Nikki Wentling

Nikki Wentling covers veterans for Stars and Stripes and is based in Washington, D.C. She graduated from the University of Kansas with a bachelor of science in news and information.

Wentling previously covered local government for the Lawrence Journal-World in Lawrence, Kan. and military and veterans for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in Little Rock, Ark.

Email: wentling.nikki@stripes.com | Phone: (202) 761-0865 | Twitter: @nikkiwentling

The John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act honors a retired Navy commander who died by suicide Feb. 25, 2018 at age 46 and is shown here in a photo from his obituary.<br>Hannon family

House and Senate lawmakers reach agreement to pass sweeping veteran suicide prevention bills

Omitted from one bill was a measure that would require all VA employees to receive safety training to help reduce veterans’ access to firearms and medication by using safe-storage techniques.

More than 3,000 VA patients have now died from the coronavirus

The Department of Veterans Affairs hit a bleak milestone Friday when it reported the coronavirus has killed more than 3,000 of its patients.

The Memphis, Tenn., VA Medical Center.<br>VA

Veteran died by suicide after not receiving needed care at Memphis VA, IG report says

The unidentified veteran sought treatment at the Memphis VA Medical Center in summer 2019. An ER doctor discharged the veteran with instructions to go to the facility’s outpatient mental health clinic, but there was no evidence the patient received treatment there.

A Department of Veterans Affairs doctor speaks with a patient in this undated file photo.<br>Department of Veterans Affairs

IG: Millions of veterans waiting to hear about canceled VA appointments

The Department of Veterans Affairs has yet to track or reschedule about 3 million of the more than 10 million appointments that were canceled in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the VA Office of Inspector General found.

Trump’s VA accountability office has recommended discipline for seven leaders since 2018

An office created by President Donald Trump to root out poorly performing Department of Veterans Affairs leaders has received thousands of complaints since 2018, has investigated 389 of them and has recommended disciplinary action against seven senior employees.

Family seeks damages after veteran's suicide inside VA mental health unit

Sgt. Brieux Dash hung himself March 14, 2019, on a door in the locked mental health unit at the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center.

Bobby Daniels, foreground, and other veterans await the start of a Sept, 24, 2019 Capitol Hill press conference during which lawmakers and veterans urged urged the administration to provide health care and benefits to Vietnam-era veterans living with the effects of exposure to Agent Orange.<br>Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes

Advocates begin 'final push' to get benefits for Vietnam War veterans

The Fair Care for Vietnam Veterans Act would approve benefits for Vietnam War veterans suffering from bladder cancer, hypothyroidism and Parkinson’s-like symptoms — conditions thought to be caused by exposure to the chemical herbicide Agent Orange.

United States Postal Service carrier Joshua Davis delivers mail on his Jackson, Mich.-area route on Tuesday, June 9, 2020.<br>TNS

Disabled veterans urge Congress, Trump to fund USPS

Recent mail delays have prompted concern among veterans and lawmakers about delays for mail-order prescriptions and other vital Department of Veterans Affairs mail.

Letter carriers load mail trucks for deliveries at a U.S. Postal Service facility in McLean, Va., on July 31, 2020. <br>J. Scott Applewhite/AP

Lawmakers urge postmaster general to fix 'troubling' delays of veterans’ medication

Lawmakers urged Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on Friday to reverse disruptive changes at the U.S. Postal Service, voicing grave concerns about veterans whose mail-order medications are delayed.

The Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, Mass.<br>Wikimedia Commons

Ex-VA official: Residents of veterans homes ‘left behind’ during pandemic

A former assistant secretary of the VA assembled a panel to investigate what had gone wrong as coronavirus killed residents of veterans homes in multiple states. What they found was startling: a lack of transparency and a VA leadership team that shirked responsibility for the facilities.

Black employees describe systemic racism in the VA

Five current and former Department of Veterans Affairs employees claim that racism was engrained in the VA and recently made worse by leaders who refused to address it.

