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MONDAY -- 22 MARCH 2010

PROF. LINDA BILMES ONE OF FOUR CANDIDATES TO HEAD GAO -- Bilmes, who favors pay now and audit later plan for VA claims, is adamantly opposed by Republicans for top spot at Government Accountability Office.

STEEPED IN SECRECY, U.S. NAVY VETERANS ASSOCIATION UNDER SCRUTINY -- The St. Petersburg Times could find only one officer in the entire organization and the nonprofit declined to reveal where its millions of dollars of income went.

REP. BOB FILNER SAYS HEALTH CARE REFORM BILL WILL NOT AFFECT VA, TRICARE -- "I continue to work in concert with leaders in the House of Representatives to ensure that veterans receive the world-class health care services they have so bravely earned."

WEEKEND -- 20 & 21 MARCH 2010 -- THE 20th IS THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING

REP. STEVE BUYER CLAIMS DEM'S HEALTH BILL PUTS TRICARE VETS AT RISK -- "The health care reform bill DOES NOT cover most TRICARE beneficiaries under its definition of minimum essential coverage for health insurance."

THE WEEK IN REVIEW from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG -- A complete, one-page look at VA and veterans' news for the week ending March 20, 2010.

HARD TIME FOR MAN WHO STOLE VET'S ID AND GOT BENEFITS -- He was dishonorably discharged from the Navy, but used a veteran's ID to collect VA benefits.

OREGON VETERANS WAITING TOO LONG FOR COMPENSATION AND PENSION EXAMS -- But, VA officials in Portland and Roseburg say they are working to get all vets their examinations.

WHITE HOUSE REASSURES VETERANS: VA CARE SAFE FROM REFORM -- "The Secretary of Veterans Affairs would continue to maintain sole authority over the system and for enhancing the quality and access for all eligible veterans."

FRIDAY -- 19 MARCH 2010

VA OFFICIAL SAYS DISABILITY CLAIMS SYSTEM CANNOT BE FIXED -- "In my judgment, it cannot be fixed. We need to build a new system, and that is exactly what we are going to do."

COVERT GULF WAR VETERAN FINALLY GETS HIS BENEFITS -- "At least the people in the future they'll have it documented so if something happens, they won't have to flounder around and wait and beg for 3 or 4 years to get their situation taken care of."

COMMENTARY: VA'S BUMBLING IS A DREAM-KILLER FOR VETS IN SCHOOL -- "It culminates in a pile of rubble without any means of paying rent, making a car payment or buying food. Veterans are left with a sense that their country has let them down."

WELLS FARGO BANK REPAYING VETS WHO WERE OVERCHARGED -- Wells Fargo Bank was overcharging some veterans on their VA home loans. Now, they are settling. (with videos)

VAOIG: SOME MILWAUKEE VA PROBLEMS GO UNCORRECTED SINCE LAST IG VISIT -- Milwaukee VA has a number of problems, including issues in three areas not corrected since the last VAOIG review.

VA ADDS NEW PRESUMPTIVE DISEASES FOR GULF WAR, IRAQ, AFGHAN VETERANS -- The nine new presumptives are specific infectious diseases including malaria and the West Nile virus.

MEDICARE PATIENTS 5.5 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO GET CATARACT SURGERY THAN VA PATIENTS -- "We don't know yet what exactly accounts for the five and a half fold difference in surgery rates between the two systems."

VETERANS' ORGS SUE VA OVER TARDY AGENT ORANGE RULE -- It would be unconscionable for disabled veterans to miss out on months of benefits because the government could not get its act together to issue a regulation on time.

THURSDAY -- 18 MARCH 2010

NRC FINES VA FOR BOTCHED PROSTATE CANCER TREATMENTS AT PHILLY -- Nuclear Regulatory Commission says VA must pay $227,500 for incorrect radiation dosing. It is the second largest fine the agency has ever levied.

VAOIG: VA'S EFFORTS TO PROVIDE TIMELY C&P EXAMS IN SHAMBLES -- IG found lack of resources, lack of planning and more, all of which can delay the delivery of disability benefits.

VETERANS Q&A with JIM STRICKLAND, #18 for 2010 -- Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers.

VAOIG: VA'S PACIFIC ISLAND SYSTEM PAYING SOME OUTPATIENT FEES TWICE -- The system was found to double pay 13% of the time, lower than the VA average, but still troublesome and time consuming.

