I was notified today that my claim was denied at the Columbia VA Regional Office, however the good news my attorney was told that I have a good case, for appeal to the Board of Veteran Appeals and that if they approve the claim the Regional Office has agreed that the effective date of my disability for heart disease will go back to December 2002. Which in itself is a major victory, it will mean another years of back pay at the 2003 rate, I will also be elevated to SMC S which is more money per month for the past 6 years, the home grant for making the house power chair accessible and the auto allowance. The benefits will be great. Now the goal is to live long enough to get the hearing before the Board of Veteran Appeals.
You either have to love the system or hate the system, me it's just another chess game.
Friday, October 3, 2008
my claim for heart disease Secondary to PTSD
Kelley's thoughts
Hall/Clinton on VA process changes with comments.
Link below is an article on the changes coming to disability claims process.
http://www.2ndbattalion94thartillery.com/Chas/DisabilityProcess.htm
Comments and suggestions are below this article I think would have a tremendous impact on this backlog of claims and equal justice for a single Veteran versus another Veteran or widow with the exact same denied Service Connection.
Approving some and not some others with the exact same scenario for Service Connection is inexcusable.
Kelley
Once again I am overwhelmed at the lack of outside the box thinking and just more of the same. More computer usage, more training, employee evaluations, give a year to make up some more crap as to why it takes so long; and on and on with the same diatribe stuff we have heard for who knows how long. I wonder how many millions will be spent on some creative software that will never work without millions more being poured into the system - that is never going to work. Have not we been there already on this issue?
It is just beyond comprehension that Veterans and their family’s have to suffer because of failed VA philosophy and processes for timely Service Connection and the failure of our own government to mandate some logical common sense processes that are non-adversarial. Which most on the VAC’s have agreed the process and philosophy of Veterans Affairs is nothing but adversarial.
Congressman Hall ----“America’s disabled veterans cannot afford to wait a moment longer,” said Hall, chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs subcommittee on disability assistance, Hall said processing a first-time claim by a disabled veteran can take 180 days, and even longer if a veteran appeals the initial decision. The long processing time is part of the reason there is a backlog of about 400,000 claims awaiting a decision by VA.
How many of the above in this mythical 180-day decision was nothing but a denial? Does anyone really believe VA can actually make a positive decision in 180 days when their philosophy and even reward system is based on denials. Presumptive disorders take at least that long if not longer and those should be automatic within minutes of hitting the door of the VA office, at least Service Connection should be established immediately.
Senator Clinton ---“Improving VA procedures so that claims can be processed and benefits delivered quickly, fairly and accurately for our veterans, their families and their survivors is the least we can do,” said Clinton, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Then by God do something positive with action that mandates some level of common sense and repercussions for those that do not follow the mandates. Talk talk talk….TALK.
Congressman Hall ---… reduce the disparity in decisions involving similar issues and cut the number of claims decisions that end up being overturned.
My Presumptions:
I am assuming that Congressman Hall is discussing the disparity of C & P ratings for the same disorders or similar.
I am assuming that Congressman Hall is discussing the thousands of VA claims that get overturned at the Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA). Which should include those claims at VA that are consistently being denied and then when the claim gets to the BVA they are commonly overturned. (Meanwhile four years has passed)
I am assuming that Congressman Hall is discussing that computer information shareable, searchable, and criteria based.
Certainly we can consider the Board of Veterans Appeals computerized decisions as Information Sharing Technology. Is this used for anything but posting on the Internet…NO! Even the BVA does not use this searchable data for their decisions to expedite claims that are similar or even exactly the same.
Veterans or widows cannot even use this data as pointing to prior overturns that are exactly the same issues and Service Connected scenarios.
Make any sense? It does if your intent is to delay or stall in an adversarial VA setting that is supported by White House after White House and some members of our own Congress.
Example:
· You have Veterans that served in Vietnam which are presumptive to exposures to Agent Orange. (This by itself is a joke when you look at the congeners that these men were actually exposed and tested positive for years after the war. In looking at the great work done by the POINTMAN Project I and II early after the war and recognizing the congeners found and the data put out by Hatfield last year of those congeners still found in the hotspots that still exist today; these are very very similar. So AO in and by itself seems to be more of a government perpetrated myth as to causations.)
