As 2022 comes to an end, we want to reflect on several noteworthy news stories for veterans from the previous year. Including the passing of the largest expansion of VA services in history, this year also saw a near-unprecedented increase in VA disability payments, several significant changes to VA policies, and more. What would you add to the list?
VA to get its largest budget ever under federal spending deal
The VA's budget would top $300 billion for the first time in fiscal 2023 under the federal government’s appropriations plan. The $1.7 trillion omnibus appropriations bill includes
$303.8 billion in VA funding for fiscal 2023, the largest ever for the department. That’s up about 10% from 2022 levels. VA medical care services would be the main beneficiary of the funding boost, seeing more than a 22% increase ($118.7 billion) from fiscal 2022 levels.
Nearly half a million more troops and families may have
been exposed to ‘forever chemicals’ than originally believed
The Defense Department may have greatly underestimated the number of people exposed to dangerous levels of harmful chemicals and downplayed the exposure risk in an internal report published this year. A Pentagon study estimated that roughly 175,000 people at 24 installations consumed water that contained per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, collectively known as PFAS, during the time that it was contaminated above the lifetime exposure levels once considered acceptable by the Environmental Protection Agency. An analysis from a watchdog association suggests there have actually been over 600,00 exposures at military installations.
COVID cases in the VA health system have nearly doubled in the past month, prompting the department's top doctor to urge veterans to get the most recent coronavirus booster shot.
Since Nov. 1, 267 veteran patients in the VA health system have died from the illness. The rise in illnesses and deaths has prompted VA officials to encourage patients to get the latest version of the COVID-19 booster vaccine. The shot addresses both the same strain as the original vaccine and the BA.5 omicron variant.
Did you live or work at Camp Lejeune before 1987 and now have a health condition? You may be eligible to take legal action and seek a financial settlement from the U.S. government.
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