May 8, 2023

Demanding accountability: How Congress can protect health care choice for veterans

Veterans deserve more choice in their health care, but the Department of Veterans Affairs stands firm in denying them the right to choose what’s best for them. Recently, The Hill published a compelling op-ed by Darin Selnick, a senior advisor for Concerned Veterans for America and an Air Force veteran, in which he argues that… Read more »

May 5, 2023

#VAFail: The VA can fire its poorly performing staff. So why isn’t it?

You might think behavior like “creating a hostile work environment” or “treating staff as personal assistants” or forcing “subordinates to buy lunches and handle transportation to and from work” would be enough to get an employee fired from his or her job.  But when it comes to the Department of Veterans Affairs, you’d be wrong. … Read more »

April 18, 2023

CVA’s Russ Duerstine joins American Potential podcast to discuss VA reforms

In a recent episode of the American Potential podcast, CVA Executive Director Russ Duerstine spoke about the work CVA is doing to reform the Department of Veterans Affairs and hold the VA accountable for the way it cares for veterans. Russ spoke in depth about the rampant appointment wait time manipulation happening at the VA… Read more »

April 14, 2023

#VAFail: Veteran takes his own life after being denied treatment for chronic pain. Rep. Greg Steube and CVA speak out.

Last year, Vietnam veteran Rayford Hill was denied clinically proven treatment for his chronic pain from his local Department of Veterans Affairs facility. The pain for too much for Rayford to bear, so a few weeks after he was denied the treatment he sought, he planned his own funeral and took his own life. Rep…. Read more »

April 10, 2023

My VA Story: Former VA employee sheds light on a dream job turned nightmare   

Jessica Villarreal’s dream job was to be a social worker at the Department of Veterans Affairs after serving in the Army.  “I got my master’s degree because my whole goal was to work for the VA, to provide a service to veterans, to be that person that veterans could go and feel like, “Oh, Jessica… Read more »

April 6, 2023

#VAFail: The only reason I don’t have problems with the VA is because I stopped using it for care

In 2012 I moved to the Phoenix area. I had served in the Marine Corps for four years and spent the next 12 in the Army National Guard. Multiple deployments took a toll on my mind and body, so I began the years-long journey of re-registering for my benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs. … Read more »

April 4, 2023

Certificate of Need is keeping veterans from having more health care options in South Carolina

In 2018, the VA MISSION Act was signed into law. This landmark legislation gave more veterans who use the Department of Veterans Affairs for health care service access to care in their own communities if the VA can’t offer quality care in a timely manner.  While this reform was sorely needed, there is another barrier… Read more »