Army Veteran Behind ‘Hots & Cots’ Launches New Site for Reviewing VA Care

A new app that enables veterans to anonymously evaluate the standard of care at Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities was introduced by an Army veteran known for inventing a "Yelp for the barracks." This week, Rob Evans, the creator of the Hots & Cots app, unveiled VetStats, a tool for evaluating VA clinics and hospitals based on wait times, amenities, facility conditions, mental health access, and service quality.

Evans, a former sergeant in the National Guard and Army Reserve, said he created the website in response to several requests from veterans and active military personnel for a way to assess VA medical care. "We are still caring for service members from the Korean War—and we are not even at the peak of care for our Global War on Terror veterans," Evans explained, referring to the idea of the "long tail of war." "I want to hope that this effort will encourage them to change and improve and guarantee that our veterans receive the best care possible."

Following its late 2023 launch, Hots & Cots became a popular tool for enlisted service members to report hazardous or deteriorating barracks conditions, such as mildew and pest infestations. The new platform is the next step forward. Army authorities initially viewed the app as a way to circumvent the chain of command, but it has since gained traction in some military branches. According to Evans, top enlisted leaders are already contacting him to reach soldiers who submit reviews. He saw the involvement as an indication of a cultural shift, saying, "I had a sergeant major from an installation reach out to me just last night on a review."

As of right now, VetStats is only a website. Evans stated that depending on demand, he might turn it into an app. He stressed that the platform is meant to record a wide range of situations. As of Tuesday, he had not received any images depicting dangerous situations within VA hospitals, despite user experiences highlighting various issues.

According to VA Press Secretary Pete Kasperowicz, the agency has made strides this year in processing more disability cases, expanding clinics nationwide, and reducing the backlog of benefits claims. According to federal quality assessments for 2025, "more than three-quarters of rated VA hospitals received a four- or five-star rating," and over 90% of them maintained or raised their ratings from the year before, he said. Additionally, VA Secretary Doug Collins revealed a plan to guarantee excellent performance ratings for every VA facility.

Evans, a current member of a Defense Department working committee focused on improving barracks, expressed his expectation that VetStats will increase accountability and highlight access shortages, especially in mental health care. "We must ensure the well-being of our veterans," he stated. "We anticipate the best from them. We should be able to provide them with the best as well.

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