1.      Mixed Feelings Voiced On VA Paperless Claims Processing Pilot Project. King Features' syndicated "Veterans' Post" (8/6. Groves), appearing in the Keene (NH) Sentinel and elsewhere, writes, "I don't know whether to laugh or cry. The Department of Veterans Affairs wants to go paperless for disability claims." The column notes that the VA "hasn't had a good track record of taking things online, either. Look at the $127 million it spent on an appointment scheduling system. Then it had to start over." It also notes charges of "cases of rigging the appointments. It's called 'gaming,' and employees are doing it so their performance looks better." Nevertheless, the column says that the VA " All it takes is one (or dozens) of wayward employees to make changes in the data. There are cases of clerks canceling "is going to try to get it right this time, and it has awarded a $9.1-million contract to IBM for a fully automated online-claims processing system." The new claims system is scheduled to begin in November and is supposed to allow VA to make claims decisions within 125 days.

     But the VAWatchdog.org (8/6, Scott) voices skepticism, and, after noting that a VA announcement says that Secretary Shinseki "has set a goal that by 2015 VA will process all claims within 125 days with 98% accuracy," comments that "It's nice to know that the Secretary has a sense of humor."

 

2.      VA Deputy Secretary Gould Interviewed. "Ideastream" on WCPN-FM Cleveland (8/6, Wellman) interviewed VA Deputy Secretary Scott Gould, in town to visit the regional benefits office. Gould reviews some of the challenges facing the agency, as well as the progress it has made. He identified the three main challenges confronting the agency as implementing new technology, improving business processes, and "the most important is cultural," so that the VA is perceived as having changed from having an adversarial relation with veterans, to being sees as advocates for veterans.

 

3.      Over 1,100 Schools Partner With VA On GI Bill Rights. The Washington D.C. Examiner (8/6, Conway) adds that the VA "announced Wednesday that it is partnering with over 1,100 schools for the upcoming academic year to offer reduced tuition to veterans for the upcoming academic year. Through this collaborative effort, the VA and participating colleges and universities share tuition expenses at higher cost schools. "We are pleased that so many institutions are joining us to support the educational goals of the men and women who served this Nation so honorably," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki."
     The website of the Muskogee (OK) Phoenix (8/7, 14K) reports, "Paving the way for recipients of the Post-9/11 GI Bill to attend higher-cost schools, the Department of Veterans Affairs has entered into more than 3,200 agreements with more than 1,100 schools for the upcoming academic year under the 'Yellow Ribbon' program. Schools can enter into multiple agreements with the VA to accommodate different programs of study.

 

4.      CNN Examines The "Journey Home" For Vets Returning From Combat.  CNN (8/7, Lemon, 10:53 p.m. EDT) devotes a "The Journey Home" segment of its "Newsroom" program to challenges faced by veterans wounded in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. The segment notes that the network's website has links to such resources as Disabled American Veterans and the Fisher House Foundation, and takes a quick look at Sew Much Comfort clothing made by Blue Star Mothers to accommodate injured soldiers. Major General Dr. Douglas Robb, the Surgeon General of the Air Mobility Command, appears and notes that "it's incredible what our Department of Veterans Affairs, what the VA. has done, to be an integral part and an integrated part of the care of our young men and women."

 

5.      VA Says Dying Forensic Sculptor Will Lose Benefits If He Works. The Philadelphia Daily News (8/8, DiFilippo, 93K) reports on forensic sculptor Frank Bender, consulted for his skill in reconstructing the appearance of murder victims from their remains, who is dying of mesothelioma and "has been forbidden to practice his craft by the Department of Veterans Affairs, which is overseeing his care." Since he has been judged 100 percent disabled by the VA, he "risks losing his benefits if he works."

 

6.      Nebraska Will Dedicate First State Veterans Cemetery. The Scottsbluff (NE) Star-Herald (8/7, Guzman, 15K) reports, "After a year of planning, construction and hard work, Nebraska's first State Veteran Cemetery in Alliance will have its dedication Friday."

 

7.      State Veterans Service Officer Warns Against Bogus Veterans Solicitors, Advisors. The Newton (GA) Citizen (8/7, Knowles, 6K) reports that a veterans service officer for the Georgia Department of Veterans Services "says that scam artists are running rampant" misrepresenting themselves as charities serving veterans, and urges that people "should not donate to any group without knowing if the money is actually going to be used for the stated purpose." Veterans and their families should also beware of "seminars telling about veterans benefits and offers to complete paperwork for veterans," since they often charge for services available for free from a state veterans service office.

