Navigating the VA

Veterans Affairs is an intimidating bureacracy for journalists; the Executive Director of Veterans for Common Sense gives a run-down of essential reporting resources.

VA on the Internet

  1. VACO’s Main web site - www.va.gov
  2. “New to VA” – general information www.va.gov/opa/newtova.asp
  3. 2011 VA budget: www.va.gov/budget/products.asp
  4. VA’s Inspector General www.va.gov/oig/publications/reports-list.asp
  5. VA’s Organizational Chart www.va.gov/ofcadmin/docs/vaorgchart.pdf
  6. VA’s Fact Sheets – statistical information on VA, veterans www.va.gov/opa/publications/factsheets.asp
  7. Finding VA facilities in Pennsylvania / New Jersey:
  8. www.va.gov/landing2_locations.htm

Who to contact at VACO

  1. VA’s public affairs: Katie Roberts [email protected]: (202) 461- 4982
  2. VA’s main public affairs number: (202) 461-7600

Stay Current

  1. “Who’s Who” at VACO, VA’s political appointees  www.va.gov/opa/bios/
  2. What is VBA?  www.vba.va.gov/REPORTS/abr/2010_abr.pdf
  3. How BIG is VBA’s claim backlog? www.vba.va.gov/REPORTS/mmwr/index.asp

Veterans for Common Sense

  1. Paul Sullivan: [email protected], (202) 558-4553 office, (202) 491-6953 cell
  2. Get our weekly VCS news updates - www.veteransforcommonsense.org