Federal officials are trying to determine how much private information about veterans' medical records ended up on the personal laptop of a former physician's assistant.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Office of Inspector General has opened a criminal investigation into the matter, which happened at a VA Medical Center clinic in Atlanta.

A report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution says the assistant allegedly told another VA employee she was using the information -- clinical data about the veterans -- for an unauthorized research project.

"The results of the investigation and analysis will help determine whether to send notifications and offers of credit protection services to the affected veterans," says a written statement from the VA.

Tags: Georgia, Atlanta, Augusta, veterans, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Atlanta veterans, Georgia veterans, Atlanta Georgia veterans, Atlanta VAMC, Atlanta VA Medical Center