According to VA union leaders, President Donald Trump and VA officials are targeting unions involved in lawsuits against the administration, stripping millions of federal workers of collective bargaining rights, while rewarding those who stay silent.
The Trump administration’s plan to cut approximately 80,000 employees from VA is receiving pushback from both Republicans and Democrats in Congress.
With all of the political debate about the increasing privatization of VA care—the Trump administration and many Republicans pushing it, while many Democrats are resisting—the voice of one important stakeholder group might be drowned out.
The current state of combat-casualty readiness in the military health system has degraded to the point where the country is unprepared to care for the casualties that would result from a major conflict, experts told Congress last month.
Female veterans consistently have higher cancer rates than women who have never served in the military. A research letter recently revealed that their risks for specific cancers are affected by whether they suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Chronic hepatitis B patients who have two or more metabolic diseases have a significantly higher risk of cirrhosis, overall death and non-liver-related death
For a half-century, Vietnam veterans have been assumed to have a greater risk of dying of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), a form of bile duct cancer. A new study suggested that might not be the case, however.
Chester “Trip” Buckenmaier III, MD, COL (ret.), MC, USA | Opinion Columnist
Honestly, readers of this column do not need me to tell them that the removal of 80,000 VA employees will seriously degrade veterans’ health services. I am certainly not against the thoughtful application of reason to improve efficiency in any federal organization, including the VA. That said, the ‘loose cannon on a pitching deck’ government firings of the ad hoc DOGE have nothing to do with improving efficiency. Nobody reading this column voted for creating DOGE through their congressional representatives. There are correct ways to downsize government agencies through legislative action as government administration policies and priorities change. DOGE is not one of those processes.
Arthritis is a common chronic condition that increases with age, but it may pose greater health risks than previously recognized, particularly for those who did not serve in the military, a new study has suggested.
An investigation by the VA Office of the Inspector General lays the blame for last year’s budget shortfall on a lack of up-to-date data, as well as delays by VA leaders to respond to signs that their budget was going to fall short.
Past research has revealed that patients who are hospitalized for substance-use disorders appear to have an elevated risk of death, but little information was available on when and why.
Clinical decisions in the VA about whether to administer suppressive antibiotic therapy for patients with prosthetic-joint infections are often emotionally charged due to limited evidence about benefits and risks and potential consequences such as reinfection or amputation, according to a recent study.
Polypharmacy is considered both common and dangerous in older patients, and a new study offers some explanations for why.
Could a naturally occurring psychedelic compound be the remedy for mood dysfunction, which is highly prevalent in Parkinson’s disease (PD)?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) appears to be a risk factor for Parkinson’s disease (PD), according to a new study of veterans.
A new review looked at adult-onset Type 1 diabetes and methods to improve screening and diagnosis.
What is the effect of nonprescription magnesium supplements on the risk of HF or major adverse cardiac events in patients with diabetes?
The use of menopausal hormone therapy among active-duty servicewomen (ADSW) aged 45 to 65 is somewhat lower than in the veteran population of the same age but higher than among the U.S. general population in that age group, according to a new study.
The Trump administration has announced that it will move ahead with VA’s existing plan to restart the electronic health record modernization (EHRM) rollout in spring 2026, beginning with four hospitals in Michigan.
As researchers continue to investigate the long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2, a new study utilizing VA data has uncovered an intriguing pattern: Individuals who developed new-onset diabetes after a COVID-19 infection were more likely to experience diabetes remission.
As telehealth continues to evolve from a pandemic-era necessity to a core component of modern care, a new national study of VA outpatient encounters revealed that the likelihood of a visit being conducted in person, by phone or via video might hinge on the patient’s chronic condition.
Daniel Hall, MD, MDiv, MHSc, noticed what many surgeons also have over the course of their careers: There was a small number of patients (5-10%) who, despite their surgeries going perfectly, experienced poor outcomes.
The mortality burden associated with bacterial bloodstream infections is substantial in the MHS, with about 1 in 4 patients dying within 1 year of a bacterial bloodstream infection diagnosis, according to a recent study.
The standardized suicide risk assessment that has been implemented across the VHA healthcare system appears to only identify a few concepts that are associated with subsequent suicide, including suicidal ideation, firearm access and preparatory behaviors, according to a recent study.
