The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced record levels of care and benefits provided to veterans across the nation, including those in Wyoming, during the 2024 fiscal year.
This achievement highlights VA’s commitment to expanding support, largely driven by the Biden Administration’s initiatives and the PACT Act, which represents one of the most significant expansions of VA health care in recent decades.
According to a VA press release, the increase in services is part of a national effort to reach more veterans and their families with comprehensive care and benefits.
“Veterans deserve the very best from VA and our nation… While we’re proud of these advancements, we know there is still work to be done to fully earn the trust of those we serve,” stated VA Secretary Denis McDonough.
For Wyoming veterans and their families, this year’s milestones included:
- Enhanced Health Services: Wyoming VA locations provided over 438,000 appointments, and 973 new Wyoming veterans enrolled in VA health care.
- Increased Benefits: More than 16,000 Wyoming veterans received compensation, totaling around $353 million in benefits, with 210 veterans receiving pension benefits. The VA also processed 5,883 disability claims for Wyoming veterans with a 68.7% grant rate.
- Veteran Trust: Trust in VA reached a record 80.4% nationally, reflecting veterans’ satisfaction with the care they receive.
- Emergency and Crisis Support: Over 160 Wyoming veterans in acute crises received no-cost emergency health care.
- Survivor and Family Benefits: 75 Wyoming survivors received pension benefits, while 989 dependents were awarded Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, totaling nearly $20 million.
- Support for Women Veterans: A record 1,687 women veterans received benefits, totaling $41 million, with 124 women enrolling in health care.
- Final Resting Places: The VA interred 105 Wyoming veterans in the state’s national cemetery.
This year, the VA also saw significant increases nationwide in dental care appointments, emergency calls to the Veterans Crisis Line, and caregiver assistance services. VA officials attribute the rise in services to outreach efforts and the growth of the VA workforce, now over 450,000 strong.
Looking forward, McDonough announced plans to add more presumptive conditions for service-connected health issues, benefiting veterans exposed to hazardous materials in specific deployment areas, such as those at Karshi-Khanabad Air Base in Uzbekistan. The VA is also working to add conditions like leukemia and multiple myeloma for veterans exposed to burn pits.
Sheridan Media and Military Times contributed to this report.
