Returning Home to Battle

For many veterans, the end of active duty means the beginning of a new fight – for benefits, housing and a chance to rebuild their lives.

VA pays out $200 million for nearly 1,000 veterans’ wrongful deaths

Payments by the Department of Veterans Affairs in the decade after 9/11 went to grieving families, ranging from Iraq War veterans who committed suicide after being turned away from mental health treatment to botched surgeries and fatal neglect of elderly veterans.
Ex-VA doctor says she was forced out after limiting opiate prescriptions

On the eve of a congressional hearing about the Department of Veterans Affairs’ skyrocketing use of narcotic painkillers, a former VA doctor has stepped forward with new allegations about the agency’s prescription practices.
Overtime, new computer system put sizable dent in VA benefits backlog

Far fewer veterans are facing long waits for disability compensation after the Department of Veterans Affairs spent the past six months focusing on the backlog.

Latest Reports

Aug 29, 2014
California lawmakers approve stripped-down reform for GI Bill funding
California lawmakers unanimously approved legislation designed to prevent for-profit schools from preying on veterans at taxpayer expense – but not before the bill’s author removed most of its significant provisions.
Aaron Glantz
Investigation(s):
- Returning Home to Battle
- Education
Aug 05, 2014
VA overturns veteran enrollment ban on University of Phoenix programs
Citing new information, the federal agency lifted restrictions put in place after California regulators audited the for-profit school’s San Diego campus.
Aaron Glantz
Investigation(s):
- Returning Home to Battle
- Education
Aug 04, 2014
What you need to know about America’s homeless veteran problem
On any given night, nearly 58,000 veterans across the U.S. experience homelessness. Here’s a look at what government officials are doing to try to combat the problem.
Kelly Chen
Investigation(s):
- Returning Home to Battle
- Health and Welfare
- Money and Politics
Jul 30, 2014
GI Bill loophole keeps 4 major for-profit educators from violating law
The parent companies of the University of Phoenix and Art Institutes chains, as well as ITT Tech and Strayer University would be at risk of losing all federal funding if not for the exemption, according to a Senate report.
Aaron Glantz
Investigation(s):
- Returning Home to Battle
- Education
Jul 30, 2014
University of Phoenix barred from enrolling veterans in 7 programs
California auditors find popular academic programs at the for-profit school’s San Diego campus violate restrictions for GI Bill funding.
Aaron Glantz
Investigation(s):
- Returning Home to Battle
- Education
- Money and Politics
Jul 23, 2014
Legislation to close loophole in GI Bill college aid dies in minutes
A bill to tighten federal funding available to for-profit colleges was quashed in a committee headed by a congressman who gets more campaign funds from the University of Phoenix’s parent company than any other member of Congress.
Aaron Glantz
Investigation(s):
- Returning Home to Battle
- Health and Welfare
- Money and Politics
Jul 07, 2014
Video: Profiting from the GI Bill
The post-World War II GI Bill helped veterans live the American Dream. But a new GI Bill designed to help those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan is coming under fire.
Aaron Glantz

Adithya Sambamurthy
Investigation(s):
- Returning Home to Battle
- Education
- Money and Politics
Jun 28, 2014
GI Bill funds flow to for-profit colleges that fail state aid standards
Substandard for-profit schools in California get millions in GI Bill funds, with the most going to the University of Phoenix, San Diego. But some veterans say they are left with worthless degrees and few job prospects.
Aaron Glantz
Investigation(s):
- Returning Home to Battle
- Education
- Health and Welfare
May 14, 2014
VA hasn’t followed own rules on narcotic prescriptions, audit says
The Department of Veterans Affairs’ failure to follow its own rules governing the prescription of addictive narcotic painkillers has contributed to overdoses and deaths, according to the agency’s inspector general.
Aaron Glantz
Investigation(s):
- Returning Home to Battle
- Health and Welfare
May 09, 2014
VA hospital whistleblower tells of shoddy care of veterans
Doctor says he was removed from his position after he complained that psychiatrists were counseling veterans for as few as three hours a day.
Aaron Glantz

Jim Avila
Investigation(s):
- Returning Home to Battle
- Health and Welfare
- National Security