VA may owe veterans millions in refunds but knowingly
hasn't paid them for years, probe finds
Access and manage your VA benefits and health care
Using Life Stories to Connect Veterans and Providers
STRIDE program to keep hospitalized Veterans mobile
Optimizing Function and Independence Through STRIDE
(STRIDE)
Volunteers are a priceless asset to the Nation’s Veterans
and to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VAMC Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer Locally to Help Veterans
Mary Ellis, Legendary Female WWII Pilot, Passes Away At
101
VA chapel Bibles get moved in name of ‘religious
neutrality’
A beautiful garden is now blossoming at a women veterans'
community in Philadelphia
Haven Women (Helping Achieve Veteran Empowerment Now)
VA MISSION Act, Community Care Access Program Now
Underway: The VA MISSION Act aims to boost patient access to care and community
care benefits.
MISSION Act guidance available in booklet
Veterans Now Eligible for More Private Health Care Options:
New MISSION Act aims to provide greater access to high-quality care
Increasing Veterans' access to health care: The MISSION
Act strengthens VA’s ability to deliver trusted, easy to access, high quality
care at VA facilities, virtually through telehealth, and in your community.
That means you get the care and services you need, where and when you need
them.
Competing in pain, Navy Veteran captures medals in
wheelchair division of Golden Age Games
Access and manage your VA benefits and health care
What Do You Really Know About Military Behavioral Health
Technicians?
VA Overcharged Disabled Vets on Home Loans: Inspector
General
Wait Time for Burial at Arlington Can Be Nearly a Year
How to Use the VA's New Urgent Care Benefit
Find Military Friendly Jobs
Pentagon Effort Underway to Make DD-214 Digitally
Accessible, with More Privacy
Fallujah Vet Will Be First Living Medal of Honor
Recipient from Iraq War
Family Receives Purple Heart 75 Years After Veteran Sold
it for Food
2019 VA Disability Compensation Rates
Justice Department Won't Appeal Agent Orange Ruling
Benefiting Blue Water Navy Vets
VA Rolls Out New Private-Sector Health Care Programs
Vets Denied VA Home Loans if They Work with Cannabis
VA on Track to Cure Nearly All Patients with Hepatitis C
Air Force Allows Sikh Airman to Wear Turban and Beard
The Warning Signs of Suicide and What to Do
VA Looking to Hire More Former Medics, Corpsmen
The Lone Sailor Statue Dedicated at Utah Beach During
D-Day Ceremonies
VA health care facilities to go smoke-free: VHA Modifies
Policies to Increase Quality of Care to Veterans
Can VA and community-based care coexist? New York State Health Foundation (NYSHealth)
says yes
`We were helping the war effort’: Humble World War II
Veteran oldest former military member to ever compete at National Veterans
Golden Age Games
#VeteranOfTheDay Navy Veteran Edward Bishop
Procopio Decision
Final: Blue Water Navy Veterans get Presumption for Disability Claims
This week the
Department of Justice (DOJ) announced it will NOT appeal the Procopio v. Wilkie
Decision. This decision extends the presumption for VA disability claims to the
Blue Water Navy veterans who served off the coast of Vietnam and who were
exposed to toxic chemical defoliants during the Vietnam conflict.
In January
2019, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington D.C., in
a 9-2 decision extended presumptive VA disability benefits to the Blue Water
Navy Vietnam veterans who were exposed to toxic chemical defoliants. The DOJ
had until June 28, 2019 to decide if it wanted to appeal the decision. The FRA
is listed as a "friend of the court" by the petitioner Blue Water
Navy Veteran, Mr. Procopio.
The FRA wants
to thank Shipmates that weighed in on this issue through the FRA Action Center.
The association still supports the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act
(H.R.299 & S.1195) that will ensure that the VA interrupts (sic.) Procopio
correctly and expands presumption for certain Korean veterans and benefits to
children with spina bifida with at least one parent who served in Thailand.
See: FRA NewsBytes June 7, 2019
House Armed
Services, Military Personnel Subcommittee Markup NDAA
Led by
Chairwoman Rep. Jackie Speier (Calif.) and Ranking Member Rep. Trent Kelly
(Miss.), the House Armed Services Committee, Military Personnel Subcommittee
unanimously approved its portion of the FY2020 National Defense Authorization
Act (NDAA-H.R.2500). Key provisions in
the markup include:
No TRICARE fee
increases.
