Veteran Outreach Efforts Flag

Regional offices of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs have set up town hall meetings across the country to hear from former service members trying to get their benefits.

The New York regional office held its first meeting in a near-empty room: Only seven veterans attended.

Some attendees said they heard about the meeting at the last minute. For some, the poor showing underscored larger issues with the agency, which has been working to restore trust in its services amid revelations of months-long waits for veterans seeking healthcare and attempts to hide the delays.