July 15, 2009

In Colorado, deaths attributed to soldiers are investigated

In Colorado, nearly a dozen deaths have been attributed to the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division - nicknamed the Lethal Warriors. The military says it's likely because the soliders showed "a hostility fueled by intense combat in Iraq, where the troops suffered heavy losses and told of witnessing war crimes."  One of them, accused of first-degree murder in the shooting of a man and woman putting up garage sale signs, said he enjoyed hearing the sound of sirens as " authorities raced to the scene, according to the Army report." [Associated Press]

July 14, 2009

Questions about Post 9/11 G.I.Bill? Check YouTube

The VA, in their outreach, has just loaded the Video Guide to the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill.  It's an attempt to clarify eligibility, benefits, educational questions - the lot.

In fact, the VA has a number of useful videos posted The Yellow Ribbon (college) Program. and the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill. [Veterans Administration release]

VA continues to struggle with backlog

But there is some positive news in this article. The VA has hired 4200 claims processors but it will take months to have them fully trained. Still, as the soldier profiled said: “I just want the process to change, because it is ridiculous.” [New York Times]

July 09, 2009

VA IG finds facilities vulnerable to fraud

Following the medical recorrds fraud case in the Louisville VA facility, the Inspector General surveyed others and found them vulnerale to the same kind of fraud - the submission of "altered or counterfeit medical records.

A VA spokeswoman said yesterday that the department has taken actions to correct the problems. "VA has implemented safeguards to protect the integrity of benefit payments and actively monitors our payment processes for compliance," said Katie Roberts, press secretary for VA." [Washington Post]

July 06, 2009

Rise in homeless female veterans

New statistics on veterans say that "one out of every 10 homeless veterans under the age of 45 is a woman" and there are an estimated 6500 homeless female veterans. Many are single mothers. [Boston Globe]

In Maine, homeless veterans have an advocate

Amy Tague is passionate about helping veterans up in the Massachusetts and Maine area. While many veterand do take advantage of the services, some can't because "of their cognitive problems." But she and her group is determined to help as many as they can find. [Kennebec Journal]

July 01, 2009

Tales of soliders and the VA

The effects of war on some soldiers in the Oregon / Willamette area, and their later dealings with the Veterans Administration. Prepare for a struggle is the upshot of the article. Worth reading to the end.  [Willamette Online]

June 25, 2009

Head of Miami veterans hospital crossexamined by Senate committee

The head of the Miami Veterans Affairs Health Care System was questioned by the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee over the improper use of medical equipment that led to mistakes "that may have exposed thousands of veterans to diseases such as HIV and hepatitis." [Miami Herald]

June 23, 2009

Chaplain dies of 2004 war injuries

Father Tim Vakoc, injured in a roadside bombing in 2004, passed away from his injuries, which included brain injuries and the loss of an eye. The Catholic priest is the first chaplain to die in the course of the war in Iraq. He was 49. [Tacoma News Tribune]

June 22, 2009

Claims rise at the VA

Despite efforts to work through the backlog, slow resolution of veterans' claims are rising to a new height - an estimated 900,000 and rising. [St Petersburg Times]

A dangerous situation at a Philly VA hospital

Some veterans being treated for prostate cancer in a Philadelphia VA hospital got more than they bargained for. The doctor in charge of injecting the radioactive "seeds" put them in the wrong organs.

Then he rewrote his reports. [New York Times]

June 19, 2009

Court dismisses veterans class-action suit over privacy

11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has dismissed most of a suit brought by veterans whose records were lost when a  government hard drive containing the medical histories and Social Security numbers went missing. The court did say that they could recover some money if they could show "mental anguish."  [Wired]

Veterans Affairs takes on its old technology

Secretary Shinseki has been pushing for updating the computer systems and more coordination, and the project is on its way. The goal, as reported earlier, is to have a system where the DOD and the VA electronically keep track and exchange information. [Washington Post]

June 17, 2009

Wounded Warriors Battalion in Tacoma gets new leader

Lt. Col. Danny Dudek lost the use of his feet to a roadside bomb in Iraq but it hasn't stood in his way of taking command of the Warrior Transition Battalion at Fort Lewis in Washington state. [Tacoma News Tribune]

2nd report on VA hospitals dispiriting

A second report looking at colonoscopies at VA hospitals shows that many aren't doing well as to safety. [CNN]

June 16, 2009

Congress appropriates more money for veterans

The Military Construction-Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee approved on a voice vote $132.2 billion appropriation for Veterans Affairs for fiscal 2010. It is more than the White House requested. [CQ Politics]

June 15, 2009

Paralyzed British veteran climbs Yosemite mountain

Maj. Phil Packer of the British Royal Military Police, paralyzed from the waist down in 2008 during his tour in Basra Iraq, was told he would never walk again. He refused to accept that.

Last week, he climbed the face of El Capitan in Yosemite in support for Help for Heroes, a charity for disabled veterans. He also walked all 26.2 miles of the London Marathon... on crutches. It took him two weeks.  [Merced Sun-Star]