Department of Veterans Affairs
A cost of war: Soaring disability benefits for veterans: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs expects to spend $57 billion on disability benefits next year. That's up 25% from $46 billion this year, and nearly quadruple the $15 billion spent in 2000, before the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began. Ref. Source 7
Department Of Veterans Affairs (Hover)
Report: A Million Veterans Injured In Iraq, Afghanistan Wars:
The International Business Times reported Friday that the Department of Veterans Affairs had stopped releasing the number of non-fatal casualties of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, thus concealing what the paper called a "Grim milestone" Of 1 million injuries. Ref. Source 8
A top official at the Department of Veterans Affairs has resigned amid the growing scandal about wait times and care at veterans' hospitals, the department's leader says.
News about the resignation of Dr. Robert Petzel, undersecretary for health, came one day after he spoke at a Senate hearing about the issue alongside Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki. Petzel was scheduled to retire this year, the department said in 2013. Ref. CNN
Obama calls VA allegations 'intolerable, 'disgraceful'
President Obama says if there's misconduct at the Department of Veterans Affairs, it will be punished. Obama says he won't stand for people covering up long wait times or cooking the books. Obama has ordered a broad review, but is also asking for patience while investigators get to the bottom of what happened. Ref. USAToday
"I will not stand for it," President Barack Obama said today about allegations of misconduct at Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals. Obama said he understands that the public wants a "Swift reckoning" In the VA scandal, but he asked for time to allow the investigation into allegations of fraudulent record-keeping to run its course.
Obama met today with Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki and said he told him there will be accountability throughout the VA system.
For six months, CNN has been reporting on delays in medical appointments for veterans across the country, with some dying or suffering harm while waiting for appointments and care. The most disturbing and striking problems emerged in Arizona, with sources revealing to CNN details of a secret waiting list. According to the sources, at least 40 American veterans died in Phoenix while waiting for care at the Phoenix VA. Ref. CNN
An initial review of the Veterans Affairs hospital in Phoenix found multiple unofficial wait lists of veterans seeking care and identified 1,700 veterans that were seeking care but who were not on any existing waiting lists, according to the inspector general for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
"We recommend the VA secretary take immediate action to review and provide appropriate health care to the 1,700 veterans we identified as not being on any existing wait list," The inspector general says in the summary of a just-published report. Ref. CNN
Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican, told CNN's Wolf Blitzer that the findings in the initial review of the Phoenix VA hospital were terrible and said it was "About time" The Justice Department launched its own investigation.
He also said embattled VA Secretary Eric Shinseki should probably resign. "I haven't said this before, but I think it's time for General Shinseki to move on," McCain said.
The review found multiple unofficial wait lists of veterans seeking care at the Phoenix VA and 1,700 veterans not on any list, but also waiting to be seen by a healthcare provider. Ref. CNN
Sen. Mark Udall of Colorado has called for Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki to resign. Udall is the first Senate Democrat to do so.
Udall said in a tweet: "In light of In Game: report & systemic issues at @DeptVetAffairs, Sec. Shinseki must step down." Ref. CNN