The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announced partnerships and collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation, IBM and Bombas. The three, distinct, relationships are a part of the MyVA Strategic Partnership Initiative, which aims to work together with external organizations to improve the delivery and access of care for Veterans. The announcement of the three new partnerships came on the heels of the MyVA Advisory Committee meeting held last week in Boston. MyVA is the largest transformation in the history of VA.

The Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Veterans Choice Program has reached a key milestone in improving access to health care for Veterans. More than two million appointments have been scheduled through the program.

Golden Age Games – it is about the rehabilitation value that wellness and fitness provide in the lives of older Veterans and a good time, competition and fellowship with other Veterans. Read the full story

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has undertaken the most comprehensive analysis of Veteran suicide rates in the U.S., examining over 55 million Veteran records from 1979 to 2014 from every state in the nation. The effort extends VA’s knowledge from the previous report issued in 2010, which examined three million Veteran records from 20 states were available. Based on the data from 2010, VA estimated the number of Veteran deaths by suicide averaged 22 per day. The current analysis indicates that in 2014, an average of 20 Veterans a day died from suicide.

Today, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald released the following statement on the Commission on Care final report.

Paralyzed by a bullet to his spine in Vietnam combat, Roberto Gonzalez still found many things to enjoy in life. His favorite was his horses. Near the end of his life, he had one last request. Read the full story

All this week VA and the Paralyzed Veterans of America are hosting the National Veterans Wheelchair Games. Veterans will participate in 18 wheelchair sports events in Salt Lake City. Read the full story

In early May about 30 patients and staff gathered on the front patio of the Milwaukee Veteran Affairs Spinal Cord Injury building to witness a special ceremony: the release of hundreds of butterflies. Read the full story

WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced the departure of Danny G.I. Pummill from his post as Acting Under Secretary for Benefits at the Veterans Benefits Administration. Mr. Pummill has served as the Acting Under Secretary since October 19, 2015. Mr. Pummill had previously planned to retire by the end of 2015, but upon the departure of previous Under Secretary for Benefits Allison Hickey, he remained as head of the administration at the request of Secretary Robert A. McDonald. His continuing service helped ensure the critical continuity required to complete VBA’s transformation, and help expand the MyVA effort at the administration level.

Sometimes play is the best medicine. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is announcing a partnership with the national non-profit organization KaBOOM! to make play more accessible to children visiting VA Medical Centers and VA Fisher Houses. KaBOOM! is one of a number of partnerships formed under the MyVA initiative, the largest transformation in VA’s history, which focuses squarely on the needs of Veterans through customer service and strong community partnerships.