Seventh-grader Erick Araujo, 13, of Lost Hills, Calif., was expelled from his middle school last semester and sent to an alternative county-run school 38 miles away. Because of the distance, Erick is on an independent study program and sees a teacher one day a week. Reading and answering questions in this history text was the […]
Returning Home to Battle
For many veterans, the end of active duty means the beginning of a new fight with the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs – for benefits, housing and a chance to rebuild their lives.
Posted inCriminal Justice, Returning Home to Battle
Ex-VA hospital director facing corruption charges received bonuses
A former Department of Veterans Affairs hospital director indicted on 36 corruption-related charges received thousands of dollars in bonuses during the same period he is accused of taking bribes and kickbacks from contractors who received lucrative contracts with the agency. VA data obtained by The Center for Investigative Reporting reveals that William Montague, head […]
Posted inBenefits, Returning Home to Battle
VA backs off promise to fix veterans’ claim backlog
Navy veteran Wallace Watson, 60, shown at his home in Fremont, Calif., applied for veteran disability benefits in September 2010 and says he recently got an exam. “For the first time, I feel like something is actually happening,” he said.Erik Verduzco / For the Center for Investigative Reporting The Department of Veterans Affairs has systematically […]
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Posted inBenefits, Returning Home to Battle
Use our data, share your story: CIR launches VA backlog API
When we published our interactive map of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ backlog of disability benefits claims in August, our goal was to highlight the delays’ impact on veterans across the country. Updated with new data from the VA each week, the map also serves as an ongoing accountability tracker for the agency’s progress on […]
Posted inBenefits, Returning Home to Battle
VA backlog follows veterans to the grave
Sheryl Cornelius, widow of Jack Cornelius, a Vietnam veteran who killed himself in the family home in 2009, visits his grave at a cemetery in Hinton, Okla. With her are her sons, Jim Ray (left) and Ian Ray; Ian’s wife, Robyn Ray; and their two children, Abbigael Graice and Eli.Paul Hellstern/For the Center for Investigative […]
Posted inBenefits, Returning Home to Battle
VA rewarded top officials with bonuses, despite growing claims backlog
In August, the VA’s inspector general said the weight of paper files at the agency’s Winston-Salem, N.C., office had compromised the structural integrity of the building.Office of the Inspector General/Department of Veterans Affairs The Department of Veterans Affairs handed out millions of dollars in bonuses to top officials over five years, even as the number […]
Posted inReturning Home to Battle
Has the VA’s Oakland office improved in a year?
The VA says its Oakland office has “significantly improved” since last year’s “Fix-It” forum, according to a statement released today. But internal VA performance data obtained by the Center for Investigative Reporting show that while the number of Northern California veterans waiting on claim decisions has dropped slightly over the past year, delays have worsened considerably.
Posted inEducation, U.S. Education
The Kids’ Menu
Once children walk out the door in the morning, what they eat is out of their parents’ control. Day care workers, school cooks, fast food vendors and friends can all throw roadblocks into a healthy diet. Controlling what a child eats when he or she leaves the house is one of the hottest topics in […]
Posted inReturning Home to Battle
Newly released data reveal extent of veterans’ backlog
The Center for Investigative Reporting is releasing data used in our recent report detailing how the Department of Veterans Affairs’ ability to quickly provide benefits to veterans has virtually collapsed under President Barack Obama.
Posted inBenefits, Returning Home to Battle
House committee leader calls for head of VA benefits to resign
WASHINGTON – Concerned about broken promises of assistance for the nation’s veterans, Rep. Jeff Miller, chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, called today for the head of the agency’s benefits administration to resign. Allison Hickey, the VA’s undersecretary for benefits, is seen at a hearing last year.C-SPAN screen shot Allison Hickey, the VA’s […]