The Combat Military Medically Retired Veteran's Fairness Act of 2004
Authorizes payment of special compensation to members of the Armed
Forces retired due to disability with less than 20 years of active service
who were awarded the Purple Heart…
Benefits For Dependants
VA Form 21686c allows veterans to claim dependents for benefit programs…
Vets Urged To Consider Counseling
Government agencies are trying to bring in out of the cold veterans all
across the country who need counseling for issues that include
post-traumatic stress disorder…
VA Loan Eligibility Certificate
In order to receive your Certificate of Eligibility for VA loan benefits,
you will need to submit your request for a Certificate of Eligibility…
VA Announces Funding for Gulf War Illnesses
The VA announced up to $15 million in additional research funding for Gulf War
illnesses…
Veterans' New ID Cards Help Battle Identity Theft
The VA has designed a new identity card for
veterans that will safeguard confidential information…
VA to Contact Vets Who Faced Harm
The VA says it will begin contacting
veterans exposed to dangerous levels of chemicals during World War II and
will invite them to apply for benefits if they were harmed…
VA Ends Laser Eye Surgery by Optometrists
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has
ended a five-month-old policy that permitted optometrists to perform laser
eye surgery at its health care facilities under the supervision of
ophthalmologists…
Cumulative Adulthood Trauma Can Worsen Health in Later Years
Cumulative trauma during a person's life can have an overall effect on
health in later years, according to a study that examines the consequences
of traumatic events on older adults' physical health…
Gulf War Syndrome Victims Have Specific Nervous System Damage
University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas researchers
have uncovered damage in a specific, primitive portion of the nervous
systems of veterans suffering from Gulf War syndrome…
VA Awards Contract to Build Georgia National Cemetery
"This new national cemetery will meet the burial needs of veterans well into the
future," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi…
Law Gives VA Flexible Pay for Physicians, Schedules for Nurses
President George Bush today signed a bill
that will improve the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA's) ability to
recruit and retain top-quality physicians, dentists and nurses…
State Cemetery Opening in Idaho Marks VA Milestone
In the midst of the largest expansion of the
veterans cemetery system since the Civil War, Idaho has added a landmark
event by opening a state veterans cemetery in Boise…
Dod-VA Agree on Discharge and Examination Processing
The
VA signed an
agreement this week to implement cooperative separation processes and
physical examinations for the service members at discharge sites…
VA Awards Contract To Build Great Lakes National Cemetery
The VA has awarded a $8.7 million contract to a local small
business to begin work on the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Oakland
County, Mich…
SCARRED
Matt LaBranche, 40, changed inside and out after nine months as a
machine-gunner in Iraq. Feeling dead inside, he got heavily tattooed and
underwent psychiatric treatment, and is having trouble functioning in
society despite medication. A mental health crisis is emerging, with one in
six returning soldiers afflicted, experts say…
Tricare Benefits Improved Significantly For Reservists
The National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2005, signed by the
President yesterday, improves significantly the overall health benefits
available to guardsmen, reservists and their families…
Anthrax Vaccination Program Paused
The Department of Defense is currently reviewing a preliminary injunction
issued today by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
regarding the department's anthrax vaccination program…
Veterans in Harlem Home Cite Violence and Vermin
"We've got a problem going on in there," said Ron Allen, 52, a hulking
former Army clerk who has lived in the home since 1992. "Everything is
breaking down."…
Defense Department Announces Sexual Harassment Task Force
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld today announced the appointment of the
Defense Task Force on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the Military
Academies…
EPA Recognizes Armed Forces Pest Management Board
The mission of AFPMB is to recommend policy, provide guidance, and
coordinate the exchange of information on all matters related to pest
management throughout DoD…
DoD Issues Green Procurement Policy
The policy affirms a goal of 100 percent
compliance with federal laws and executive orders requiring purchase of
environmentally friendly, or "green" products and services…
DoD Announces Completion of Tricare North Region
The completion of the Tricare North Region transition marks an important
milestone in our transformation of military healthcare services…
DoD Assists CDC with Anthrax Plasma Project
The military will support a Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) effort to create a new medication against anthrax…
VA Begins Chiropractic Care
Veterans can receive chiropractic care at 26
selected Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities…
Some Survivors Face Deadline for Restored Benefit
The VA
wants to ensure that surviving spouses of deceased veterans are aware
of an approaching deadline that may affect entitlement to Dependency
and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits…
DoD Begins Tricare Retail Pharmacy Program June 1
On June 1, 2004, the new Tricare Retail Pharmacy (TRRx) contract
takes effect for Tricare beneficiaries…
Amendment to 2005 Defense Bill mandates full study of Mental Health Services available to U.S. Soldiers and their Families
the House of Representatives voted in support of an amendment requiring the Secretary of Defense to launch a comprehensive review of the mental health and counseling services available to U.S. soldiers and their families…
Project SHAD involving Navy ships was a portion of Project 112
As of March 2004, VA had received 316 claims for benefits related to Project
112 tests. Of the 316 claims, 88 are pending, 168 have been denied, 50 have
been granted for a condition not connected to Project 112, and 10 were
granted for a condition connected to Project 112…
Committee Moves Six Bills to Boost Vets Education, Housing, Health Care, and Disability Benefits;
GI Bill Expanded for OJT and Apprenticeship Programs; VA Home Loan Guaranty
Limit Increased by 39%
The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs
today cleared a package of six bills that would expand and strengthen a