The Senate side of the U.S. Capitol at night.<br>Stars and Stripes

Senate passes comprehensive bill to combat veteran suicide

The bill appropriates $174 million to the Department of Veterans Affairs secretary for 2021 through 2025. It mandates that the department provide health care to all veterans for one year after they transition from active duty.

A C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft comes to a stop at Karshi-Khanabad Air Base, Uzbekistan, on Jan. 17, 2005.<br>Scott Sturkol/U.S. Air Force

Senators introduce bill to aid veterans who were exposed to cancer-causing toxins at 'K2'

A group of senators introduced legislation Tuesday that would kickstart medical studies of veterans who served at Karshi-Khanabad Air Base, known as K2, and were exposed to multiple cancer-causing toxins.

Brandon Caserta, an aircrew aviation electrician's mate striker in Norflolk, Va., died by suicide June 25, 2018, at age 21. The command investigation into his death found that "belligerence, vulgarity and brash leadership" contributed to Caserta's decision to end his own life.<br>Patrick and Teri Caserta

Brandon Act, fighting suicide in the military, draws more support in Congress

The legislation is named for 21-year-old sailor Brandon Caserta, who died by suicide in 2018 after throwing himself into the spinning tail rotor of a MH-60s helicopter at Naval Station Norfolk, Va.

Activists hold signs depicting Spc. Vanessa Guillen at a rally Thursday, July 30, 2020, in Washington, D.C. Guillen's family said Vanessa, who was slain at Fort Hood in April, told them she was being sexually harassed but was too afraid to report it.<br>Nikki Wentling/Stars and Stripes

Family of Vanessa Guillen announces legislation, demands change

The #IamVanessaGuillen bill would allow service members to file claims of sexual harassment and assault to a third-party agency, rather than through the chain of command.

At the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, Mass., 76 veterans died of the virus.<br>Patrick Johnson, The Republican/AP

Lax VA oversight led to coronavirus outbreaks at state veterans homes, House lawmakers say

Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, said during a hearing on the matter that the epidemic exposed a “critical shortage of oversight” at state veterans homes.

The Washington, D.C., VA Medical Center.<br>Arthur Mondale/DOD

VA doctor has suicidal vet removed from DC hospital, vet kills themself days later

A veteran battling opioid withdrawal and suicidal thoughts begged to stay at the Washington veterans hospital one night in early 2019. Instead, a doctor had the veteran escorted out by police and said the patient could “go shoot [themself]. I do not care.” Six days later, the veteran died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

2,000 VA patients have now died from the coronavirus

The Department of Veterans Affairs hit a bleak milestone Tuesday when it reported the coronavirus has killed more than 2,000 of its patients.

U.S. Air Force Major Rachael Parrish, 20th Dental Squadron general dentist, performs an oral exam on Airman 1st Class Amie Bickford, 20th Equipment Maintenance Squadron munitions technician at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., March 13, 2017. <br>Christopher Maldonado/U.S. Air Force

VA opposes bill to grant dental care to all veterans

Currently, the Department of Veterans Affairs provides dental treatment only to veterans whose dental issues are related to their military service.

In celebration of Women Veterans Day, June 12, 2020, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) paid tribute to female soldiers, past and present who have supported the group's mission.<br>Alexis Washburn-Jasinski/U.S. Army

House lawmakers push for policies to boost representation of women, minority vets at VA

The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs pushed Thursday to enact measures that would boost the representation of women and minority veterans at the Department of Veterans Affairs, all of which the department supported – except one.

Lawmakers blast VA for estimate of years needed to change ‘inconsistent’ sexual harassment policies

House lawmakers blasted the Department of Veterans Affairs on Wednesday after officials estimated it would take years to fix the way the VA handles allegations of sexual harassment among its workforce.

Report shows high demand for treating vets with substance abuse and mental health problems

Veterans are at high risk for suffering from substance abuse disorders and mental health issues at the same time, and they often struggle to find help, according to a Rand Corp.report released Wednesday. Wounded Warrior Project asked Rand to do the study.