· These Veterans either die or become disabled from presumptive exposures while serving in theatre.
· All of them meet the requirement for presumption.
· The only decision factor is the association to either the toxic chemical exposures or Service in that Environment for Service Connection. (Do Veterans really care which one since they are dying and/or disabled?)
· The Veterans or Widows put in the same claim to VA, which is disapproved. (Knowing full well that BVA in many cases has overturned the exact same decisions for the exact same scenario. Overturned for the exact same reasons. (It is on the Internet for heavens sakes.)
· This continues on by VA day after day year after year knowing full well they are denying a claim that will be, in due time if the Veteran lives long enough, overturned by BVA. (Make any Sense?)
Do not get me wrong folks. This year for Veterans has been the Year of the Veterans. Thanks to Congressman Filner and indeed Congressman Hall and his hard work.
However, if Congress is going to start introducing pilot programs to reduce the backlog of claims or get disabled Veterans at least partial support then…
I would suggest that Vietnam Veterans have waited long enough and many are dying from AO issues. (ABC report 400,000 Vietnam Veterans are dying from AO issues. Not new to us... we already knew this.) Vietnam Veterans and their Widows have faced government-corrupted studies, politicians who could care less that scientific fraud is and had being committed against them, and White House after White House of nothing but self cover up indifference to the massive issues created by their own arrogance.
Congressman Kagen a medical doctor has concluded the additional cancers should be presumptive.
See HR 6798
http://www.opencongress.org/bill/110-h6798/show
You will notice that only 8 congress folks have cosponsored this bill. Where is all the support of those in Congress who go home to you every two years and tell you they support Veterans/Widows/Orphans. Where is the support from that only talk and do nothing! Do not let them lie to you any longer? This bill is a primary target to look at to see who in congress is for Veterans and those that passively say they are for Veterans and then do nothing.
http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_6798.html
The above link documents constituent comments also and everyone should contact their political leaders (cough) to support this bill.
But I digress.
If we are going to do pilot programs, the one I have suggested has very little risk/chance for any claim to be approved that should have been disapproved. At this time we are denying based on not letting one single claim get through that should not be approved thus the adversarial nature of VA. Of course this puts undue hardship on the dying Veteran Family’s denied VA claim…then overturned by BVA. Much is being lost between denial and overturned including some level of comfort for the dying Veteran.
Why the VSO’s are not supporting this as a way to get these dying or disabled Veterans approved and widows the support they need with existing computerized data, already accumulated and searchable; is a real question. That is if the real intent is get the help needed and stop this dumb process of VA denying clams that at least as likely as not will be overturned at BVA. Overturned claims that are fully documented.
How can one Veterans claim or a Widow’s claim for the exact same thing and the exact same presumption be approved for 20 and then denied for 20 for others?
Should the data and facts of an overturned disapproval mean nothing when considering similar approvals at VA?
Should we have a pilot program that looks at BVA overturned decisions and then establish criteria for similarity and then demand these claims get immediate approval and reduce the backlog of claims within six months. YES!
I can think of nothing else that would reduce the backlog within months with little risk to the government as to validity of claims being approved. This would also free up time to work on newer claims and those claims that are unique and do not fit the denial/BVA overturned scenario that exists.
The other issue I would like to comment on is the massive amount of Veterans with diabetes that have secondary damages or at least according to science and medicine today that have well established associated disorders with the diabetes and insulin resistance. These are not just some subjective list of associated maladies but are listed and medically treated as common with the diabetic process and time of disease.
Veterans with these secondary issues already known to be associated should not have to prove over and over again to VA clerks what every medical university or college has already agreed with and recognized as medical fact and physician treated as fact.
