The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) last week announced open enrollment for its new life insurance program taking effect January 1, 2023. The program is the first of its kind offered to veterans in more than 50 years, resulting in potential benefits to more veterans and their families than ever before. Known as VALife, the program will provide up to $40,000 of whole life insurance for all veterans, age 80 or under, with service-connected disability […]

BVA recently supported and served in a vital advisory role for an accessibility study conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VAOIG). The results of the study, issued in a December 8 report, revealed that the Veterans Benefits Administration’s Compensation Service has not fully complied with Section 504 of The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 in accommodating veterans with visual impairments. The OIG concluded that the Compensation Service’s continued failure to comply […]

Beginning December 10 and continuing through December 17, VA will host more than 90 in-person town hall events in communities across the country. The town halls were scheduled to provide information on veteran eligibility for the new benefits and services under the historic PACT Act, legislation for which BVA was a consistent advocate during congressional hearings. The PACT Act was signed into law by President Biden on August 10, 2022. Veterans attending an upcoming town […]

Dear Blinded Veterans Association Family, The time has once again arrived when we gather around the table with our families and friends, pausing to reflect on the things for which we are most thankful. Beyond our own needs, we are mindful of those less fortunate and struggling in our own country and throughout the world. The Thanksgiving holiday can serve as an invitation to rededicate ourselves in our own unique ways to make a difference […]

For the first time in three years due to the worldwide pandemic, BVA National President Joe McNeil and Director of District 1 Wanda Grover joined other Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) in presenting an organizational wreath at Arlington National Cemetery’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Veterans Day. The symbolic gesture paying tribute to all veterans capped off a day of memorable activities for BVA in and around a rainy Nation’s Capital.  The laying of the […]

VetTech to focus on text and object recognition as November series continues this Wednesday Join the Blinded Veterans Association’s VetTech Team this Wednesday, November 16, at 2:00pm Eastern Standard Time. The session will highlight various smart phone apps, services, devices, and other means by which text and objects can be recognized and communicated to individuals with sight loss. Do not miss this VetTech session! Attendees will participate in: An overview of recognition apps, services, and […]

My Fellow BVA Members:  I have a question for you to contemplate on the eve of this most significant holiday: What exactly is Veterans Day and what does it mean to us, our families, our fellow veterans, and our fellow citizens everywhere?  Veterans Day is a day that has been set aside by the country to recognize certain unique sacrifices made by a select group of citizens, our veterans. The sacrifices originate from a choice […]

Dear Friends: Veterans Day is a unique and special day for those of us affiliated with the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA). In many cases, we share this day and its meaning with our families. I plan to use the day this year to contemplate, even more than I have in the past, the service and sacrifices of the veterans I have met over the years, many of whom have become my closest friends. Col. Brian […]

BVA Ambassadors are the key liaisons between veterans with sight loss and the organization’s Veterans Service Program. They serve in key roles in the dissemination of valuable benefits information and crucial advocacy tips to help their fellow veterans.  Ambassadors are trained and available to help blind and low-vision veterans gain access to the vital services provided VA Blind Rehabilitation Service. The second class of BVA Ambassadors has now completed more than half of the required […]