Fort Hood soldier Spc. Vanessa Guillen.<br>U.S. Army

Lawmakers, advocates urge change after the killing of Spc. Vanessa Guillen

Lawmakers and advocates called for change Tuesday to the military’s handling of sexual harassment and assaults and described the recent killing of a female soldier as a “watershed moment” and a “reckoning” against a scourge of sexual violence in the armed forces.

A U.S. Huey helicopter sprays Agent Orange over Vietnam.<br>U.S. Army

Congress to finally consider adding four conditions to Agent Orange list

The measure would approve benefits for Vietnam War veterans suffering form bladder cancer, hypothyroidism, hypertension and Parkinson’s-like symptoms – conditions thought to be caused by exposure to the chemical herbicide Agent Orange.

VA opposes efforts to reinstate 48-hour review process for claims

Lawmakers and Department of Veterans Affairs officials clashed Thursday over the end to a decades-old practice allowing veterans service representatives to review decisions about benefits for accuracy before they’re finalized.

Army Pvt. Gregory Wedel-Morales.<br>Courtesy of Kimberly Wedel

Reports: Army private died before being declared AWOL

The remains of Gregory Wedel-Morales, who disappeared outside Fort Hood in August 2019, were found last month. After reviewing evidence in the case, the Army decided to reinstate him and he is now entitled to a military funeral.

Sen. Joe Manchin answers questions outside of the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg, W.Va. Manchin had called for an expedited investigation into the suspicious deaths at the hospital. Court documents unsealed Tuesday, July 14, 2020, show Reta Mays, a former nursing assistant at the facility is being charged with second degree murder in the deaths of seven people.<br>Eddie Trizzino, The Times-West Virginian/AP

Former VA nursing assistant admits to killing seven patients

Reta Mays, a former staff member at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center was charged with seven counts of second-degree murder, as well as assault with the intent to commit murder.

VA tops 5,000 active coronavirus cases — again

There were 5,039 cases of the virus among VA patients Tuesday, according to department data. The first time that the department reported more than 5,000 active cases was in mid-April.

Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Calif., shown here at a hearing in 2018, called on VA Secretary Robert Wilkie "to prioritize reproductive care and expand medical care to include abortion and abortion counseling.”<br>Stars and Stripes

VA’s abortion ban is questioned on Capitol Hill

A law passed by Congress in 1992 prohibits the Department of Veteran Affairs from performing abortions or counseling women about them.

The U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard and the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) Caisson Platoon conduct military funeral honors with modified escort for U.S. Navy Cmdr. Jesse W. Lewis, Jr. at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, on June 29, 2020.<br>Elisabeth Fraser/Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington National Cemetery loosens some restrictions on military funerals

More people will be allowed to attend funerals at Arlington National Cemetery starting Monday as the site moves to the next step of its phased reopening.

Former pathologist Robert Morris Levy.<br>Washington County Sheriff's Office

Two lawmakers want to recoup bonuses from VA doctor charged with killing patients

During his years as chief pathologist of the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks, Robert Morris Levy misread samples of ill patients and made thousands of misdiagnoses. He was fired from the VA in 2018 for being impaired during work hours.

Lawmaker introduces Brandon Act to improve troops’ access to mental health care

The underlying goal of the Brandon Act is to create a pathway for service members to seek mental health care in confidence, without disclosing it to their command.

Denali National Park in Alaska.<br>Stars and Stripes

Senate passes bill to give millions more veterans free lifetime entry to national parks

The Wounded Veterans Recreation Act amends the current eligibility standards for national park passes and would grant the passes to millions more U.S. veterans.

CDC's laboratory test kit for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus. The VA attributes the surge in cases in June to an increase in testing.<br>Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Active coronavirus cases at VA have more than doubled since the start of June

The Department of Veterans Affairs started the month with a hopeful milestone – fewer than 1,000 patients remained sick with the coronavirus. In recent days, however, the number of cases has again climbed past 2,000.

