NPR: Dept of Veterans Affairs https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=658188051 Dept of Veterans Affairs en Copyright 2024 NPR - For Personal Use Only Story API Shim 1.2.24 Sun, 25 May 2025 21:48:33 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 NPR: Dept of Veterans Affairs https://www.npr.org/tags/658188051/dept-of-veterans-affairs Veterans fear the VA's new foreclosure rescue plan won't help them A pause in foreclosures after an NPR investigation may be of no help to many vets. They were already pushed into costly loan modifications after a move by the VA stranded them in a tough spot. Fri, 01 Dec 2023 05:00:47 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/12/01/1216213793/veterans-fear-the-vas-new-foreclosure-rescue-plan-wont-help-them https://www.npr.org/2023/12/01/1216213793/veterans-fear-the-vas-new-foreclosure-rescue-plan-wont-help-them

A pause in foreclosures after an NPR investigation may be of no help to many vets. They were already pushed into costly loan modifications after a move by the VA stranded them in a tough spot.

(Image credit: Catie Dull)

]]> Chris Arnold Sick veterans demand medical coverage for illnesses caused by burn pits President Biden is urging Congress to send a burn-pits bill to his desk. Wed, 09 Mar 2022 05:30:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2022/03/09/1085223296/sick-veterans-demand-medical-coverage-for-illnesses-caused-by-burn-pits https://www.npr.org/2022/03/09/1085223296/sick-veterans-demand-medical-coverage-for-illnesses-caused-by-burn-pits

President Biden is urging Congress to send a burn-pits bill to his desk.

]]> Quil Lawrence Art and music therapy seem to help with brain disorders. Scientists want to know why Arts therapies appear to ease brain disorders from Parkinson's to PTSD. Now, artists and scientists have launched an effort to understand how these treatments change the brain. Sat, 19 Feb 2022 06:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/02/19/1081263873/mental-health-art-therapy https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/02/19/1081263873/mental-health-art-therapy

Arts therapies appear to ease brain disorders from Parkinson's to PTSD. Now, artists and scientists have launched an effort to understand how these treatments change the brain.

]]> Jon Hamilton High-Ranking Dog Provides Key Training For Military's Medical Students Service dogs are a common sight at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, near Washington, D.C. But this special canine trains would-be healers how to pick the right dog for a wounded veteran. Fri, 08 Nov 2019 11:52:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/11/08/777049581/high-ranking-dog-provides-key-training-for-militarys-medical-students https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/11/08/777049581/high-ranking-dog-provides-key-training-for-militarys-medical-students

Service dogs are a common sight at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, near Washington, D.C. But this special canine trains would-be healers how to pick the right dog for a wounded veteran.

(Image credit: Julie Rovner)

]]> Julie Rovner Veterans Affairs Secretary Evicts Members Of Congress From Offices In VA Hospitals The lawmakers have been using the offices to meet with veterans. At least one believes the eviction is payback for his tough questioning of VA Secretary Robert Wilkie in April. Wed, 25 Sep 2019 05:03:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2019/09/25/763996045/veterans-affairs-secretary-boots-members-of-congress-from-offices-in-va-hospital https://www.npr.org/2019/09/25/763996045/veterans-affairs-secretary-boots-members-of-congress-from-offices-in-va-hospital The lawmakers have been using the offices to meet with veterans. At least one believes the eviction is payback for his tough questioning of VA Secretary Robert Wilkie in April.

]]> Greg Allen VA Expands Vets' Access To Private Care But Gives No Plan To Pay For It The VA has published new rules on how it will spend billions of dollars on private health care. Proponents say it will give veterans more choices, but others fear it's a move toward privatization. Wed, 27 Feb 2019 11:44:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2019/02/27/697879155/va-expands-vets-access-to-private-care-but-gives-no-plan-to-pay-for-it https://www.npr.org/2019/02/27/697879155/va-expands-vets-access-to-private-care-but-gives-no-plan-to-pay-for-it The VA has published new rules on how it will spend billions of dollars on private health care. Proponents say it will give veterans more choices, but others fear it's a move toward privatization.

]]> Quil Lawrence Veterans Claiming Illness From Burn Pits Lose Court Fight Hundreds of veterans sued military contractor KBR Inc., alleging toxic smoke from burn pits at military bases made them ill. A federal appellate court said compensation must come from Congress. Wed, 16 Jan 2019 04:57:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2019/01/16/685657005/veterans-claiming-illness-from-burn-pits-lose-court-fight https://www.npr.org/2019/01/16/685657005/veterans-claiming-illness-from-burn-pits-lose-court-fight

Hundreds of veterans sued military contractor KBR Inc., alleging toxic smoke from burn pits at military bases made them ill. A federal appellate court said compensation must come from Congress.

(Image credit: Chris Hondros)

]]> Quil Lawrence 'To Care For Him': Female Veterans Ask VA To Include Them In Its Motto The VA motto, which is taken from Lincoln's second inaugural speech, addresses veterans with the male pronoun. Some veterans want to change the wording to include women. Tue, 04 Dec 2018 05:03:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2018/12/04/672180573/female-veterans-ask-va-to-include-them-in-the-agencys-motto https://www.npr.org/2018/12/04/672180573/female-veterans-ask-va-to-include-them-in-the-agencys-motto

The VA motto, which is taken from Lincoln's second inaugural speech, addresses veterans with the male pronoun. Some veterans want to change the wording to include women.

(Image credit: Quil Lawrence)

]]> Quil Lawrence VA Struggles To Reach Other-Than-Honorable-Discharge Vets In Need Of Help VA says 115 vets with other-than-honorable discharges received mental health care last year under a new program. Veterans advocates say it's a tiny fraction of such vets who need help. Thu, 18 Oct 2018 05:02:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2018/10/18/657789457/va-struggles-to-reach-other-than-honorable-discharge-vets-in-need-of-help https://www.npr.org/2018/10/18/657789457/va-struggles-to-reach-other-than-honorable-discharge-vets-in-need-of-help

VA says 115 vets with other-than-honorable discharges received mental health care last year under a new program. Veterans advocates say it's a tiny fraction of such vets who need help.

(Image credit: Katie Schoolov)

]]> Steve Walsh