Fluoroquinolones (FQs) have long been a standard treatment for urinary tract infections (UTIs), offering effective relief for millions of patients worldwide.
VA has announced that it will be phasing out gender-affirming care for veterans. This is being done, officials said, in response to President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14168, which excludes transgender people from the government’s definition of gender.
Chronic hepatitis B patients who have two or more metabolic diseases have a significantly higher risk of cirrhosis, overall death and non-liver-related death
For a half-century, Vietnam veterans have been assumed to have a greater risk of dying of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), a form of bile duct cancer. A new study suggested that might not be the case, however.
According to VA union leaders, President Donald Trump and VA officials are targeting unions involved in lawsuits against the administration, stripping millions of federal workers of collective bargaining rights, while rewarding those who stay silent.
The Trump administration’s plan to cut approximately 80,000 employees from VA is receiving pushback from both Republicans and Democrats in Congress.
More than a half-century after the United States escalated involvement in the Vietnam War by sending significant combat troops, veterans still face significant psychological and physical health challenges related to their employment.
Revised treatment algorithms, 24 new recommendations and an expanded literature review on complementary and integrative health (CIH) approaches
President Donald Trump began his second term with a flurry of executive orders that have resulted in the firing of thousands of employees, including many at VA, with the promise of deeper cuts to come.
Prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism (VTE) is crucial in people who have had traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), due to their heightened risk caused by immobility, inflammation and coagulation system activation.
Following a 77-23 Senate vote confirming him as the 12th VA Secretary earlier this month, Douglas Collins released a message on X.
For the first time in more than 50 years, the VA will fund a study on psychedelic-assisted therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol-use disorder among veterans.
Military Health System (MHS) beneficiaries with multiple myeloma have longer 5- and 10-year survival rates compared to multiple myeloma patients from the U.S. general population, according to a recent study.
Before going on recess through mid-November, Congress passed a continuing resolution to keep the federal government funded through Dec. 20, 2024. That resolution, however, did not address the $12 billion shortfall in VHA’s FY 2025 budget,
Honestly, readers of this column do not need me to tell them that the removal of 80,000 VA employees will seriously degrade veterans’ health services. I am certainly not against the thoughtful application of reason to improve efficiency in any federal organization, including the VA. That said, the ‘loose cannon on a pitching deck’ government firings of the ad hoc DOGE have nothing to do with improving efficiency. Nobody reading this column voted for creating DOGE through their congressional representatives. There are correct ways to downsize government agencies through legislative action as government administration policies and priorities change. DOGE is not one of those processes.
Arthritis is a common chronic condition that increases with age, but it may pose greater health risks than previously recognized, particularly for those who did not serve in the military, a new study has suggested.
An investigation by the VA Office of the Inspector General lays the blame for last year’s budget shortfall on a lack of up-to-date data, as well as delays by VA leaders to respond to signs that their budget was going to fall short.
Past research has revealed that patients who are hospitalized for substance-use disorders appear to have an elevated risk of death, but little information was available on when and why.
Clinical decisions in the VA about whether to administer suppressive antibiotic therapy for patients with prosthetic-joint infections are often emotionally charged due to limited evidence about benefits and risks and potential consequences such as reinfection or amputation, according to a recent study.
Polypharmacy is considered both common and dangerous in older patients, and a new study offers some explanations for why.
Could a naturally occurring psychedelic compound be the remedy for mood dysfunction, which is highly prevalent in Parkinson’s disease (PD)?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) appears to be a risk factor for Parkinson’s disease (PD), according to a new study of veterans.
A new review looked at adult-onset Type 1 diabetes and methods to improve screening and diagnosis.
What is the effect of nonprescription magnesium supplements on the risk of HF or major adverse cardiac events in patients with diabetes?
The use of menopausal hormone therapy among active-duty servicewomen (ADSW) aged 45 to 65 is somewhat lower than in the veteran population of the same age but higher than among the U.S. general population in that age group, according to a new study.
The Trump administration has announced that it will move ahead with VA’s existing plan to restart the electronic health record modernization (EHRM) rollout in spring 2026, beginning with four hospitals in Michigan.
As researchers continue to investigate the long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2, a new study utilizing VA data has uncovered an intriguing pattern: Individuals who developed new-onset diabetes after a COVID-19 infection were more likely to experience diabetes remission.
