In a world where nutrition information is available from many sources, and many are not credible, VA's Fresh Focus podcast offers a safe place for Veterans to hear advice from the very Dietitians they can access in VA clinics. Dietitians from the Marion VA Health Care System share evidenced based material, taking on today’s hot nutrition topics. VA encourages Veterans, their family, and caregivers to stay connected with a Dietitian when it’s most convenient.

The Vets First podcast is a research-based podcast that focuses on the VA healthcare system and its patients. Instead of being just another research podcast, VA's Vets First podcast was created with a primary focus on the Veterans and their stories. The hosts, Levi Sowers PhD, and Brandon Rea work to bridge the gap between the state-of-the-art research being performed at VA and the Veterans themselves in an easy-to-understand manner. Importantly, Levi and Brandon want to assist researchers around the country to better understand the needs of Veterans. In this VA podcast you will hear interviews from Veterans with specific conditions and then hear from VA funded researchers who are studying those very topics as well as other highlighted services the VA provides.

SITREP

Join theSITREP, as we discuss VA Disability, VA Pensions, VA Health Care, VA Home Loans, benefits for dependents, and benefits offered by other agencies and departments, such as military retirement, social security benefits and more.

The National Defense Radio Show

Heard on more than a hundred radio stations across the United States and the 400+ overseas Armed Forces Radio Networks around the globe. The Armed Forces Network reaches more than one million American service men and women, DOD, civilians, and their families on every military base, outpost and all ships at sea. The weekly show has consisted of a combination of celebrity interviews, executive interviews, and discussions with political and news figures, delivering content that entertains, informs and supports those who serve, and have served, our country. The show is hosted by Randy Miller, a 25-year broadcast veteran having hosted shows in Pittsburgh, Atlanta, San Diego, Cincinnati and Kansas City. Randy is the recipient of multiple broadcasting awards, including “Air Personality of the Year” from Billboard Magazine and the Radio Music Awards.

Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Veterans Podcast

The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Podcast sheds light on important topics and challenges facing America’s veterans while also sharing the stories of veterans whom have been impacted by DAV through its mission of fulfilling our promises to the men and women that served.

Veterans of Foriegn Wars (VFW) Still Serving

Veterans of Foriegn Wars (VFW) Podcast Still Serving is a new show for veterans, by veterans provided by the oldest combat Veterans Service Organization. The VFW Podcast highlights critical issues, challenges and legislation affecting veterans, service members and military families worldwide.

Military Money Show

The Military Money Show is the podcast that helps U.S. Servicemembers, Veterans, and their spouses make, save, invest and spend money wisely. Host, Lacey Langford interviews inspiring guests on personal finance, investing, entrepreneurship, debt, insurance, military life plus and a whole lot more. 

American Legion - Tango Alpha Lima

Join co-hosts Mark Seavey, Jeff Daly and Ashley Gorbulja-Maldonado as they chat about current stories of interest to the military community and welcome special guests with remarkable stories to share.

• Dr. Jeff Iliff, Associate Director of Research, Northwest Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, (The brain has a waste removal system and scientists are figuring out how it works, American University Radio, Washington D.C., June 18, 2024)

MOVE! Weight Management Program

The videos on this page were developed for use within the MOVE! Coach mobile app. The content of the videos is based on the MOVE! Handouts and may be useful to anyone working on weight management goals. Check them out!

Make the Connection

Make the Connection is a national campaign from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to help connect Veterans and their families and friends with videos from fellow Veterans who share their challenging experiences. In hundreds of unscripted video interviews, more than 600 Veterans and their family members tell their personal stories — including the issues they’ve faced, the support they’ve received, and the strides they’ve made in improving their own lives. These Veterans represent every branch of the U.S. military and every service era, from World War II to the present. By talking about what they’ve been through, they are encouraging other Veterans to reach out for support when they need it. You can show your support by sharing a Make the Connection video with your family members, friends, and social network.

VHA Office of Rural Health Extends Reach to Support Veterans Everywhere

Support programs include tele-intensive care units, tele-mental health hubs, social workers who also work within the Rural Patient Aligned Care Team, Veteran transportation services and rural health training initiatives that include the cross-agency Rural Faculty Development Program, Fellowships for Rural Healthcare Scholars and career development awards for up-and-coming rural providers.

