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On October 5, 2026, the VA Inspector General released a report after an inspection of the VA Maine Healthcare System in Augusta, Maine. They found that the Augusta, Maine VA did not have policies in place to make sure which staff members notify patients of test results. National Trial Law recently wrote about a similar problem happening at the New York VA. The Maine VA report noted that the VA was required to notify patients about abnormal test results within 7 days, but their investigation found that maybe as much as 54% of the time that was not happening.
There was a similar report issued after an investigation of the Louisiana VA system, where the investigation found, as of June 2026, reporting was not happening 34% of the time. Then, there was the investigation of a West Texas VA. While the other two VAs had policies in place to at least notify patients in a timely manner, this report revealed the West Texas VA did not have any policy in place and recommended it establish one.
The failure to have policies in place can lead to patients missing critical care. The health tests only work if the patient knows the results and the provider acts on the results to give the patient the treatment they need.
For example, on October 6th, the VA Inspector General released a report about what happened to a patient who received an abnormal mammogram result. At the Eastern Colorado VA Healthcare System, in late 2023, a patient had an abnormal mammogram test result, and her doctor decided a breast biopsy was necessary. But the biopsy did not occur until late spring 2024. The report noted that while the doctor saw the patient after the mammogram, the provider did not “document or coordinate follow-up for the incomplete breast biopsy.”
A veteran who believes delayed care was because the VA let them slip through the cracks without appropriate follow-up should request their entire medical record and have it reviewed. This includes nursing notes, operative records, imaging and the accompanying imaging reports. If you’re unsure about what remedies you have, you should contact an attorney who has experience dealing with the VA to have them review your matter.