Top 10 Veterans Stories in Today’s News – August 05, 2013

Veterans! Here’s your Top 10 News stories of the day compiled from the latest sources

We encourage you to browse our list so that you can take what you want and keep what you need

 
State’s advocate for veterans tapped for administration post.  Hyperlink to Story The Day:  Linda Schwartz, of Pawcatuck, has served as the commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs for the past decade. On Thursday, President Barack Obama announced he plans to nominate her to be the next Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Policy and Planning.
Blue Water Navy Veterans Sue Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki for Failure to Grant Disability Benefits.  Hyperlink to Story Salem-News.com:  In a suit filed in federal court in Washington DC, two veterans organizations have filed suit against the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Eric Shinseki, for failing to provide benefits to a group of Vietnam War veterans who served aboard ship off the coast of Vietnam.
Money or no, Senate panel OKs help for veterans.  Hyperlink to Story The Daily Herald:  With no heed of a debt crisis, the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee voted Wednesday to help more veterans find work, help more injured vets gain reproductive health services, and pay caregivers of seriously disabled veterans who left service before 9/11 a monthly stipend plus expenses.
Getting patients comfortable with telehealth.  Hyperlink to Story Modern Healthcare:  Before there can be patient-generated data, there have to be patients willing and able to provide it and tools to capture, communicate, receive and present it. That’s where Dr. Susan Woods comes in… The VA demonstrated many of its patient connection wares at a media briefing Tuesday at the National Press Club…”
Extra disability pay promised for vets who submit more complete claims.  Hyperlink to Story Army Times:  The Veterans Affairs Department has launched a unique incentive program for disabled veterans that will potentially provide up to one year of extra disability compensation if a benefits claim is submitted with almost all of the information required for processing.
Sequester damage detailed; health records won’t merge.  Hyperlink to Story The News Tribune:  That joint VA-Defense health record system isn’t going to happen, senior administration officials conceded at a combined hearing in July of the House armed services and veterans affairs committees.


Veteran turns rundown homes into houses for homeless female veterans.  Hyperlink to Story WJLA-TV (Video):  Byrd [President and CEO of Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes] is leading an effort to turn two rundown homes in Northeast into transitional housing for 19 female veterans.
Female veterans in New Mexico reach out to other women warriors.  Hyperlink to Above Story Farmington Daily Times:  New Mexico has 22,324 female veterans, which is about 13 percent of the state’s veterans. According to the New Mexico Department of Veterans Services, women are now the fastest-growing subgroup of the U.S. veteran population. The number of women veterans is expected to increase dramatically in the next 10 years as Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom wind down in Iraq and Afghanistan.
LETTER: VA clinic staff friendly, caring.  Hyperlink to Story Evansville Courier & Press: Evansville is so very fortunate to have a group of dedicated professionals as those at our clinic be they doctor, nurse, therapists, housekeeping, greeters, secretaries or security.
Ala. man faces trial in Florida over VA benefits.  Hyperlink to Story San Francisco Chronicle (AP):  A federal judge in Florida has set a Sept. 9 trial date for an Alabama man accused of stealing money from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Have You Heard?

VA’s End of Life Program Receives National Honor:  VA’s End of Life program has received an award from the American Hospital Association for providing compassionate care and helping patients and families facing complex health challenges.