Boulder Crest Foundation

Discover how trauma can be a catalyst for forging a new path filled with passion, purpose, and connection. Boulder Crest Foundation is the home of Posttraumatic Growth (PTG) offering life-changing programs free of charge to members of the military, veterans, and first responder communities, and their families. The mission is to facilitate PTG through transformative programs, world-class training and education initiatives, research, and advocacy. You can help change what the world believes is possible in the aftermath of trauma. Together, we can change the conversation around trauma.

iCOVER Protocol for Acute Stress Reaction

Walter Reed Army Institute of Research - iCOVER is a rapid peer-to-peer intervention for service members to use when managing symptoms of acute stress reaction in team members. Named for its six steps (Identify buddy in need, Connect, Offer commitment, Verify facts, Establish order of events, and Request action), iCOVER can be performed by individuals in far-forward environments to help team members manage acute stress and maximize human potential in small, disaggregated teams.

NW MIRECC disseminates mission-relevant knowledge through publications and continuing health care education programs across VISN 20 and nationally. Sign up for email updates or access your subscriber preferences: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USVHAVISN20/subscriber/new.

Use of these Materials and Finding VA Health Care

Please note that the health care information provided in these materials is for educational purposes only. It does not replace the role of a medical practitioner for advice on care and treatment. If you are looking for professional medical care, find your local VA healthcare center by using the VA Facilities Locator & Directory. This page may contain links that will take you outside of the Department of Veterans Affairs website. VA does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of the linked websites.

VA Web Disclaimers
Disclaimer of Endorsement: Reference herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government, and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes.
Disclaimer of Hyperlinks: The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Veterans Affairs of the linked websites, or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized VA activities, the Department does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. All links are provided with the intent of meeting the mission of the Department and the VA website. Please let us know about existing external links which you believe are inappropriate and about specific additional external links which you believe ought to be included.
Disclaimer of Liability: With respect to documents available from this server, neither the United States Government nor any of its employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights.
Reference from this web page or from any of the information services sponsored by the VA to any non-governmental entity, product, service or information does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the VA or any of its employees. We are not responsible for the content of any "off-site" web pages referenced from this server.
Disclaimer: The sharing of any non-VA information does not constitute an endorsement of products or services on the part of the VA.

VA Regional Offices

The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) helps service members transition out of military service, and assists with Veterans with education, home loans, life insurance and much more. Service members, Veterans, their families, and Survivors are invited to request information on VA Benefits including disability compensation, pension, fiduciary, education, Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E), Home Loans, and Insurance. In addition to information on VA Benefits Veterans may initiate an intent to file and request assistance with filing compensation and pension claims. Visit regional office websites to learn about the services the regional office provides, directions to the facility, hours of operation, and the leadership team that serves the regional office.

Find out if you can get VA health care as a Veteran

The following four categories of Veterans are not required to enroll but are urged to do so to permit better planning of health resources:

1. Veterans with a service-connected (SC) disability rated at 50% or more.
2. Veterans seeking care for a disability the military determined was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, but which VA has not yet rated, within 12 months of discharge.
3. Veterans seeking care for a SC disability only or under a special treatment authority.
4. Veterans seeking health registry examinations. VA’s health registry evaluation is a free, voluntary medical assessment for Veterans who may have been exposed to certain environmental hazards during military service. The evaluations alert Veterans to possible long-term health problems that may be related to exposure to specific environmental hazards during their military service. VA has established several health registries to track and monitor the health of specific groups of Veterans. You may be eligible to participate in one or more of these health registries: Agent Orange Registry, Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry, Gulf War Registry (includes Operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn), Ionizing Radiation Registry, Depleted Uranium Follow-Up Program, and Toxic Embedded Fragment Surveillance Center. Use the chart below to help determine your eligibility.

Find out how to apply for VA health care benefits as a Veteran or service member. For other mental health services, contact a VA medical center for information on eligibility and treatment options.

Community Care (Mission Act)

The MISSION Act became law in 2018, bringing the VA’s previous Veterans Choice Program to an end and establishing the Community Care Program. VA provides health care for Veterans from providers in your local community outside of VA. Veterans may be eligible to receive care from a community provider when VA cannot provide the care needed. This care is provided on behalf of and paid for by VA. Community care is also available to Veterans based on certain conditions and eligibility requirements, and in consideration of a Veteran’s specific needs and circumstances. VA offers urgent care services to eligible Veterans at in-network urgent care clinics to treat minor injuries and illnesses that are not life-threatening, such as colds, strep throat, sprained muscles, and skin and ear infections. Community care must be first authorized by VA before a Veteran can receive care from a community provider.

