Ideas
What Wounded Veterans Need: Medical Marijuana
The American Legion, representing millions of wartime vets, calls on Trump to loosen federal restrictions on medical marijuana research to help those suffering from PTSD, TBI, opioid abuse, and more.
Policy
Meet the Woman in Charge of Customer Service for Millions of Vets
Lynda Davis, VA's chief veteran experience officer, will continue working on Vets.gov and getting real-time feedback for veterans.
Science & Tech
Veterans Calling VA's Crisis Line Can Finally Get Through. Here’s Why.
A team of techies and customer-service professionals starting tackling the problem in 2015.
Science & Tech
VA's Patchwork System Eats Most of its $4B Tech Budget. Congress Wants That to Stop.
The agency’s CIO says there’s no clear plan for replacing custom-built systems, two of which are more than 50 years old.
Ideas
Don’t Dismantle VA Reform
The Commission on Care’s recommendations to fix veterans’ health care may not be perfect, but they’re a good start.
Ideas
Don't Dismantle the VA
Veterans care should not become a profit-making enterprise that serves no one better than its financial backers.
Policy
Overhaul Veterans Care by Working with More Private-Sector Firms, Panel Says
The Commission on Care's final report declines to recommend stripping the Veterans Health Administration of its status as a government agency.
Ideas
Don’t Privatize the Veterans Health Administration
The healthcare industry wants to take over a system that – for all its problems – still outperforms the private sector.
Policy
VA's New Paperless Claim System Has Nearly Doubled in Costs
The agency’s deputy IG told lawmakers the billion-dollar (and counting) system may not be worth the money.
Policy
Why Veterans Day Won't Spark Real Debate on National Security
Veterans Day underscores how the public and politicos focus on manufactured patriotism instead of actual national security experience and policy specifics.
Ideas
Military Experience Isn't Preparing Veterans for Private Success
It may be less about training and more about ethos. You already chose honor over money.
Defense Systems
ONR software helps those with traumatic brain injuries perform rehab
The MOVER software helps guide soldiers suffering from TBIs through rehabilitation exercises in their homes.
Policy
Congress OKs Shifting $3 Billion To Bail Out Cash-Strapped VA
Without the fix, the department said it would have to close hospitals, furlough workers and issue a hiring freeze starting in August.
Policy
Meet Joe Heck, the GOP One-Star General Who Could Take Reid's Senate Seat
Military experience? Check. Small business owner? Check. Physician? Check. Congressional leadership? Check. Winning record in swing district? Check. National security election? Double check.
Science & Tech
VA’s ‘Grand Challenge’: Open-Source Prosthetic Limbs for Veterans
The VA hopes a contest will spur innovation in replacement limbs the way DARPA jumpstarted self-driving cars.
Business
Whistleblower Says VA Spent More Than $6 Billion Unlawfully
Secretary McDonald, who apparently sat on a memo about the problem, says the whistleblower should fix it himself.
Business
VA to Congress: It’s Still Too Hard to Fire Bad Employees
A House hearing took an unexpected turn into longstanding problems of management.
Science & Tech
VA Blocked More Than a Billion Cyber Threats in March
The VA could become quickly overwhelmed if the threat continues to escalate, the agency's top information officer said.
Business
Veterans Sue the VA Over Access to Medical Records
Some veterans are upset they're having to waiting hundreds of days just to advance the process of applying for combat-related compensation.
Business