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WASHINGTON – VA makes it easier for Veterans to use community care // Access to non-VA care no longer requires secondary approval // The Department of Veterans Affairs today announced changes that will make it easier for VA-enrolled Veterans to access health care from non-VA providers at the department’s expense. Effective immediately, VA will implement language in the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act that removes this extra review step. The change will give eligible Veterans faster access to community care. The new, streamlined process for determining best medical interest will be backed by training for Veterans Health Administration employees to ensure compliance with the Elizabeth Dole Act. 

Memorial Day Events 2025 - Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Alaska – On May 30, 1868, Arlington National Cemetery hosted 5,000 people for the inaugural Decoration Day (now known as Memorial Day) excercises. Memorial Day, observed on the last Monday of May, commemorates the men and women who died while in the military service. In observance of the holiday, many people visit cemeteries and memorials, and volunteers often place American flags on each grave site at national cemeteries. The VA is proud to host public Memorial Day commemoration ceremonies at more than 130 of our national cemeteries this Memorial Day weekend. The VA's National Cemetary Administration (NCA) is proud to host public Memorial Day commemoration ceremonies at more than 130 of our national cemeteries this Memorial Day weekend. Check out the listing of events to find ceremony dates and start times for cemeteries in Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 20. A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3:00 p.m. local time. NCA honors eligible Veterans, active-duty Service members, and eligible family members with final resting places in national shrines and with lasting tributes that commemorate their service and sacrifice to our Nation. We look forward to your company as we honor the patriotism and sacrifice of all those who have served in our nation's armed forces. 

Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA) to Host 2025 Veteran Benefit Expo and 80th Anniversary Celebration in Salem – ODVA is celebrating the 80th anniversary with a special ceremony followed by a Veterans Benefit Expo. The Veterans Benefits Expo is free to Veterans and their families. This exclusive statewide event is designed to be a “one-stop shop" for Veterans and their families, connecting them with the full range of state and federal Veteran benefits, community resources, and support services.

Oregon National Guard Armory Auditorium
Monday, June 16, 2025 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
2310 17th St. NE
Salem, Oregon

The day will begin with a special 80th Anniversary Ceremony at 10:00 a.m., followed by a celebratory cake cutting at 11:00 a.m., and then move directly into the Veteran Benefit Expo. This year’s event is being presented in partnership with the Oregon Military Department,  Oregon Army National Guard, Air National Guard and Oregon Lottery, a longtime supporter of causes important to Oregonians, including public education, the environment and the Veteran community. Thanks to Oregon voters' approval of Measure 96 in 2016, 1.5% of Oregon Lottery revenues are dedicated to helping fund services for Veterans. Booth space at this event is free, but completing this form does not necessarily guarantee you will be provided a booth for this event. Booths will include an 8-foot table, two chairs and a fitted, unmarked tablecloth. Due to limited space and other considerations, ODVA may not be able to accommodate all exhibitors who wish to participate. For more information, please contact Kathie Dalton at 503-931-6644 or kathie.dalton@odva.oregon.gov. ODVA General Inquiries: 503-373-2085.

Connected We Stand - Addressing Veteran Loneliness — 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 keeping our promise to America’s Veterans. This podcast episode features Elizabeth Stetler interviewing Karen Owoc, a clinical exercise physiologist at the Palo Alto VA Medical Center and a specialist in preventative cardiology and functional longevity. The conversation centers around the critical issue of Veteran loneliness and isolation. Karen draws on her experience working with Veterans, particularly through a remote cardiology program, to shed light on the unique challenges they face upon transitioning to civilian life, including the loss of camaraderie, the impact of trauma and PTSD (especially among Vietnam and post-9/11 Veterans), and the difficulties in adjusting to a lack of structure and community. Earlier in the year, Rob Lewis conducted a crucial discussion with Dr. Alan Teo, a psychiatrist at VA Portland Medical Center, to delve into the pervasive issue of loneliness and its profound impact on mental health, particularly within the Veteran community. The April podcast edition titled Loneliness and Veterans - Understanding the Connection, provided a clinical definition of loneliness, distinguishing it from mere solitude, and highlights the unique challenges faced by Veterans due to factors like medical comorbidities and mental health conditions such as PTSD and depression. The conversation extends to exploring the complex relationship between social media and genuine connection, as well as the often-overlooked struggles of caregivers.

Military Appreciation Month — In 1999, a Joint Resolution of Congress established National Military Appreciation Month. You can share a message of support to the people who serve and and it will be shared at United Service Organizations (USO) locations around the world. The goal is to reach 2 million+ people who serve in the U.S. military. Your act of appreciation in honoring the service and sacrifice of members of the Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Air Force, Space Force and National Guard as well as the contributions of their spouses and families, is the start of something powerful.