Prohibiting
the Department of Defense (DoD) from realigning or reducing military medical
end strength until analyses are conducted on impact on combat readiness,
quality of care and the availability of health care services for beneficiaries.
Requiring DoD
to conduct a review policy and submit a report on suicide among members of the
Armed Forces.
Providing the
full 3.1 percent active duty annual pay increase that keeps pace with civilian
pay.
Requiring DoD to develop an assessment tool to measure
health and safety hazards in DOD housing to include privatized housing.
Mandating
exposures to burn pits and blast events to be recorded in a service member's
medical record.
Increasing maximum reimbursement amount from $500 to
$1,000 for state licensure and certifications of a military spouse due to
relocation.
The FRA
opposes the controversial plan to cut more than 17,000 military medical billets
over three years and welcomes the two-year delay provided in the House
subcommittee markup to determine the impact on access and quality of care for
beneficiaries. The subcommittee markup will go to the full House Armed Services
Committee for their markup and then onto the full House for consideration.
The Senate
Committee has already marked up its version of the defense authorization bill
(S.1215) and the bill is awaiting consideration by the full Senate in two
weeks. Once both chambers pass their version of the NDAA, a conference
committee will be appointed to resolve the differences between the two bills.
Once that occurs both chambers will vote on the final bill, and if approved by
both chambers the bill will go to the President to be signed into law or be
vetoed.
See: FRA NewsBytes June 7, 2019
Discharge Petition
for SBP/DIC Offset Repeal
Rep. Joe
Wilson (S.C.), sponsor of the FRA-supported SBP/DIC offset repeal (H.R.553),
has filed a Discharge Petition for the legislation. A discharge petition allows
a bill to be released from committee and sent to the House floor for a vote if
a majority of Representatives (218) approves the petition. The SBP/DIC offset
for survivors, is sometimes referred to as the Military Widows Tax.
Eliminating
the DIC dollar-for-dollar offset to SBP annuities for eligible survivors would
correct an inequity that has existed for many years. Each payment serves a
different purpose: DIC is a special compensation paid by the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) to the survivor when a military member's death is
service-connected. SBP annuities are paid by the Department of Defense (DOD),
reflect the longevity of the service of the military member. They are usually
calculated at 55 percent of covered retired pay for retirees who elect to participate.
It ensures their family has a guaranteed income after his/her death.
Members are
urged to use the FRA Action Center to contact their U.S. Representative to ask
them to support the discharge petition.
See: FRA NewsBytes June 7, 2019
VA MISSION Act
Implementation
The
FRA-supported VA MISSION Act was signed into law on June 6, 2018. NED Tom Snee and DLP John Davis attended the
bill signing ceremony at the White House. A year later the law is being
implemented by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Under the new law, the
Veterans Health Administration will undergo structural changes that give
veterans greater access to the health care they earned.
Fully
implementing this new law is going to take years. Among other things, the VA
has to integrate community care programs, update payment systems and conduct a
review of the department's assets and infrastructure. These major changes to VA
structure are scheduled over the next several years with progress review dates
for accountability.
Another
important provision of the new law is the expansion of the VA Caregiver Program
that was expanded to include benefits for all badly disabled veterans.
Previously it applied to veterans disabled after 9/11/2001. The FRA will
continue to monitor implementation of all these important provisions of this
law to ensure that veterans continue to benefit from this new law.
See: FRA NewsBytes June 7, 2019
D-Day 75th
Anniversary
President
Donald Trump attended a ceremony celebrating the 75th anniversary of the World
War II invasion of Normandy, France by Allied troops, commonly referred to as
D-Day. Attendees at the event included American D-Day veterans. The event
honored those who participated in the largest naval invasion in history that eventually
lead to the end of the war in Europe.
See: FRA NewsBytes June 7, 2019
VISN 4 Announced
on June 7, 2019, a New Crescenz VA Medical Center Director.
Karen Flaherty-Oxler, MSN, RN, Experienced Nursing Leader
and retired rear admiral of the United States Navy, appointed to Lead Medical
Center in Philadelphia. She will oversee
delivery of health care to approximately 60,000 veterans with an operating
budget of more than $540 million. With nearly 3,000 employees, the Crescenz
VAMC operates 309 inpatient beds and conducted nearly 530,000 outpatient visits
last year. The Crescenz VAMC also operates outpatient clinics in Marlton,
Horsham, and West Philadelphia in Pennsylvania and Camden and Sewell in New
Jersey.
