Department of Veterans Affairs

Sen. Tester Announces Updates To VA Caregivers Program

The VA Mission Act of 2018 expanded the Caregivers Program to veterans of all eras but under the previous administration eligibility was narrowed to veterans with a 70% or higher service connected disability rating and those with an inability to perform an activity of daily living without assistance each and every time the activity occurs. Las...

Sen. Tester Honors Montana Veteran At U.S. Committee Meeting

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Bataan Death March the forced march of U.S. and Filipino prisoners of war by Japanese forces during World War II. At a joint Senate and House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing with the nation’s leading Veterans Service Organizations Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester recognized Be...

VA To Expand Disability Benefits For Veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced its intent to begin processing disability                         benefit claims for veterans suffering from rare respiratory cancers contracted during their military service. Senator and VA Chairman Jon Tester noted the progress made through the department in recent years and says it falls on t...

Bill Expanding Veteran Health Care Unanimously Passed By VA Committee

The U.S. Senate Veterans Affairs Committee unanimously passed legislation Wednesday co-sponsored by Chairman Jon Tester to offer post-9/11 combat-veterans access to Department of Veterans Affairs health care. During the hearing Senator Tester pointed out how the Health Care for Burn Pit Veterans Act will address additional effects of toxic exp...

Senator Tester Confidant His COST of War Act Will Pass

Senator Jon Tester is optimistic his bill to provide comprehensive support to U.S. troops who experienced toxic exposure would become law, telling that to a small group at the Veterans Memorial at Helena’s Memorial Park Wednesday. The bill sets up a procedure for Veterans Affairs to process claims of toxic exposure. It allocates $430 billion t...

Governor Gianforte May Push For VA Department To Accept Additional Patients

During the last week at least 45 more Montanans died of COVID-19 and more than 6,400 new cases have been added bringing the active case count to almost 10,000. Governor Greg Gianforte’s office is in discussions to ask the Department of Veterans Affairs to accept otherwise ineligible patients at its facilities. The state can submit a formal req...