You know the feeling. You wake up stiff, foggy and not quite ready to face the day. Your back’s tight. Your mind’s still catching up. Coffee helps, but it’s not enough. Here’s a simple add-on to your morning routine that takes just a few minutes and can change how your whole day feels. Start the…
How to access your Foreign Medical Program benefits letter
Get your Foreign Medical Program benefits letter online If you’re a Veteran living or traveling abroad, getting care for your service-connected conditions is easier through VA’s Foreign Medical Program (FMP). FMP helps cover medically necessary care outside the United States for service-connected conditions, including: Office visits Hospital care Emergency or urgent care Physical therapy Prescribed…
Commemorating Freedom 250 and 80 years of caring for those who served
Celebrating history, service, and community at VA North Texas Freedom Fest 250 and 80 years of VHA. VA North Texas Health Care System‘s Dallas campus recently hosted Veterans, families, staff and community partners during its Freedom 250 celebration. The event honored 250 years of American independence and 80 years of the Veterans Health Administration’s service…
Not alone: VA social workers in your corner for 100 years
Celebrating social work in VA VA has grown into a far-reaching system designed to offer Veterans a wide array of benefits, services and support. But for some, navigating it can feel overwhelming. With so many programs, forms and eligibility requirements, getting the help you’ve earned shouldn’t feel like a full-time job. And you shouldn’t have…
Exploring VA nursing residencies
Access to high-quality, timely healthcare requires a skilled nursing workforce. To address the current national shortage of experienced nurses, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers nursing residency programs at VA Medical Centers (VAMCs) across the country. Through these programs, VA supports the clinical training of more than 25,000 nursing students annually. Each program offers wide-ranging opportunities for participants to develop competent, confident, practice-ready Registered Nurses (RNs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs) equipped with the knowledge and…
“I feel young”: At 77, a Vietnam Veteran gets his fresh start
How one VA social worker’s daily persistence helped Verton Morris go from the sidewalk to a home of his own Army Vietnam Veteran Verton Morris, 77, slept on the ground outside Houston VA’s Community Resource and Referral Center (CRRC) for weeks. He’d come inside to do his laundry, grab a snack and exchange a few…
New VA Video Connect features make telehealth appointments more accessible
New VA Video Connect features make telehealth appointments more accessible VA Video Connect, VA’s secure videoconferencing app, has made life easier and more convenient for Veterans. VA Video Connect now offers new features to enhance your video appointments. Update your mobile app to the latest version to start using them. “Video appointments are always good…
National Financial Awareness Day: Preparing for homeownership with your VA home loan benefit
In preparation for National Financial Awareness Day on August 14, now is a great time to take a closer look at your financial health so you can make informed decisions about your future. For Veterans, service members and eligible survivors, financial readiness and homeownership often go hand-in-hand. We’ll publish a short series of stories throughout August focused on this topic. This, the first story, focuses on preparing for homeownership. Preparation The VA Home Loan Program has helped…
Team effort brings critical support to help a blind Veteran in crisis
A coordinated response that restored safety, stability and hope What began as a chance encounter became an all-hands-on-deck effort to help a Veteran facing overwhelming hardship. While walking the halls of VA Augusta Health Care System’s Uptown campus on April 17, 2026, Julie Cole, a VA infection control nurse, noticed a man standing with two…
Standing strong after the storm: Natural disasters fraud prevention
Communities face enormous challenges after a natural disaster. Scammers often target Veterans and their families when they’re most overwhelmed. They may pose as insurance adjusters, contractors, landlords or Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) representatives to steal your money, personal information or insurance benefits. Help protect yourself and your family from scammers If you are contacted…
Employ the Contract Buy-Out Program to make the jump to VA
If you’ve been looking for a change of pace, but you still owe your current employer time on a service contract, VA has an opportunity that might be just what you’re looking for. Through our Contract Buy-Out Program (CBOP), qualified clinicians looking to make the jump to VA can do so by joining the team…
The Veterans Crisis Line isn’t only for a suicide crisis
Reaching out early is a smart move, not a last resort. The Veterans Crisis Line is there for whatever you’re going through. Suicide prevention doesn’t always start with a call to the Veterans Crisis Line. It can start with a single conversation, on a regular day, before things ever reach a breaking point. Here’s something…