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If you're a veteran and rely on benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, where you live may have an effect on whether you receive the benefits you've earned...Veterans' benefits cover a wide range, including health care, monthly disability checks, home loans, life insurance, and education through the GI bill, among others. Among the states, West Virginia and Arkansas had the highest per-veteran spending in 2013 – just over $7,600. Indiana, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania had the lowest – less than $5,000. Nationally, the average is just over $6,000. That's after filtering out things like costs to build and operate VA facilities. (Lawrence and Bebinger, 1/13)

Pharmacists who made serious or potentially fatal errors dispensing drugs at the VA in New Jersey kept their jobs and often weren’t even severely disciplined, according to testimony from their colleagues and other records. One chemotherapy patient died after a 2001 overdose, but the pharmacist continued working for the VA for years, according to records obtained by The Washington Times under the Freedom of Information Act. (McElhatton, 1/12)

The House on Monday passed legislation to help prevent veterans' suicides that failed to clear the last Congress due to now-retired Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.). Members of both parties overwhelmingly supported the bill by a vote of 403-0. It now heads to the Senate, where it is expected to be approved easily. (Marcos, 1/12)