Memorial May 2025 — Memorial May features hundreds of events across the country that allow Americans the opportunity to honor the sacrifices made by our nation’s heroes to preserve our freedom. Volunteers organized by Carry The Load will visit 16 participating VA national cemeteries to remember those that paid the ultimate sacrifice and to honor and preserve their legacy. Individuals at the events frequently carry signs, banners and flags honoring a fallen servicemember, Veteran or first responder. Participants are encouraged to post on a Veteran's memorial page at VA's Veterans Legacy Memorial. Share your Veteran's memorial page by email or on social media with family and friends directly from the memorial page of a Veteran online at: www.va.gov/Remember.

United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs (SECVA) update for County Veterans Service Officers (CVSO) address to National Association of Counties (NACo) — In December of 2024, Elizabeth Dole Foundation (EDF) celebrated the milestone passage of the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act by the U.S. Congress. The Dole Act authorized $10 million annually for two years for competitive grants to states to expand the work of County Veterans Service Officers or comparable entities, providing new federal resources to county governments to expand CVSO staff and services to meet rising caseloads. Upon passage, the National Association of Counties highlighted federal resources for CVSOs through the Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach Act. Recently, U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins spoke at the 2025 NACo Conference. 

The Elizabeth Dole Foundation celebrates the milestone passage of the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act by the U.S. Congress. For almost 2 years, the Foundation has worked with a coalition of organizations advancing this bi-partisan package of legislation that will have life-changing outcomes for those who served and their families, survivors, and caregivers. The Elizabeth Dole Foundation Caregiver Mental Wellness Framework is a tool created to identify and validate the unique elements of military and veteran caregivers’ mental health and wellness and provide pathways to support.

Are you REAL ID ready? — The REAL ID Act establishes minimum security standards for state-issued driver licenses and ID cards. Beginning May 7, 2025, Veterans are required to have a Real ID, U.S. Passport, military identification (ID), or some other form of federally accepted ID to access a federal building, national laboratory, military base, or board a flight. The REAL ID Act, passed by Congress in 2005, enacted the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the Federal Government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver's licenses and identification cards.” The Act and implementing regulations establish minimum security standards for license issuance and production and prohibit federal agencies from accepting for certain official purposes noncompliant driver’s licenses and identification cards, both physical and digital (also known as Mobile Driver’s Licenses, or “mDLs”). Check with your state for REAL ID updates, guidance, and information.

• Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles
• Idaho Transportation Department
• Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Service
• Washington State Department of Licensing

There are many types of identification cards you can use to show you’re a Veteran.

• Veteran’s designation on a state-issued driver’s license or ID
• Veteran ID Card
• Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
• Department of Defense Identification Card

A Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC) is a photo ID card you’ll use to check in at your VA health care appointments. But more importantly, it is your DoD-approved credential to provide your identity and purpose to access military installations for your medical appointment for joint facilities and referrals. Veterans must be enrolled in the VA health care system to receive a VHIC. Issuance of a VHIC requires the following:

• State-issued driver’s license, or
• U.S. passport, or
• Federal, state, or local government-issued photo ID showing your name, address, and date of birth

The National Health Eligibility Center (HEC) is in the process of notifying 1.5 million Veterans nationwide that their VHIC has or will expire soon. The renewal process includes presenting a valid photo ID and taking a photo for your VHIC renewal.

We Got Your 6 Golf Scramble — Pacific Northwest Section of the Professional Golfers Associaiton (PGA) is holding a golf tournament on May 2, 2025 to benefit PGA's Helping Our Patriots Everywhere (HOPE) in service to Military and Veterans in Washington, Oregon, northern Idaho, western Montana and Alaska. Contact: Angela Hinzpeter / Host Pro: Erik Haag, PGA / Sponsorship Opportunities: Contact Jeff Bojanowski — (253) 376-8499 // Entry form: Register Here (USE GGID HOPE25) Course Website: meadow-park-golf-course / Schedule: 8:00 AM shotgun start — Scramble format (teams of 4) — Professionals and amateurs are eligible to participate — Entry includes: Green fees, cart, range and nice luncheon after event conclusion at Foley’s Restaurant at Meadow Park GC. PGA HOPE is a program that introduces the game of golf through a developmental 6-8 week curriculum, taught by PGA Professionals that are trained in adaptive golf and military cultural competency. All programs are funded and supported by PGA REACH National and PGA REACH Pacific Northwest to provide this program free to all Veterans. Participants of PGA HOPE programs include military Veterans living with physical and cognitive challenges such as Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and amputees, among other challenges. PGA HOPE programming is fully funded by PGA REACH and offered at NO COST for Military Veterans. For many injured Veterans, adaptive sports provide their first exposure to physical activity after injury. PGA HOPE has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with VA enabling Recreational Therapists to refer Veterans to the PGA HOPE program as a form of therapy.

