Top 10 Veterans News from Around the Country 08-15-08

1. Peake Expected To Open New Clinic In North Carolina. 
2. Mansfield Predicts Election Will Not Hurt Wounded Warrior Transition.  
3. Lawmakers Praised For Pressing VA On Walla Walla.  
4. Multiple Deployments Said To Be Increasing Soldiers’ Mental Health Risks.  
5. VA Begins Construction On New Regional Office In Idaho.  
6. VA To Open Clinic In Missouri.  
7. Spokane VAMC Planning To Seek Bids For Addition To Facility.  
8. Ralph H. Johnson VAMC Receives Award.  
9. Truman VAMC Spreading Word About Benefits Program. 
10. VA Certification Benefits Injured Iraq Veteran.

     1.      Peake Expected To Open New Clinic In North Carolina.   The Charlotte (NC) Observer (8/15, Perlmutt) reports, "Veterans Administration Secretary James Peake is expected to officially open a new VA outpatient clinic in Charlotte on Monday, an effort to get better care closer to veterans." Carolyn Adams, "director of Salisbury’s VA hospital," which oversees the clinic, said, "We want one-stop shopping for all our veterans." The Observer notes that Monday’s "9:30 a.m. ribbon-cutting will include remarks" from US Sens. Elizabeth Dole and Richard Burr, and US Reps. Robin Hayes and Sue Myrick, "all Republicans."

2.      Mansfield Predicts Election Will Not Hurt Wounded Warrior Transition.   American Forces Press Service (8/14, Miles) reported, "Strides made or under way to improve care for wounded warriors transitioning from Defense Department care to the Veterans Affairs system won’t be disrupted by upcoming changes in both departments’ leaderships, the No. 2 VA official said." Deputy VA Secretary Gordon H. Mansfield "said he’s confident whichever candidate wins the November elections will build on successes made to provide the best support possible for wounded troops and veterans. Mansfield spoke with American Forces Press Service during the 28th National Veterans Wheelchair Games, which wrapped up" last month in Omaha, Nebraska.

3.      Lawmakers Praised For Pressing VA On Walla Walla.   An editorial in the Walla Walla (WA) Union-Bulletin (8/15) says it appreciates the "quick response" by US senators and representatives from Washington, Oregon and Idaho, to the closure of the nursing home at the Jonathan M. Wainwright Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The Northwest congressional delegation wrote a letter to VA Secretary James Peak "urging the VA to help fund a new state veterans home at Wainwright." The Union-Bulletin adds, "The VA must address the concerns in Walla Walla…quickly," and the "senators and representatives must continue to monitor the situation to ensure it is done."

4.      Multiple Deployments Said To Be Increasing Soldiers’ Mental Health Risks.   USA Today (8/15, Elias) reports, "Multiple combat deployments to Iraq are increasing serious mental health problems among soldiers, triggering drug and alcohol abuse and contributing to record suicide levels, suggest reports out Thursday at the American Psychological Association meeting in Boston. In a typical unit headed to Iraq, 60% are on their second, third or fourth deployment…says" US Army Col. Carl Castro, "who directs a medical research program at Fort Detrick, Md. More time in Iraq means heavier exposure to violence, which leads more soldiers to develop symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, Castro told the psychology meeting." In "another report at the meeting, deployment correlated with more heavy drinking and illegal drug use, according to anonymous questionnaires given to about 34,000 active duty troops, Reservists and National Guard members."
      VA’s Efforts To Prevent Suicide Noted.   In a story on the recent suicide of Iraq War veteran Derrick Hendon, the Akron (OH) Beacon Journal (8/15, Carney) reports, "In 2007, the Department of Veterans Affairs began operating a hot line, 800-273-TALK, to help veterans who might be suicidal." The availability of the VA’s suicide hotline was also noted in a Holmen (WI) Courier (8/14, Killeen) story on Jake Clements, another Iraq vet who also committed suicide.
      Study Says Combat Vets Are At Higher Risk For Alcohol Abuse.   The Army Times (8/15, Kennedy) reports a new study in the August edition of the Journal of the American Medicine Association "verifies what physicians, company commanders and mental health workers already knew: Service members who see combat are at higher risk for heavy and binge drinking." The study "found that National Guard and Reserve members, troops with a history" of PTSD "or depression, and younger service members ‘are at increased risk of new-onset heavy weekly drinking, binge-drinking and alcohol-related problems.’" The Times adds that the "new research showed an increase in pre- and post-deployment drinking patterns, especially in those who deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan and witnessed combat-related trauma."

