Category: VA

Summertime is the best time to eat your fill, show off your cooking skills and enjoy the thrill of the grill! Your commissary is here to help you and your grill get fired up, with resources to help authorized customers, including eligible Veterans, shop and save on the ingredients they need to make their summer sizzle!…

Louis Davis Kaiser was born in Paducah, Kentucky, on Feb. 5, 1945, to parents Hudey Kizer and Dorothy Johnson. He attended Rock Island High School and was a renowned basketball player, earning him a spot in the school’s basketball hall of fame. He also attended St. Ambrose University, where he again shined as a star…

Let’s face it, the VA claims process can be overwhelming at time. As a Veteran who works for VA, I sometimes get overwhelmed with the claims process myself. Luckily, VA has experts who can help. What is the PACT Act? The PACT Act is the law officially known as the “Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring…

Emory Scott West was born on September 12, 1874, in Troy, West Virginia. He attended several schools there and would go on to further his education by graduating from Redfield College in South Dakota. Not much is recorded of his early life, as he emerges primarily onto the historical scene during the Spanish-American War. During…

Nothing can brighten someone’s day better than a good meal, so whether you’re interested in preparing those meals or finding the best ways to offer healthy options to Veterans, VA’s Nutrition and Food Services team is cooking up opportunities for you. Though you might not realize it, food services play a huge role in what…

Robert Smith, who is legally blind, is a former Marine Corps scout sniper trying to relearn his entire way of life. Smith lost his sight following a stroke in February 2023 while sleeping in his Kansas City, Missouri, home. He is now completing a six-week inpatient program at Edward Hines Jr. VA’s Central Blind Rehabilitation Center. …

Having a sense of connection and community can go a long way in supporting our whole health and well-being. Feeing alone can sometimes make us get sick or keep us feeling ill. Positive social relationships are healthy, and they can be a source of strength and positivity in our lives. Relationships can affect our emotional,…

As an outpatient registered dietitian who previously worked with the MOVE! Weight Management program, one of my favorite and most requested group topics was healthy barbecuing. The Veterans I worked with always had lively group discussions about the pros and cons of attending barbecues. The Veterans really looked forward to socializing with friends and family and…

A Community Living Center (CLC) is a VA nursing home where Veterans may stay for a short time or for the rest of their life. For many, adjusting to their new living arrangements can prove challenging, so Bay Pines VA and its community partners do all they can to cultivate an environment filled with comfort…

Physicians enter the field of medicine, first and foremost, to help people. That’s why, as our national population of aging Veterans continues to grow, the need for physicians who specialize in the field of geriatrics has never been greater at VA. Veterans have complex health issues tied to their service, and as they age, those…

The ATLAS (Accessing Telehealth through Local Area Stations) site in Los Banos, California, has reached a new milestone: 200 telehealth encounters since its launch in March 2021. Before the site opened, some Veterans had to travel up to three hours to the nearest VA Medical Center in Fresno or Palo Alto. And more than 16%…

The process of transitioning from military service can be a complex experience. In addition to significant lifestyle changes, many Veterans also experience physical, psychological, economic and spiritual stressors that affect their mental health and quality of life. This includes moral injury, the distressing aftermath that can occur when an individual experiences or witnesses an event…