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DoD Announces Units for Next Afghanistan Rotation
This rotation continues the U.S. commitment to maintain two combat brigades in Afghanistan…

DoD Announces Release of Implementation Plan for Pandemic Influenza
This plan implements the White House "National Pandemic Influenza Strategy Implementation Plan."…

DoD Announces Force Adjustments
The announcement involves 10 brigade combat teams consisting of approximately 35,000 personnel…

New VA Advisory Panel to Improve Services for Returning Combat Veterans
The Secretary's announcement about the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) panel, called the Advisory Committee on OIF/OEF Veterans and Families, comes on the heels of his presentation April 24 of recommendations from a presidential task force…

Resilient infections are causing concerns for military doctors
Four types of bacteria are causing severe and hard-to-treat infections for many troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan: Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus…

Spread of disease tied to US combat deployments
Stateside doctors are left grappling…

DoD Mental Health Advisory Team Survey Results Released
The MHAT-IV, conducted in August and October of last year, assessed more than 1,300 soldiers and for the first time nearly 450 Marines…

Free Legal Help for Michigan Veterans
The University of Detroit Mercy School of Law will offer free legal assistance to U.S. military veterans across Michigan…

Vet Care Problems Widespread
A team of Army inspectors visited 11 bases in seven states last month to study outpatient treatment, building conditions and the information provided to patients…

Blinded Veterans Paired Organ Act Introduced
This bill would update eligibility requirements for certain benefits provided to veterans with a service-connected disability because of blindness…

Anthrax Vaccinations on Schedule
Pacific Air Forces' implementation of the Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program is on schedule…

Agent Orange Causes Genetic Disturbance
The ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, is striking more of our nation's veterans…

Agent Orange Causes Genetic Disturbance
A study shows that exposure to Agent Orange, and other defoliants, has led to genetic disturbance…

DoD Announces Recruiting and Retention Numbers for March
NVLSP is currently battling the VA on many fronts so that veterans who served in the waters off Vietnam during the Vietnam War receive the VA benefits they need and deserve.

DoD Announces Force Adjustments
The DoD announced today the alert of additional replacement units for deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Wounded Veterans at Risk for Epilepsy
Epilepsy experts say that veterans arriving home with traumatic brain injuries are at risk for seizures…

New California Law Offers Alternative Sentencing
The new law provides judges with the option of alternative sentencing for Veterans diagnosed with PTSD…

NVLSP Battles VA to Obtain Benefits for "Blue Water" Vietnam Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange
NVLSP is currently battling the VA on many fronts so that veterans who served in the waters off Vietnam during the Vietnam War receive the VA benefits they need and deserve.

Army's Disability Processing Passes Crunch Point
The service is only meeting its 40-day time limit for completing physical evaluation boards in less than 10 percent of the cases.

The Last Known Navy Yeoman (F) and Female Veteran of World War I Dies
Charlotte Louise Berry Winters, the last known Navy Yeoman (F) and female veteran of World War I, was laid to rest March 30 in Frederick, Md. Winters died at the age of 109 on March 27.

Mental Illness Plagues Current Vets
More than one third of American troops returning from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan have been diagnosed with some sort of mental or "psychosocial" disorder, a new report from the Archives of Internal Medicine finds.

Federal Task Force Launches Web Site
Secretary invites feedback on services

DoD Announces Recruiting and Retention Numbers for February

Pilot Gets Medal of Honor 41 Years Later
"I'm still here," he said of his 41-year-wait for the Medal of Honor. "Most of these awards are posthumous, so I can't complain."

War Hero Billy Walkabout Passes away
He was the most decorated Native American soldier of the Vietnam War. Billy, a full blood Cherokee, was living in Connecticut and lost his last fight with Agent Orange complications. He was 57 yrs old…

Nicholson Leads Federal Task Force on Combat Benefits
Secretary Pledges "Comprehensive, Soldier-Oriented" Review…

Nicholson Announces 100 New Patient Advocates for Wounded
Secretary Pledges Support for Presidential Commission, Continued Outreach

POW Benefits Act Introduced
Rep. Gus Bilirakis Introduces Bill to Improve POW Disability Compensation Legislation would add additional medical conditions that are eligible for disability compensation