VA hospitals see new coronavirus clusters in Arizona, Florida, Texas

Reflecting nationwide trends, Department of Veterans Affairs facilities have seen clusters of new coronavirus cases in Arizona, Texas and Florida, which now rank at the top of the list with the most active cases across the VA system.

According to the odds that the sportsbook FanDuel posted Tuesday, President Donald Trump is a slight favorite to win re-election, at -110. That means a $110 bet would turn a $100 profit. West Virginia residents may soon have a chance to put money on those odds.<br>Stars and Stripes

Trump unveils 'bold' plan to prevent veteran suicide, but critics say it's not enough

The last annual report from the VA showed that suicide among veterans continues to be higher than among the rest of the population, particularly among women. About 20 veterans and members of the National Guard and Reserve die by suicide every day.

Thousands of American flags fill a grassy expanse on the National Mall in October 2018, each representing a veteran or a servicemember who died by suicide in 2018. The 5,520 flags were placed on the Mall by Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans for America, an advocacy group trying to draw awareness to the issue of veteran suicide. <br>Meredith Tibbetts/Stars and Stripes

White House task force to release plan for veteran suicide prevention

President Donald Trump was set Wednesday to release a national plan to prevent veteran suicide — one that’s more than a year in the making and will take two years to implement fully.

Lawmakers want VA to address backlog of FOIA requests from vets, advocates

Two veterans in Congress introduced legislation Monday that would force the Department of Veterans Affairs to respond to a backlog of requests made through the Freedom of Information Act, many from veterans themselves and advocacy groups.

Veterans and their guardians participating in an Honor Flight gather at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, July 10, 2019. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Honor Flight Network said Thursday, June 11, 2020, that it would cancel all trips to the nation’s capital through the end of 2020.
<br>Emma Swislow/Stars and Stripes

Honor Flight cancels all trips for 2020, affecting 20,000 veterans

Under normal circumstances, the network would’ve transported about 20,000 to Washington this year, the group estimated. It was on track to reach the milestone of providing 250,000 trips to veterans in the 15 years since Honor Flight was founded.

"Our troops serving overseas should be focused on doing their jobs, not worrying about whether their family members will be deported," said Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., at the National Press Club in March 2019.<br>Stars and Stripes

Sen. Duckworth wants nonveteran presidents restricted from Arlington burial

Only two U.S. presidents are buried at Arlington National Cemetery: William Howard Taft, who died in 1930, and John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963.

Thousands of American flags filled a grassy expanse on the National Mall on Wednesday morning, each of them representing a veteran or a servicemember who died by suicide in 2018. The 5,520 flags were placed on the Mall by Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans for America, an advocacy group trying to draw awareness to the issue of veteran suicide. <br>Meredith Tibbetts/Stars and Stripes

Veterans group urges White House task force to release plan for suicide prevention after delays

Citing the coronavirus pandemic and its economic fallout as a source of mental stress, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America called on Secretary Robert Wilkie to publish the VA's past-due plan to prevent veteran suicide.

Abraham Lincoln's quotation about veterans, seen on the Department of Veterans Affairs headquarters in Washington, D.C., June 3, 2020.<br>Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes

VA to place gender-exclusive motto in 142 cemeteries

The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to install plaques inscribed with its motto, using male-only pronouns, in 142 cemeteries nationwide — drawing ire from female veterans and advocates who have pushed for a gender-neutral version for years.

VA Undersecretary for Benefits Paul Lawrence testifies Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2018, during a Senate Veterans Affairs Committee hearing. The VA stopped performing in-person compensation and pension exams April 2 to encourage veterans to stay home to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Without the exams, the claims backlog has grown and thousands of veterans are waiting for decisions.<br>Carlos Bongioanni/Stars and Stripes

VA backlog of claims grows to 119,000 as work stopped for coronavirus

The backlog of Department of Veterans Affairs claims has grown by tens of thousands of cases since the department halted work because of the coronavirus pandemic, top VA officials said Wednesday.