2025 National Salute to Veteran Patients Week — The National Salute to Veteran Patients is observed annually during the week of Valentine’s Day, a day of caring and sharing, which underscores the Salute’s expression of honor and appreciation. The week of February 14 each year is your opportunity to say thank you to a special group of men and women, the more than 9 million Veterans of the U.S. armed services who are cared for in VA Veterans Health Administration (VHA) medical centers, outpatient clinics, domiciliaries, and nursing homes. Contact your nearest VA Medical Center and ask for Voluntary Service to discover the wonderful things you, your group or organization can do to salute America’s Heroes. Locate the facility nearest you.

Secretary Collins’ message to Veterans and VA employees — It is my life’s honor to serve America’s Veterans as secretary of Veterans Affairs, and I thank President Donald J. Trump as well as the U.S. Senate for their confidence in me. America is the greatest nation on Earth precisely because of the Veterans willing to step forward and defend our freedom. I’ve witnessed this firsthand throughout my two decades in the military, as I’ve served with some of the finest men and women our nation has to offer. Read full message to Veterans and VA employees // Veterans get more time to transition to new online login system // VA recently announced it will provide Veterans additional time to transition to a new online login system for access to information about their VA health care and benefits. My HealtheVet provides Veterans management of all VA health care needs in one place—right alongside your other VA benefits and services. In July, VA announced a phase out of My HealtheVet and DS Logon sign-in options, in favor of two new options, Login.gov and ID.me, which will help the department offer stronger protections for Veterans, families and caregivers. In the announcement, VA extended the final deadline by which veterans and beneficiaries can log in to VA.gov, VA mobile applications and other VA online services using their My HealtheVet username and password from Jan. 31, 2025, to March 4, 2025. The deadline to switch from DS Logon to ID.me or Login.gov remains Sept. 30, 2025.

VA expands access to Veterans Legacy Memorial, allowing Veterans to chronicle their life story — Veterans Affairs expanded the Veterans Legacy Memorial (VLM) — the nation’s largest digital platform dedicated to the memory of Veterans and service members — to allow Veterans to tell their own story before they pass away. The new “Your Story, Your Legacy” feature will allow Veterans who have been approved for VA’s pre-need eligibility determination for burial in a VA national cemetery to log in to a secure website where they can privately submit images, autobiographies, military and life milestones, and historical documents.

Veterans Housing and Physical Damage Loans from SBA — Section 604 of the Veterans' Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008, Public Law 110-387, authorized VA to develop the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program. Supportive services grants have been awarded to selected private non-profit organizations and consumer cooperatives that will assist very low-income Veteran families residing in or transitioning to permanent housing. Grantees will provide a range of supportive services to eligible Veteran families that are designed to promote housing stability. Recently VA announced a combination of steps to provide outreach to Veterans experiencing homelessness. If you live in a declared disaster area and have experienced damage to your home or personal property, you may be eligible for financial assistance from United States Small Business Administration (SBA) — even if you do not own a business.

VA lowers life insurance premiums for more than 3 million Veterans, service members, and spouses — The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that more than 3 million Veterans, Service members, and spouses who receive life insurance from VA’s programs will receive a discount on premiums starting in the spring of 2025. These decreased premiums apply to those insured under Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI), Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) and Family Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (FSGLI) — and to those who enroll in those programs in the future. If you have Service-Disabled Veterans Life Insurance (S-DVI), you have 2 options:

• You can apply now for VALife, or
• You can keep your S-DVI. You don’t have to do anything to keep your coverage.

VA Life Insurance Support Phone Numbers

• VALife, S-DVI, and VMLI: 800-669-8477
• WWI, WWII, and Korean War era programs: 800-669-8477
• VGLI program, SGLI claims, and FSGLI claims: 800-419-1473
• MyVA411 main information line: 800-698-2411
• Telecommunications Relay Services (using TTY) TTY: 711

Weight Management Program for Veterans (MOVE!) – Supported by VA's National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (NCP). We are proud to make this program available to Veterans. Now in its second decade, MOVE! includes the most up-to-date approaches for weight management. Please explore our website to learn more about MOVE! What is MOVE!? VA’s MOVE! Weight Management Program for Veterans can help you adopt a healthy lifestyle, meet your health goals, and manage your weight. MOVE! is about much more than weight. It is about increasing your ability and confidence to achieve your health goals. MOVE!’s basic ideas—helping you learn tools and approaches for healthy eating and physical activity—are easy to follow and based on the latest research.

2025 Department of Veterans Affairs National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic | AUGUST 23-30, 2025 | SAN DIEGO, CA — Veteran registration will be open early December 2024 until March 1, 2025. Participation in the 2025 National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic is open to Veterans whose current rehabilitation goals would benefit from the value of adaptive summer sports and is open to Veterans eligible for care and actively engaged in VA healthcare including physical rehabilitation, mental health, blind rehabilitation, spinal cord injury, etc. VA's rehabilitative and educational hands-on sporting event for military Veterans from across the country. Qualifying disabilities include: Amputations, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, Poly Trauma, Visual Impairments, Multiple Sclerosis, CVA with Residual, Burns, and Spinal Cord Injuries. Biking through national parks is a great way to see beautiful scenery and discover new places. Cyclists can travel by roads (which are sometimes car-free!) and, in some parks, on select trails. There are many places in parks that cars cannot go, but you can cover more ground and visit new places on a bike. Some national parks offer bike rentals, and others provide guided biking activities. Find out more about biking in national parks.

Department of Defense (DoD) to pilot expansion of commissary benefit to military civilian employees — DoD will test an expansion of commissary shopping privileges for DoD civilian employees at select Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) stores located in the continental United States for 120 days. The 16 stores selected for the pilot are at the following locations:

• Alaska: Eielson Air Force Base
• California: Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake and Fort Irwin
• Georgia: Marine Corps Logistical Base Albany and Robins Air Force Base
• Maryland: Naval Air Station Patuxent River
• Oklahoma: Altus Air Force Base
• Texas: Laughlin Air Force Base
• Virginia: Naval Support Facility Dahlgren, Joint Base Langley-Eustis (Fort Eustis and Langley Air Force Base commissaries), Fort Gregg-Adams, Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story (Little Creek Commissary), Naval Base Norfolk, Naval Air Station Oceana and Norfolk Naval Ship Yard (Portsmouth)

Special Veterans Day Announcement from the Home Depot Foundation // WKXL (FM-101, Audio) // The National Defense Radio Show (11NOV2024 Portland, OR) — Erin Izen, Senior Director of Home Depot Community Investments and the Executive Director of the Home Depot Foundation sits down to talk with National Defense Network with a very special announcement on Veterans Day. In honor of Veterans Day and the annual Operation Surprise initiative, The Home Depot Foundation is investing $10 million to help Veterans age in their current residences and avoid homelessness. This significant funding will address the urgent need for accessible and stable housing for aging Veterans, a population that is expected to surge in the coming decades. Home Depot employs over 35,000 active, reservist and retired military personnel. Additionally, Home Depot offers benefits including competitive pay, comprehensive healthcare coverage and potential for career growth. The Home Depot Foundation actively supports initiatives that provide housing solutions, financial support, job training, counseling services and mental health resources for Veterans.

Veterans Day 2024 — November marks National Veteran and Military Families Month, highlighted by Veterans Day. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Veterans Day National Committee are pleased to provide a Teachers Resource Guide. This resource guide, along with another group of America’s finest — our teachers — will allow your students to learn more about the price our brave Veterans have paid to defend our nation. Veterans Day Regional Ceremonies recognized by VA provide military ceremonial support from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and a certificate from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for inclusion in the official program. Each year, the Veterans Day National Committee publishes a commemorative Veterans Day poster. The poster is selected from artwork submitted by artists nationwide distributed to schools, state governments, Veterans Day Regional Sites, the military services, and Veterans Service Organizations. Poster requests are fulfilled until the inventory is exhausted. Download and print your own poster from the Veterans Day Poster Gallery

Warrior Care Month — Warrior Care Month began in November 2008 under Secretary of Defense Robert F. Gates for the Department of Defense (DoD) and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to reaffirm its commitment that there is no higher priority than caring for the wounded, ill, and injured Service members who have sacrificed so much. Secretary Gates charged DoD to “continue to make it easier for our troops and their families to take advantage of all the assistance now available to them.” VA continues to innovate and modernize to serve millions of America’s patriots and their families and beneficiaries.

Hearing Loss, Incident Parkinson Disease (PD), and Treatment With Hearing Aids — Hearing loss, while a common occurrence with aging, is more common and often more impactful to military Veterans. However, the influence of hearing loss on late-in-life risk for neurodegenerative disease is unknown. Dr. Lee Neilson's published study looked to “evaluate whether hearing loss is associated with incident Parkinson Disease (PD)” utilizing the national database of US military veterans at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In this cohort study of electronic health record data for more than 3 million US veterans with a mean 7.6 years of follow-up, hearing loss was associated with incident PD in a dose-dependent manner, even after adjusting for competing risk of death, age, head trauma (an important military-associated risk factor), frailty, and established prodromal disorders. Research also showed that those who have the worst hearing loss seemed to have the highest risk of developing PD. Interestingly, this risk was attenuated by hearing aid dispensation within 2 years of an abnormal hearing test. The study concluded that, "Hearing loss appears to be an independent risk factor for later development of PD. Hearing aids attenuate this risk, and therefore widespread screening for hearing loss and appropriate use of hearing aids may reduce the incidence of PD." Dr. Neilson's work also illustrates that additional studies are required for examination of mechanisms underlying associations of hearing loss and PD.

