The Department of Veterans Affairs is working through its backlog of disability claims, while IARPA showcased its predictive intelligence work in a public forum. In addition, it seems that the future of warfare and national security will be in the hands of autonomous robots. Be sure to read about this and much more in this week’s Federal News Round Up.

VA’s Digital Benefits System Closes In on 1 Million Claims
The Department of Veterans Affairs is working its way through the backlog of disability claims, thanks in part to the nationwide rollout of the Veterans Benefits Management System.

IARPA Unveils Work on Predictive Intelligence
Academics, intelligence contractors and entrepreneurs were on hand for IARPA’s first public industry day, which showcased the latest on predictive intelligence.

NIST Spells Out Information-Sharing Best Practices
A draft document released by the National Institute of Standards and Technology aims to help federal agencies more effectively share cyber threat information.

Navy Forges Ahead With Autonomous Underwater Programs
The Navy is moving ahead with a program for the development of small, autonomous “sea gliders” that can be deployed from a ship, collect sensor data on potential threats and, after surfacing, transmit that data back to the ship.

Watch: The Future of Autonomous Robot
The Air Force Research Laboratory has put together a video showing new robotic systems that can go into areas where it’s too dangerous for soldiers to tread.

NOAA’s Lake-Level Viewer Aids Climate Change Planning
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has developed a new online visualization and mapping tool designed to help communities along the Great Lakes plan for changes in water levels associated with climate change.