 

8.      North Carolina DVA Offers Scholarships For Children Of Disabled or Deceased Veterans. The Wilmington (NC) Star News (8/6) reports that the North Carolina Division of Veterans Affairs "offers scholarships to children of certain disabled, deceased or POW/MIA veterans. The four-year scholarships may be used at schools in N.C. that are state-owned institutions of higher education, community colleges and technical institutions; or privately owned, nonprofit colleges and universities." Most of the scholarships provide free tuition, a room and board allowance and certain fees in state-owned institutions, and provide $4,500 per year in private ones.

 

9.      Fargo VAMC Researchers Warn Of West Nile Virus Danger In North Dakota. The Food Consumer (8/7, Downs) reports, "North Dakota may be one of the states where West Nile virus can cause a high rate of neuroinvasive disease, a new study in the March-April 2010 issue of Public Health Reports suggests. The study led by Borchardt S.M. and colleagues at the Fargo Veterans Administration Medical Center shows that the annual cumulative incidence of West Nile neuroinvasive disease can be as high as 14.6 per 100,000 population."

 

10.    Iraq, Afghan Veterans Sue Over Exposure To Burn-Pits. The New York Times (8/7, Risen, 1.09M) reports that Staff Sgt. Susan Clifford, stationed in 2004 and 2005 at Balad Air Base in Iraq, was assigned to help dump her Army unit's trash into a massive, open-air pit. Later suffering unusual respiratory problems, she retired from the service on full disability this April, as "one of the first veterans to receive an official ruling from the military that exposure to open-air burn pits at American bases in Iraq and Afghanistan have caused medical problems. Hundreds of other veterans have complained of similar illnesses that they believe were caused by exposure to the pits, forcing the Pentagon to restrict their use and the Department of Veterans Affairs to begin an investigation. About 300 victims or their families have joined a class-action lawsuit against KBR, the military contractor that operated some of the burn pits at bases in Iraq."

 

11.    Recently-Returned Veterans' Jobless Rate Climbs To 11.8% In July. The Wall Street Journal (8/7, Zhao, 2.08M) reports that while the jobless rate for veterans overall is 8.4%, below the 9.5% for the general population, veterans who served since September 2001 saw their unemployment rate climb in July to 11.8%, up from 11.5 % one month earlier. Younger veterans in particular, who generally have less work experience and skills, face special difficulties finding work.

 

12.    Formerly Homeless Vet Starts Firm That Hires, Trains Other Veterans. The Palm Beach (FL) Post (8/7, Salisbury) reports on David Pate, the owner of MMA Textiles, a company producing shorts for the mixed martial arts, whose workforce is all veterans, many hired through a local charity that works with homeless, unemployed veterans. In 2002, after serving in two Gulf Wars and Bosnia, Pate himself was a homeless veteran. He hopes to hire another 30 veterans to add to his current workforce of nine.

 

13.    Washington VAMC Expands Services For Female Veterans.  WJLA-TV Washington, DC (8/6, Evans) reports, "In the last ten years, the number of female veterans enrolled in VA plans has increased by 300,000 women, but the number who use the hospital has grown by much less. VA officials hope by making a few updates, they can change that. Ann Duarte is one of those changes. The veteran has recently been hired at the DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center after a year and a half on the streets." The Washington VAMC is also "is expanding the women's health clinic, making way for more exam rooms and on-site mammograms, so that female vets who've served their country can receive the service they need when coming home."

 

14.    VA Writes To Assure Beneficiaries Of Military Life Insurance That Their Funds Are 'Secure.'  Bloomberg News (8/7, Capaccio) reports, "The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is writing about 10,000 beneficiaries of military and veterans' life insurance policies to say that payments held in Prudential Financial Inc. accounts are safe and can be withdrawn at any time." A letter signed by Thomas Lastowka, the director of a Philadelphia VA office administering life insurance programs, writes that the benefit "is secure and available to you." It adds that over 60,000 of Prudential's' "Alliance Accounts" have been "successfully managed" since 1999. The story also notes that the New York State Attorney General's Office has opened an investigation and subpoenaed several insurance firms.
     Bloomberg Radio (8/7, 3:32 p.m. EDT) carries a similar report, which also notes that since the business practices of Prudential's dealings with beneficiaries of military life insurance policies was first raised by Bloomberg Markets magazine on July 28, "the VA says it is examining life insurance practices. Members of Congress are also demanding action and filing legislation requiring greater disclosure."

