6,100 military veterans, about 17 per day, took their own lives in 2020. Between 2001 and 2020, mental health or substance use disorder among those using Department of Veterans Affairs health care rose from 27.9% to 41.9%.  The addiction and mental health crises for veterans are real and... Read more »

The post #VAFail: One-third of mental health calls to Atlanta VA are unanswered appeared first on Concerned Veterans for America.

Veterans face unique challenges when it comes to their physical and mental health care. The dangers they are exposed to, both in training and combat, put them at risk of neurological injuries, including traumatic brain injuries. It’s all the more important that they have access to quality care at home to properly treat brain injuries... Read more »

The post #VAFail: Veterans’ brain injuries misdiagnosed, leaving them without needed care and benefits appeared first on Concerned Veterans for America.

Recently, Concerned Veterans of America Executive Director Russ Duerstine spoke with Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn about the Veterans Health Care Freedom Act, the VA MISSION Act, and reforming the Department of Veterans Affairs.   Veterans’ Health Care Freedom Act: A new path for veterans’ care Sens. Blackburn and Mike Rounds introduced the Veterans Health Care... Read more »

The post The VA bureaucracy struggle: Blackburn proposes Veterans Health Care Freedom Act appeared first on Concerned Veterans for America.

In recent American Potential episodes, CVA General Counsel Herb Ford joined host Jeff Crank to take an in-depth look into the VA MISSION Act and its impact on veterans’ health care.  While Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals across the country have a mission to take care of veterans and provide them with needed medical care,... Read more »

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The Department of Veterans Affairs’ switch to a new electronic health records system has proven to be tumultuous for both veterans and VA staffers. For veterans, things have taken a dark turn as an alarming discovery has come out of the facilities testing the updated system. There have been more than 150 cases of veterans... Read more »

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