The Veteran's Newsletter 4/10

Author

Hagen McMenemy
April 10, 2025

Welcome to the Veteran’s Newsletter!

In today's edition:

  • The VA is on track to process 2.5 million disability claims in 2025, aided by new tools and training that have increased efficiency and reduced the backlog.

  • The VA is set to end the VASP mortgage relief program on May 1, following concerns about sustainability and mission alignment.

  • Veterans groups call for fixes to claims delays caused by redundant medical exams and “overdevelopment,” pushing for better training and clearer protocols.

  • VA explains how to access protected emails securely using one-time passcodes or account sign-ins, adding layers of cybersecurity for personal information.

  • New VA research highlights advances in cardiac care, mental health therapy, and care navigation tools through studies on magnesium, reintegration, and design innovation.

  • And more…

News of the Week

📰 Top Veteran Stories

The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) has processed over 1 million disability compensation claims in 2025 and is on track to complete 2.5 million by year’s end—approximately 500,000 more than in 2024. The increase comes amid a 16% rise in claims filed last year, yet the department hit the 1 million mark two weeks earlier than in 2024.

VA officials attribute the progress to improved adjudicator training and the rollout of tools like a scheduling assistant that reduces unnecessary medical exams. Additionally, enhancements to the Veterans Benefits Management System are expected in 2026, further streamlining the process.

As of early April, there were 923,355 pending claims, with about 25% classified as backlogged (older than 125 days). Despite receiving roughly 10,000 new claims daily, the VBA is completing about 11,000 daily, gradually reducing the overall workload and backlog.

Ongoing efforts include upgrading the National Work Queue to better match claims with adjudicators based on complexity, urgency, and expertise. These changes aim to make the system more responsive and efficient for veterans and staff.

Lawmakers emphasized the need for continued accuracy and processing speed improvements while addressing concerns about future staffing levels and the resources needed to sustain momentum.

The Department of Veterans Affairs will end enrollment for its Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase (VASP) program on May 1, 2025. Launched in May 2024, VASP aimed to help veterans at risk of foreclosure by purchasing their defaulted VA-backed loans from outside mortgage servicers and modifying the loan terms. Over 17,000 veterans received reduced interest rates through the initiative.

The decision to end the program follows lawmakers' concerns about its structure, long-term sustainability, and cost. VA officials stated that the program’s closure reflects the department’s core mission—not as a mortgage restructuring agency but as a guarantor of home loans.

Since its launch, the VA has purchased over $5.4 billion in loans through VASP, averaging $320,000 per loan. The program primarily served veterans who faced significant financial hardship after pandemic-era forbearance protections ended in 2022, offering them a fixed 2.5% interest rate to help avoid foreclosure.

While no new participants will be accepted after May 1, existing VASP recipients will continue to receive the support promised. The VA emphasized that this change will not affect its broader home loan guaranty services, which backed nearly 145,000 loans totaling $56 billion in just the first quarter of 2025.

Veterans advocacy groups, including Disabled American Veterans and Veterans of Foreign Wars, call on the Department of Veterans Affairs to reduce common processing errors that delay disability claims decisions. At a recent House subcommittee hearing, advocates highlighted ongoing issues such as redundant medical exams being ordered—even when a veteran’s file already contains sufficient clinical evidence.

The VA currently faces a backlog of more than 230,000 claims—those pending for over 125 days. One key issue discussed was "claim overdevelopment," where repeated and unnecessary exam requests slow progress and waste resources. In fiscal 2024 alone, the VA conducted 3.2 million medical exams for claims, a sharp rise from the previous year. An audit showed that $1.4 million was spent on exams that may have been avoidable.

Veterans have also reported vague requests for additional documentation and confusion caused when private medical records are not fully considered. Additional complications arise when claims are transferred between regional offices, disrupting continuity and slowing reviews.

