New Orleans Veterans Medical Center

14/08/2025

Veterans,

Making a travel claim has become easier and more convenient for you by using the VA Mobile App.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced that eligible Veterans can now submit and track “mileage-only” travel claims directly from a smartphone or mobile device via the VA Health and Benefits mobile app at https://shorturl.at/ibvlg. The app, which has more than three million downloads, automatically identifies when a Veteran’s appointment may be eligible for mileage reimbursement and displays a prompt on the home screen. Submissions require just a few taps to confirm details.

Areas accessible by you on the app:

• Refill and track VA prescriptions.
• Review appointments.
• Review claims and appeals status.
• Submit evidence for claims and appeals.
• Review VA payment and direct deposit information.
• Locate the closest VA facilities.
• Access the Veterans Crisis Line.
• Show proof of Veteran status.

Veterans who meet certain criteria, such as having a service-connected disability rating of 30% or higher, are eligible for health care travel reimbursement if they traveled in their own vehicle from their home address to their VA medical appointment. You can copy and paste this URL https://shorturl.at/RcHYv to check your eligibility.

- a promise made, a promise kept.

12/08/2025

12/08/2025

Veterans,

The Honorable Paul Lawrence, Deputy Secretary of the VA, visited SLVHCS Aug. 7th and 8th. The first event was during the evening of the 7th where Dep. Sec. Lawrence conducted a roundtable discussion with Veteran Service Organizations to put his finger on the pulse of what Veterans need at the facility. VSO representatives were:

• Mr. Dustin Guy, Chief of Staff, Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs
• Commander Bobby Laverne, 2nd District, Louisiana Veteran Foreign Wars (VFW), Department
• Commander Oliver Moore, American Legion Department of Louisiana
• Commander Gabriela Swanson, NOLA VFW Post 8973
• Mr. Jon Ore, NOLA VFW Service Officer
• Mr. Chris Cox, NOLA VFW Chaplain
• Dr. Johnette Hansley, VBA MOPH Representative
• Mr. Matt Voss, Marine Corps League Detachment 1027 Commandant
• Mr. Byron Comeaux, American Legion Alternate National Executive Committee
• Commander Richard Mecom, American Legion Post 16
• Dr. Kathleen Causey, 3rd Vice NOLA Chapter, National Association of Black Military Veterans and Disabled American Veterans
• Mr. Larry Jones, Catholic War Veterans
• Rev. Julius Lee, Gulf Coast Chapter, Paralyzed Veterans of America

Some of the issues discussed were:

• EHRM implementation and how it will improve care delivery.

• The importance of the Women Veteran Health Clinic.

• Fully developed claims and how it helps Veterans receive benefits faster.

• And reducing wait times for medical appointments.

The following day he had an executive briefing with our leadership and a tour of our pharmacy. The secretary mentioned how impressed he was by the commitment to Veteran care and patient safety that our teams demonstrate every day.

He also mentioned:

• How the pharmacy team proudly shared that they complete prescriptions in 15 minutes -half the national standard of 30 minutes.

• How this visit also gave him the chance to talk about the upcoming Federal EHRM system with doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and frontline staff.

• How we [SLVHCS] are already looking ahead to the Federal EHRM deployment planned for a few years from now.

Later, he spoke at the Vietnam Veterans of America Convention and visited the Bastion Brain Trauma Health & Partnership Center.

It was a great visit, we got to hear straight from leadership what is on the horizon for the VA and we had an opportunity to let him know what we need here to reach that horizon.

- a promise made, a promise kept.

31/07/2025

Veterans,

I’m pleased to share with you that yesterday our Polytrauma Amputee team joined some of our Veterans for a tour of the National World War II Museum.

The Polytrauma Amputee team and our Veterans had the opportunity to recognize the sacrifices and lasting legacies of the WW II generation. We shared a great experience, and it reinforced our team’s commitment to VA’s I CARE Core Values and serving our Veterans.

The WW II Museum tells the story of the American experience in the war that changed the world—why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today.

- a promise made, a promise kept.

24/07/2025

Veterans,

I’m pleased to share with you that 5 of our Veterans recently returned from the 2025 National Veteran Wheelchair Games in Minneapolis, MN. Our Bayou Gulf States-New Orleans [SLVHCS] team won 15 medals.

Arthur Lee- 1st Bowling Handleball

Jerone Dabon- 3rd Basketball, 3rd Discus, 2nd Javelin, 3rd Shot Put, 3rd Disc Golf

Ryan Major- 3rd Discus, 3rd Javelin, 1st Shot Put, 2nd Adaptive Fitness, 2nd Basketball, 2nd Rugby, 2nd Pickleball

Terri Fairman- 2nd Bowling Ramp

Wanda Coats- 2nd Cycling Foot Recumbent

Our PM&R service is also incredibly grateful to our SLVHCS Recreational Therapy coaches, Andra Smith and Emily Smith, whose hard work and commitment to these Veterans and our Recreational Therapy program helped make their participation and achievements possible.

Please join us in congratulating our athletes and coaches!

- a promise made, a promise kept.

04/07/2025

Veterans,

Today, we celebrated Independence Day with Veterans, family and friends at our Nineth Annual Salute to the Flag event.

It was an inspiring event that that made the patriotism swell. I enjoyed seeing all the Veterans paying respect to the birth of our great country as we all stood honoring our flag as it rose to the top of the pole while the National anthem played.

The flag was raised by U.S. Army Veteran David Davaney and U.S. Army Veteran Harry Thompson, led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.

The entire event was punctuated by the American Legion Post 377 Band, who played patriotic music as we celebrated our nation’s independence.

I would also like to extend a special thank you to our staff and community partners who helped us make this event possible. Every event, from this one to the creation of the World’s Greatest Nation has been a team event and I am proud to be a member of this team.

I hope you all have a Happy Independence Day!

- a promise made, a promise kept.

04/07/2025

, don’t be a no-show. If you can’t make your appointment, give the slot to your Battle Buddy!
Call to reschedule your appointment if you are unable to keep it. By cancelling or rescheduling in advance you will:
• Help ensure other Veterans are provided care in a timely manner.
• Reduce time and resources used to make calls or send out letters.
• Help increase timely access to our clinics. Other Veterans wanting appointments can be contacted to fill in for appointments that are cancelled.

- a promise made, a promise kept