Lt. Col. Matt Cox, US Army and Air Force Exchange Service at AUSA Conference // WKXL (FM-101, Audio) // The National Defense Radio Show (26OCT2024 Portland, OR) Lt. Col. Matt Cox with the US Army and Air Force Exchange Service joins the show to discuss an integral part of the everyday lives of our soldiers and their families. Discussion of the new and improved mobile Exchange platform that can be loaded and dispatched in less than 48 hours to areas that need services that might not be able to safely or efficiently operate in the traditional brick-and-mortar setup. The Veterans online shopping benefit for the four military exchanges (Army Air Force Exchange, Navy Exchange Services Command, Marine Corps Exchange, and Coast Guard Exchange) became effective on Veterans Day in 2017. The Department of Defense expanded Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) shopping privileges in the U.S. effective 1 January 2020 as part of the Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act of 2018, included in the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019.

RecruitMilitary and Disabled American Veterans (DAV) — DAV’s employment program connects transitioning active duty, Guard and Reserve members, veterans and their spouses with employers. Partnering with RecruitMilitary, DAV sponsors job fairs including virtual events, to connect veterans and spouses with employers nationwide who are committed to hiring them. RecruitMilitary Job Fair are events where job seekers with military experience can meet with recruiters from local and national companies.

• National Virtual Career Fair for Veterans — Tuesday, March 18, 2025
• Joint Base Lewis-McChord Job Fair — Thursday, March 27, 2025
• Joint Base Lewis McChord Job Fair — Thursday, June 26, 2025
• Western Region Virtual Career Fair for Veterans — Tuesday, July 15, 2025
• National Virtual Career Fair for Veterans — Tuesday, August 26, 2025
• Greater Seattle Area Veterans Job Fair — Thursday, August 28, 2025
• Joint Base Lewis-McChord Job Fair — Thursday, October 16, 2025
• Western Region Virtual Career Fair for Veterans — Tuesday, October 28, 2025
• Naval Base Kitsap Area Veterans Job Fair — Thursday, November 6, 2025
• National Virtual Career Fair for Veterans — Tuesday, November 25, 2025

These events are free for U.S. veterans, military spouses, transitioning military, and members of the Guard and Reserve. RecruitMilitary, a leading recruitment firm dedicated to the military community, is proud to announce that it has been honored with the prestigious "Patriot Employer" distinction by DAV. Regional and National Virtual Career Fairs for Veterans are held online at https://my.recruitmilitary.com/.

Ken Fisher, Chairman and CEO of Fisher House Live from the DoD Warrior Games  // WKXL (FM-101, Audio) // The National Defense Radio Show (29JUN2024 Portland, OR) — We welcome back Ken Fisher to the program to discuss Fisher House’s sponsorship of the 2024 Department of Defense Warrior Games. Randy and Ken discuss the event, why it is important for Fisher House to support these men and women, and give an update on where Fisher House’s mission is heading today. The Department of Defense Warrior Games is an annual event, first held in 2010, that celebrates the resiliency and dedication of wounded, ill, and injured active duty and veteran U.S. military service members.

GoDaddy and PxG Founder Bob Parsons on The National Defense // WKXL (FM-101, Audio) // The National Defense Radio Show (18MAY2024 Portland, OR) — Randy Miller welcomes billionaire philanthropist and Marine Corps veteran Bob Parsons to the show to discuss his time in the USMC, how he transitioned out of uniform, and the massive GoDaddy domain name powerhouse he created. Randy and Bob talk web pages, his new projects, PXG golf products, and much more in this great segment.

A Proof-of-Concept Study Demonstrating How FITBIR Datasets Can be Harmonized to Examine Posttraumatic Stress Disorder-Traumatic Brain Injury Associations — Dr. Kate Clauss, a clinical psychologist, former MIRECC fellow, and current Investigator in the Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care (CIVIC) at the VA Portland Health Care System will be presenting at MIRECC Presents on Wednesday, June 5th. The presentation, Attentional Risk Factors for PTSD: Theory, Research, and Practice, will delve into the role of attentional risk factors in the development and maintenance of PTSD. This research is part of Dr. Clauss’ larger program which focuses on developing and testing adjunctive treatments and improving existing interventions for PTSD and related conditions including traumatic brain injury (TBI) and cognitive impairment. Dr. Clauss and colleagues recently published an article showing that it is possible to harmonize existing TBI datasets to create a well-powered meta-dataset. This proof-of-concept data harmonization study found that mild TBI was associated with 2.8x greater odds of PTSD in the combined sample from two Veteran/Military studies in the Federal Interagency Traumatic Brain Injury Research (FITBIR) Informatics System. Additional harmonization projects are underway to determine the specific cognitive impairments underlying TBI and PTSD and Dr. Clauss is collaborating on efforts to identify novel interventions to improve functioning in these populations including trials examining Compensatory Cognitive Training, Attention Control Training, and others.

