In the summer of 2026, the Government Accountability Office sent a report addressed to VA Secretary Doug Collins. That report includes the following. “Since 2010, we and others have found that VA has faced longstanding challenges overseeing its vast health care system to provide quality and timely access to health care for veterans. “ Government… Read more »
Military pay is taxable, but not all military benefits are. Some are excluded by law, including hostile fire pay, housing allowances, and uniform allowances. But other military pay and benefits are not excluded from taxation. Your reenlistment bonus, sea pay, and separation pay may be subject to taxes. We’ve compiled a list of taxable and… Read more »
The Federal Trade Commission and the AARP are warning veterans and currently serving troops of military benefits scams targeting those about to transition from military to civilian life. Federal Trade Commission, AARP Warn of VA Impersonators The FTC warns that scammers may contact veterans, posing as VA officials supposedly authorized to collect fees for VA… Read more »
The Department of Veterans Affairs has committed to integrating Artificial Intelligence into its operations through a partnership with Salesforce. VA Announces Major AI Integration Through Partnership With Salesforce Salesforce is a cloud-based Customer Relationship Management software company meant to help businesses manage sales, clients, and customer service. This company announced a three-year partnership with the… Read more »
Traditionally, members of the Guard and Reserve had different requirements for service, career progress, and discharge than their active duty counterparts. But that’s been changing over the years with reforms and updated procedures. One of those reforms? Streamlining discharge documentation for the Guard/Reserve. DD214-1 Form Standardizes Guard and Reserve Discharge Paperwork DOD Instruction 1336.01, drafted… Read more »
Military spouses are entitled to dependent ID cards that provide access to military bases, AAFES stores, the Commissary, TRICARE, and more. Military spouses can use their ID cards to claim military benefits, as well as retail discounts and other perks. But what happens when the military member dies? Does the spouse lose their access, privileges,… Read more »
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) signed a five-year memorandum of understanding on July 13, 2026, addressing psychedelic-assisted therapies and their potential use by veterans in the federal healthcare system. VA, HHS Announce Psychedelic Therapy Trials This agreement allows both agencies to coordinate clinical trials, build… Read more »
In the age of artificial intelligence, some veterans wonder just how much of the assistance they get from the Department of Veterans Affairs utilizes AI. The VA issued an audit that answers this question, reviewing a whopping 367 artificial intelligence systems currently operating across the VA. Department of Veterans Affairs Using AI in Hundreds of… Read more »
In early March, the Department of Defense tried to terminate DoD labor union contracts via executive order. But a federal lawsuit filed in early July in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland challenges a directive from the Secretary of Defense that attempts to comply with that executive order by ordering the termination… Read more »
UPDATE: 7/6/2026: The U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims is reviewing a proposed settlement in a case called Freund v. Collins to correct legacy disability appeals closed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. If approved, the settlement would require audits and a notification process to reopen cases that the VA terminated between December 1990… Read more »