President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla., is seen in an undated photo.<br>Charles Trainor Jr., Miami Herald/TNS

Mar-a-Lago members acted as advisers, organizers at VA, watchdog finds

Three members of President Donald Trump’s private Mar-a-Lago resort acted as advisers and organizers at the Department of Veterans Affairs from 2016 to 2018, the Government Accountability Office determined after an investigation into the private citizens’ involvement in the federal agency.

VA sees rise in coronavirus cases after a gradual decline

The number of VA patients still sick with the virus had gradually decreased in recent weeks and on Thursday fell below 1,000 for the first time since March. However, the department reported a 54% increase in active cases Tuesday.

Members of the District of Columbia National Guard ride in a vehicle on West Executive Avenue next to the White House, Monday, June 1, 2020, in Washington.<br>Patrick Semansky/AP

Democratic lawmakers condemn Trump’s plan to deploy military to protests

Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., described Trump’s statements as destabilizing, irresponsible and a step toward autocratic rule.

Headstone of a fallen German WWII POW. <br>Wikicommons

VA relents, will replace Nazi gravestones in national cemeteries

After calls to remove the stones, the department first insisted it would continue to preserve them “like every past administration.”

Damage at the Department of Veterans Affairs headquarters in Washington, Sunday, May 31, 2020, after a night of protests.<br>Michael Balsamo/AP

VA headquarters vandalized; DC mayor announces curfew

Department of Veterans Affairs offices in downtown Washington were vandalized as peaceful weekend protests over George Floyd’s death devolved into clashes with police and destruction.

Department of Veterans Affairs CFO Jon Rychalski, seen here in a 2019 photo, says the VA "absolutely adequately funded at this time."<br>Stars and Stripes

VA doesn't need more money for coronavirus response, CFO says

The Department of Veterans Affairs has spent only 12% of nearly $20 billion that Congress gave the agency for its response to the coronavirus pandemic and will need no more money in coming months, the chief financial officer said Thursday.

Future management of veterans homes to be questioned after pandemic, Wilkie predicts

How much control the federal government should exert over state-run veterans homes will be one of the “most important questions” to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic, Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie predicted Thursday.

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., talks with VA Secretary Robert Wilkie before a Capitol Hill hearing in 2019. At a hearing this week, Wasserman Schultz called the VA's dedcision to keep maintaining tombstones adorned with swastikas "deeply troubling."<br>Stars and Stripes

VA secretary wants to keep Nazi gravestones for historical purposes

Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie argued Thursday against calls from lawmakers to remove German soldiers’ gravestones etched with swastikas from VA-operated cemeteries.

This Monday, April 6, 2020 file photo shows an arrangement of hydroxychloroquine tablets in Las Vegas. According to results released on Thursday, May 7, 2020, a new study finds no evidence of benefit from a malaria drug widely promoted as a treatment for coronavirus infection.
<br>John Locher/AP

VA trials of hydroxychloroquine will continue despite troubling studies

About 1,300 VA patients have received hydroxychloroquine. The department did not say how many of those patients recovered from the virus nor how many died.

Senate Democrats try to restore 48-hour review process for VA claims

Last month, the VA ended a decades-old practice of allowing veterans service representatives to review benefits decisions for accuracy before those decisions are finalized and sent to veterans.

Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., right, wrote a letter to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie, left, criticizing his decision to restrict public ceremonies at national cemeteries during Memorial Day weekend.<br>

Congressman urges VA to open cemeteries for Memorial Day

Congressman Brian Mast on Tuesday criticized a decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs secretary to restrict public ceremonies at national cemeteries during Memorial Day weekend.

Mini flags and balloons are placed around a sign at Holyoke Soldiers' Home in honor of the veterans who have died because of COVID-19 and to remember their service to the country.<br>Hoang Leon Nguyen, The Republican/TNS

As VA deaths exceed 1,000, some hospitals begin to offer in-person care

The number of known deaths from the coronavirus among Department of Veterans Affairs patients exceeded 1,000 on Monday.

Army veteran Stan Brown, a quadriplegic, relies on a team of seven caregivers, one of whom tested positive for the coronavirus last month. Brown fears being left alone without help if he were to contract the virus.<br>Paralyzed Veterans of America

‘Terrified and trapped’: Paralyzed veterans struggle during pandemic

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to be a deadly force in the United States, paralyzed veterans are struggling to meet their basic needs, such as buying groceries, according to Paralyzed Veterans of America.

As VA deaths near 1,000, department boosts hiring, supplies

After weeks of supply shortages and staffing concerns, the Department of Veterans Affairs said it has obtained millions of respiratory masks and hired thousands of employees in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Greater St. Louis Honor Flight veterans line up to meet former Sen. Bob Dole at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., March 30, 2019.<br>Stars and Stripes

Honor Flight Network cancels trips to DC through August

The Honor Flight Network, which sends veterans to tour the war memorials in Washington, D.C., said Thursday that it would cancel trips to the nation’s capital through the end of August.

Tricare eliminates copayments for telehealth during pandemic

Tricare, the military’s health insurance provider, is covering telephone appointments and has eliminated copayments for telehealth services as of Wednesday. The changes will remain in effect through the national emergency, according to a new rule posted on the Federal Register.

National cemeteries plan brief, private ceremonies for Memorial Day

National cemeteries will open from dawn to dusk on Memorial Day, but the usual events to honor deceased service members will be brief and closed to the public.

Army Spc. Fredrick Spencer, with the 531st Hospital Center, performs maintenance on an infusion pump at the Javits New York Medical Station, April 16, 2020.<br>Deonte Rowell/U.S. Army

Democrat-introduced stimulus bill includes support for homeless vets, hazard pay for VA employees

The 1,815-page legislation, which at $3 trillion would be the largest relief package in U.S. history, was criticized by House Republicans as a “liberal wish list” that had no chance of becoming law.

A mammography breast screening device.<br>Getty Images/iStockphoto

3D mammogram coverage will be available soon for Tricare users

“This is a major victory for our female service members and veterans covered under Tricare,” said Sen. Martha McSally. “Women in our Armed Forces now have access to the best preventative breast cancer screenings."

More than 5,000 veterans in recovery from coronavirus, VA says

As of Wednesday, 5,185 veterans and 760 VA employees were in recovery from the virus — about 65% of the department’s nearly 10,000 cases. Thousands of veterans remain hospitalized with the virus.

A member of the Nevada Army National Guard works at a drive-thru coronavirus testing site Tuesday, April 28, 2020, in Las Vegas. <br>John Locher/AP

VA coronavirus deaths near 500, cases surpass 8,500

The numbers provide only a snapshot of cases and deaths among veterans. The VA’s tally does not include veterans who are not enrolled in the VA system or veterans who were treated at community hospitals, rather than VA facilities.

New law restores GI Bill benefits to veterans affected by pandemic

A new law will restore GI Bill benefits to veterans whose campuses closed or who were forced to withdraw from classes because of the virus.

A holding tent stands outside the main homeless shelter in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, March 4, 2020. The shelter and tent are not far from a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers emergency operations vehicle, parked about four blocks away.<br>Carlos Bongioanni/Stars and Stripes

Advocates predict a long ‘road to recovery’ for homeless veterans affected by pandemic

It’s uncertain how many homeless veterans have contracted coronavirus or died from it. The VA doesn’t include demographic information in its online data, and the VA’s death toll includes only those who were treated at VA facilities.

A photo from a Department of Veterans Affairs recruitment call advertises open nursing and other positions at the agency.<br>Department of Veterans Affairs

VA hires nearly 1,000 nurses to help with coronavirus response

The VA expects to hire an additional 4,500 employees in the next several weeks, VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said in a statement.

The Internal Revenue Service headquarters in Washington is seen Jan. 8, 2019.<br>Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg

Some veterans must file information to receive stimulus money for dependents

The Department of Veterans Affairs said stimulus checks will be sent automatically to veterans who receive VA benefits but don’t typically file tax returns. However, those veterans need to fill out an online form to get additional money for dependents.