CONTACT: David Cowgill, Communications Manager, PHONE:
(412) 822-3536
Female Veterans Are Fastest Growing Segment of Homeless
Veteran Population
Sacred Duty: A Soldier’s Tour at Arlington National
Cemetery
Same Day Mental Health services for Veterans
Veterans and Transitioning Military Get a Free Year of
LinkedIn Premium: Includes over 14,000 LinkedIn Learning courses
As a VA healthcare leader, Dr. Glennon Park ensures that
Veterans receive the best emergency care
As Section Chief of the Emergency Department at
Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Dr. Glennon Park directly impacts emergency
medicine practices at VA.
#VeteranOfTheDay Navy Veteran Thomas Jerome Hudner Jr.
Leo LaCasse survived three crash landings and evaded
4,000 enemy troops during World War II: Highly decorated hero now resides at a
VA Community Living Center
VA mental health therapy in your living room: Houston
Veterans get mental health care at home using remote video app
Inadequate Oversight of Contracted Disability Exam
Cancellations
Meet Marine Corps Veteran, Walter Wojcik
Bernard Cambia is Fit For Life
Meet Betty: 80 going on 39
VA health care facilities to go smoke-free
The VA will now let you go to civilian urgent care
centers
STATEMENT OF INSPECTOR GENERAL MICHAEL J. MISSAL, DEPARTMENT
OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL, BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON
OVERSIGHT AND INVESTIGATIONS
COMMITTEE ON VETERANS’ AFFAIRS, U.S. HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES HEARING ON EXAMINING THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS POLICE
PROGRAM JUNE 11, 2019
Senate Unanimously Passes the Blue Water Navy Vietnam
Veterans Act
‘Blue water’ veterans bill clears Senate, heads to White
House for final signature
Complications Associated with Phototherapy at the Gulf
Coast Veterans Health Care System
Horse Therapy ~ Peyo The Love Stallion Visits Sick People
TREA "The Enlisted Association" Washington
Update. DOJ Decides not to Appeal the
Decision in Procopio. GOOD NEWS FOR NAVY
BLUE WATER VETERANS. The Solicitor
General submitted a motion to SCOTUS to dismiss Gray v. Wilkie as a moot case,
as DoJ has decided not to appeal the decision in Procopio. This means Procopio is now law of the land:
"The Solicitor General has decided not to file a petition for a writ of
certiorari in Procopio, and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will follow
Procopio's interpretation of the Act going forward."
Borne The Battle 149: WWII Weekend Part One: Pearl Harbor
Survivors Richard Schimmel and William Bonelli
Nurse Practitioners can discover a career leading and
shaping Veterans’ healthcare during the 2019 AANP National Conference in
Indianapolis. Learn about VA nursing careers at the American Association of
Nurse Practitioners National Conference, June 18-23, 2019.
#VeteranOfTheDay Army Veteran John Edgar Keogh
A salute to a fallen soldier, 47 years later
Agent
Orange (Live) Kate Wolf
#VeteranOfTheDay Army Air Forces Veteran Edwin W. Hays
Paralyzed Marine pays it forward and stays ‘Oscar Mike’
Combat Veteran roommates share stories, healing
experience at VA North Texas
Army Veteran takes scenic route across country to reach
Anchorage, National Veterans Golden Age Games
Community Care - Emergency Medical Care
Veteran Community Care – Urgent Care
VA Deputy Chief Barbara C. Morton receives Gears of
Government Award for improving how VA serves Veterans and their families:
Deputy Chief of the Veterans Experience Office Barbara C. Morton was recognized
for better understanding the needs of Veterans and their families.
#VeteranOfTheDay Army Nurse Corps Veteran Lille Margaret
Steinmetz Magette
Competing on behalf of Native American tribe, Marine
Veteran earns gold medals at Golden Age Games
Hey Pete Buttigieg. I haven’t met you. This is crazy.
Here’s my number. So call me maybe?
VA exceeds hiring goal of mental health providers by the
thousands
VA receives awards for innovation in health IT
VA receives awards for innovation in health IT: Nine VA
programs focused on improving Veterans’ experiences and business processes win
accolades
Collaboration and human-centered design are keys to new
digital Disability Compensation Claim Tool
#VeteranOfTheDay United States Army Air Corps and Air
Force Veteran Howard C. McDonald
VA North Texas maximizing patient health, independence,
through intense rehabilitation program
VA’s Vet Centers to host open houses to celebrate
initiative’s 40th anniversary
VA OIG Audit Report: VA’s Administration of the
Transformation Twenty-One Total Technology Next
Generation Contract
Veterans Advisory Commission 12-12-2018
I could not find the March 2019 meeting of the Veterans
Advisory Commission at the following site:
Never Forgotten Memorials
APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR NEW YORK “ARMED TO FARM” VETERAN
TRAINING
Would you like assistance in upgrading your
discharge?