number of education, housing, health care, and disability programs for
veterans and active duty military personnel…
DoD Begins New Tricare West Region Transition
The military healthcare plan, Tricare, in Oregon,
Washington and northern Idaho will transition to the new Tricare West region
and will receive health services and support through its new regional
contractor, TriWest Healthcare Alliance Corp…
Nonprofit Group To Build Homes for Disabled Troops
"I remember watching that
and wondering, "What happens to him from here?"…
VA To Close 3 Hospitals
The Veterans Affairs Department will close three hospitals in
Pennsylvania, Ohio and Mississippi and build two new ones in Nevada and
Florida…
VA Secretary Set to Announce CARES Decisions
The plan includes
new hospitals in Orlando and Las Vegas, 156 new community clinics…
DoD Issues CRSC Guidelines
The DoD released consolidated rules and application forms for
both original and expanded Combat-Related Special Compensation procedures…
Program Cuts Red Tape for WIAs
Acting Army Secretary Les Brownlee said he hopes the Disabled Soldier Support System (DS3) will serve as a pilot for the other military services…
Lawmaker Pushes Draft
Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., is calling for a return of the military draft…
Mourning Julie Moore, an Army daughter, an Army wife and an
Army mother
And at Fort
Benning, Georgia, this week we are laying to rest one of the finest Army
wives who ever walked…
Army Survey's Combat Veterans in War
Zone
Soldiers in Iraq last year suffered from low morale, high
stress and holes in the Army's support system…
CHAMPVA Policy for Some Surviving Spouses Extended
An extended deadline will allow more time for
some remarried surviving spouses of veterans to seek health care insurance…
Selective Draft
The Selective Service System
is looking at procedures and policies it might use to implement
a "special skills draft"…
Seventh Iraq war veteran kills himself
At least the seventh soldier who has committed
suicide after serving there…
DoD Establishes Additional Sexual Assault Hot Line
The DoD announced today that an additional toll-free
telephone number has been established for individuals to
provide information to the DoD Task Force on Care for
Victims of Sexual Assault…
Woman Who Are Purple Heart Recipients Needed
The Womens' Memorial Foundation has been given a grant to develop information about military women who are Purple Heart recipients…
VA Launches New Web Site on Hepatitis C
A new, comprehensive Web site on hepatitis C will be formally
launched Feb. 25 through a collaboration between the VA and the UC San Francisco's Center for
HIV Information (CHI)…
10% at Army hospital had mental problems
Between 8 and 10 percent of nearly 12,000 soldiers from the war on terror,
mostly from Iraq, treated at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in
Germany had "psychiatric or behavioral health issues."…
Fisher House Distributing Free Airline Tickets Through Operation Hero Miles
The Fisher House plans to give away hundreds of free airline tickets to
help reunite service members hospitalized due to their service in Operations
Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, and their family members…
Summary of proposals by the CARES Commission recommendations for health care facilities
The CARES Commission conducted 38 public hearings and 10 public meetings
around the country, heard from 770 witnesses, including 135 members of
Congress and seven governors, and received written comments from more than
212,000 people since it began its work in August…
DoD Announces Korean Defense Service Medal
The KDSM is a service medal to give special
recognition for the sacrifices and contributions made by members of the U.S.
armed forces who have served or are serving in the Republic of Korea…
White House faulted for not adequately funding the
VA
"Funding VA at levels that do not even keep up with inflation is an
example of how rhetoric and reality are two divergent things when it comes
to this administration's lack of commitment to our nation's veterans,"
Sen. Bob Grahamasserted…
Administration Seeks $67.7 Billion for VA in 2005
A $5.6
billion increase in budget authority, primarily targeted for health care and
disability compensation…
DAV Restricted From Wounded Veterans
DAV official Gorman has written
secretary Rumsfeld urging him to relax restrictions…
High Suicide Rate For Iraq War GIs
The Pentagon counts at least 22 GI suicides in the Iraq conflict…
VA To Gain Six New Cemeteries
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has
begun the largest expansion of these national shrines since the Civil War…
VA Gets Record Budget for FY 2004
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will
receive a record budget of $64 billion for the current fiscal year…
New Members Appointed to Committee on Women Veterans
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J.
Principi today announced the appointment of two new members to the Advisory
Committee on Women Veterans…
Stress epidemic strikes American forces in Iraq
The war's over, but the suicide rate is high and the army is riddled with
acute psychiatric problems…
U.S. Agent Orange Study Finds Raised Cancer Risks
The ongoing study of 2,000 Vietnam veterans shows for the first time an
elevated risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer…
Coming Home:
Disabled Soldier Faces Battle in Seeking Benefits
Two years after enlisting, a 20-year-old veteran of the Afghanistan war struggles just to care for the tiny garden outside his rented trailer home…
PRESS ADVISORY from the United States Department of Defense
Jan 07, 2004 - Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness David S. C. Chu
signed a memo today resuming the Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program. To download a PDF copy of the memo, click here.
VA's Largest "Fisher House" Scheduled for Houston
Jan 5, 2004 -
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi accepted an offer from the
Fisher House Foundation to build a 21-suite facility on the Houston VA
campus in November. Fisher Houses provide temporary lodging to families of
hospitalized VA patients…
CARES Commission Accountable if Realignment Plans Are Flawed
Jan 2, 2004 -
NAMI's concern grows over the Veterans Administration's Capital Asset
Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) commission's decisions to close
inpatient psychiatric care beds…
Disabled Veterans Get Health Care Priority from VA
Jan 1, 2004 -
"Caring for veterans with service-connected medical problems is a major
reason VA exists," said Secretary of VA…
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