
United States
The Hotline accepts tips or complaints that, on a select basis, result in reviews of: • VA-related criminal activity • Systemic patient safety issues • Gross mismanagement or waste of VA resources • Misconduct by senior VA officials The VA OIG investigates substantial allegations of whistleblower reprisal against employees of VA contractors, grantees, subgrantees, and personal services subcontractors. The VA OIG reports substantiated allegations of reprisal to the employer and VA for corrective action.
The Hotline does not accept complaints that are unrelated to programs and operations of the Department of Veterans Affairs nor that are addressed in another legal or administrative forum: TYPE OF COMPLAINT WHO SHOULD YOU CONTACT Claim for VA disability and pension benefits, and ratings, appeals, or home loan issues Veterans Benefits Administration (1-800-827-1000) Claim for VA education benefits Veterans Benefits Administration (1-888-442-4551) Patient health care dispute Patient Advocate at your local VA medical facility Tort claim or other legal issue/case/claim Local VA Regional Counsel office (202-461-4900) VA billing issues - Compliance and Business Integrity 1-866-842-4357 Litigation matters Private counsel; applicable court Employee grievances, unfair labor practices, union matters Local union representative, Federal Labor Relations Authority VA employee whistleblower retaliation issues U.S. Office of Special Counsel (1-800-872-9855) Other VA employee whistleblower issues and concerns about VA employee VA Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection performance and accountability (855-429-6669) or (202-461-4119) Whistleblower disclosures not related to the VA U.S. Office of Special Counsel (1-800-872-9855) Discrimination and EEO complaints for VA employees, former VA employees, VA Office of Resolution Management (1-888-566-3982) and applicants for VA positions Discrimination and complaints related to the Uniformed Services Employment U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) and the U.S. Office of Special Counsel Personnel actions/adverse action appeals/MSPB matters U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board Disagreement with law or other political dispute Your elected legislative official
Deficiencies in Life-Sustaining Treatment Processes at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, Texas
The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) assessed an allegation at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (facility) that community living center (CLC) staff delayed life-sustaining treatment for a patient (Patient A) who experienced cardiac arrest and died. The OIG also reviewed an allegation...
Digital Divide Consults and Devices for VA Video Connect Appointments
In August 2020, the Veterans Health Administration’s (VHA) Office of Connected Care introduced a “digital divide” consult process where patients can receive a video-capable device (iPad) after obtaining a referral and a socioeconomic assessment. The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) reviewed the...
The Fugitive Felon Benefits Adjustment Process Needs Better Monitoring
The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted this review to determine whether the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) accurately adjusted compensation and pension benefit payments for fugitive felons as mandated by law. If VBA does not adjust payments, veterans who are fugitive felons will...
VA Needs to Improve Governance of Identity, Credential, and Access Management Processes
Identity, credential, and access management (ICAM) is a set of tools, policies, and systems used to ensure the right individual has access to the right resource, at the right time, for the right reason in support of federal business objectives. In February 2021, the VA Office of Inspector General...
Alleged Unauthorized Access of a VA Senior Executive’s Email Not Substantiated
The OIG investigated an allegation that an attorney at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA) may have accessed a BVA senior executive’s government email account without permission, including email concerning a personnel matter involving the attorney. The complaint further alleged that the attorney...
Utica Woman Indicted for Theft and Misappropriation of Funds as a Fiduciary
Orlando Man Pleads Guilty To Producing And Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material
VBA Improperly Created Debts When Reducing Veterans’ Disability Levels
In a March 2021 review, the VA OIG identified several cases in which Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) employees in Chicago, Illinois, improperly created debts in veterans’ accounts when reducing disability levels. The OIG conducted this review to determine the magnitude of the problem...