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Week in Review

March 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.

Senate VA Committee Leaders Back Separate Bills To Limit Agency's Workforce Cuts

Federal News Network - Top lawmakers on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee are introducing bills that seek to rein in workforce cuts at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Committee Chairman Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) said in a hearing Tuesday that he supports VA reforms, but changes that affect VA policy and personnel “must be thoughtful, transparent, carried out in close coordination with this committee, with our colleagues and with stakeholders.”

Full Article

The Office That Investigates Disparities In Vets' Care Is Being "Liquidated"

Propublica - The Trump administration has shut down a unit of the Department of Veterans Affairs created under President Joe Biden to address disparities in how the federal government provides disability compensation to military service members.

Full Article

VA Secretary Accuses Lawmakers Of Making The VA A 'Punching Bag,' Pouring Billions Of Dollars Into Agency Without Reform

Stars and Stripes - Doug Collins, the secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, defended the mass firing of VA workers last month as the Trump administration's solution to making the agency more accountable and responsive to veterans.

Full Article

Stopgap Budget Bill Includes Extra Funds For Military, VA Programs

Military Times - A stopgap federal spending bill unveiled by House Republicans this weekend would add $6 billion in new spending for the Defense Department and another $6 billion for Veterans Affairs operations this fiscal year, but it still could cause financial headaches for both agencies in the end.

Full Article

17 Years After Cancer Diagnosis, VA Grants Navy Vet Service-Related Benefits

Military.com - Twenty thousand, nine hundred and thirty days elapsed between the day in 1967 that Paul Critchett's life changed forever and the day, just two weeks ago, when it changed again. This time for the better.

Full Article

VA To Speed Up Health Records System Rollout, With New Sites This Year

Military Times - Veterans Affairs officials plan to rapidly accelerate the rollout of the department’s new electronic health record system this year, adding 13 new sites to the deployment schedule in 2026.

Full Article

War Heroes, Military Firsts Among 26,000 Images Flagged In DEI Purge

Military Times - References to a World War II Medal of Honor recipient, the Enola Gay aircraft that dropped an atomic bomb on Japan and the first women to pass Marine infantry training are among the tens of thousands of photos and online posts marked for deletion as the Defense Department works to purge diversity, equity and inclusion content, according to a database obtained by The Associated Press.

Full Article

Trump's Policies Are Destabilizing Mental Health Care For Vets, Sources Say

NPR - In the wake of federal firings and executive orders, providers and patients at the Department of Veterans Affairs say mental health and mental health care are suffering.

Full Article

NOVA News & Notes

ICYMI: Recently Discussed In NOVA Groups

Information Exchange Forum - BVA Jurisdiction When RO Grants S/C On Issue Pending Appeal At BVA

Information Exchange Forum - Getting "Virtual" Predetermination Hearings

Information Exchange Forum - Dependency Claim Stuck For Six Months

Information Exchange Forum - CRDP - "Mixed Bag" Full Retirement Pay And Full Compensation With VA Asserting Vet Cannot Receive Both

Appellate News - Fed Circuit Strikes Regulation Allowing VA To Search Representative's Computer

New Practitioner's Forum - Notification Letter With No Summary Of Fees - Next Steps?

Regular Registration Rates For NOVA's 2025 Spring Conference END TODAY! Register Now Before The Final Rate Increase!

Regular registration rates for NOVA's spring conference end today. Register now before the final rate increase! 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.

Registration For The Speaker Luncheon and Social Outing At The Spring Conference Is Now Open!

Have you already registered for NOVA's 2025 Spring Conference in Minneapolis? Our speaker lunch registration and tickets for the social outing are now open!

NOVA's popular Speakers' Luncheon will be held on Friday, April 4. The cost of the luncheon is $45 per person. We will be serving a Pan Asian buffet-style lunch with chicken corn soup, salad, Thai chicken green curry, spicy ginger Szechuan beef, lo mein, vegetarian egg rolls, egg fried rice, and dessert. The multi-registration conference discount does not apply to the luncheon. To register for the Speakers' Luncheon, please click HERE.

The social committee is pleased to invite you on a narrated trolley tour of Minneapolis on Thursday, April 3, 2025, from 7-9pm after the NOVA reception. This tour will pick up and drop off at the Hilton Minneapolis. The cost of the tour is $66 per person (which includes tax & gratuity). To purchase tickets to attend the tour, please click HERE.

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

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National Organization of Veterans' Advocates, Inc.
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