There are some very common issues and some issues that may or may not be associated to every case of diabetes. However, would it not make sense to establish an already approved list of known secondary disorders that must be approved by VA or BVA and then get the Veteran his C & P for his rating for his new associated disorder to diabetes in a timely manner. More time is spent trying to convince what medicine has already concluded a half century ago than the actual rating. Common sense and medicine/science clearly has stated that if you have diabetes then these other disorders or symptoms are indeed associated.
Even a standardized form/check list for these secondary disorders could be used for the Veterans doctor to check off one time and one time only with no discussion or denial by VA clerks the doctor checked as "at least as likely as not associated to the diabetic condition" and did not say “the exact words deemed needed so the VA clerk instead denies the claim.”
How much time would that save? I would suggest a bunch since the claim now would only need one form, no delays and no bickering between the doctor and the VA clerk; claim association as secondary is automatically approved with that form and then over to C & P scheduling for rating.
No we do not need more talk talk talk with no actions that certainly define that nothing is being done but the same discussions over and over and over.
Thanks folks,
We need to get going on HR 6798 and now! Make sure your congressperson and senator supports this bill. It has been long enough. And the reasons for the long enough are despicable at best.
Presumptive Service Connection Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
Read full pages at:
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-22083.pdf
PART 3—ADJUDICATION
Subpart A—Pension, Compensation,
and Dependency and Indemnity
Compensation
■ 1. The authority citation for part 3,
subpart A continues to read as follows:
Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501(a), unless
otherwise noted.
■ 2. Add § 3.318 to read as follows:
§ 3.318 Presumptive Service Connection
for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph
(b) of this section, the development of
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis manifested
at any time after discharge or release
from active military, naval, or air service
is sufficient to establish service
connection for that disease.
(b) Service connection will not be
established under this section:
(1) If there is affirmative evidence that
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis was not
incurred during or aggravated by active
military, naval, or air service;
(2) If there is affirmative evidence that
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is due to
the veteran’s own willful misconduct; or
(3) If the veteran did not have active,
continuous service of 90 days or more
By statute (38 U.S.C. 1155),
VA disability ratings are based on
average impairment of earning capacity,
as reflected by evaluation criteria in the
rating schedule, which the Secretary
may revise from time to time ‘‘in
accordance with experience.’’ While
medical information and expertise are
significant factors in revising the list of
rating schedule disabilities and
evaluation criteria, they are not the only
relevant factors that VA must rely upon
in crafting its rating schedule. We must
also consider social and sociological
factors in determining the level of
impaired employability caused by a
particular disability.
Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2008 8:57 PM
To: Dale Hettmansperger; Glen Johnson
Subject: FW: new TBI and ratings regulations
Robert P. Walsh
Two West Michigan Avenue
Suite 301
Battle Creek, Michigan 49017
Telephone (269) 962-9693
Telecopier (269) 962-9592
E-mail: rpwalsh@sbcglobal.net
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 10:03 AM
To: hammerm2; Margaret Costello; Bob Walsh; Tammy Kudialis
Subject: new TBI and ratings regulations
VA implemented its final rule changes amending the TBI ratings regulations in 38 CFR 4.124a. It appears that the veterans will generally have a higher rating under the new regs.
VA also promulgated new regs adding ALS as a presumptive disease for herbicide exposure in vietnam.
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-22083.pdf
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Changes coming to disability claims process
Changes coming to disability claims process
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Oct 2, 2008 7:00:00 EDT
Lawmakers have high expectations that they can reduce the backlog and processing time for veterans’ benefits claims through a combination of new procedures, including two pilot projects.
The Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2008, which passed Congress on Saturday and is being prepared for submission to the White House for President Bush’s signature, pushes the Department of Veterans Affairs to use electronic filing and processing of claims to try to improve the speed of claims decisions, reduce the disparity in decisions involving similar issues and cut the number of claims decisions that end up being overturned.
The bill also creates a new authority to provide a temporary disability rating for some veterans who have severe and multiple disabilities that are not fully healed. Stabilized and unstabilized disabilities that have an impact on employment could be considered in assigning the temporary rating that would be used to provide disability compensation during the first year after leaving the military.
