Tag: Veterans’ News

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Pierre, South Dakota, Huntington, West Virginia, La Crosse, Wisconsin, Statesboro, Georgia, Clarksville, Tennessee, Daytona Beach, Florida, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Portland, Oregon, Naples, Florida, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

VA Planning To Fully Automate Agent Orange Claims Process.USA Today (3/9, Zoroya, 2.11M) notes that on Tuesday, the Department of Veterans Affairs "plans to announce...it will fully automate how it pays claims for illnesses related to exposure to the chemical Agent Orange to keep an overburdened system from collapse."

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Ashland, Oregon, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Farmington, New Mexico, Sikeston, Missouri, New Bedford, Massachusetts, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Washington, DC, Teaneck, New Jersey, and Canton, Ohio.

Report By Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses Task Force Nearly Complete. The lead item in George W. Reilly's "Veterans Journal" column for the Providence (RI) Journal (3/8) notes, "Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki announced on Feb. 27 that the department's Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses Task Force has nearly completed a comprehensive report that will redefine how VA addresses the needs of ill veterans who deployed during the Gulf War in 1990 and 1991." Reilly adds, "Task Force chairman John Gingrich, VA's chief of staff and a retired Army officer who served during the Gulf War, said, 'Reaching out to Gulf War veterans is not only essential to our transformation of VA, for many of us it is also personal.'"

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from West Palm Beach, Florida, Reno, Nevada, Tampa, Florida, Fresno, California, Medical Lake, Washington, Orlando, Florida, Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Palm Bay, Florida.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Martinsburg, West Virginia, Craig, Colorado, Newark, New Jersey, Joplin, Missouri, Seattle, Washington, Las Vegas, Nevada, Brockton, Massachusetts, Merced, California, St Louis, Missouri, and Vero Beach, Florida.

The AP (3/4) reported that Sen. Daniel Akaka and Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki agree "that reforming the VA disability claims system must be a top priority," and in a release, Akaka said "that he is encouraged by the administration's commitment to add thousands of staff to process veterans' disability claims." However, the senator also believed "the situation will get worse before it gets better, because it will take years and significant resources to fully train new VA claims staff."

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Pensacola, Florida, Rochester, New York, Las Vegas, Nevada, San Diego, California, Boulder, Colorado, Camden, New Jersey, Jackson, California, and Youngstown, Ohio.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Hilton Head, South Carolina, Lubbock, Texas, Amherst, Massachusettes, Tallahassee, Florida, Alexandria, Virginia, Santa Barbara, California, and Atlanta, Georgia.

"We polled many Whispers associates and sources, and they were quick to size up the top five Obama cabinet members." Fifth on the list, according to Bedard, "is Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki, who has turned an agency that is at the bottom of lists in past administrations into an example of how to bring federal services to the troops, injured veterans, and even homeless vets. He's showing that the VA has a heart."

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Edison, New Jersey, Madison, Wisconsin, Hamtramck, Michigan, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Apple Valley, Minnesota, Salt Lake City, Utah, Houma, Louisiana, Newport News, Virginia, and MCAS Futenma, Okinawa.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from New Hempstead, New York, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Flemington, New Jersey, Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Burlington, Vermont.

Shinseki, Akaka Agree On Need To Reform VA Disability Claims System. In continuing coverage, the AP (3/2) reports Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki and US Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI) "have agreed that reforming the VA disability claims system must be a top priority." On Friday, Akaka "said...in a Washington news release that he's encouraged by the administration's commitment to add thousands of staff to process veterans' disability claims."

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from

Despite billions of additional dollars pumped into veterans benefits in recent years, many military personnel still leave service unaware of their VA benefits or of programs set up to help them transition to civilian life, a senior Defense official and veteran advocates testified Wednesday.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Jackson, Tennessee, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Shreveport, Louisiana, Billings, Montana, Austin, Texas, Fayetteville, North Carolina, Norwich, Connecticut, Durango, Colorado, and Grand Island, Nebraska

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Silver City, New Mexico, Reno, Nevada, St Paul, Minnesota, Los Angeles, California, and Springfield, Missouri.

Find out What's Inside Today's Local News for Veterans Shinseki To Attend Senate Budget Hearing Today. VA Preparing To Re-Examine Gulf War Vets' Disability...

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Rockwall, Texas, Hampton Roads, Virginia, Atlantic City, New Jersey, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Washington, DC, Midland, Texas, Aurora, Colorado, Columbia, Missouri, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki speak about his goals to improve the quality of life for veterans at the El Paso VA Health Care System facility." During his visit, Shinseki, who "was hosted" by US Reps. Silvestre Reyes, Ciro Rodriguez, and Harry Teague, "toured the VA facility and the Fort Bliss National Cemetery, and he participated in a veterans roundtable before addressing the public on the purpose of his visit. In his speech, he addressed three specific goals targeting programs affecting the nation's veterans: reducing the growing backlog of claims, improving the quality of VA healthcare facilities and reducing homelessness among all veterans."

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from: Allouez, Wisconsin, Athens, Tennessee, Newport News, Virginia, Roseburg, Oregon, Colorado Springs , Colorado, Birmingham, Alabama, Los Angeles, California, Joliet Illinois, and Visalia, California.

Find out What's Inside Today's Local News for Veterans VA Announces Expansion Of IT Program Management, Accountability System. Shinseki Among Those Asked To Choose...

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from: Indianapolis, Indiana, Reno, Nevada, Sioux Falls, Iowa, Chicago, Illinois, Stamford, Connecticut, Portland, Oregon, Fort Myers, Florida, Leesburg, Virginia, Madison, Wisconsin, and Weslaco, Texas.