As telehealth continues to evolve from a pandemic-era necessity to a core component of modern care, a new national study of VA outpatient encounters revealed that the likelihood of a visit being conducted in person, by phone or via video might hinge on the patient’s chronic condition.
Daniel Hall, MD, MDiv, MHSc, noticed what many surgeons also have over the course of their careers: There was a small number of patients (5-10%) who, despite their surgeries going perfectly, experienced poor outcomes.
The mortality burden associated with bacterial bloodstream infections is substantial in the MHS, with about 1 in 4 patients dying within 1 year of a bacterial bloodstream infection diagnosis, according to a recent study.
The standardized suicide risk assessment that has been implemented across the VHA healthcare system appears to only identify a few concepts that are associated with subsequent suicide, including suicidal ideation, firearm access and preparatory behaviors, according to a recent study.
Fluoroquinolones (FQs) have long been a standard treatment for urinary tract infections (UTIs), offering effective relief for millions of patients worldwide.
VA has announced that it will be phasing out gender-affirming care for veterans. This is being done, officials said, in response to President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14168, which excludes transgender people from the government’s definition of gender.
Chronic hepatitis B patients who have two or more metabolic diseases have a significantly higher risk of cirrhosis, overall death and non-liver-related death
For a half-century, Vietnam veterans have been assumed to have a greater risk of dying of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), a form of bile duct cancer. A new study suggested that might not be the case, however.
Mailed outreach significantly increased screening vs. visit-based screening in patients with cirrhosis who are at high risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Automated insulin delivery (AID) outperformed continuous glucose monitoring alone in Type 2 diabetes patients treated with insulin, according to a new study.
Veterans with a higher dietary intake of cholesterol are at increased risk of having a heart attack, according to a recent study that shows a direct link between dietary cholesterol intake and heart attack risk.
A combination of prolonged exposure (PE) and topiramate, a medication developed to treat seizures, was more effective than PE and placebo in lessening posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, according to a new study.
Among U.S. military veterans with addiction diagnoses, women are more likely to die by suicide than men and at younger ages, according to a new study.
U.S. military veterans with traumatic brain injuries were more likely to develop alcohol-use disorder (AUD) and experience increased mortality, even after adjusting for demographic and clinical factors.
Women veterans who participated in a peer-led, social support group showed improvements in well-being outcomes, including a greater sense of belonging, higher quality of life and decreased post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, according to a recent study.
As the veteran population ages and healthcare options expand, it might be beneficial for the VHA to reassess how it evaluates hospital performance, a new study suggested.
Serious concerns were raised in a new VA study about the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines targeting the XBB.1.5 Omicron variant, which were introduced in September 2023.
Patient-reported outcome measures are increasingly integrated into quality assessments following total joint arthroplasty (TJA), but patient perceptions of quality paired with the phase of surgical care has not been described, according to a new report.
U. S. armed forces have high rates of ankle and foot injuries and mean medical and personnel costs for the DoD.
Trauma exposure affects cardiovascular, cerebral and mental health, causing declines.
In veterans with HIV, having post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) increased the likelihood of being nonadherent with their HIV treatment and requiring modification to their HIV treatment, according to a recent study.
The Republican focus on further expanding VA-funded community care has been fueled, in part, by reports from veterans and service organizations detailing the hurdles they have had to go through to obtain care for themselves or their clients.
What are the interactive effects of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) on long-term mortality following major operations?
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is defined by the KDIGO (Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes) guideline as abnormal kidney structure or function, present for more than 3 months, with implications for health.
What is the impact of the severity of chronic kidney disease (CKD) on mortality and major adverse limb events (MALE) after endovascular revascularization of the superficial femoral artery (SFA)?
Overall, U.S. military veterans report happiness levels that are only slightly lower than the general population, despite potentially traumatic experiences during deployment.
In contrast to the civilian population, certain indicators of socioeconomic status, such as education, occupation, household income and neighborhood socioeconomic status, aren’t significantly linked to major cardiovascular disease events in postmenopausal women veterans, according to a recent study.
At his confirmation hearing, President Donald Trump’s nominee for deputy VA secretary, Paul Lawrence, PhD, promised he would look into recent firings at VA