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[100% permanent disabled individual]

I applaud what little was actually done in Washington to further the Chapter 61 retirees to collect the retirement that was earned.

It is a myth that  the government takes care of the disabled military. I have bought and paid for what I get. I am a 100% permanent disabled  individual. The Government cannot come close to adequately compensate me for what I have lost. I am not only talking about the physical disability that I have but all the lost opportunities and income lost, but I would appreciate a more credible try.

I am happy to not have to pay tax on my compensation but it is only a miniscule token from a 'Grateful, that could care less, nation'.

The retirement package that our politicians have should be afforded to our disabled Retired Vets, wartime OR PEACE

will someone please help me!!!!!! i dont know whwere to turn!!!! if you maybe able tohelp contact me @ skypony38@yahoo.com I'm an american Iraq war vet! If you can please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In addition to operating the suicide-prevention hotline, has given all medical workers training in suicide prevention, created suicide prevention coordinators at each medical center, and given primary care clinics responsibility for mental health screening.




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International medical insurance

I went to my local VA Office on Dec 10th 2008 to claim my youngest son (now 7) on my VA Disability Claim.  I totally spaced of the fact he could be added, and wanted to correct this.  Well today (July 22, 2009) they finally gave me a written response to my request.  They stated they will only go back to Sept 1, 2008, and not back to his birth in 2001.  My question is can anyone tell me if they can do this, or do they have to go back to his date of birth? or does anyone know were I can find the rules about this so I can research this myself?

Thanks

WASHINGTON – Today, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki praised President Barack Obama’s intent to nominate W. Scott Gould as next Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Gould is currently vice president for public sector strategy at IBM Global Business Services and a former intelligence officer in the naval reserve. He has public service experience at both the departments of Commerce and Treasury.

Shinseki said, “Scott and I share a reverence for those who have served in uniform. He is fully committed to fulfilling President Obama’s vision and my goals for transforming the Department of Veterans Affairs into a 21st Century organization, and he understands the fundamentals that will drive that transformation: Veteran-centric, results-oriented and forward looking.” 

Shinseki further said that Gould possesses a unique and wide-ranging set of skills in information technologies, acquisition, budget, human resources and leading the modernization of large, complex organizations. “Scott’s expertise in these areas, as well as his broad experience in the public sector, the private sector and the military, will prove invaluable for better serving our Veterans,” Shinseki added.   

Gould worked in the public sector as the chief financial officer and assistant secretary for administration at the Commerce Department and deputy assistant secretary for finance and management at the Treasury Department from 1994 to 1999.  As a White House Fellow, he worked at the Export-Import Bank of the United States and in the Office of the White House Chief of Staff.

Prior to his job at IBM, he was chief executive officer of The O’Gara Company, a strategic advisory and investment services firm, and chief operating officer of Exolve, a technology services company.

As a naval reservist, Gould served at sea aboard the guided missile destroyer Richard E. Byrd and as assistant professor of naval science at Rochester University.  He was recalled to active duty for both Operation Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom as a naval intelligence reservist.

During President Obama’s campaign and after his election, Gould was co-chair of the National Veterans Policy Team, Obama for America, and co-chair of the Veterans Agency Review Team for the Presidential Transition Team.

A fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration, Gould is a former member of the National Security Agency’s Technical Advisory Group and the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Board of Overseers.  He has been awarded the Department of Commerce Medal, the Treasury Medal and the Navy Meritorious Service Medal and is coauthor of The People Factor: Strengthening America by Investing in the Public Service.  He holds a bachelor of arts degree from Cornell University and a masters in business administration and a doctorate in education from the University of Rochester.  Gould is married to Michèle A. Flournoy, and they have three children: Alec, Victoria and Aidan

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama has announced his intent to nominate L. Tammy Duckworth, director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, to be the Assistant Secretary of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

“Effective communications with Veterans and VA’s stakeholders is key to improving our services and ensuring Veterans receive the benefits they deserve,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki.  “Tammy Duckworth brings significant talent, leadership and personal experience to this important work.”

As assistant secretary, Duckworth will direct VA’s public affairs, internal communications and intergovernmental relations.  She also will oversee programs for homeless Veterans, consumer affairs and special rehabilitative events.

Duckworth was appointed director of the state Veterans office in Illinois in 2006.  In previous testimony before Congress, she expressed her commitment to Veterans and the need for transformation of the Department.  “The VA system faces new challenges as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.”  She also noted “the patient profile is changing.  More wounded soldiers are surviving very serious injuries.”

She is serving as a major in the Illinois National Guard and was previously deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom where, as a captain, she was assistant operations officer for a 500-soldier aviation task force.  She also served as a logistics officer and company commander.  As a helicopter pilot flying combat missions in 2004, she suffered grave injuries when her helicopter was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade, losing both legs and partial use of one arm. 

Her previous managerial experience includes coordinating the Center for Nursing Research at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, and working for Rotary International’s Asia-Pacific region from 2002 to 2004.