VA Education Call Center Again Operating Five Days a Week - The Department of Veterans Affairs today announced that the Education Call Center, closed on Thursdays and Fridays over the past two months, is again operating five days a week. (2/23/10)

Find out What's Inside Today's Local News for Veterans Shinseki "Fighting To Reduce" Red Tape For Vets Seeking Benefits. Lawmakers Urge VA Support For...

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from: Stockton, California, Shreveport, Louisiana, Biloxi, Mississippi, Hampton Roads, Virginia, Port Orchard, Washington, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Albany, New York, Columbia, South Carolina, Chicago, Illinois, College Park, Maryland, and Los Angeles, Califronia.

The AP (2/22, Hefling) notes that during a recent interview, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki "said he's making it a top priority this year to tackle the backlog of disability claims that has veterans waiting months - even years - to get financial compensation for their injuries." Shinseki, "a former Army chief of staff who had part of a foot blown off when he was a young officer in Vietnam, was unapologetic about a decision he made in October to make it easier for potentially 200,000 sick Vietnam veterans who were exposed to the Agent Orange herbicide to receive service-connected compensation." Shinseki "said he's looking ahead to make sure Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries don't have similar problems getting financial compensation."

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from: Sarasota, Florida, Chillicothe, Ohio, Minneapolis, Minnesota, South Bend, Indiana, Fort Myers, Florida, Remsen, New York, San Clemente, Caliornia, Evergreen Park, Illinois, and Kings Park, New York.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from: Camp Lejeune North Carolina, San Francisco, California, Tallmadge, Ohio, Cicero, Illinois, Hampton Roads, Virginia, Sioux City, Iowa, Newton, Massachusetts, Fort Myers, Florida, Athens, Georgia, and Louisville, Kentucky.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Moundville, Alabama, Amherst, Massachusetts, Ontario, Canada, Lorain, Ohio, Tampa, Florida, Lynchburg, Virginia, Salt Lake City, Utah, Long Beach, California, Aurora, Colorado, and Hanson, Kentucky

In continuing coverage, Modern Healthcare (2/19, Lubell, 72K) reports, "Robert Petzel has been sworn in as undersecretary for health at the Veterans Affairs Department, the agency announced. Petzel will be heading the Veterans Health Administration, the 262,000-employee component of the VA that is composed of 153 hospitals, more than 800 geographically separate outpatient clinics or mobile clinics, and 232 readjustment counseling vet centers." Modern Healthcare notes that in a written statement, VA Secretary Eric Shinseki said Petzel's "commitment to outstanding medical quality and access for veterans will be critical to leading VA in its 21st century transformation."

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from: Bayboro, North Carolina, Alamagordo, New Mexico, St Louis, Missouri, Spartanburg, South Carolina, Los Angeles, California, and Waco, Texas.

Shinseki: Workers Being Moved Back To New GI Bill Helpline.The AP (2/18, Hefling) reports, "Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with questions about the new Post-9/11 GI Bill will again be able to get help by phone five days a week starting Thursday." Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki, who "made the announcement in an interview while traveling to a meeting with veterans" in West Virginia, "says that GI Bill helpline employees have been tapped since December to help process a backlog in education claims. With claims being processed more efficiently now, Shinseki says those workers are being moved back to the helpline."

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from: Battle Creek, Michigan, Pell City, Alabama, Lafayette, Louisiana, Lompoc, California, Cincinnati, Ohio, Beckley, West Virginia, San Ramon, California, Chillicothe, Ohio, Los Angeles, California

"The military needs to step up and address this problem," said John Wilson of the advocacy group Disabled American Veterans, which maintains a registry of more than 500 veterans with disorders they blame on burn pits. The fumes emanating from the pits, he warned, could become the Agent Orange of the current war zone.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues from Maryville, Tennessee, Two Rivers, Wisconsin, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Chicago, Illinois, Richmond, Virginia, Mason City, Iowa, Burlington, Vermont, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and Plant City, Florida

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Savannah, Georgia, Salt Lake City, Utah, Rockland, Massachusetts, Davenport, Iowa, Shreveport, Louisiana, Anchorage, Alaska, Manila, Philippines, Los Angeles, California, Nashua, New Hampshire, and Charleston, West Virginia.

Regional stories on veterans, health,education and other benefits and issues today from: Monterey, California, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Wichita Falls, Texas, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Lufkin, Texas, Fayetteville, North Carolina, Hartford, Connecticut, Sunrise, Florida, Springfield, Missouri, and Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Regional Stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from: South Bristol, New York, Pocatello, Idaho, Carmel, California, Port St Lucie, Florida, Bishop, Texas, Chillicothe, Ohio

Regional stories on veterans health, education and other benefits and issues today from: Lorain, Ohio, Wichita Falls, Texas, Salt Lake City, Utah, Louisville,Kentucky, Charleston,South Carolina, Port St. Lucie, Florida, Joliet, Illinois, Johnston, Iowa, St Paul Minnesota, and Mason, Texas

VA is known for its commitment to innovative quality and safety programs and for the transparency of results they achieve. In 2008, VA issued its first comprehensive facility-level report of quality and safety data, reporting on care provided in inpatient and outpatient settings, quality of care within specific patient populations, and patient satisfaction and outcomes. Improved and re-issued in 2009, the report is a comprehensive snapshot of the quality of care VA provides.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and services today from: Prescott, Arizona, Norman Oklahoma, Lufkin, Texas, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Anchorage, Alaska, Oakland, California, Tomah, Wisconsin, Buffalo, New York, Sunderland, Massachusetts, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Buffalo, New York, and Wellesley, Massachusetts