Grissom v. Department of Veterans Affairs

On February 23, 2026, former U.S. Army Sergeant John R. Grissom filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Veterans Affairs and its officials in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Grissom, a combat veteran with service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, alleged that the VA repeatedly cancelled or delayed his mental health appointments for over eighteen months, ignored his worsening symptoms, and lost his medical records, leading to a severe suicidal crisis. He claimed violations of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and the Fifth Amendment's due process guarantee. The complaint sought both compensatory damages for personal injury and a declaratory judgment to compel systemic reform of the VA's scheduling and continuity-of-care practices.

As of mid-2026, the government's motion to dismiss on sovereign immunity and failure-to-exhaust grounds was partially denied. The court ruled that Grissom's deliberate indifference and Rehabilitation Act claims could proceed, while dismissing the statutory negligence claim for lack of jurisdiction. The parties are currently engaged in court-ordered mediation and discovery, with a trial date anticipated in late 2027.

Whether the VA's grossly negligent failure to provide timely mental health care constitutes a constitutional violation for which money damages are available under Bivens, and whether the agency's internal grievance procedures provide an adequate remedy such that federal court intervention is warranted.

The case has intensified scrutiny on the VA's mental health services, prompting multiple veterans' organizations to file amicus briefs. It galvanized congressional hearings on wait-time manipulation and led to the introduction of the "Veterans' Right to Timely Care Act of 2026." Media coverage triggered a 40% increase in veteran complaints to the VA Inspector General and inspired a wave of similar federal lawsuits seeking accountability beyond administrative channels.