National WWI Museum and Memorial monument, other sites
vandalized overnight
Best Stolen Valor Fights 2018! Instant Karma - Instant
Justice
Veteran Community Care: Overview
STATEMENT OF INSPECTOR GENERAL MICHAEL J. MISSAL,
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT
OPERATIONS, COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND REFORM, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
HEARING ON “ENSURING QUALITY HEALTHCARE FOR OUR VETERANS”
JUNE 20, 2019
VA Vet Center rededicated to honor fallen North Ogden
Mayor, National Guard Veteran Maj. Brent Taylor
Milwaukee and Madison VA team up for tai chi seminar,
promote healing, mental clarity
Alleged Deficiencies in Out of Operating Room Airway
Management Processes at the Colmery-O’Neil VA
Medical Center within the VA Eastern Kansas Health Care
System, Topeka,Kansas
STATEMENT OF STEVE BRACCI, DIRECTOR, DENVER BENEFITS
INSPECTIONS DIVISION, OFFICE OF AUDITS AND EVALUATIONS, OFFICE OF INSPECTOR
GENERAL, DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, BEFORE THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON DISABILITY ASSISTANCE AND MEMORIAL
AFFAIRS, COMMITTEE ON VETERANS’ AFFAIRS, UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, HEARING ON “ENSURING ACCESS TO DISABILITY BENEFITS FOR VETERAN
SURVIVORS OF MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA” JUNE 20, 2019
Alleged Unapproved Acquisition of a Robotic Surgical
System for the W.G. (Bill) Hefner Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salisbury,
North Carolina
Trump takes credit for passing veterans bill that passed
under Obama
Perry County Woman Sentenced For Role In Defrauding
Disabled Veteran
Treating PTSD: Stay Connected
Increasing Veterans' access to health care: The MISSION
Act strengthens VA’s ability to deliver trusted, easy to access, high quality
care at VA facilities, virtually through telehealth, and in your community.
That means you get the care and services you need, where and when you need
them.
Six Ways to Combat Heart Failure
Target Your Anger with AIMS App
Cool Down Your Summer Workout
Boost Your Brain Health After TBI
Get Checked: Say Yes to the HIV Test
VA pension benefits
Borne The Battle #150: Benefits Breakdown – 75th
Anniversary of the VA Home Loan Program
Explore providing specialized care to Veterans as an
orthopedic surgeon during the American: Orthopaedic Association Annual
Leadership Meetings in San Diego
Learn about VA careers in orthopedics at #AOAmtg, June
25-29, 2019.
Team Red, White and Blue connects Veterans to their
communities with social and physical activities
Team RWB wants you to join the more than 160K Eagles
across the Nation
#VeteranOfTheDay Marine Corps Veteran Scott S. Jensen
STATEMENT OF LARRY REINKEMEYER, ASSISTANT INSPECTOR
GENERAL FOR AUDITS AND EVALUATIONS, OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL, U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON HEALTH, COMMITTEE ON
VETERANS’ AFFAIRS, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, HEARING ON “MISSION
READINESS: VA’S EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND CACHE PROGRAM” JUNE 19, 2019
Vet360 and Veterans Signals programs recognized by
FedHealthIT: VA's Veterans Experience Office receives 2019 FedHealthIT
Innovation Awards
Texas VA awarded contract for TeleMental Health Hosting
Facility
#VeteranOfTheDay Army Veteran Kenneth M. Wessner
Spinal injury Veterans do some home cooking: Residents
plan, prepare and share community meals
VA releases Request for Information, seeks strategies for
ways to end Veteran suicide
Scientists display medical innovations at `VA Research
Day’ in nation’s capital
2019-06-20 Full Committee on Veterans’ Affairs held a
legislative hearing on Pending Legislation
Remains of Air Force officer MIA since 1967 returning
home, ending 50-year vigil
The Inequality Hidden Within the Race-Neutral G.I. Bill:
While the G.I. Bill itself was progressive, much of the country still functioned
under both covert and blatant segregation.
