Department of Veterans Affairs

He ended up at a VA Medical Center in Gainesville seeking a voluntary stay for mental health treatment. Instead, he was involuntarily held under Florida’s Baker Act. Six months later, he killed himself.

About 888,000 veterans and survivors in all 50 states received disability benefits under the 2022 law, which helps them get key benefits as a result of burn pit or other toxic exposure during their service.

The VA has long given veterans who served in Vietnam disability compensation for illness connected to Agent Orange. But those exposed at U.S. bases are still waiting for the same benefits.

Veterans like Steven Price were left out of a law that made it easier to get care and benefits from the VA. He says his leukemia diagnosis can be traced toxin exposure while deployed in Panama.

The VA is making more veterans with toxic exposure eligible for health care now instead of phasing in coverage. The VA health system in Central Florida is undertaking an all-out effort to sign them up.

The VA sent letters to 9,076 veterans and notified the next of kin of 565 others who are deceased, and 209 veterans are being offered no-cost credit monitoring for a year.

About a quarter million troops and veterans signed on as plaintiffs in litigation claiming the Combat Arms earplugs manufactured by a 3M subsidiary damaged their hearing.

The law passed last year makes millions of veterans eligible for new benefits, including post 9/11 vets who were exposed to burn pits.

Research into psychedelic drugs was halted in the 1960s amid concern about recreational use. Now, the VA is among dozens of medical providers resuming that work.

Tampa doctors advised a delegation from Ukraine about how to rehabilitate people wounded during the country's ongoing war with Russia. Ukrainian medical specialists say they expect some soldiers and civilians will need lifelong support.

A VA-sponsored committee looked into the needs of female veterans. The fact-finding committee's report also focused on outreach to connect women to a wide range of benefits.

Some pharmacies were small, independent operations that decided not to participate next year because of the lowered reimbursements. But they were surprised by an early dismissal, and patients with specialized needs could face difficulties in the transition.