Associations between early sleep-disordered breathing following moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury and long-term chronic pain status: a Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems study — In a study of Veterans with moderate to severe TBI, they found that participants who developed a chronic pain condition were more likely to experience sleep-disordered breathing impairments. Additional research is needed in Veterans suffering sleep apnea as related to pain. Researchers would like to see additional exploration and investigation of sleep apnea and the value of intervention during recovery of TBI. Ultimately the research study has filled a gap in understanding the relationship of respiratory indices and chronic pain following moderate to severe TBI.

Veterans Life Insurance — As part of the VA mission to serve Service members, Veterans, and their families, VA provides valuable life insurance benefits to give you the peace of mind that comes with knowing your family is protected. The VALife program includes key dates and features impacting the Service Disabled Veterans Insurance (S-DVI) program. If you apply for VALife by December 31, 2025, you can keep your S-DVI during the 2-year waiting period for VALife benefits. Your S-DVI (including policies with premium waivers) will end when your full VALife coverage starts. You must pay premiums for both policies during the 2-year waiting period. If you apply for VALife on or after January 1, 2026, your S-DVI (including policies with premium waivers) will end the day we approve your VALife application. You’ll need to pay only VALife premiums during the 2-year waiting period. But you won’t have full coverage during this time. VALife is guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance. This means that if you meet the eligibility requirements for VALife, VA will automatically approve your application. You won’t need to prove you’re in good health. And you can keep your coverage for the rest of your life.

A randomized controlled clinical trial of prazosin for alcohol use disorder in active duty soldiers: Predictive effects of elevated cardiovascular parameters Alcohol, Clinical and Experimental Research (21FEB23) — Dr. Murray Raskind and colleagues from the Northwest MIRECC have been leaders in evaluating the impact of prazosin for mental health conditions. Their early research identified a key role for prazosin in reducing PTSD trauma nightmares, sleep disruption and daytime hyperarousal symptoms. Subsequent studies have found benefits of prazosin for addressing the impact of nightmares among veterans with PTSD, mTBI postconcussive headaches, and disruptive agitation in dementia. In their recent research, Dr. Raskind and colleagues conducted a randomized trial to examine the efficacy of prazosin for addressing alcohol use disorder (AUD). In this study, 102 active-duty soldiers were randomized to receive prazosin or placebo for 13 weeks. Among the subset of participants with comorbid PTSD, significant reductions in craving for alcohol were evident for those randomized to prazosin. Additionally, given prazosin’s role in noradrenergic signaling, baseline cardiovascular measures were predictive of study findings. Study results suggest that higher pretreatment cardiovascular measures predict beneficial effects from prazosin. During Dr. Raskind’s MIRECC Presents lecture, prazosin will be discussed as a potential personalized medicine approach for treating alcohol use disorder.

Senior Mortgage Advisor for Armed Forces Bank, Jake Scarbo talks about Operation Homeward // WKXL (FM-101, Audio) // The National Defense Radio Show (04FEB2024 Portland, OR) — National Defense Radio Show speaks with a financial whiz from Armed Forces Bank, Jake Scarbo, to talk about getting your finances together in 2024. Randy Miller and Jake talk about why veterans and active-duty military folks need to look at the benefits they can access in buying or refinancing a home due to their military service. The guys discuss many topics on home ownership, their new program, “Operation Homeward,” the VA, and much more in this informative segment. Armed Forces Bank, founded and headquartered in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, is a full-service military bank committed to serving those who serve since 1907. In VA VISN 20, Armed Forces Bank is located at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

Wounded Warrior Project Julie Oare discusses Military Financial Readiness // WKXL (FM-101, Audio) // The National Defense Radio Show (21JAN2024 Portland, OR) — With news that inflation is improving in North America, we welcome Wounded Warrior Project’s Associate Director of Financial Readiness, Julie Oares, to the show to talk about the ongoing financial strain that families are seeing, especially at the grocery stores. Thanks to Wounded Warrior Project for their continued work in studying and providing solutions to military families.

