What This Means for You
- West Los Angeles Campus: The VA has terminated three agreements at the West LA medical campus to reclaim property for a planned housing and support center for homeless Veterans.
- Dental Care Access: The department is seeking a new contractor to manage its national network of community dental providers; proposals are due by March 16, 2026.
- Survivor Benefits: Beginning February 23, eligible survivors will automatically receive the higher of two benefits without delays tied to processing both claims separately.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Property at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center campus is being reclaimed for Veteran housing, the Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a new national dental care contractor, and surviving family members of Veterans will soon see faster benefit decisions under new regulations announced this week.
West Los Angeles Campus Changes
On February 9, the VA announced the termination of two leases and one revocable license at its West Los Angeles VA Medical Center campus. Effective immediately, the department ended its lease with Brentwood School, a private K–12 institution; terminated its lease with Safety Park Corporation, which operated a parking lot; and revoked a license held by Bridgeland Resources, LLC, which operated an oil field on the campus.
The actions follow rulings from a federal district court and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that found the agreements violated federal law. According to the VA, the department also determined last year that it had been underpaid by more than $40 million annually based on fair market value of the properties.
The VA said reclaiming the land will allow the department to advance plans for a National Center for Warrior Independence, a housing and support facility intended to serve up to 6,000 homeless Veterans by 2028. The initiative is tied to an executive order directing the campus be used primarily to benefit Veterans.
The department said it is evaluating design and construction options and will provide updates as plans are finalized.
New Dental Care Administrator Sought
On February 10, the VA released a request for proposals for a new dental care administrator to manage its next-generation network of community care dental providers.
Under the proposal, the selected vendor would build and maintain a nationwide network of licensed general and specialty dental providers, including preventive services and pharmacy support.
Community care allows Veterans to receive medical services from non-VA providers at VA expense. The program has existed since World War II and was expanded in 2018 under the bipartisan MISSION Act, which strengthened Veterans’ access to outside providers. Today, approximately 40% of VA medical care is delivered through community care.
Of nearly nine million Veterans enrolled in VA health care, about 26% are eligible for dental benefits. In fiscal year 2025, 888,051 Veterans received dental care through VA, including more than 3.5 million procedures delivered through community care providers.
The VA stated that the new contract aims to standardize and improve access to preventive and restorative dental services while maintaining provider choice for Veterans.
The request for proposals is available at https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/72683de87d6c4f69862a5e0dcd1e177e/view. The deadline for submissions is March 16, 2026.
Faster Survivor Benefit Decisions
On February 13, the VA announced a regulatory change designed to accelerate decisions and payments for certain survivor benefit claims.
Previously, the department processed claims for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, known as DIC, and Survivors Pension separately, even when both were filed at the same time. DIC is a tax-free monthly benefit paid to eligible surviving spouses, children, or parents of service members who died in the line of duty or Veterans who died from service-connected injuries or illnesses. Survivors Pension provides tax-free monthly payments to qualifying surviving spouses and unmarried dependent children of wartime Veterans who meet income and net worth limits established by Congress.
Because formal decisions were required for both benefits, processing could take longer.
Under the new regulation, effective February 23, the VA will pay the higher of the two benefits — typically DIC — without delaying payment to fully develop the lesser benefit. In most cases, DIC provides a greater financial benefit.
An exception applies if all of the following conditions are met: the claimant is the Veteran’s surviving spouse, has no dependents, resides in a nursing home, and has applied for or is receiving Medicaid. In those cases, Survivors Pension may provide the higher benefit and will be awarded instead, and the DIC claim will not be further developed.
The VA said the change is intended to reduce administrative burdens and deliver faster financial assistance to survivors.
Veterans and family members seeking additional information about benefits can contact the VA benefits hotline at 800-827-1000.
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