Veterans who were assigned to a remote installation in Uzbekistan early in the Global War on Terrorism and now have a cancer of the urinary or reproductive systems may soon be eligible for fast-tracked benefits from the VA. VA Secretary Denis McDonough announced that the department will start the federal process for adding bladder, urethra, and other genitourinary cancers to a list of diseases presumed to be caused by serving at K2. The move follows an announcement earlier this year that K2 veterans with chronic illnesses that aren't easily defined are eligible for the expedited benefits process.

House lawmakers stated the $15 billion shortfall that the VA disclosed to lawmakers in an urgent request for emergency funding to cover veterans benefits and close the projected budget gap does not exist. According to Rep. Mike Bost and Rep. John Carter, the VA has a surplus of $5.1 billion from fiscal 2024. The VA also no longer projects a $12 billion shortfall for fiscal 2025. The lawmakers accused VA leadership of “an utter inability to forecast and determine costs accurately.”

VA officials announced record-breaking levels of medical care delivery and disability benefits payouts in fiscal 2024, but also promised to push those marks even further in coming months. The department saw its highest level of health care appointments ever in fiscal 2024 – about 127.5 million, which was up 6% over the previous year. On the benefits side, the department processed 2.5 million disability benefit claims in fiscal 2024, a 27% increase over fiscal 2023. Roughly 6.7 million veterans and survivors also received $187 billion in benefits last year, another department record.

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