One of the pilot projects ordered by the compromise bill requires special, expedited treatment for disability claims where the veteran had the help of a veterans’ service officer to prepare the paperwork. This one-year test would be carried out in at least 10 regional offices.
A second pilot project, to run over three years in at least four regional office, would have processors and veterans use a checklist when submitting claims in an effort to bring more organization and uniformity to the claims process.
The bill also gives VA one year to develop a program using information technology to process claims that would allow veterans to file applications and to track the progress of their claim online.
Several provisions in the bill were drawn from a claims modernization bill sponsored by Rep. John Hall, D-N.Y., and Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., that attempts to improve training for VA workers who are processing claims and to change how employees are evaluated.
“Improving VA procedures so that claims can be processed and benefits delivered quickly, fairly and accurately for our veterans, their families and their survivors is the least we can do,” said Clinton, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
“America’s disabled veterans cannot afford to wait a moment longer,” said Hall, chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs subcommittee on disability assistance,
Hall said processing a first-time claim by a disabled veteran can take 180 days, and even longer if a veteran appeals the initial decision. The long processing time is part of the reason there is a backlog of about 400,000 claims awaiting a decision by VA.
Over the last two years, members of the House and Senate veterans’ affairs committees have tried to push VA to process claims more quickly while also complaining about the rate of mistakes in claims and evidence that similar claims are decided differently between VA regional offices.
In the report accompanying the benefits bill, the two committees say they want a process that is perceived as fair by veterans, but realize “it is unreasonable to expect states to have exactly the same average compensation or percentage of veterans receiving compensation.”
The bill requires a report — due one year from now — that looks at variances in benefits between regional offices and between veterans of different states to determine whether the differences are justified.
Changes coming to disability claims process
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
I bet they can teach pigs to fly first or even apply lipstick
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
tips for veterans from Eric Muth
We have read that the Army stated Edgewood Veterans were among the healthiest and brightest in the military. We note that in 2000 the IOM stated they contacted 4,022 of us.
We are somewhat familiar with 24 Edgewood volunteers who served between 1958 and 1975. Of this group ten answered our questions as to whether or not they have been compensated for disabilities.
6 @ 100% VA, 1 @ 80% VA, 2 @ 60% VA compensation and of the 10, six [6] have received Social Security disability which is much harder to get because one must demonstrate total disability.
Based on this sample one would think that a whole lot of 4,022 are either dead or disabled.
Dr. Ketchum stated in his book that no one was "significantly" injured. The 1994 Government Accountability Report stated that volunteers died and that many had long term effects that did not show for 20-30 years and more.
To clarify a question posed: You do not have to be enrolled in the VA Hospital System to file a claim for disability. You can file a claim directly with the VA Regional Office in your home state or through various service organizations such as the DAV [Disabled American Veterans] who will take your case whether or not you are currently disabled.
If you are at the point, after filing a notice of disagreement on a claim denial, of needing an attorney you could start with the National Veterans Organization. nvo.org/attorneys.html
I hope all of you saw the CRSC Q's answered in vawatchdog.org [Jim Strickland #63]
Col. Dan's site has my letter to the DOD regarding their revisionist history.
Nice that we are getting some friendly press.
Interesting? You are eligible to join the DAV as long as you have a VA disability rating, even if it is zero %. This is usually assigned when you have established service connection for a condition which does not meet the requirements for compensation, though it may at a later date, so zero is not so bad for today because if the condition worsens you need only apply for an increase rather than beginning with a claim at ground zero.
No matter the percentage of disability many states allow for DAV license plates which have a DAV insignia and the words "disabled veteran."
If you are eligible for a handicap sticker or license plate then the DAV plates can be ordered with the wheel chair insignia or you can just get a state plate with that on it. There are mixed feelings about these plates which I will not exploit, but as an aside those plates could get you a pass from an officer who is a veteran, when you need it.
If you are rated 100% by the VA you and your wife are eligible for a DOD ID card for MWR [Moral, Welfare, and Recreation]. PX and Commissary shopping come foremost to mind and good discounts at Military Vacation spots around the globe. Though you would not be eligible for flights on militray aircraft. If you are 100% but rated say 80% and given 20% IU [Individual Unemployability] then you are not eligible for the MWR card.
.
Even if you did not serve in Vietnam you are eligible to join the VVA if you served in any duty location between Aug 5, 1964 and May 7, 1975. To those of you who have not been able to find a VVA organization close by you can call the Viet Nam Veterans of America 800-VVA-1316 or visit their site: www,vva.org Your membership will be of value to this group. More on that later....
If you want to obtain your military records, assuming they have them write to the St. Louis address below skipping the line Medals..... NPR has stated that a 1973 fire destroyed the major part of amy personnel records from 1912-1959 other than myself I doubt any of you will be affected by the recrods lost in the fire.
It could be very important to have your medical records at some date now or in the future so ask for all records. If this is too much trouble for you and you can afford it then you could get an agency to handle this for you. I used the one below: 314-423-0860
U.S. Locator Service
PO Box 140194
St. Louis, MO 63114-0194
Medals: If you intend to make applications please contact me so that I can advise you of potential pitfalls you may encounter.
If you seek replacement medals for yourself:
National Personnel Records Center
Medals Section [NRPMA-M]
9700 Page Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100
Certificates accompanying medals are for ARCOM and up and the Good Conduct Medal issued after Jan 1, 1981.
If you are wanting to receive that medal you were overlooked for the address is below. They can issue medals based on copies of your official documents proving you deserved it. However, from the ARCOM up, you will need to be nominated and the nomination must be referred by a member of Congress which is no big deal. The nominator simply sends a nice letter to their Congressperson asking them to forward the package.
HRC Military Awards Branch
200 Stovall St.
Alexandria, VA 22332-0471
If you need to right a wrong on your record, correct a discharge, make appeals for denials from other agencies for medals, etc. The ABCMR [Army Board for the Correction of Military Records] is located in VA and may take your case, but your appliaction must be forwarded by the following address. Be advised the ABCMR says they dispense justice, still it will be a hard fight to obtain it.
Army Review Boards Agency
Support Division, St. Louis
9700 Page Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63132-5200
Cold War Certificate Program. You will need your DD-214 to show you have served in a component of the armed forces between Sep 2, 1945 and Dec 26, 1991.
U.S. Army Human Resources Command
Cold War Recognition Program
same address as address above.
A certificate from the Army honoring your sevrice [freedomteamsalute.com]
Freedom Team Salute
2511 Jefferson Davis Highway
Arlington, VA 22202
If you would like to obtain a Presidential Memorial Certificate for a deceased family member veteran: Presidential Memorial Certificates [41A1C]
Department of Veterans Affairs
5109 Russell Rd.
Quantico, VA 22143-3903
VA: 800-827-1000 to ask Q's, information on your claim and to reach your VARO.
888-440-6580 for meds or to find out when your appointments are scheduled at a
VA facility. Ordering meds over the internet in the end is easier than by calling
once you are set up to do so. myhealth.va.gov
Special authoriztion for care outside the US 206-277-4545
800-749-8387 VA help line: Self reporting chemical exposures to the VA.
VA Secretary
&
Office of the Medical Inspector {OMI} a part of the VA Inspector General helps resolve medical problems and issues. of veterans and families.
810 Vermont Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20420
All VA facilities have an office "Patient's Advocate" If you have a problem of any kind to do with your treatment make a report. When your complaint is in the system it shall be attended to more quickly than your running about from one department to another seeking an answer or resolution.
If you are trying to obation a record say, a Comp & Pen exam and they give you a hard time. Put in a freedon of information request to the VARO and they will yield it. In fact on a one time basis they will supply you with the contensts of your VARO file if requested.
DOD Assist line: Call to report yourself as an Edgewood Veteran. They will look you up and if you are in the system they will tell you what exposures you had.
Don't have your Edgewood file? Call 410-436-3628 or write to:
Freedom of Information Office
Commander U.S. Army MRICD
3100 Ricketts Point Rd.
Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010-5400
I hope some of this was useful to one or more of you all. Please save this e-mail because sure as hell onceyou delete it you will need one or more contacts erein.
-Regards, Eric
Accomplishments for Our Nation’s Veterans in the 110th Congress
Date: Wednesday, October 1, 2008, 11:08 AM
October 1, 2008
Keeping the Promise:
Accomplishments for Our Nation’s Veterans in the 110th Congress
Dear Colleague:
When I became Chairman of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, the VA was strained to its breaking point by years of chronic underfunding and a “business as usual” attitude. The Committee set out an aggressive agenda to identify the needs of our veterans and to ensure that the promises we made to them were kept. The Committee held 107 hearings, 50 percent more than the previous Congress, and we followed through and passed 75 quality veterans’ bills – more than the previous two Congresses combined.
The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have created hundreds of thousands of veterans. It is simply our duty as a Nation, when we put our men and women in harm’s way, to care for them when they return. Although this Democratic Congress has focused on the issues affecting our returning service members, I vowed, when I became Chairman, to never forget the service and sacrifice of our veterans from previous conflicts – and we have lived up to that promise. Thanks to our efforts, the VA is in a better position today to care for all of our veterans.
Our aggressive agenda culminated last week in the passage of comprehensive legislation to improve health care and benefits for our veterans. I have attached a list of accomplishments that this Democratic Congress has been able to achieve. We were not able to do all that we wanted to, but we did a lot, and next Congress, working together, we plan on building upon our successes and making sure that we honor our warriors by taking care of them when they return. We will keep our promise to our Nation’s heroes of the past, present and future.
Sincerely,
Bob Filner
Member of Congress
1. A G.I. Bill for the 21st Century
· The Post 9/11 G.I. Bill is the greatest overhaul of the G.I. Bill in over 20 years, covering the cost of a college education at a public university.
· Reserve and National Guard benefits are tied to length of service better reflecting the sacrifice of these citizen soldiers.
· Soldiers and veterans now have the option of transferring education benefits to their spouses and children.
2. Address the Housing Needs of Veterans
· Sweeping legislation provided veterans with the necessary time to readjust from the battlefield back into their communities without fear of losing their home.
· The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 prohibits foreclosure for nine months after military service and provides a much needed increase to the VA home loan limit.
· The Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2008 revamped the VA home loan program by enabling more veterans to refinance their existing high-risk loans with VA loans.
· The Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2008 expands homeownership opportunities by making thousands of veterans eligible for low-interest loans.
3. A Budget Worthy of Our Veterans
· The cost of the war must include the cost of the warrior. This Democratic Congress added $16.3 billion dollars worth of new money for veterans’ health care and services.
· House Democrats did more to increase veterans funding in the last 2 years than Republicans did in the last 12 years.
· This unprecedented increase proves that supporting our troops and veterans is not just a slogan for Democrats – it is our mandate!
4. Addressing Health Care Treatment & Access
· Over 40% of our veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom are entering the VA health care system. Of these veterans, 41% are seeking mental health care.
· The Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act addresses the troubling increase of suicide in our veteran community. It offers comprehensive services to veterans and set up a 24-hour toll-free suicide hotline. The hotline has already served more than 30,000 veterans, family members, and friends.
· The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 provides an additional three years of VA health care eligibility for returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans (for a total of five years) and improves and expands the VA’s ability to care for returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury.
· The Veterans' Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008 expands mental health services, increases research through the National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and provides much needed counseling for families of veterans. This bill also mandates a program to help rural veterans get the health care they need closer to home.
5. Increasing Benefits for Veterans
· Last year Congress dramatically increased the gas reimbursement from 11 cents to 28.5 cents a mile. This year, we will increase the veteran’s mileage reimbursement rate to the same as a government employee and freeze the required deductible at last year’s level.
· The Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2008 adds job protections for returning veterans, increases the opportunity for injured veterans to participate in independent living programs, allows deploying service members to terminate or suspend cell phone contracts without penalty, and provides additional support to veteran-owned small business when contracting with the government.
· The Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2008 also provides grants to allow severely injured veterans and service members participate in the United States Olympic Paralympics program.
