News

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Exemptions Granted for Copayments for Outpatient Mental Health Care

Reflecting a national mental health crisis nationwide, VA announced last week that veterans would no longer be required to make copayments for their first three outpatient mental health care and substance use disorder visits during a given year. The copayment exception benefits dates back retroactively to June 27, 2023, and, by law, will end December 29, 2027.  Eligibility for this benefit is contingent on whether the outpatient visit is with a qualified mental health professional […]

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June Brings Attention to PTSD Awareness

The month of June is PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) Awareness Month. PTSD is a trauma and stress-related disorder that some people develop after seeing or living through an event that caused or threatened serious harm or death. PTSD may result in sleep problems, irritability, anger, recurrent dreams about the trauma, intense reactions to reminders of the trauma, disturbances in relationships, and isolation.  Although there is no clear or consistent timeline for manifestations of PTSD or […]

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Ambassadog Leela Reports for Duty, Defers Back to Nora for Waymo Update

Leela on the Beach with Larry Harper My name is Leela and, as Nora barked last week, I am honored to guide my dad Larry Harper, a BVA Member from Brandon, Mississippi. I am also honored to have been selected as the Ambassadog for the month of June. Although I will have plenty to say throughout this month, I must toss the frisbee back to Nora for a report on what was a life-changing week […]

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With BVA Support, Pass Christian, Mississippi Carries the Load

Left to right, current and former officers of the Louisiana/Mississippi Regional Group: Gary Schoelerman, Shawntina Gibson, Raquel Welch. On May 22, the City of Pass Christian and its community leaders sponsored Carry the Load, a four-mile veterans’ walk that was part of the national Memorial Day Carry the Load initiative. The walk consisted of 50 veterans, friends, and families. Pass Christian is a town of approximately 6,500 on the Mississippi Gulf Coast within the Gulfport-Biloxi […]

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Women Veterans Recognition Day Gains Momentum Nationwide

Next Wednesday, June 12, has been designated Women Veterans Recognition Day in several areas of the United States. The date was chosen to mark the anniversary of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, signed into law by President Truman on June 12, 1948. The legislation enabled women to serve in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and the recently formed Air Force. Except for nurses, women had previously served only in times of war.  Although the […]

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Fittingly, Flag Day and U.S. Army Birthday Share June 14

Perhaps it is but a coincidence that the date of the founding of our first military forces and the founding of the most powerful symbol of the freedoms of the United States of America are one and the same.  The U.S. Army was established on June 14, 1775, when the Continental Congress authorized enlistment of riflemen to serve the United Colonies for one year. Many believed at the time that the creation of the force would result in efforts […]

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Rules and Credentials Meeting Kicks off June BVA Business Town Halls

A special pre-convention Rules and Credentials Town Hall overview will be held next Thursday, June 13, at 2:00pm Eastern Time. The meeting is the first of three business sessions to be held virtually before the in-person convention. All BVA members are invited to attend next week’s meeting via Zoom regardless of plans for attending the convention in person. The discussion will cover the rules and procedures for conducting the business of the 79th National Convention. […]

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VetTech to Welcome WeWalk

Join the Blinded Veterans Association’s VetTech Team this Wednesday, June 5, at 2:00pm Eastern Time as we welcome back Joe Alfonso and Kürşat Ceylan of WeWALK to the Weekly Wednesday Webinar.  WeWALK is a smart cane developed to improve the mobility of visually impaired people, allowing them full and equal participation in everyday life. The smart cane works in tandem with the app to help them navigate the world around them with fully accessible turn-by-turn […]

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VA Reports Increase in Veteran Trust, Reduction in Appointment Wait Times

VA announced this past week two significant trends in the Department’s services to our nation’s veterans, first in the area of trust and second with respect to changes in wait times for new patients. Trust among veterans has reached an all-time high of 80.4 percent, up from 55 percent when the survey began in 2016. The figures are based on a survey of 38,293 veterans who used a wide range of VA services between January […]

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Health and Benefits Mobile Application Team a Sammies Finalist

A Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) team of three has been recognized for excellence and innovation in federal service as a result of recent progress on the VA Health and Benefits Mobile App that has expanded and evolved the mobile app’s features based on veterans’ needs, including those with sight loss. The Team, consisting of Deputy Chief Technology Officer Christopher Johnston, Product Lead Rachel Han, and Design Lead Ryan Thurwell, was selected from among more […]