It’s been a tough couple of months for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA). Politico, Forbes, the New Jersey online syndicate, and countless other outlets published stinging indictments of the VA, tackling a wide range of issues.
News organizations even began running articles about how much bad news accumulated at the VA in the month of March alone.
Of course, that’s nothing terribly new. The VA has never been incredibly popular in opinion polls, and the last few years have seen it especially scandal-plagued. The new headlines, then, are unpleasant icing on an already distasteful cake.
Here’s a roundup of some of the latest points of contention:
- VA Secretary Robert McDonald admitted to lying about his Special Forces service.
- One veteran’s editorial attracted attention after he complained about frequently unanswered and unreturned phone calls from his designated veterans’ advocate. (“How’s that for an oxymoron?” he quipped.)
- Leaked emails revealed that an Indiana VA manager was allegedly mocking photographs of dead veterans who’d committed suicide.
- A Wisconsin VA center was forced to reassign its director after reports emerged of overprescribed narcotics and unfair retaliation against whistleblowers.
- A newly proposed VA rule would limit the already-tough eligibility guidelines for monthly pensions and widows’ benefits. The proposal prompted outrage in Forbes.
Clearly, times are tough for veterans and the department designed to help them.
However thorny things may be, though, the reality is that many thousands of Massachusetts veterans depend on the VA. Too often, our country’s heroes forego the veterans benefits to which they are legally entitled because the VA’s red tape and organizational lag proves insurmountable.
It does not have to be that way. If you believe that you or someone you love could be eligible for assistance or aid that they aren’t currently receiving, a Massachusetts veterans benefits attorney at O’Connell Law, LLC can help.
Our firm’s founder, Tiffany O’Connell, is both an experienced attorney and a veteran. Her commitment to veterans’ rights is a value treasured throughout our entire firm. Please let us know if we might be of help to you or your family.
