Category: Veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced on July 7 that its pending disability compensation and pension claims backlog fell below 70,000 for the first time since 2020. The milestone directly affects hundreds of thousands of veterans waiting for financial support. The VA defines the backlog as claims pending more than 125 days. The reduction reflects sustained processing improvements and technology investments at the Veterans Benefits Administration. The milestone is particularly notable because it occurred even as the VA absorbed a surge of new enrollees. The department welcomed 200,000 new healthcare enrollees in the first half of 2026, largely driven by

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced the launch of a clinical trial evaluating psilocybin as a treatment for major depression in veterans on Aug. 5, marking a historic departure for the nation’s largest healthcare system. The trial is the first VA study to examine psilocybin — the active compound in psychedelic mushrooms — in veterans with concurrent post-traumatic stress disorder and major depression. This dual-diagnosis population has proven particularly resistant to conventional treatments. Suicide rates among veterans remain significantly elevated compared to the general population, with an estimated 17 veterans dying by suicide each day. The VA’s entry into psilocybin

The Department of Veterans Affairs reported in July that its disability compensation and pension claims backlog fell below 70,000 pending claims, the first time it has reached that level since February 2020, the agency said. The milestone represents a significant operational improvement following years of backlog expansion driven by the PACT Act, which dramatically expanded eligibility for burn pit and toxic exposure-related disability claims. The backlog measures claims that have been pending for more than 125 days without a decision. The VA has been deploying artificial intelligence tools and hiring additional claims processors to accelerate decisions and reduce wait times

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced Aug. 5 it is launching the first psilocybin clinical trial in VA history, evaluating the Schedule I compound as a treatment for major depression in veterans, including those with concurrent post-traumatic stress disorder. The trial marks a major shift in the federal government’s largest health care system and could signal a broader rethinking of restrictions on psychedelic compounds for medical research purposes. Psilocybin, the active compound in so-called magic mushrooms, remains a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law, a classification reserved for drugs with no accepted medical use and high abuse potential. The

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced a formal clinical trial evaluating the safety and effectiveness of psilocybin-assisted therapy for veterans with major depression, including those with concurrent post-traumatic stress disorder, on Aug. 5. The VA recently signed a memorandum of understanding with HHS on coordinating psychedelic drug trial research, the department said. The trial targets veterans with treatment-resistant depression who have not responded to existing antidepressants or psychotherapy. Psilocybin, the psychoactive compound found in certain mushrooms, remains a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law. Clinical trial authorization requires Drug Enforcement Administration approval, which the VA secured for the study.

The Department of Veterans Affairs launched a clinical trial of semaglutide as a potential treatment for alcohol use disorder in veterans on July 30. The condition affects an estimated 400,000 former service members. Semaglutide is the active ingredient in the weight-loss and diabetes drugs Ozempic and Wegovy. The VA trial is one of the first formal randomized investigations of semaglutide’s potential to reduce addictive behaviors, following preliminary observational studies that suggested GLP-1 receptor agonists may decrease alcohol consumption and cravings, the VA said. Alcohol use disorder is one of the most prevalent and costly conditions in the veteran population, contributing

The Department of Veterans Affairs launched a clinical trial of semaglutide to treat alcohol use disorder in veterans on July 30, testing whether the active ingredient in blockbuster weight-loss drugs Wegovy and Ozempic can also combat addiction. Veterans experience disproportionately high rates of alcohol use disorder compared to the general civilian population, making the veteran population a critical test case for the novel treatment approach, according to the VA. Semaglutide belongs to the GLP-1 receptor agonist class of drugs, which have shown preliminary evidence of modulating addictive behavior and reducing alcohol cravings through their effects on the brain’s reward pathways,