Duckworth earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Hawaii and a master’s degree from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.  Born in Thailand, she is the daughter of a U.S. Marine who fought in Vietnam.  She is married to Iraq war Veteran and National Guard officer, Major Bryan Bowlsbey. 

WASHINGTON – As the military deals with a record number of suicides among active-duty forces, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki reminded Veterans and their families that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has an extensive array of services to help Veterans in distress.

“I urge Veterans and their loved ones to take advantage of our suicide-prevention program,” said Shinseki. “Help for these heroes is a phone call away.”

Since July 2007, VA has operated an around-the-clock suicide-prevention hotline that has received about 100,000 calls and has been credited with rescuing over 2,600 people.  The number for VA’s suicide prevention hotline is 1-800-273-TALK.

VA operates the largest mental health program in the country, with special efforts in each of the Department’s 153 medical centers and more than 750 outpatient clinics to identify and treat at-risk patients.

In addition to operating the suicide-prevention hotline, VA has given all medical workers training in suicide prevention, created suicide prevention coordinators at each medical center, and given primary care clinics responsibility for mental health screening.

“We are reaching out to our newest generation of heroes – the Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan – to ensure they are aware of the services available to them,” Shinseki added.

New requests or referrals for mental health appointments receive a preliminary evaluation within 24 hours and a comprehensive evaluation with 14 days.  Emergency cases are dealt with immediately.

VA operates Readjustment Counseling Centers, commonly called Vet Centers, in 232 communities, where Veterans can receive care for a wide variety of issues related to leaving the military.  Vet Center personnel are trained to identify at-risk Veterans and to counsel and connect them to appropriate VA medical services.

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is calling for a special training campaign on safety – called a “Step-Up” – from March 8 to 14 at all medical centers and outpatient clinics to ensure VA staff follow the highest standards for patient safety.

“The safety of our patients is our foremost concern at VA,” said Dr. Michael J. Kussman, VA’s Under Secretary for Health. “Therefore, I am ordering all of our centers and clinics to re-examine their procedures and safeguards so we know that Veterans will not be put at risk by the people they have come to trust.”

The nationwide Step-Up is the culmination of a VA education program to implement stronger procedures and better accountability at VA health care facilities.  The training was triggered by VA inspections that found reprocessing of endoscopic equipment did not follow the manufacturer’s exact instructions at two VA medical centers.  The facilities -- located in Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Augusta, Ga. -- have already taken corrective action.

VA officials are not aware of any patients having been harmed by improperly reprocessed equipment.  Although risks are small, the department is being very conservative and notifying patients who might have been treated by the affected equipment.

Normal activities will continue during the Step-Up at all VA facilities, but with extra emphasis on safety and proper processing protocols.  Specific efforts will include retraining on reprocessing endoscopes, establishment of easily-tracked accountability for instrument processing, and training on standard operating procedures by facility leadership.

Patient appointments should not be affected, but individual facilities will notify patients if schedule changes are necessary.

WASHINGTON – During a routine internal inspection, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) discovered a contractor providing medical transcription services who was not following the Department’s rules for protecting medical information. 

Although there is no evidence that any patient information was disclosed as a result of the violation, VA has suspended the contractor from receiving any sensitive information from the Department until the contractor guarantees compliance with VA’s standards for information technology (IT) security. 

“VA insists that contractors, as well as our own personnel, adhere to the highest standards for protecting personal information,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki.  “When we detect a problem, as happened in this case, we will quickly fix it, and we will ensure such problems are not happening elsewhere.”

The issue involves a contractor whose employees create written transcripts of recordings made by health care professionals while performing physical examinations, reporting on surgeries, and taking patients’ histories.  VA officials found the contractor’s employees used computers that do not adhere to government policy on security. 

Based on this incident, the Secretary has launched an intensive examination of all VA’s contracts to ensure all contractors properly safeguard information about VA patients, Veterans and employees.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced a new benefit for Filipino Veterans who aided American troops in World War II -- a cash payment authorized through the newly enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Claims are now being accepted from Filipino Veterans eligible for one-time payments of $9,000 for non-U.S. citizens and $15,000 for Filipino Veterans with U.S. citizenship.  The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is working to begin making payments as soon as possible.

VA and the Embassy of the United States in Manila have announced locations in the Philippines where Veterans can apply immediately.  The list has been posted at http://manila.usembassy.gov. 

To receive information by mail, United States residents may call 1-800-827-1000.  Philippine residents may call 632-528-2500 (within Metro Manila) or from outside Manila at 1-800-1888-5252.  In addition, Filipino Veterans may request information via email at https://iris.va.gov. 

The VA Regional Office in Manila will process all claims for this benefit.  Therefore, U.S. residents should mail the application to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Regional Office, PSC 501, FPO AP 96515-100. 

Extensive outreach is planned to alert World War II Veterans throughout the Philippines.  Claims must be submitted by Feb. 16, 2010, a year after the bill’s signing.

The payments do not affect other benefits Veterans may be receiving.  The VA regional office in Manila currently provides approximately $15 million monthly in monetary benefits to Veterans residing in the Philippines.  About $8 million of this goes to Filipino World War II Veterans or their survivors each month.