6. Cleaning up the Benefits Backlog
· The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008 increased the VA budget and focused added attention on the disgraceful claims backlog. Already, the VA has hired 3,100 additional claims processors, with 2,000 more planned for this year.
· The Veterans Disability Benefits Claims Modernization Act of 2008 provides essential reforms to bring the claims processing system up-to-date for more accurate and timely delivery of benefits to veterans, families, and survivors.
· The Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2008 also includes a pilot program that dramatically alters the way claims are processed for veterans. Fully-developed claims certified by a Veterans Service Officer are eligible for expedited processing allowing veterans to receive their benefit more expeditiously.
7. Oversight of the Department of Veterans Affairs
· The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs took seriously its responsibility to make sure that veterans’ programs and the VA were getting the job done for veterans.
· After rising rates of veteran suicide were reported, the Committee held a series of explosive hearings to investigate the manipulation of suicide data and to hold VA senior leadership accountable for their handling of the issues.
· The Committee scrutinized a series of PTSD-related issues, including a volatile e-mail from a VA employee suggesting that VA providers downgrade the diagnosis of PTSD to “adjustment disorders.”
· When Chantix, an anti-smoking drug, was linked to suicidal thoughts and aggressive and erratic behavior, the Committee investigated whether the VA adequately protected veterans during an on-going research study involving Chantix and veterans suffering from PTSD. Immediate action by the Committee determined that the VA failed to immediately contact veterans participating in the study to discuss the increased risk.
· When the VA announced it was outsourcing the administrative implementation of the new GI Bill, the Committee held hearings to get at the facts.
8. New Cooperative Approaches – Seamless Transition and Continuum of Care
· Transmission of electronic medical records between the Pentagon and VA is critical for the continuum of care of our wounded warriors. This Congress mandated that VA and DOD establish electronic medical records that can be quickly and easily shared, and made tremendous strides increasing cooperation between these two federal agencies to improve benefits and services for active-duty service members and veterans.
“It has never been more important than during this time of war to keep the promises that have been made to our veterans. This Democratic-led Congress will continue our aggressive approach as we work together to provide our veterans with the benefits that they have earned and deserve.”
Bob Filner
Among Military Reporters & Editors Winners
'Wash Post,'DMN' and 'Military Times' Among Military Reporters & Editors Winners
By Joe Strupp
Published: October 01, 2008 12:12 PM ET
NEW YORK The Washington Post, Providence (R.I.) Journal, and Dallas Morning News were among the winners of the Military Reporters & Editors annual awards, announced on Wednesday.
In addition, Joshua Kors of The Nation won the prestigious Joseph Galloway Award for his "Thanks for Nothing" report on the misdiagnosis of some combat veterans.
The first James Crawley Award, named for the former MRE president who died earlier this year, went to April Johnston and Kevin Maurer of The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer.
The list of other newspaper winners follows:
Print:
Category 1 - Overseas Coverage - large newspapers/magazine: Kelly Kennedy, Military Times, for "Blood Brothers."
Category 2 - Overseas Coverage - small newspapers/magazines: James Kitfield, National Journal, "The Thin Iraqi Line" & "Baghdad, Surged."
Category 3 - Domestic Coverage - large newspapers/magazines: Kristin Henderson, The Washington Post magazine, "Us and Them."
Honorable Mention: John Mulligan, The Providence Journal, "Back from the Brink."
Category 4 - Domestic Coverage - small newspapers/magazines: Sydney Freedberg Jr, National Journal, "The Other Three Thousand" & related stories.
Honorable Mention: David Simon & The Frederick (Md.) News-Post, "Nine Lost Warriors."
Photography:
Category 1 Large newspapers/ wire services/ magazines: No winner
Category 2 Small newspapers/magazines: Drew Brown, Stars and Stripes.
Online
Lara Solt, Dallas Morning News, “Among the Wounded.”
Other non-newspaper categories can be found here.
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
I like many other veterans appreciate the hard work these reporters have put into telling the stories that affect us....thank you and SALUTE
