Ten years after a scandal over wait times at VA medical centers, a divided Congress is debating the future of VA medical care and how best to fund the department. Democrats largely want to strengthen the VA's medical infrastructure and staff, which they argue is less expensive and provides better care for veterans, while Republicans want the VA to focus on providing quality care while also allowing veterans to choose who they want to see, including providers outside the VA.

Starting next month, VA officials will offer a “last-resort” program for tens of thousands of veterans who have defaulted on their mortgages and are in danger of losing their homes. The new Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase (VASP) program, which launches May 31, will allow the department to purchase defaulted VA loans from outside mortgage servicers and then modify the terms to allow financially strapped veterans to avoid losing their properties.

After you submit a claim for VA benefits, you wait for the VA to make a decision. In addition to an approval or a denial, there's another potential outcome – a deferred VA claim. If you’re notified that your VA claim has been deferred, don’t be discouraged! A deferral is not a denial, but a chance to further develop your claim. A deferred VA claim still has a chance of being approved.

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