Every interaction matters at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Behind every answered question, resolved claim and guided conversation is a dedicated professional like you helping Veterans and their families access the benefits and care they’ve earned. VA is urgently seeking 113 contact representatives within the Office of Integrated Veteran Care (IVC) to serve as primary access points for critical services, including referrals, authorizations, eligibility,…
You could be losing thousands of dollars on your home loan
Refinancing a VA loan may offer Veterans a powerful option to lock in a lower interest rate, refinance a non-VA loan into a VA-backed loan, and/or get cash back from the equity they have in their home. Veterans can save hundreds of thousands of dollars over the life of their loan with an interest rate reduction or get up to 100% of their home equity in cash to be used…
LiveWholeHealth #319: Use local produce for this bangin’ quesadilla recipe
Spring is here, and that means lots of fresh fruits and vegetables are growing in our local communities. Picking produce from your garden or visiting a Farmers’ Market is a great way to support your Whole Health by adding colorful, nutrient-rich foods to your meals. There are many good reasons to shop at Farmers’ Markets.…
Navy Veteran found healing in Vietnam after 54 years
Phil Yates’s volunteer mission to former war zone In 1972, Phil Yates found himself at Yankee Station off the coast of Vietnam. He was operating with Carrier Air Wing 3, known as the “Battle Axe,” aboard the carrier USS Saratoga. While the Vietnam War raged around him, the hostile environment and constant destruction left deep…
It’s hot. Here’s how to stay safe with your medicines this summer
Summer is finally here! For many of us, that means more time outside, physical activity and exposure to the heat. Whether you’re splashing in the pool with friends and family, tending the garden or even just running errands on a sunny afternoon, it’s important to know how your medicines can affect your body’s response to…
Innovative dental treatments advancing Veteran care
Residents and providers learn to use the latest technology Army Vietnam Veteran Anthony DiPrima lost all his teeth at 19 and avoided many foods and smiling for decades. After qualifying for VA dental care, DiPrima said a new dental implant transformed his life. “The last year has been fantastic,” he said. “It used to be…
Help Veterans breathe easy as a VA pulmonologist
Pulmonologists play a critical role in helping patients breathe easier, and at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), that impact is felt every day. With a growing need for respiratory care, VA offers pulmonologists the opportunity to work at the forefront of complex and rewarding cases, from chronic lung disease management to advanced critical care.…
Honoring service, supporting families: VRCN partners unite for Memorial Day
As Memorial Day approaches, organizations across the country are coming together with a shared goal: honoring Veterans and supporting the families they leave behind. That was the focus of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) May VetResources Community Network (VRCN) Monthly Connect, where nearly 300 partner organizations—reaching millions of Veterans, families, caregivers and survivors—were invited…
Remembering Cheektowaga native and Army Pfc. Neil Ellis Bateman
Neil Ellis Bateman, a Cheektowaga native, was the second son born to Wallace and Ruth Bateman on April 9, 1947. Neil followed dad Wally’s footsteps, enlisting in the Army after graduating from Maryvale High School in 1966. Neil’s older brother Newton (“Newt,” as many called him) enlisted in the Navy as a pharmacist. According to…
VA-Guaranteed Home Loans: A trusted option for Veterans at every stage
The weather is getting warmer, the flowers are in bloom and “for sale” signs are blossoming on hundreds of thousands of homes across the United States. Spring is the traditional start of the homeownership journey for many Americans, but especially for service members and Veterans who are used to spring bringing Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders that require military members and their families to move to different military installations. …
VA Police honored nationwide during National Police Week
A mission unlike any other Across hundreds of medical centers, clinics and campuses, Department of Veterans Affairs police officers received recognition their mission deserves when the nation observed National Police Week and marked Peace Officers Memorial Day on May 15. From large, urban VA Medical Centers to rural outpatient clinics, more than 4,000 VA police…
Veterans of every generation find their stride in adaptive sports
The Winter Sports Clinic bridges generations through recovery and connection At the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, there’s no single profile of a participant. Veterans arrive from different branches, eras and life experiences. Some are just beginning to navigate a new reality after injury. Others have spent decades adapting. But on the slopes, those differences fade, replaced by a shared pursuit of…