5.      VA Begins Construction On New Regional Office In Idaho.   KRTV-TV Boise, ID (8/14, 7:32 a.m. MT) broadcast that on Wednesday, the Department of Veterans Affairs "started construction on its newest regional office, located on the grounds of the VA medical center in Boise. Currently, the office is located about five blocks away from the medical center. Veterans grew tired of having to make that trip, and made their voices heard." The "new building…should be completed late in 2009."
      The AP (8/15) reports US Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID) "joined fellow lawmakers during a groundbreaking" ceremony held Wednesday for the new office. Craig "says the new office will enable veterans to get medical care without the logistical hassles they deal with now."

6.      VA To Open Clinic In Missouri.   In continuing coverage, KSPR-TV Springfield, MO (8/14, 6:54 a.m. CT) broadcast that the Department of Veterans Affairs "says it will open a…clinic in Branson sometime next month." Veterans "currently have to travel to Mount Vernon, or Fayetteville, Arkansas, to see a VA doctor." The Branson (MO) Daily News (8/15, Stacy) publishes a similar story.

7.      Spokane VAMC Planning To Seek Bids For Addition To Facility.   The Spokane (WA) Journal Of Business (8/14, Gustafson) reported, "The Spokane Veterans Affairs Medical Center says it plans to seek bids soon for a 10,000-square-foot addition to its facility in northwest Spokane that is expected to cost between $2 million and $5 million." The addition "will double the size of the hospital’s pharmacy to 6,000 square feet and allow the hospital to centralize its specialty care services, including traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury care, arthritis care, podiatry, and dermatology."

8.      Ralph H. Johnson VAMC Receives Award.   In continuing coverage, WCIV-TV Charleston, SC (8/14, 6:31 a.m. ET) broadcast that the Charleston Veterans Affairs hospital "has received a high honor." On Wednesday, US Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) gave "the Ralph H. Johnson Medical Center the South Carolina On the Move award." The hospital "ranks second in the nation for quality of care and tenth overall out of 155 VA centers. Hospital officials say the center has made major improvements in the past few years, including staff increases and service expansion."

9.      Truman VAMC Spreading Word About Benefits Program.   KOMU-TV Columbia, MO (8/14, 5:01 p.m. CT) broadcast, "Combat veterans aren’t taking advantage of extended care" from the Department of Veterans Affairs, which "estimates only 35 percent have taken advantage" of a program that provides free care to some veterans who served in the US military between 1998 and 2003. The Truman VA Hospital in Columbia "accepts 40 new veterans each month into the program," so the hospital "has launched a new program to let more veterans know their benefits." So far, "about 1,000 veterans have come to Truman to get their benefits." KOMU (8/14, Hoag) published a similar story on its website.

10.    VA Certification Benefits Injured Iraq Veteran.   The Lima (OH) News (8/14, Sowinski) reported the family of Justin Reynolds, who was "left incapacitated when a virus struck him after being wounded by a roadside bomb in Iraq more than two years ago," received some "good news Wednesday when the Department of Veterans Affairs told them The Ridge at Shawnee has been certified as a veterans nursing facility meaning no more trips to Dayton for certain care, which had the closest facility. Reynolds also will receive a lot more benefits and have more services paid for because of the certification, his father said."