Does this email not look right? Try viewing this email in a browser.

Week in Review

February 13, 2025

Dear NOVA Members,

Here are the week's updates and articles on veterans affairs, news, legislation, and events. We have collected these articles from news across the country to ensure that you have the latest, most up-to-date information so that you may better serve your clients.

VA Secretary Tapped To Temporarily Lead 2 Federal Oversight Offices

Military Times - White House officials this week announced that Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins will also serve as the interim head of the Office of Government Ethics and the Office of Special Counsel while the administration reorganizes both agencies.

Full Article

Combat-Injured Army Vet Sam Brown Tapped To Lead VA's Memorial Affairs, Pledges To Honor Vets With Dignity

Stars and Stripes - Army veteran Sam Brown nearly gave his life for his country in 2008, when a roadside bomb detonated under the fuel tank of his military vehicle in Afghanistan.

Full Article

What's In Store For VA Disability Benefits With New Office Of Management And Budget Chief?

Military.com - During his confirmation hearing Jan. 21, Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins pledged to preserve veterans benefits and not "balance the budgets on the backs of veterans."

Full Article

Democratic Senators Urge VA Secretary To Revoke Elon Musk's Access To Vets' Personal Information

Stars and Stripes - More than two dozen Democratic senators sent a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins asking that he stop tech billionaire Elon Musk and his associates from accessing and collecting veterans' personal information from the federal government's computers.

Full Article

Blast Pressure Injuries May Affect More Than The Brain Of Troops, New Data Shows

Military.com - Data exclusively shared with Military.com from a live-fire mortar exercise by U.S. Army troops indicates that simply standing near mortars can significantly disrupt Autonomic Nervous System, or ANS, functioning within a day to worse levels than seen in concussed college athletes or elderly hospital patients.

Full Article

VA Deems More Than 130 Occupations Ineligible For Deferred Resignation Plan

Military Times - Most nurses, doctors and other staff caring for military veterans through the Department of Veterans Affairs are not eligible for the Trump administration’s deferred resignation offer, according to an email sent Friday by VA leadership to staff.

Full Article

Unemployment Rate For Vets Spiked More Than A Percentage Point To 4.2% In January

Military.com - The first jobs report of President Donald Trump's second term Friday showed a troubling rise in the unemployment rate for all veterans from 2.8% in December to 4.2% in January, even as the jobless rate for all Americans ticked down from 4.1% to 4.0%

Full Article

We Military Spouses Don't Want Special Treatment. We Just Want To Work.

Military.com (Opinion) - The recent federal hiring freeze, put in place by President Donald Trump on his first day in office, has made it even harder for military spouses to find and keep jobs.

Full Article

NOVA News & Notes

ICYMI: Recently Discussed In NOVA Groups

Information Exchange Forum - HLR vs. AI = Untimely Filed?

Information Exchange Forum - IDES And Active Duty

Information Exchange Forum - Vet Survey Participants Needed (This Request Has Been Approved With NOVA Prior To Posting). Need Help, If You Are A Vet Please Consider Taking!

Information Exchange Forum - Conflict Of Laws Issue

Electronic Access - No CITRIX Access After Using New Laptop

Job Posting: Attorney

Lieberman & Mark is a small DC-based law firm, engaged solely in the practice of veterans disability benefits. It is seeking a qualified attorney to handle appeals pending before the various Regional Offices of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Board of Veterans' Appeals, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. Duties will include record review, case development, research, legal writing and advocacy, client and third-party communication, and supervision. Strong analytical and excellent communication skills required.

For more information and to apply, please click HERE.

Registration for NOVA's Webinar "What DROs Want You To Know: Lessons Learned From 500 Informal Conferences" Is OPEN!

This webinar, conducted by Andrew Gross, the founder and managing attorney at the Law Office of Andrew P. Gross, will be held on February 26, 2025, at 2pm ET.

Registration Information:

Member Registration Fee: $99.00
Non-Member Registration Fee: $149.00

For more information and to register, please click HERE.

Register For NOVA's 2025 Spring Conference!

Registration for NOVA's spring conference is open. The conference will be held at the Hilton Minneapolis from April 3-5, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Please note that this event will be hybrid with in-person and virtual attendance options.

To learn more and to register for the conference, please click HERE. If you have questions, please contact Stacie Lemick.

Save The Date For Future NOVA Conferences!

Fall Conference 2025
Washington, DC - September 11-13, 2025
Hotel: Capital Hilton

Spring Conference 2026
San Diego, CA - April 16-18, 2026
Hotel: Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego

Fall Conference 2026
Indianapolis, IN - September 17-19, 2026
Hotel: The Westin Indianapolis

This email was sent by:
National Organization of Veterans' Advocates, Inc.
Ste 1150 - 1775 Eye Street NW
Washington, DC, 20006

You have received this email because you are a member or existing contact of National Organization of Veterans' Advocates, Inc. , a membership organization powered by SilkStart. update notification preferences unsubscribe from this list