Characterizing and Comparing Evidence-Based Psychotherapy Utilization Among Veterans with Co-occurring PTSD and Substance Use Disorder Taylor and Francis Online (25JAN2024) — Researchers from the VA Portland Health Care System conducted a retrospective cohort study examining engagement in evidence-based treatments for PTSD among Veterans enrolled in VA Health Care. Leveraging data from the VA electronic health record, researchers examined data from 396,391 Veterans with PTSD and co-occurring Substance Use Disorder (SUD) between 2017 and 2019. The purpose of this research was to understand more about PTSD treatment engagement among Veterans dually diagnosed with PTSD and different subtypes of SUDs, and whether there were differences in PTSD treatment engagement between SUD subtypes. Veterans dually diagnosed with PTSD and alcohol use disorder (AUD) completed Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy at similar rates as Veterans dually diagnosed with PTSD and all other SUD subtypes (e.g., such as those with opioid or stimulant use disorders). These findings suggest that evidence-based psychotherapies (EBPs) for PTSD are tolerated equally among Veterans diagnosed with various SUD subtypes and should be offered as a viable treatment option for those with all types of SUDs. Other notable study findings suggest that (1) individuals with SUDs may have more complex mental health comorbidities compared to those with AUD, and (2) additional considerations and resources may be offered when working with younger Veterans.

Original Investigation | Neurology // Longitudinal Sleep Patterns and Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults // (04DEC2023) — Sleep disturbances and clinical sleep disorders are associated with all-cause dementia and neurodegenerative conditions, but it remains unclear how longitudinal changes in sleep impact the incidence of cognitive impairment. In this cross-sectional study of 826 older adults, there was a significant association between cognitive impairment and short sleep duration and longitudinal variability in sleep duration.

Wounded Warrior Project CEO Ret. Lt. General Mike Linnington // WKXL (FM-101, Audio) // The National Defense Radio Show (18NOV2023 Portland, OR) — Welcome, Chief Executive Officer of Wounded Warrior Project, Mike Linnington, to the show to discuss the history and importance of the Veterans Day holiday. Mike and Randy talk about how less than 1% of Americans wear uniforms to preserve our daily way of life and protect freedom around the world. We salute Mike and his entire team at Wounded Warrior Project for their tireless dedication to serving those who suffered injury while serving our country.

Struggle Well, Thriving in the Aftermath of Trauma  // Ken Falke (TEDxWarrenton) // (21OCT2023 Laurel Ridge Community College Fauquier Campus) — The mainstream mental health system has codified the problematic notion that times of grief, struggle, and stress are permanently diminishing. Those struggling are taught they should learn to live with their “new normal” and rely on pharmaceuticals to feel less bad. This is anathema to what is now understood about successful approaches, and the importance of a growth mindset. You too can learn how to Struggle Well! Mr. Falke is a 21-year veteran of the U.S. Navy Special Operations Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) community and retired Master Chief Petty Officer. 

VA Mobile Medical Units (MMU's) deploying in Seattle and Tacoma — VA deployed 25 MMU's in 2023 and 2024 to provide health care and support to homeless and at-risk Veterans to meet with medical providers, including mental health clinicians, social workers, and staff. The VA fleet of MMU's are Ford F-550 Super Duty Trucks and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Vans. MMUs have been in use by the VA for more than 20 years. MMUs provide service continuity during emergencies when permanent sites of care are disabled or insufficient to meet the demand for healthcare services. MMUs deliver primary care and other services to which the Veteran beneficiaries who have limited access to VA healthcare services due to low population density, remoteness, or limited local demand for specialized services. MMUs have also been used to identify and enroll Veterans who, for various reasons, may not have sought needed care and services at permanent VA facilities. In addition to MMUs, VA already has 83 Mobile Vet Centers (MVCs) around the country to provide confidential counseling and outreach to eligible individuals in communities that are distant or remote from existing services. The fleet of VA MVC's were first deployed in 2009.

Randomized controlled pilot trial of prazosin for prophylaxis of posttraumatic headaches in active-duty Service members and veterans — Posttraumatic headache (PTH) is common following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and for many patients can become chronic, causing substantial disability and distress. The paucity of randomized con-trolled trial (RCT) data for PTH prophylaxis continues to necessitate an empiric approach based on the predominant PTH clinical phenotype. Prazosin is an alpha-1 adrenergic receptor (AR) antagonist that lowers noradrenergic signaling both in the periphery and in the central nervous system. Approved for treatment of hypertension by the US Food and Drug Administration in 1976, prazosin has been widely used “off label” for benign prostatic hypertrophy and for trauma night-mares and sleep disruption in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

June is Alzheimer's and brain awareness month — Dementia is a progressive brain disorder with no known cure. As the brain changes during disease process, challenging behaviors may appear. Every brain is different, and symptoms may be as well. To ease these changes of progression and disease, offering pleasant and relaxing activities incorporating various techniques into our Veterans lives, offers potential to increase well-being and reduce distress. We include purpose with hope of potential behavioral interventions and strengths for the Veteran interventions to manage anxiety, irritability, anger, and depression.

VA announces reset of Electronic Health Record project (21APR2023 WASHINGTON) — Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that future deployments of the new Electronic Health Record (EHR) will be halted while we prioritize improvements at the five sites that currently use the new EHR, as part of a larger program reset.