 

15.    VA Mobile Phone Apps Noted In Passing. Health and fitness website Helium.com (8/7, Young) reports that several government agencies, including VA, have developed applications for mobile smart phones, but gives details only for apps from Congress and four federal agencies (the FBI's "most wanted list", NASA images, forecasts from the US Weather Service and earthquake data from the USGS0.

 

16.    Houston VAMC Sponsors Welcome Home Celebration.  KRIV-TV Houston (8/7, 10:26 p.m. EDT) reports that veterans "newly home to Houston were treated to a day of fun. The Metropolitan Multiservice Center was transformed for a big welcome home party. It was sponsored by the Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the City of Houston. The veterans and their family members enjoyed free food, games, and plenty of entertainment. This second annual event was all a way to say thank you." Similarly, KHOU-TV Houston (8/7, 7:11 p.m. EDT) added that the Michael Debakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center "held a special celebration in the River Oaks area. There were games, rock climbing and other fun activities for the whole family. About 80 different organizes took part in the free event and even some local high school students helped out."

  

17.    Homeless Stand Down Held In El Paso.  KFOX-TV El Paso (8/6, 11:30 p.m. EDT) reports, "Today, the Veterans Health Administration sponsored a Stand Down for homeless veterans, to provide them with a variety of services that will help sustain them through the winter. Those services include medical check-ups, housing and legal aid, as well as blankets, food and winter clothes."

 

18.    Upstate New York Veterans Mark 60th Anniversary Of Korean War. The Utica (NY) Observer Dispatch (8/7, Morrison) reports, "Local veterans, residents and officials Saturday morning commemorated the 60th anniversary of the Korean War by honoring the sacrifices of American military personnel who fought in the battles of the war."

 

19.    Funds Sought For American Warrior Flight. The Norwich (CT) Bulletin (8/6, Penney, 22K) reports, "For nearly three years, the American Warrior group has flown hundreds of veterans to Washington, enabling former soldiers, sailors and airmen to visit the wartime memorials erected in their honor. But with a payment deadline looming, the group is still thousands of dollars short of collecting the donations needed to ensure its upcoming trip will take off smoothly." Since its founding in 2007, the volunteer group has sent 530 World War II veterans on trips to Washington, D.C.

 

20.    VA Funds Renovation Of Fort Bliss Cemetery.  KTSM-TV El Paso (8/7, 8:00 p/m. EDT) reports the Fort Bliss National Cemetery "will soon get a facelift. The Department of Veterans Affairs is giving more than $600,000 to help pay for improvements. They'll be preserving historic monuments, repairing roads and even cleaning headstones. The VA received the funds through the American Recovery and Restoration Act." KDBC-TV El Paso (8/7, 7:32 p.m. EDT) carried the same report.

 

21.    Vermont Man Threatened Killing Spree At White River VAMC. The Barre Montpelier (VT) Times Argus (8/6, Curtis, 8K) reports, "Federal authorities say they have recordings made this week by a Rutland man who threatened to blow up the Veterans Affairs hospital in White River Junction and go on a killing spree with automatic weapons. Stratton L. Sirois, 55, was arrested Wednesday by federal agents and he remains jailed in Chittenden pending a detention hearing on Aug. 11, according to the U.S. Attorney's office. VA special agent William Nelson wrote in a federal affidavit that Sirois left 11 threatening messages on an answering machine at the hospital between 7 p.m. Tuesday and 10 a.m. Wednesday." Those messages reportedly mentioned using an AK-47 and Mac-10 machine guns against the hospital, and included references to Al Qaida, Timothy McVeigh and ammonium nitrate-diesel fuel bombs. Sirois, said to be frustrated that the VA had not approved his claim for full-disability benefits, "admitted making the calls during an interview Wednesday and promised violence if the VA didn't do what he wanted."

 

22.    Iowa Veterans Will Join Honor Flight From South Dakota. The Ocheyedan (IA) Press Melvin News (8/6) reports, "Five Osceola county World War II veterans will be heading to Washington D.C., this October to visit the city's various memorials as part of the Honor Flight. The group will depart from Sioux Falls, S. Dak., in the early morning hours of October 1."

