Declares that the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs should see that their systems have sufficient capacity to provide for the needs of returning service members and their families and reduce the stigma associated with getting care for mental health and substance abuse problems.  From the Institute of Medicine of the National Research Council

The unemployment rate for post 2001 veterans declined by 2.2 percentage points to 9.9% in 2012.  Provides unemployment data by gender, race, ethnicity, period of service, and compares to figures for nonveterans.  From the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Describes past efforts to improve coordination between health records by the Defense and Veterans Affairs Departments, plans to merge both in a single electronic health record system, and the recent decision to focus instead on improved interoperability of separate systems.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

This brief report discusses the number of veterans of Iraq Wars with depression or bipolar disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance use disorders.  The report also describes what the Veterans Department is doing in screening and treatment for each.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Describes the various systems that have been developed to track and report on suicides among veterans and the numbers for the past year.  From the Veterans’ Department

Covers frequently asked questions including how is the military health system structured, what is TRICARE, what are the long-term trends in defense health care costs?  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Highlights veterans who currently reside in the U.S. focusing on racial, ethnic, and regional diversity.  From the Census Bureau

This report offers introductory data on Veterans’ performance in the civilian labor market as well as a discussion of veteran-targeted federal programs that provide employment benefits and services.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

This report provides a description of the eligibility requirements, benefits availability, benefit payments, participation, and obligations of the Post-9/11 GI Bill.   From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Examines the current debate over eligibility criteria for the award and whether proposed changes would cheapen the value.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

This report directly compares the health status of veterans with nonveterans on a variety of measures and finds that veterans were more likely to report having two or more chronic conditions and were more likely to report having serious psychological distress.  From the National Center for Health Statistics

Completion of the first phase of a study to assess the availability and effectiveness of treatment for veterans suffering from post combat emotional problems following service in Iraq and Afghanistan.  From the Institute of Medicine

Special focus on pay incentives for critical career fields, combat compensation, and compensation for wounded warriors, caregivers, and survivors.  From the Defense Department

Focuses on labor market, educational, and training experiences of young veterans who served since 9/11.   From the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Compares the health quality, use of health care facilities, and health insurance coverage of elderly veterans and nonveterans.  Finds that elderly veterans are more likely to be covered by private health insurance and had lower rates of activity limitations.  From the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

This research was undertaken to determine if wait times for mental health services were recorded accurately and if the data reflected a veteran’s ability to access services. Finds that the Veterans Department does not have a reliable and accurate method of determining whether veterans get timely access to services.   From the Office of the Inspector General of the Veterans’ Administration

Provides information on the number of businesses owned by veterans, the characteristics of these businesses and the characteristics of their owners.  From the U.S. Small Business Administration

The unemployment rate for Gulf War II era veterans was 12.1% in 2011, compared with an 8.3% unemployment rate for all veterans.  Also provides unemployment status for veterans by sex, race, and ethnicity.  From the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Chronicles the history of women in the U.S. military and as veterans, profiles the characteristics of women veterans in 2009, tracks the use by female veterans of major benefits and services offered by the Veterans Department, and discusses the future of women veterans.  From the Veterans Department

Examines the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury among veterans of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the clinical care that veterans with such problems are receiving, and the costs of providing the care.  From the Congressional Budget Office

Discusses the work of the Veterans Health Administration in trying to prevent suicides among veterans, suicide prevention interventions, and issues for Congress.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

This report examines the basic eligibility criteria for VA administered veterans’ benefits, including the issue of eligibility of members of the National Guard and reserve components.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Describes the characteristics of homeless female veterans and the problems they face in trying to use housing support programs of the Veterans Administration.   From the Government Accountability Office

Provides information about higher education benefits in Virginia for military members and their families.  From the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia

Reviews the reasons that the current military retirement system is controversial, in addition to its cost, estimated at about $50 billion per year.  Also reviews various reform proposals and presents options for Congress, ranging from maintaining the current system to a national commission to review military compensation, benefits, and retirement.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Reports that over the most recent 5 year period, 2.1 million veterans received mental health care from the Veterans Administration.  Barriers included stigma, lack of awareness of mental health treatment possibility, challenges in reaching the service points, and concerns about the targeted audience for mental health treatment.  From the Government Accountability Office

Finds that some forms of CRT therapy are effective for treating traumatic brain injuries but the evidence is not sufficient  to develop definitive treatment guidelines.  From the Institute of Medicine

Provides statistics about military personnel and veterans enrolled in postsecondary programs prior to the passage of the new GI Bill to provide a context for future studies of the impact of the legislation.  From the National Center for Education Statistics

Includes a list of books and Internet sources that may help members of Congress and staff locate student financial aid information for prospective, current, or graduating college students.    From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Covers the prevalence of suicide, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance use disorders among veterans of service in Iraq and what the Veterans Administration is doing for them.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists