Telehealth gave one Veteran his time back

Army Veteran Bernard Williams, who is in his 60s, says VA's virtual care options have made his healthcare far easier to access and fit into daily life. He had his first telehealth appointment in December 2025 through VA Video Connect, VA's secure videoconferencing app, and has since used virtual care for general surgery, nutrition and VA's MOVE! Weight Management program. "I can basically do this virtual meeting anywhere," he said. "It allows me a lot of flexibility."

VA Video Connect lets a Veteran meet with a VA care team over video from a smartphone, tablet or computer instead of traveling to a facility. Alongside it, My HealtheVet on VA.gov offers Secure Messaging, which lets Veterans send questions to their care team between visits. MOVE! is VA's weight management program, and Williams takes part in its virtual group format. Together, these tools are part of VA's broader effort to bring care to Veterans where they live.

Williams' situation shows who may benefit most. He lives in Arkansas, about 65 miles from the nearest VA medical center in Memphis, and the drive can take more than an hour each way. Memphis traffic often adds stress, and he said that after an appointment he could "burn four hours easy that day." He also manages PTSD, and he said crowds, long waits and long walks through a facility are difficult, so appointments from home give him time alone in a setting where he is comfortable. The source does not describe any particular disability rating or eligibility rules, so this is one Veteran's account, not a statement of who qualifies.

The specifics in the story are practical rather than financial. Williams says the level of care has not dropped because of telehealth: "The level of care hasn't dropped off because of using telehealth." He called the video option "a platinum card" and said, "It's really no different from being able to see a provider in person." On Secure Messaging, he noted that the care team's stated response window is 72 hours, though he often hears back sooner. After one appointment, he realized he had reported his weight incorrectly, weighed himself again and messaged his provider that he had been off by 10 pounds.

For disabled Veterans, this matters because access is often the hidden barrier to consistent care. Distance, chronic pain, mobility limits, and mental health conditions such as PTSD can make a routine appointment costly in time and energy, and missed or delayed care can affect both health and the records that support a claim. Virtual visits will not replace every in-person need, since some exams and procedures require a physical presence. For follow-ups, counseling, nutrition and group programs, though, they can lower the burden. Williams also says video visits may help Veterans get appointments sooner, though availability will vary by facility and service.

If travel, crowds or scheduling make your VA care hard to keep up with, ask your VA care team or scheduler whether your appointments can be done by video. Make sure you are enrolled in My HealtheVet so you can use Secure Messaging for non-urgent questions, and remember that messaging is not for emergencies. If you want to try virtual group programs like MOVE!, ask your provider what is offered. VA Telehealth Services has more information, and your accredited Veterans Service Officer can help you work through questions about your overall VA care. For help with specific issues, Ask VA can be reached at 1-800-698-2411.