 

23.    Nurse Admits To Stealing From Disabled Vet. On its website, WAVY-TV Norfolk, VA (8/6) reported, "Care Advantage certified nursing assistant Sherri Pride admitted to police" she stole over $5,000 worth of goods from JoAnn and Ralph Stalter, a disabled Vietnam vet "who was exposed to Agent Orange" and "requires constant care." After noting that the Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center "says it has 10 other patients under contract for home health care with Care Advantage," WAVY added, "VA says it has not made any new referrals to this contractor."

 

24.    Vietnam Opens Exhibition Of Photos Of Agent Orange Suffering. Vietnamese publication Nhan Dan (8/7) reports, "A photo exhibition entitled 'Agent Orange -- Message from the Heart' opened yesterday at the Chi Lang park in Ho Chi Minh City to celebrate the Day for Vietnamese AO victims (August 10)." The exhibition features 30 large photos "featuring the physical and spiritual pain of AO victims suffering from the consequences of chemical dioxin" and "social support for the victims to help them integrate into the community."

 

25.    VA Decided That Soldier Was Likely Exposed To Agent Orange At Fort Detrick. The Frederick (MD) News-Post (8/7, Eckstein, 38K) reports, "Gary Abram receives compensation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for his military service-connected exposure to Agent Orange, a defoliant used in Vietnam that has since been linked to numerous health problems. But Abram never set foot in Vietnam. He served at Fort Detrick, which, according to the VA, likely exposed him to Agent Orange." Abram, who has diabetes and has been treated for lymphoma and thyroid problems, filed with the VA for compensation in 2007. In August 2008, he "received a letter from the VA that acknowledged his presence at Fort Detrick during a time when the Department of Defense told the VA it spray-tested 1,410 compounds at Fort Detrick greenhouses, including Agent Orange. 'Because you were stationed at Fort Detrick during the spraying of these compounds, we conclude the likelihood of exposure to Agent Orange,' the letter from the VA states." The AP (8/7) also covers the story.

 

26.    Link Found Between Agent Orange Exposure And Graves' Disease. Health and fitness website Helium (8/6, Vogt) reports that a 2010 study at the State University of New York at Buffalo found that Agent Orange "was also linked to an increased risk of Graves' disease," an autoimmune condition caused by overactive hormones in the thyroid. The research "indicates that one of the chemicals found in the Agent Orange defoliant binds with cells in the body's immune system and may cause abnormal growth there. Overall, American veterans of the Vietnam War who were exposed to Agent Orange were three times more likely to develop Graves' disease than the general population."

 

27.    Texas Congressman Describes Changes In VA Stand On Processing Agent Orange Claims.  KENS-TV San Antonio (8/7) reports that TX23 Rep. Ciro Rodriguez (D) met with local veterans to explain the VA's recent change in processing disability claims based on exposure to Agent Orange, which it described as a "loophole in VA processing" due to missing documentation of when and how veterans were exposed to the herbicide. "We've always had with Vietnam a lot of difficulty because there's no documentation on soldiers that were in Laos and Cambodia when in all honesty we weren't even supposed to be there," Rep. Rodriguez told veterans at VFW Post 9168, adding that the VA had received $13 billion to address Agent Orange-related health issues.

 

28.    Army Veteran Loses Battle Against PTSD, Commits Suicide. In a 2,100-word article, "A Soldier's Suicide Underscores The VA's Enormous Challenge," The Salt Lake Tribune (8/7, LaPlante, 120K) reports of the suicide of Kortney Jensen, a 27-year-old Army veteran of two tours in Iraq, who had survived 75 roadside bob detonations, then returned to the States diagnosed as suffering from PTSD. The Tribune notes that Jensen "had the unconditional support of his family. He was plugged into mental health treatment at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Salt Lake City." But, the article notes, even though the "in recent years, veterans advocates have become more laudatory of the VA's network of anti-suicide programs," the results of treatment for PTSD sufferers can be uneven. "'Some people just don't respond to treatment,' said Jennifer Romesser, a neuropsychologist at the Salt Lake VA." Noting that almost 10,000 veterans are being treated for PTSD at the Salt Lake VAMC, and since last October nine have committed suicide. While the VA will investigate Jensen's suicide, in a search for any further steps that could have helped prevent his suicide, among his family, "the consensus is that the VA did all it could."