A watchdog inside the VA issued an urgent advisory over two AI chat tools currently in use by VA healthcare providers, citing “potential patient safety risks.” Doctors aren’t using AI to diagnose patients, but the Inspector General found problems could potentially arise in some cases when doctors use artificial intelligence to analyze medical information and update patient records. The bulletin said the systems can be vulnerable to producing misinformation, privacy violations, and bias, and that the systems had been put in place without review by the VA’s patient safety experts.

The VA has relaunched efforts to find a new head of veterans benefits following the withdrawal of nominee Karen Brazell last October. Unlike most political appointments across the federal government, the undersecretaries of benefits and health must be recommended by a panel that includes advocates, industry representatives, and previous members of VA leadership before they are nominated by the president. The VA last had a permanent undersecretary in January 2025, when Josh Jacobs, who held the post for nearly two years, resigned at the start of the new administration.

Whether you had a military career full of honors, one that was cut short before it really even started, or decisions that negatively impacted your discharge status, you’ll want to know how the character of discharge you received affects your VA benefits. This article explains the types of military discharges and what they mean for you. We also share how to have your discharge reviewed or upgraded.

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