Independent Medical Review Group Holds First Meeting
The group was established as a subcommittee of the Defense Health Board to review, report upon and provide recommendations regarding any critical shortcomings and opportunities to improve rehabilitative care, administrative processes and the quality of life of patients…

Walter Reed General Loses Command
The firing of Maj. Gen. George W. Weightman, who was commanding general of the North Atlantic Regional Medical Command as well as Walter Reed hospital, was announced by Army Secretary Francis J. Harvey…

Guard Tagged for Early Redeployment
The Defense Department expects to deploy more than 14,000 National Guard troops to Iraq next year, shortening their dwell time between deployments…

DoD Announces Force Adjustment
The Department of Defense announced today the accelerated deployment of the 3rd Infantry Division headquarters, based in Fort Stewart, Ga. to Iraq…

Technology Identifies Veterans at Risk for Diabetic Eye Disease
Secretary Nicholson: "Important Initiative for Veterans"…

Veterans face consecutive budget cuts
The Bush administration plans to cut funding for veterans' health care two years from now -- even as badly wounded troops returning from Iraq could overwhelm the system…

Analysis: Veterans push for no-cost plan
there seems to be a growing divide between the government and veterans as to whether those who have served in the military should be entitled to healthcare at no cost…

VA Requests $87 Billion for Veterans in Landmark FY '08 Budget
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson announced today that President Bush will seek a landmark budget of nearly $87 billion in fiscal year 2008 for the VA…

Administration Seeks New VA Means Test
The 2008 budget for the VA again targets veterans who have little or no VA disability rating…

VA Loses 1.8 Million-Record Hard-Drive
The VA is warning 1.8 million veterans and doctors that their personal data might be on an external hard drive missing from an Alabama hospital…

VA Launches Homeless Initiative to Tackle Substance Abuse Counselors to Work in Local Homeless Shelters
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson, joined by White House Director of National Drug Control Policy John Walters and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, today announced a new VA program to take substance abuse services directly to homeless veterans in the community…

VA Improves Services for Blinded and Low-Vision Veterans
More than a million visually impaired veterans will receive enhanced health care services under a reorganization of VA's vision rehabilitation services, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson announced today…/FONT>

Special Military Social Security Rate
When a veteran applies for Social Security benefits, they should take their DD-214 with them. Social Security then computes the extra benefit and it is added to the monthly payments…

VA Weight Control Campaign Ramps Up Obesity, Diabetes Major Health Threats
By the start of Healthy Weight Week (Jan. 21-27), more than 41,000 veterans were participating in a weight management program designed by the VA…

Many Veterans Missing Out on Compensation
Many Air Force veterans may be missing out because they have not applied for combat-related special (or CRSC) compensation…

Robust Support for Military Families On-Going
"As additional forces deploy in support of the new strategies in Iraq, programs and policies at home will immediately respond to the needs of families."…

VA May Soon Be Overburdened by Wounded
The VA is in danger of collapsing under the burden of caring for the needs of returning U.S. forces from Iraq and Afghanistan if it does not receive a huge infusion of cash…

Social Security and Military Service
If you served in the military from 1940 through 1956, Social Security may credit you with $160 a month in earnings for military service…

2005 Health Related Behaviors Survey Released
The findings show notable decreases in the use of cigarettes and illegal drugs since initiation of the surveys in 1980…

DoD Announces Force Adjustments
As a result of the President's Iraq strategy review, the Department of Defense announced today an increase of 20,000 U.S. military forces for Operation Iraqi Freedom…

Millions Receive Cost-Of-Living Increases for VA Benefits Secretary Nicholson: Increase Protects Purchasing Power
"We want all veterans with disabilities related to the defense of our country to receive the benefits they have earned," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson…

Wartime Stress May Cause Heart Attack Later
The new study is the first to document a link between PTSD symptoms and future heart disease…

Atomic Veterans Eligible for VA Register
Nearly three-quarters of veterans exposed to the tests have since died, many from cancers related to the tests…

Veterans Attack Claims of Toxic Tests
Researchers from the University of Bristol have cast doubt on the theory that the symptoms of Gulf War Syndrome were caused by organophosphates…

President Signs Veterans Benefits Bill
President Bush recently signed legislation that will improve benefits and health care for America's veterans and their families…