DOJ and VA to work together to protect vulnerable veterans

Protecting our nation's vulnerable veterans is now the focus of a joint effort by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) thanks to a new memorandum of understanding (MOU).

The backstory:

Every day, the VA cares for Veterans across the country, of which there are hundreds of Veterans who are unable to make their own health care decisions and have no family or legal representation to help them and some are either homeless or at risk of homelessness.

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Dig deeper:

With the new MOU, the DOJ is now able  to appoint VA attorneys as special assistant U.S. attorneys and gives VA attorneys legal authority to initiate and participate in state court guardianship or conservator proceedings where a legal decision-maker is required to care for the vulnerable veterans. 

What they're saying:

"Our new partnership with the Justice Department reflects our ongoing commitment to ensuring that every Veteran receives timely, appropriate care, even in complex cases," said VA Secretary Doug Collins. 

"The Department of Justice is proud to partner with the Department of Veterans Affairs to support our nation’s brave Veterans by ensuring that they have the best legal resources available when it comes to making medical decisions and receiving timely care," said Attorney General Pam Bondi. "We owe our Veterans a debt we can never fully repay — but we can give them the support they deserve."

Why you should care:

The VA says the appointment of a legal guardian or conservator can help veterans avoid unwarranted continued hospitalization, protect their rights, and promote appropriate transitions of care from VA hospitalization to other forms of VA care or care in the community, if appropriate.