VAOIG IDENTIFIES SEVEN MORE VA CLINICS WITH SERIOUS PROBLEMS -- Inspector General finds problems in 17 key areas including not securing veterans' personally identifiable information.

REMOVAL OF UPSIDE-DOWN FLAG HAS VETERAN SUING VA -- ACLU: "It makes me sad that the VA would treat any American, especially a veteran, like this. It shows disrespect for the Constitution and to veterans."

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS TO HOLD "CLAIMS SUMMIT 2010" -- Leaders of the major Veterans' and Military Service Organizations to offer their ideas on how to end the VA's claims backlog.

WEDNESDAY -- 17 MARCH 2010 -- HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY -- BE SAFE

CON MAN USES PTSD VETERANS TO STEAL DONATIONS -- Bilked donors out of $94,130 which he claimed would be used to help veterans suffering from PTSD.

SENATOR PRESSES VA ON HIGH PERCENTAGE OF WRONGLY DENIED CLAIMS -- Sen. Chuck Grassley: This "shows me that there are serious, systemic problems with the process for approving veterans' claims."

LEJEUNE VETERAN GETS FULL COMP ON CONTAMINATED WATER CLAIM -- "Service connection for Multiple Myeloma with prior symptoms (acute renal failure, anemia, and infections) has been established as directly related to military service."

VAOIG: VA'S PUERTO RICO FACILITIES NOT DISINFECTING REUSABLE EQUIPMENT -- Just one of many problems: Endovaginal transducers were not submitted to disinfection as required after each patient procedure for approximately 2 years. Management knew and did nothing.

TUESDAY -- 16 MARCH 2010

VAOIG: VHA BOTCHES 70% OF STIMULUS FUNDS MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS -- During VHA's initial implementation of the Recovery Act, contracting officers did not properly publicize and prepare non-recurring maintenance contract solicitations and awards in accordance with Recovery Act requirements.

MORE PROBLEMS FOUND AT RHODE ISLAND VETERANS HOME -- Problems included poor attention to the medical needs of two residents and an insufficient level of activities for others.

CONGRESS WANTS TO GIVE FEDERAL WHISTLE-BLOWERS MORE PROTECTION -- The current whistle-blower protection law " ... really wasn't intended to help if you blow the whistle on senior executives."

VA'S NEW ORLEANS BUILDING COULD END UP IN LEGAL DISPUTE -- A group of investors who wanted to turn the old Pan American Life Insurance building into housing and retail space plans to fight the state in court for more money.

VETS' COMMITTEES SCHEDULES FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 15, 2010 -- The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs has two hearings this week and there is one joint House-Senate hearing.

AT LOMA LINDA VA, PTSD PATIENTS MORE THAN DOUBLE IN FIVE YEARS -- The VA wants to reach people before the war experience explodes across the returning veteran's life.

VETERANS Q&A with JIM STRICKLAND, #17 for 2010 -- Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers.

VA GIVES BLACK VETERANS FEWER HEART-PROTECTING DRUGS, HEART SURGERIES -- The published findings are based on VA records for 117,071 African-American and 357,494 white patients, mostly men.

PHONY MARINE GETS A YEAR PROBATION AND MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING -- "The defendant chose the rank of ... gunnery sergeant because it is a well-respected rank within the USMC." court documents state.

IS THERE A FUTURE FOR ATTORNEYS WHO PRACTICE VETERANS' LAW? -- "For what possible reason in 2010 is it necessary for the federal government ... to protect veterans FROM attorneys??? My God man, how can these people face themselves ... ?"

MONDAY -- 15 MARCH 2010

VA TO START CONSTRUCTION ON NEW ORLEANS HOSPITAL COMPLEX -- "We expect that this, along with the University medical center, will be a cornerstone for health care for the future of New Orleans."

VERMONT'S VETERANS WANT A PIECE OF THE LOTTERY PIE -- "Not that we have anything against veterans, but it is an alternative use to the Education Fund that is going to mean more property taxes."

COPS GET COMMENDATIONS FOR USING RESTRAINT WITH ARMED VETERAN -- "There's a vet alive today I hope will recover and live a long and fruitful life because of the actions of these two police officers."

IWO JIMA SURVIVOR SAYS HE'S NO HERO -- "Nobody that got off of that island is a hero," he said. "The heroes are still over there."

GETTING IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME by VETERANS' ADVOCATE JIM STRICKLAND -- "The DAV has finally come around to my point of view. It's taken years for me to shout out this information but if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, the love that DAV has for my message is overwhelming."