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TUESDAY -- 09 FEBRUARY 2010

WOMAN ARRESTED FOR POSING AS VETERANS' AFFAIRS CASE WORKER -- Woman provided false information to get more than $20,000 from a veterans' relief aid group.

REMEMBERING CONGRESSMAN JOHN MURTHA -- John Murtha was a decorated Vietnam War veteran and it surprised many people that he was such a vocal opponent of the war in Iraq.

VETERANS Q&A with JIM STRICKLAND, #11 for 2010 -- Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers.

CONGRESS PRODDING VA TO PROVIDE MORE SERVICES TO WOMEN VETERANS -- The number of female veterans being treated by the VA has doubled in recent years and is expected to double again within a decade.

NEW VA BUDGET FOCUS OF HEARINGS BY BOTH VETERANS' COMMITTEES -- On February 10, the House and Senate Veterans' Committees will take a look at the VA's fiscal year 2011 budget.

MONDAY -- 08 FEBRUARY 2010

VIETNAM VET PRAISES MICHIGAN'S MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAW -- "I did it because I am on all these narcotics through the VA. The narcotics tear your liver up ... "

VIETNAM VETERAN FACES FINAL FIGHT: PULMONARY FIBROSIS -- The last chapter of his life started with a persistent cough four years ago. Then his lungs started turning to bricks.

EX-POW SAYS MEDIA OVERLOOKED HER EXPERIENCE -- Shoshana Johnson, held for 22 days: "It was kind of hurtful. If I'd been a petite, cutesy thing, it would've been different."

CANANDAIGUA VA HAS SECOND LAUNDRY FIRE IN THREE MONTHS -- " ... We think one possibility is spontaneous combustion due to heat from the dryer and residual chemicals in the basket from washing."

VIETNAM VETERANS FADING AWAY AS DEATH RATE RISES -- "It's scary. It seems like the 'Nam guys aren't going to be around a long time, not like their fathers."

IOM TO STUDY LONG-TERM HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF BURN PIT EXPOSURE -- The Institute of Medicine will look at what was in burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan and the by-products of burning.

WEEKEND -- 06 & 07 FEBRUARY 2010

VA and VETERAN NEWS, WEEK IN REVIEW FOR WEEKEND 06 & 07 FEBRUARY 2010 -- All the VA and veteran news from the past week on one easy-to-read page.

MAN INDICTED FOR 22 YEARS OF VA FRAUD -- Jim Bob Shipp collected over $800,000 in VA benefits by faking severe vision impairment.

G.I. BILL DELAYS FRUSTRATE FILMMAKING STUDENT -- The 23-year-old veteran fell behind in her bills and had to take out loans to cover her expenses.

HOUSTON MAN ARRESTED FOR STOLEN VALOR -- Michael Patrick McManus, in Army uniform, wore unearned medals and one around his neck that indicated he is a Commander of the British Empire.

VA, SENATOR, VETS PAY TRIBUTE TO CIVIL WAR MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT -- Nearly 145 years after his death, a ceremony honored Civil War hero Lorenzo Deming, who had been awarded the military's highest honor.

FRIDAY -- 05 FEBRUARY 2010

VA and VETERAN NEWS, WEEK IN REVIEW FOR FRIDAY 05 FEBRUARY 2010 -- All the VA and veteran news from the past week on one easy-to-read page.

VETERAN WHO TESTED AGENT ORANGE IS LIVING WITH CONSEQUENCES -- "It was really nasty stuff. We didn't wear masks. When we were spraying it, we didn't know it could affect humans."

OP-ED: WHAT VETERANS NEED FROM THE PRESIDENT -- Commentary from Paul Rieckhoff, executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

LAW STUDENTS HELP VETERANS GAIN BENEFITS -- "I am getting medical treatment from the VA. She said she is going to help me. I feel good about that."

FORMER VA EMPLOYEE PLEADS GUILTY TO "HAND IN THE TILL" -- Thurman Powers stole money from the travel pay cash box at the Memphis VA facility.