PACT Act Registration for Added VA Health Care Benefits // WKXL (FM-101, Audio) // The National Defense Radio Show (21MAY2023 Portland, OR) — Terrence Hayes, Press Secretary at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, joins the show to discuss the PACT Act and what veterans need to know. The VA is encouraging eligible veterans to get registered with the PACT Act.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Recreation Therapist Shawna Hill and Veteran Stephen Holsten // WKXL (FM-101, Audio) // The National Defense Radio Show (20MAY2023 Portland, OR) — Shawna Hill, Veteran Affairs Recreation therapist and vet participant Stephen Holsten join us to talk about 37th annual National Disabled Veterans Sports Clinic. The clinic, presented by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs and Disabled American Veterans is expecting more than 350 disabled veterans from across the United States to gather together for this event.

Wounded Warrior Project’s Dana Dreckman // WKXL (FM-101, Audio) // The National Defense Radio Show (09APR2023 Portland, OR) — Welcome, Vice President of Warrior Experience for Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), Dana Dreckman. She shares with us the results of WWP’s Annual Warrior Survey; which this year had over 19k participants! Dana explains how the survey is applied, some recent changes to the program, and the challenges/successes that they are discovering by compiling this massive amount of data.

Prazosin May Reduce Drinking in Some Individuals With Alcohol Use Disorder — American Psychiatric Association Publishing (23FEB2023) Prazosin, a medication commonly used to treat high blood pressure, may also reduce drinking by adults with alcohol use disorder (AUD), according to a clinical trial involving active-duty military appearing in Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research. Adults with elevated heart rate or blood pressure seemed to benefit the most from this medication. Murray Raskind, M.D., of the VA Puget Sound Health Care System and colleagues enrolled 102 active-duty soldiers (95% male) who were participating in a mandated Army outpatient alcohol treatment program.

VISN 20 Medical Center News Stories

VA Puget Sound, Washington - https://www.va.gov/puget-sound-health-care/news-releases/

VA Walla Walla, Washington - Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA - https://www.va.gov/walla-walla-health-care/stories/

VA Spokane, Washington - Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center - https://www.va.gov/spokane-health-care/news-releases/

VA Portland, Oregon - https://www.va.gov/portland-health-care/news-releases/

VA White City, Oregon - https://www.va.gov/southern-oregon-health-care/news-releases/

VA Roseburg, Oregon - https://www.va.gov/roseburg-health-care/news-releases/

VA Anchorage, Alaska - https://www.va.gov/alaska-health-care/stories/

VA Boise, Idaho - https://www.va.gov/boise-health-care/news-releases/

VA News - https://news.va.gov/

NW MIRECC disseminates mission-relevant knowledge through publications, continuing health care education, and informative Veteran-centric NewsFlash resources across VISN 20 and nationally. In the Pacific Northwest, VISN 20 serves Veterans in Alaska, Oregon, Washington, most of Idaho, and one county each in California and Montana. NewsFlash is geared towards Military Veterans, First Responders, Health Care workers, and Civilians. The VISN 20 MIRECC NewsFlash includes, but is not limited to, Veteran Resources, Adaptive Sports, Financial Readiness, Transition Assistance Program, Service Dogs, Warrior Care, Brochures, Digital Media, Mental Health (MH) Research and MH Continuing Education.

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.

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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.
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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.

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.

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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. We are a self-sustaining entity providing merchandise and services to Veterans enrolled in VA’s healthcare system, their families, caregivers, VA employees, volunteers and visitors. 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 OIF/OEF/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 for information or assistance. Please remember that the DAV Transportation Network is staffed by volunteers; therefore, it is unable to cover every community. 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. 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. VHA is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. 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.

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.

Browse facilities by state

VA Puget Sound Health Care System (VAPSHCS) serves Veterans from a five-state area in the Pacific Northwest with two main divisions: American Lake VA Medical Center and Seattle VA Medical Center. Veterans Medical Centers are also located in Spokane, Vancouver, and Walla Walla. VA Outpatient Clinics and Vet Centers are located in Bellingham, Bellevue, Bremerton, Edmunds, Everett, Federal Way, Lacey, Mount Vernon, Olympia, Port Angeles, Puyallup, Richland, Renton, Silverdale, Seattle, Spokane, Union Gap, Vancouver, Walla Walla, Wenatchee, and Yakima.

VA Portland Health Care System (VAPORHCS) serves Veterans in Oregon and Southwest Washington with two main divisions: Portland VA Medical Center and Vancouver VA Medical Center. Veterans Medical Centers are also located in Roseburg, White City, and Vancouver, Washington. VA Outpatient Clinics and Vet Centers are located in Astoria, Bend, Boardman, Brookings, Eugene, Fairview, Grants Pass, Hines, Hillsboro, Klamath Falls, LaGrande, Lincoln City, Newport, Portland, Salem, The Dalles, and West Linn.