WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Justice have signed an agreement that will allow VA attorneys to take a more active role in legal proceedings aimed at securing guardianship or conservatorship for vulnerable Veterans who cannot make their own medical decisions.
What This Means for You
- VA attorneys will be authorized to assist in legal proceedings to appoint guardians for certain Veterans.
- The effort focuses on Veterans who lack family or legal representation to make health care decisions.
- Officials say the agreement is intended to help prevent unnecessary hospital stays and improve transitions to long-term care.
The agreement, known as a memorandum of understanding, gives the Justice Department authority to appoint VA attorneys as special assistant U.S. attorneys in specific cases involving vulnerable Veterans.
Supporting Veterans Without Legal Representation
The VA said it currently provides care for hundreds of Veterans who cannot make their own health care decisions and do not have family members or legal representatives to help them.
Many of these individuals are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of becoming homeless.
Under the agreement, VA attorneys can initiate or participate in state court proceedings to appoint a legal guardian or conservator when a Veteran requires someone to make medical or financial decisions on their behalf.
Guardianship allows a court-appointed individual to make personal or medical decisions for someone who is unable to do so themselves, while conservatorship typically involves managing a person’s financial affairs.
Helping Veterans Transition Out of Hospitals
Officials said establishing legal guardianship can help Veterans avoid prolonged hospital stays and facilitate transitions to appropriate care settings.
A guardian or conservator can help coordinate medical care, protect a Veteran’s legal rights, and support transitions from VA hospitals to other forms of care, including community-based services.
“Our new partnership with the Justice Department reflects our ongoing commitment to ensuring that every Veteran receives timely, appropriate care, even in complex cases,” said VA Secretary Doug Collins.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said the collaboration is intended to strengthen legal support for Veterans who need help navigating medical decision-making.
“The Department of Justice is proud to partner with the Department of Veterans Affairs to support our nation’s brave Veterans by ensuring that they have the best legal resources available when it comes to making medical decisions and receiving timely care,” Bondi said.
Broader VA Health Care Initiatives
The announcement comes as the VA continues expanding health care services and programs aimed at improving access to care for Veterans nationwide.
According to the department, the agency opened 33 new VA health care facilities and completed more than 82 million direct care appointments during fiscal year 2025.
The VA also reported offering more than 2.2 million appointments outside normal operating hours and permanently housing more than 51,000 homeless Veterans during the same fiscal year.
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