In response, VA officials said they are implementing more robust training, updated protocols, and tools like pre-decision checklists to reduce these errors. They’ve also emphasized that medical exams should only be ordered when necessary and are reinforcing that policy across the agency. Veteran groups are urging further improvements, especially for claims related to toxic exposure and military sexual trauma, where delays are widespread.

📜 VBA Updates

If you receive an email from the VA with a one-time passcode or secure link, it's part of their added security to protect your personal information. Opening a protected email is simple: click “Read the Message,” sign in with your email, or choose the one-time passcode option. 

If you use a passcode, it will arrive in a separate email—just enter it in the browser pop-up and click “Continue.” This added layer of protection helps the VA safeguard Veteran data from cyber threats. For help with different email providers, visit the VA’s webpage to access protected emails.

Sponsored by Hill & Ponton, Veteran Benefits Attorneys

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Stop struggling through the VA disability claims process on your own. The Road to VA Compensation Benefits gives you everything you need in one place, from expert advice to step-by-step instructions. Written by experienced attorneys with decades of helping veterans, this free guide will save you time and get you on the right path.

No cost, no hassle—just request your FREE copy now, and we’ll ship it straight to your door.

Sponsored by Hill & Ponton, Veteran Benefits Attorneys

In service of our nation, you gave everything you had. You sacrificed your comfort, your peace, and sometimes even your well-being. If the VA denied your rightful benefits, give the team at Hill & Ponton a call today to see how they can help you on your benefits journey.

Use the VA Disability Calculator on the Hill & Ponton website today to calculate your monthly compensation.

⚕️ Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Updates

This week, the VA’s Office of Research and Development released three new studies that improve care for veterans. One study found magnesium supplements may reduce heart failure risk in Veterans with diabetes. 

Another compared two therapies for combat-related reintegration stress, with Trauma Informed Guilt Reduction Therapy (TrIGR) showing long-term benefits. In collaboration with RAND, a third project used human-centered design to improve how Veterans navigate their care, leading to better coordination across clinics. All studies support ongoing innovation in Veteran health care.

Veteran App of the Week

Ompractice is an online wellness platform that offers live, interactive classes—including yoga, meditation, tai chi, and fitness—designed to support mental and physical well-being. Veterans and VA employees can access free classes in select regions through localized partnerships with Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers.

The platform provides over 100 weekly live-streamed sessions with real-time instructor feedback and an on-demand video library for flexible access. Specialized offerings like iRest Yoga Nidra are designed with Veterans in mind and address stress, trauma, and emotional balance.

While Ompractice does not currently feature its VA partnership on its main website, a dedicated VA membership page allows eligible users to enroll. Programs have already been rolled out at VA facilities such as the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, where Veterans, caregivers, and staff benefit from free access to virtual classes.

By bridging wellness and accessibility, Ompractice helps Veterans improve their overall quality of life from the comfort of home—one breath and one class at a time. Veterans should check with their local VA Medical Center to see if this program is available.

Veteran Community Highlight

Veterans Brotherhood VMC – Maine Chapter is a non-territorial motorcycle club composed of combat and non-combat veterans who believe in the boundless nature of brotherhood.

The club is dedicated to supporting veterans in various ways, including assisting with VA benefits and providing support for those experiencing PTSD and TBI. It also offers help to homeless veterans by providing necessities such as housing, food, and clothing, aiming to reintegrate them into a productive way of life. ​

The organization is open to the public and encourages community participation to aid veterans and their families. ​

By fostering a strong sense of camaraderie and mutual support, Veterans Brotherhood VMC – Maine Chapter continues to make a meaningful impact on the lives of veterans throughout the region.

Military Deals of the Week

*We do not explicitly endorse any of these companies as we have not personally purchased from many of them. We are simply sharing online deals that we have found for your convenience.

Meme of the Week

Hero of the Week: Major Robert Alfred Lodge

Major Robert Alfred Lodge was born on June 30, 1941, in New York City and became a symbol of courage and selflessness in aerial combat. A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Class of 1964, Lodge was known for his exceptional skill as a fighter pilot and his unwavering dedication to his mission and fellow airmen. By 1972, he was flying with the 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, out of Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand.

On May 10, 1972, during Operation Linebacker, Lodge led a flight of F-4D Phantom IIs into one of the most heavily defended areas of North Vietnam. The mission was to escort strike aircraft and engage enemy fighters threatening the operation. 

During the mission, Lodge aggressively pursued and successfully shot down a MiG-21, marking his fourth confirmed aerial victory. Despite being outnumbered and deep in enemy territory, he showed no hesitation in engaging hostile aircraft to protect the bombers and his wingmen.

Shortly after the kill, Lodge’s aircraft was struck by an enemy missile. His Weapons Systems Officer, Captain Roger Locher, was ejected and survived behind enemy lines for 23 days before being rescued. 

Lodge, however, chose not to eject. He had previously told his comrades that he would never risk capture, a decision rooted in his deep commitment to duty and country. He was killed when the aircraft went down.

Lodge was posthumously awarded multiple decorations, including five Silver Stars—an unmatched distinction in Air Force history. His final mission, marked by bold leadership and self-sacrifice, remains a powerful reminder of the bravery and commitment of those who serve. 

Major Robert Alfred Lodge gave his life in the line of duty, choosing courage over self-preservation in one of the Vietnam War’s most dangerous air battles. His legacy is a testament to the highest ideals of service, sacrifice, and heroism—an inspiration to all who wear the uniform.

Businesses That Support Veterans

Founded to support veterans facing PTSD, transition stress, and reintegration challenges, Warrior Surf Foundation empowers veterans and their families through surf therapy, wellness coaching, and community support. Based in Folly Beach, South Carolina, the nonprofit offers a unique 12-week program that combines surfing, trauma-sensitive yoga, and mental health education.

Led by trained instructors and clinicians, Warrior Surf’s approach helps veterans build resilience, reconnect with others, and find purpose beyond military service. By fostering peer connection and open dialogue, the organization creates a supportive environment for healing.

Through partnerships with volunteers and mental health professionals, Warrior Surf Foundation delivers holistic care in a nontraditional setting—where the ocean becomes a space for growth, recovery, and transformation.

Brand New DD214?

Military Times published a great guide to transitioning from the military to civilian life. It’s a good primer for those who are starting the transition, even if it was sponsored by Navy Federal Credit Union. It’s still decent in our book.

Hill & Ponton’s resource for applying for VA benefits. This page walks you through the basic steps of applying, what forms you need to fill out, and what the process looks like.

If you read through the guide from Hill & Ponton and decide that you need assistance with filing a claim, the VA has a search tool to find a Veteran Service Organization in your area.

HireHeroesUSA is one of the many veteran job boards we found online. It seems to offer a good mix of job types available around the country.

Corporate Gray helps military veterans transition to civilian careers by organizing job fairs, providing a job board for veterans and employers, and offering career resources such as resume writing and interview preparation guides. They also publish "The Military-to-Civilian Transition Guide" and support employers in hiring veterans.

You might be sweating slightly if you’re looking to buy a house in this market. Luckily, the VA has a resource that can help you understand the VA home loan program and give you an advantage when putting in that offer.

Thank You For Your Service!

Not every service member may receive the Medal of Honor or garner widespread recognition, but that doesn't diminish the invaluable contributions each one has made to the sanctity and security of our great nation. 

The saying "freedom isn't free" holds profound truth–it resonates because every individual in the United States relies on the dedication of its military to safeguard the freedoms they enjoy. Each veteran has consciously defended these liberties, symbolizing a collective commitment to the nation's well-being. 

Whether you fought on the front lines or provided crucial support behind the scenes, thank you!

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Until Next Time!

Stay tuned for next week’s edition, where we’ll cover more stories and policy updates and find tools & deals for the veteran community.

Thanks,

The Veterans Newsletter