Vet Centers in VISN 20

Vet Centers in VISN 20 are community-based counseling centers that provide a wide range of social and psychological services, including professional readjustment counseling to eligible Veterans, active-duty Army, Navy, Marine Corp, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard service members, including National Guard and Reserve components, and their families. 1-877-927-8387 is an around the clock confidential call center where combat Veterans and their families can call to talk about their military experience or any other issue they are facing in their readjustment to civilian life. The staff is comprised of combat Veterans from several eras as well as families members of combat Veterans. This benefit is prepaid through the Veteran’s military service.

Alaska

Idaho

Oregon

Washington

Plan your trip to VA

In 1946, Veterans Canteen Service (VCS) was established by law to provide comfort and well-being to America’s Veterans. With our many retail stores, cafés and coffee shops across the country, we serve those who have served our country. VCS is proud to offer Veterans enrolled in VA healthcare, their families and VA employees exclusive shopping benefits online through Patriot Store Direct. Product categories range from Military Caps and apparel, Outdoors, Electronics, Automotive tires (Goodyear, Bridgestone, Firestone, and Fuzion), Tickets and Travel, Vision (Glasses and Contact Lenses), Home and Kitchen, Floral, Toys, Gifts, Watches, and more. We are honored to give back to the VA community through many programs established for the health and well-being of our nation’s heroes. Revenues generated from VCS are used to support a variety of programs, such as VA’s Rehabilitation Games, Fisher Houses, Poly-Trauma Centers for OEF/OIF/OND Veterans, disaster relief efforts, Substance Abuse Cessation, VA’s Homelessness initiatives, Women Veterans, Veteran Suicide Prevention and other activities.

Hospital Service Directory

To find out whether there is a van near you, use the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Hospital Service Coordinator Directory to contact your nearest HSC. The vans are driven by volunteers, and the rides coordinated by more than 133 Hospital Service Coordinators around the country. Our nation’s heroes travel around the globe to protect our freedoms—it’s only right that we return their dedication. Volunteering to drive a Vet ensures that even those living remotely from VA hospitals can make their appointments and never go without the treatment they need. Please remember that the DAV Transportation Network is staffed by volunteers; therefore, it is unable to cover every community. Learn more about the DAV transportation network through the VISN 20 NewsFlash Resources section.

Today's VHA - the largest of the three administrations that comprise the VA - continues to meet Veterans' changing medical, surgical, and quality-of-life needs. There are 18 Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) in VHA operating as regional systems of care to better meet local health care needs and provides greater access to care. In the Pacific Northwest, VISN 20 serves Veterans in Alaska, Oregon, Washington, most of Idaho, and one county each in California and Montana. Spanning 23% of the US land mass, VISN 20 is the largest geographic region of VA. Operating across three time zones over 817,417 square miles, VISN 20 is home to 273 federally recognized American Indian and Alaskan Native tribes. According to DoD, American Indians and Alaska Natives have one of the highest representations in the United States Armed Forces. VA consults with American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments to develop partnerships that enhance access to services and benefits by Veterans and their families. VA is committed to ensuring that Native American Veterans and their families are able to utilize all benefits and services they are entitled to receive. As of the end of FY2024, 39% of VISN 20 enrollees resided in rural or highly rural areas.

• VISN 1: VA New England Healthcare System
• VISN 2: New York/New Jersey VA Health Care Network
• VISN 4: VA Healthcare - VISN 4
• VISN 5: VA Capitol Health Care Network
• VISN 6: VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network
• VISN 7: VA Southeast Network
• VISN 8: VA Sunshine Healthcare Network
• VISN 9: VA MidSouth Healthcare Network
• VISN 10: VA Healthcare System
• VISN 12: VA Great Lakes Health Care System
• VISN 15: VA Heartland Network
• VISN 16: South Central VA Health Care Network
• VISN 17: VA Heart of Texas Health Care Network
• VISN 19: Rocky Mountain Network
• VISN 20: Northwest Network
• VISN 21: Sierra Pacific Network
• VISN 22: Desert Pacific Healthcare Network
• VISN 23: VA Midwest Health Care Network