VAOIG: VA CLINIC CHARGED CO-PAYS FOR MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA CARE -- Inspector General is concerned that this incorrect practice may be happening at other VA facilities and for other conditions.

THURSDAY -- 04 FEBRUARY 2010

VA and VETERAN NEWS, WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THURSDAY 04 FEBRUARY 2010 -- All the VA and veteran news from the past week on one easy-to-read page.

VA FREEZES INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY BUDGET FOR 2011 -- VA's Info Tech programs have been plagued by disastrous delays and serious cost overruns.

VETERANS Q&A with JIM STRICKLAND, #10 for 2010 -- Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers.

VETS' GROUPS THINK BUDGET IS NOT "JUST RIGHT" AS VA DECLARED, WANT MORE -- The Independent Budget wants more money for care and says the projected collections figure is off by over $3 billion.

MAN WHO STOLE TV FROM VA FACILITY IS BACK IN JAIL, AGAIN -- Jeffry Polak said he felt entitled to the large screen TV because it was owned by the "military."

VAOIG REVEALS MANY PROBLEMS WITH VA'S OUTSOURCED HEALTH CARE -- Congressional testimony: VA lacked reasonable assurance it received the services it paid for, paid many contractors twice, and more.

WEDNESDAY -- 03 FEBRUARY 2010

WEEK IN REVIEW FOR WEDNESDAY 03 FEBRUARY 2010 -- All the VA and veterans' news from the past week on one easy-to-read page.

VETERAN'S SUICIDE SHINES LIGHT ON PTSD -- "I pulled the trigger quickly, twice. Pop ... pop." Then he checked his attacker's ID. He was 12.

"TEST VET" TELLS STORY OF HUMAN EXPERIMENTATION -- "I started seeing animals coming out of walls. People were constantly calling my name, and I'd turn around, and there was no one there."

NEW CONCURRENT RECEIPT PLAN OUTLINED IN 2011 BUDGET -- The proposal, outlined in an OMB document, would make all medically retired service members eligible for concurrent receipt by 2015.

OBAMA SIGNS VETERANS' EMERGENCY CARE FAIRNESS ACT -- "With this new law, VA will be positioned to help veterans who are enrolled in VA care whose insurance does not cover the full cost of emergency treatment."

LAST U.S. WORLD WAR I VETERAN TURNS 109 -- Frank Buckles said he has much to be thankful for as he blew out 109 candles on his birthday cake.

VAOIG FAULTS AUGUSTA VA IN ALL EIGHT OPERATIONAL AREAS REVIEWED -- Problems include unsecured computers displaying vets' personal information and dangling cords in mental health unit.

TUESDAY -- 02 FEBRUARY 2010

WEEK IN REVIEW FOR TUESDAY 02 FEBRUARY 2010 -- Now, VA Watchdog's Week in Review allows you to get all the VA and veterans news, plus press releases from the past week, on a single page.

VETS' COMMITTEE SCHEDULES FOR WEEK OF FEBRUARY 01, 2010 -- The House Vets' Committee has scheduled three hearings and the Senate Committee has nothing scheduled.

VA'S "I'M SORRY" POLICY NOT EASY FOR PRIVATE SECTOR TO ADOPT -- Concerns about medical liability, insurance coverage and a lack of training for doctors mean an apology after medical errors is the exception.

WATCHDOG GROUP SAYS VA DESTROYED "NORMA PEREZ" PTSD DOCUMENTS -- Norma Perez urged her VA employees to misdiagnose PTSD. Now, VA says backup tapes were destroyed, including the one containing the Perez email.

VA REQUESTS $125 BILLION BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2011 -- VA official says budget request is not too big, not too small, but "just right."

NAVY ALTERED WHISTLEBLOWER'S EVALUATION -- Fired after criticizing subpar care for Marines, a psychiatrist finds his good personnel reviews turned to bad.

VETERANS Q&A with JIM STRICKLAND, #9 for 2010 -- Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers.