Hot key issues for veterans -- The latest from the VA -- News you'll want to know. http://www.vawatchdog.org A group of mental health-care providers is offering free help to Iraq and Afghanistan vets and their families who either can't or don't want to go through traditional channels. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051708-9.htm "I was guarding the graves of fallen soldiers who can't guard it for themselves. They are my comrades." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051708-8.htm Marine who killed brother and self is called a victim of stress. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051708-7.htm "...It is a fact that American veterans of Vietnam...are being cast aside by the way things have developed in the past seven years or so." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051708-6.htm "I served my country and have had to live with these back pains ever since that battle in Korea. It just doesn't seem right to me." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051708-5.htm Army grants James Raymond's appeal and reverses earlier IRR deployment order. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051708-4.htm She faces up to 10 years in prison and has agreed to repay the money after she is sentenced. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051708-3.htm Wars are like icebergs - much of the cost remains hidden, and the near doubling of the defense budget since 2001 does not cover what lies ahead. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051708-2.htm Akaka, Burr and Obama all want an investigation into VA employee's email suggesting mental health workers not diagnose PTSD. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051708-1.htm Norma J. Perez, a PTSD program coordinator and psychologist at the VA in Temple, Texas sent email that encouraged deliberate misdiagnosis. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051608-11.htm VA Secretary Peake repudiates employee's "suggestion," calling it "inappropriate." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051608-10.htm "The third time a soldier deploys to combat may be worse than the second time, or the first. The recurrent deployments are taking their toll." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051608-9.htm "Clean your hands...Clean your hands...Clean your hands...Cover your mouth and nose...If you are sick, stay away from other people." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051608-8.htm "We wanted to say thanks to these guys and let them have a carefree day on the water." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051608-7.htm Aging Vietnam veterans are giving researchers new opportunities to solidify the connection between in-country exposure to Agent Orange and subsequent prostate cancer development. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051608-6.htm They wait in dusty basements, long forgotten on darkened shelves. They served their country, then died, and were never claimed. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051608-5.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051608-4.htm Senate Vets' Chair - "We will not know the true cost of war until we know the true rate of suicides among veterans." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051608-3.htm Washington-area veterans can get assistance on Tuesday, May 20 from 10am to 4pm. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051608-2.htm Mercatus Center - "The purpose...is to ascertain how well agency reports inform the public...It is not intended to evaluate the quality of the actual results..." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051608-1.htm "This is his legacy already. He is going to become a national figure for service members and military families." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051508-7.htm "The travel is a real hardship. It's cruel and unusual punishment to put them through that long day." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051508-6.htm Almost immediately after he moved into his home, nestled deep in the woods of northeastern Licking County, he knew he had to share it. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051508-5.htm Seattle P-I - "We wonder what the administration's plan is to aid the injured and disabled troops facing a lifetime of requiring support...They surely have a plan, right." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051508-4.htm "I wanted to see if we could work on good faith for once without the Republicans playing petty politics. Obviously we can't do that." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051508-3.htm "When they say bootcamp they really mean it. You're up late at night, you're doing study sessions, you have to prepare for venture capitalists." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051508-2.htm Military Order of the Purple Heart - "MOPH takes issue with recent attempts to degrade the basic requirements and considerations for the award to include diagnosed illness..." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051508-1.htm "We need to find these people and treat them aggressively." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051408-8.htm "My mom is a psychologist at the VA hospital in Montrose, and growing up, I've gotten to know a lot of her patients." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051408-7.htm Pentagon stands in way of new Bill as vets say current benefits just don't cut it. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051408-6.htm "So VR therapy, maybe it will work. We're a video-game generation. It's what we grew up on. So maybe we'll respond to it." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051408-5.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051408-4.htm The 14-member, independent panel will advise the Secretary and the VA on the full range of health care and benefits needs of those who served in the conflict. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051408-3.htm Researchers discovered that the production of a protein is slowed when lung cells are exposed to cigarette smoke. Low levels of that protein leads to DNA damage, triggering cancer. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051408-2.htm Vets file a Proposed Order Granting Declaratory and Injunctive Relief. See exactly what vets want the Court to order. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051408-1.htm After his discharge for mental health problems, he returned to his home and started a rapid descent. He joined a gang, sold and used drugs. His wife left him. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051308-6.htm Prosecutor says employees "knowingly neglected or knowingly acted in a manner likely to be injurious to the physical or mental welfare" of five patients. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051308-5.htm "Because the waiting-list...patients demonstrated a decline in functional ability, low-vision services should be offered as early as possible." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051308-4.htm "The Marion VA Healthcare System staff has made great strides in assuring a high quality surgery program." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051308-3.htm The contract covers six VA Regional Offices, most of them located in the Midwest. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051308-2.htm Union representing VA workers is urging elected officials not to privatize VA healthcare. Ads target Sen. McCain's "VA Card" promise. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051308-1.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051208-7.htm The firm's goal is simple, represent the legal needs of veterans at virtually every stage of life. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051208-6.htm "The goal is simple. You have a guy who lost a leg, he's in physical therapy, we get him out there wading a stream, he gets a boost." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051208-5.htm The autopsy confirmed that the death was caused by asphyxiation due to hanging. It was also determined that he had used the drawstring from his pants. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051208-4.htm Why. Worse wounds. More disabilities. More vets aware of the benefits and quicker to file for them. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051208-3.htm "If this country gave back to wounded troops even a fraction of the commitment and service that it has received from them, they will be well cared for." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051208-2.htm From the CBS Evening News with Kelly Wallace, Saturday, May 10, 2008. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051208-1.htm Those who were assaulted before entering military service are more than twice as likely to develop PTSD after combat deployment. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051108-7.htm Pentagon officials said they do not think that human remains and animal remains were ever commingled at the facility. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051108-6.htm Management and fellow staff at the center have apologized to the employee and condemn such behavior. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051108-5.htm "Not one person from the town has embraced us...instead, they're disgracing us." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051108-4.htm Of the 148,000 Army barracks inspected nationwide, 45 barracks at eight Army posts were found to need immediate attention. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051108-3.htm "With all these smaller stores getting boarded up and the larger stores owned by corporations, it's harder and harder to have some place where you can pass out poppy flowers." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051108-2.htm The New G.I. Bill is a major wrap-yourself-in-the-flag, support-the-troops type measure. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051108-1.htm New center weaves yoga, massage therapy and other nontraditional approaches into its treatment program. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051008-7.htm From Lou Dobbs Tonight on CNN, Friday, May 9, 2008. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051008-6.htm "When he stabbed me, I grabbed him, and I wrestled him to the ground. Every time he kept trying to get back up, I had to knock him back down." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051008-5.htm The VA "...will act immediately and appropriately to discipline employees and to protect the rights and safety of our patients, should that become necessary." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051008-4.htm Will determine service-connected status at a later date, but claims are expected to be approved. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051008-3.htm Thousands of new stop-loss orders were issued to keep soldiers from leaving the service after combat tours were extended from 12 to 15 months last spring. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051008-2.htm "It is a sad day...because the VA...will now be able to continue to deny benefits to deserving veterans who are suffering the effects of Agent Orange exposure." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051008-1.htm National Veterans Legal Services Program intends to appeal this decision, which adversely affects all Blue Water Vietnam veterans. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050908-9.htm "VA's decision, during wartime, to block voter registration for our hospitalized veterans is shameful, outrageous and despicable." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050908-8.htm "With video and telephone technology, nurses have the ability to interact regularly with patients and provide a sense of security." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050908-7.htm Here are some questions and answers on veteran suicides, what information exists, and what changes in care have been made. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050908-6.htm City is paving elsewhere. "I guess they think they can get a lot more political bang for their buck if they go to more high-profile areas." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050908-5.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050908-4.htm "...The majority of the scopes of practice were not in compliance...and occasionally did permit providers to engage in activities generally performed by licensed personnel..." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050908-3.htm Even the most basic services required special approval because so few doctors or hospitals were on the approved list. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050908-2.htm "They are repeatedly exposed to high-intensity combat with insufficient time at home to rest and heal before redeploying." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050908-1.htm Offshore Vietnam vets will not get presumptive benefits for exposure to Agent Orange. VA's "Boots on the Ground" rule stands. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050808-8.htm "We think that, aided by medications, virtual reality is going to be a useful way to help people haunted by an experience confront their fears in a more complete and therapeutic way." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050808-7.htm He cashed approximately 22 VA benefits checks made payable to his mother, forging endorsements on each check. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050808-6.htm "They just think the headaches will go away, that their joints hurting is just part of it. But it's not. Their bodies have been traumatized. They just can't see it." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050808-5.htm Richard Cohen, Executive Director of the National Organization of Veterans' Advocates, before the Senate Vets' Committee. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050808-4.htm "I just hope someone speaks up and makes sure they enhance the services like they promised us." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050808-3.htm Vet taken to Court from VA hospital so he would no longer be a fugitive and lose his benefits. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050808-2.htm The study found veterans who specifically used ibuprofen for more than five years were more than 40 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050808-1.htm From CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, Tuesday, May 6, 2008. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050708-8.htm "They're kind of a canary in a coal mine. They're a good barometer to understand the human cost of the war." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050708-7.htm "Several veterans have reported being told they cannot get regular tests ordered by doctors due to cost. These practices are simply unacceptable." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050708-6.htm Sausalito officials shut down a VA construction project after alarmed residents complained about dust and raised concerns about asbestos exposure. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050708-5.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050708-4.htm House Vets' Chair has history of inflammatory language when describing VA practices. Will he act on this allegation, or is he just trying to get a headline in an election year. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050708-3.htm The VA does not allow the department to directly counsel family members of veterans, leaving them to draw support from friends, private clinicians or military unit resources. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050708-2.htm Pentagon's new policy leads troops to believe that mental health issues will have no bearing on getting a security clearance. Nothing could be further from the truth. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050708-1.htm Florida International University is working with military planners to develop a makeshift mobile hospital that runs completely on solar power. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050608-9.htm Increases in copayments for potentially life-saving medications can significantly increase the odds that older adults will take the drugs less often, and may even discontinue taking them. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050608-8.htm After years of hearings, meetings, delays and thousands of dollars spent on consultants, the VA has decided to leave all four hospitals intact. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050608-7.htm "A suicide does not mean negligence on the part of a medical center director or a network director. Suicide occurs just like cancer occurs." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050608-6.htm "You can go to just about any soil, and you'd find fungi that would lock away uranium." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050608-5.htm Report says federal government is not doing enough to help some civilian employees wounded while deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050608-4.htm 89-year-old Grover Chapman killed himself outside a VA clinic. "No matter what I apply for at the VA, they turn me down." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050608-3.htm "This is not just a show about how Hollywood affected the war, but about how the war affected Hollywood." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050608-2.htm Offshore Vietnam vets still looking to find sponsor for bill granting fair compensation. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050608-1.htm From ABC World News with Dan Harris, Sunday, May 4, 2008. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050508-9.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050508-8.htm "Blue Water Navy" vets still left out of Agent Orange presumptives as VA continues "boots on the ground" rule. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050508-7.htm The VA "can't go out and advertise and do the kind of outreach we're doing...Our hope is to get every vet in the state who's at risk of TBI to access services." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050508-6.htm "We won't know for months. We can see the individuals and they may be perfectly fine, and then down the line they have problems." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050508-5.htm At last the incurably traumatized may be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. And controversially, the key to taming their demons is the "killer drug" Ecstasy. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050508-4.htm Were Blacks less likely to receive medical care than Whites because of patient preference or provider bias. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050508-3.htm Four people are charged with stealing money meant to help sick veterans and their families. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050508-2.htm Army psychologist makes controversial proposal even though PTSD does not meet regulatory requirements for medal. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050508-1.htm Officials at the VA center say family response has caused them to reconsider decision. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050308-7.htm "The program helps VA medical facilities address supplemental staffing needs while also ensuring there is a continued commitment to quality and safety." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050308-6.htm Others drove past the injured motorcyclist, who lay bleeding to death on the side of the road. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050308-5.htm "We must act now and intercede on behalf of these disabled veterans who are being left languishing in a system not capable of responding to their immediate needs." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050308-4.htm Focused and inexpensive measures improved high blood pressure control and treatment among veterans. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050308-3.htm "We have some veterans that are long dead because of the exposure they received, and that's just plain wrong." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050308-2.htm Webb spokeswoman - "We still think our bill is the gold standard and should go forward with the highest possible number of benefits possible." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050308-1.htm From the PBS News Hour with Jim Lehrer, Thursday, May 1, 2008. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050208-13.htm All the phone operators at the Stratton VA in Albany, New York are blind. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050208-12.htm This study examined changes in prescribing patterns of antipsychotic medications to treat schizophrenia. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050208-11.htm During health screenings, officials discovered that half of the veterans had dental problems. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050208-10.htm Senate Vets' Chair - "In light of today's housing and home loan crises, the further refinancing options in this bill will help more veterans make ends meet and escape foreclosures." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050208-9.htm Army will allow James Raymond to finish semester at school while they decide has case. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050208-8.htm "Ohio now has the opportunity, maybe the burden, to follow through...and set the standard for other states." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050208-7.htm Gates - "I know that the department is not perfect and mistakes have been, and will be made. Things happen too slowly." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050208-6.htm "It was very therapeutic. I don't know which helped me more the therapy or the music. The sweet harmony of the notes, it gives me peace." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050208-5.htm "Significant needs remain unmet," according to the report released by the VA's Office of Inspector General. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050208-4.htm The new rules reverse a years-long policy where the VA opposed helping patients and others living on VA campuses, notably homeless veterans, with voter registration. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050208-3.htm "It's a hidden problem. It's not obvious and dramatic like a heart attack or cancer, although it torments its sufferers." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050208-2.htm "There was no reason to be concerned about seeking mental health counseling from a security clearance standpoint. Answering yes has never been a sole reason...for denying a security clearance." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050208-1.htm From the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, Wednesday, April 30, 2008. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050108-9.htm The judge is questioning how much authority he has to order changes in the VA, even if he finds deficiencies. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050108-8.htm What new veterans are finding is quite different from the comprehensive benefits that once covered all the costs of an education. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050108-7.htm Progress made on implementation of 2003 President's Task Force recommendations on collaboration and coordination, but more remains to be done. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050108-6.htm Former Elmira bar will be transformed by VVA members to educate coming generations. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050108-5.htm Many soldiers suffer from TBI with no known cure, complicated by symptoms that overlap with PTSD, leading to mistaken diagnosis. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050108-4.htm A mentally ill man died in 2006 during an altercation with another patient at the Salem, Virginia VA. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050108-3.htm Demolition of the exterior of the main hospital building will begin in late June and last through March of next year. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050108-2.htm 61 percent think it will have negative impact on career. 53 percent believe others will think less of them. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf050108-1.htm From CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, Tuesday, April 29, 2008. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf043008-8.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf043008-7.htm The problem is not just that salaries are lower but that there are fewer opportunities for medical personnel to advance up the salary ladder, making retaining qualified staff more difficult. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf043008-6.htm Of the seven suicides since January 1st, four had served in combat operations in Iraq. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf043008-5.htm But, Gates has not endorsed the other bill, from Sen. McCain, which has yet to be officially introduced. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf043008-4.htm "...We let our soldiers down, and that's not like us. That's not how we want America's sons and daughters to live, and there's no good excuse for what happened." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf043008-3.htm But Carl Diekman, who served on Iwo Jima, doesn't agree. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf043008-2.htm Military-focused sessions will include top military officials and experts from across the psychiatric field. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf043008-1.htm Colleges are learning to deal with PTSD, lost limbs and brain injuries. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042908-7.htm "Our outreach goes out into the hills and woods where a lot of the homeless live, to the shelters and the food banks, anywhere we could reach the homeless." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042908-6.htm The North Carolina community put together a trip, but Williams wanted to put together an experience. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042908-5.htm A collaboration between the VA, U. of Colorado at Denver and the U. of Colorado Hospital could see an inpatient medical tower with 250 beds, 110 of them for veterans. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042908-4.htm The 2010 budget might offer little or no growth in agency spending or other expenditures, analysts say. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042908-3.htm Many older vets seeking treatment are spurred by a growing public awareness of PTSD wrought by tens of thousands of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans seeking help. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042908-2.htm A Hill staffer said he believed that development of the suicide tracking system was still in its infancy, and he doubted it was in use throughout VA. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042908-1.htm "I try my hardest. I try to put the ball in the back of the net." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042808-7.htm "As mortars fall on your position, you race to maintain deadlines and complete papers and assignments, not a common occurrence to the everyday student." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042808-6.htm "PTSD, or whatever you want to call it, is just a headful of bad memories that you'll have to live with for the rest of your life." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042808-5.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042808-4.htm "It's pretty hard to look at a 22-year-old and say, hearing aids will really help you." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042808-3.htm "When the ramp went down and we scampered out, oh, the firing was ferocious. Japanese artillery shells and mortar rounds, machine guns were firing, guys were falling, guys were yelling for corpsmen." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042808-2.htm As the "new vets" from Iraq and Afghanistan, just 2 percent of the veteran population, are given priority at the VA, the other 98 percent find themselves pushed to the rear of the line, now the forgotten of previous conflicts. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042808-1.htm From ABC World News with Jim Avila, Saturday, April 26, 2008. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042708-6.htm Yountville home needs stronger planning and oversight, and must meet ADA standards. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042708-5.htm Richard Dvorin is working the night shift, answering a hotline for those who have felt war's pain -- a pain he feels deeply every day. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042708-4.htm More than 1,000 volunteers, including many veterans, devote time and energy to hospital. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042708-3.htm His Grandfather told him - "If you follow good, good will follow you." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042708-2.htm Peeling paint, mildew, clogged drains and sewage covering the floor are just some of the problems. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042708-1.htm From CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, Friday, April 25, 2008. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042608-7.htm "I couldn't imagine anyone wanting to do that in a nursing home. It was a blow below the belt." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042608-6.htm "The vast majority of the conduct waivers are misdemeanors and...there are some felony arrests and a few felony convictions." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042608-5.htm Rebate program ahead of schedule. See when your check should arrive. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042608-4.htm Also, Dr. Michael Kussman makes strange statement reinforcing stigma of mental illness. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042608-3.htm "Not only do I have to worry about staying alive, but now I got to worry about whether or not my family's going to get kicked out of the house." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042608-2.htm Program reinforces "...the perception that the VA is evolving into a two-tiered system...one that pays relatively scant attention to veterans from previous generations..." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042608-1.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042508-7.htm "This legislation would correct an injustice that has existed for over 60 years." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042508-6.htm Gordon Erspamer has a chip on his shoulder and is the VA's worst nightmare. Erspamer knows about the VA's long delays, endless appeals and slow response - his father was an "atomic test vet." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042508-5.htm From coast-to-coast, the numbers are staggering as VA, military and civilian healthcare systems struggle to keep up with demand for services. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042508-4.htm Outreach targets OEF-OIF veterans only. VA Secretary Peake - "We will reach out...to let them know we are here for them." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042508-3.htm Services will include housing options, disability claims, chiropractic care, employment assistance, food, haircuts, showers, HIV-AIDs support, clothing, medical screenings and more. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042508-2.htm 99-year-old surgeon lectures President and Congress at Congressional Gold Medal ceremony, citing VA healthcare as the model for reforming Medicare and Medicaid. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042508-1.htm Tests revealed subtle deficiencies in cognitive functioning in veterans who developed PTSD and their identical twins. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042408-9.htm "I didn't know he was stealing it. I thought he was taking it downstairs for repairs." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042408-8.htm Say they are working to "improve support of wounded, ill, and injured service members' recovery, rehabilitation, and reintegration." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042408-7.htm "...This stuff does not migrate easily...and studies show there is a minimal amount." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042408-6.htm Seventeen people have been convicted so far, including at least a dozen U.S. military retirees, in the little-noticed investigation. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042408-5.htm "We've already got commitment from investors to provide the funding." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042408-4.htm Ironically the VA has turned its back on VistA just as the commercial market is showing interest in open source health care tools. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042408-3.htm "I may not be the one taking the ball behind the crease, but I will be hanging around the crease. It's hard to turn without ankles." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042408-2.htm Those who qualify must file a return by October 15 to receive an economic stimulus payment this year. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042408-1.htm McCain's version called a "pale shadow" of new G.I. Bill offered by Sen. Jim Webb. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042308-8.htm Akaka on Dr. Ira Katz - "I believe veterans, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, would be best served by his immediate resignation." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042308-7.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042308-6.htm Speaker Pelosi - "We will take this message back to Washington and we will act upon it." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042308-5.htm The case was initially filed last July as a class action but the plaintiffs decided not to seek class certification. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042308-4.htm For conduct unbecoming a human being..... http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042308-3.htm The White House has expressed concerns about the provisions granting benefits to Filipino veterans, but has not threatened a presidential veto. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042308-2.htm Murray on Dr. Ira Katz - "Dr. Katz's irresponsible actions have been a disservice to our veterans and it is time for him to go." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042308-1.htm From CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, Monday, April 21, 2008. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042208-7.htm E-mails from Dr. Ira Katz, VA's mental health chief, show 18 vets a day commit suicide and four to five of them are in VA care. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042208-6.htm State will streamline civilian paramedic training for returning veterans who already have emergency medical experience from the military. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042208-5.htm At the age of 48, Mark Sikes had no idea going downhill would be so much fun. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042208-4.htm Landowners and renters wonder whether to move or stay put. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042208-3.htm Doctors say, "...may be indicative of weakness in the brain pathways related to emotional processing." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042208-2.htm VA suicide hotline has received more than 37,200 calls and made more than 720 rescues - sending out emergency responders all over the country to find someone on a bridge, with a gun in his hand, with a stomach full of pills. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042208-1.htm Center will soon be at the forefront in medical treatment of traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042108-9.htm "They're trying to tell us black is white, but we will have our day in court and they won't be able to deny us any more." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042108-8.htm A former employee said the clinics deliberately scheduled new patients, who brought additional revenue to the company, ahead of existing patients, who didn't. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042108-7.htm "I was afraid we weren't going to be able to connect, but we were able to pick up where we left off." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042108-6.htm "Your eyes are healthy. It's your brain that won't allow your eyes to work the right way." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042108-5.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042108-4.htm Outrage over a recent spate of incidents spurs fresh efforts to overturn the Feres doctrine, a 1950 Supreme Court decision denying active-duty service members the right to sue over medical errors. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042108-3.htm "I thought the worst year of my life would be the year my husband was gone. And that was a piece of cake compared to what we've been through in the last two years." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042108-2.htm Claims VA isn't doing enough to prevent suicide and provide adequate mental health care for veterans. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042108-1.htm From NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, Saturday, April 19, 2008. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042008-8.htm Latest grant goes to University of Idaho's Operation Education Scholarship Program. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042008-7.htm Hopes U.S. will continue providing pharmaceutical and medical supplies for the treatment and care of Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042008-6.htm Fort Knox is the likely site for the new facility. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042008-5.htm Would allow taxpayers to direct funds to programs that help homeless veterans. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042008-4.htm "We cannot allow the brave men and women who serve our country to struggle with treatable mental health problems." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042008-3.htm Veteran says he would "go back in a heartbeat" if he thought "that it wasn't going to risk the lives of the soldiers around me or my own personal life." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042008-2.htm Faces charges on three counts of writing false documents and one count of false claim of receipt of military decoration or medal. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf042008-1.htm From ABC World News with Charles Gibson, Friday, April 18, 2008. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041908-7.htm "My heart is just overwhelmed, because they're very appreciative. Some of them have tried to pay me for cutting their hair, but I'm not doing it because I expect something in return. I'm doing it because I want to." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041908-6.htm This type of prosthesis is believed to offer a brighter future for warriors returning from modern-day battles in the Middle East. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041908-5.htm "We are looking at the environment of care from a safety standpoint." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041908-4.htm Secretary Peake - "Health care alone is not the answer. It's how you get a soldier, a sailor, a Marine back into society." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041908-3.htm They read their contracts on a computer screen, then pressed their index fingers onto an electronic pad. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041908-2.htm "...Re-organization has been so massive...that I don't know if the VA has retained enough key personnel that understands how this all works to reverse course." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041908-1.htm From CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, Thursday, April 17, 2008. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041808-11.htm From ABC World News with Charles Gibson, Thursday, April 17, 2008. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041808-10.htm "When you have your foot blown off, the overload of signals gets messed up, Spinal cord signals go haywire and physical changes in the brain occur." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041808-9.htm Will try to harness stem cells and technology to find innovative ways to use a patient's natural cellular structure to reconstruct new skin, muscles and tendons, and even ears, noses and fingers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041808-8.htm "This is pretty pathetic. It tugs at the heart strings. It's in such disrepair. We're not showing respect for the dead." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041808-7.htm The nursing shortage has spread to the universities needed to train new nurses, jeopardizing the VA's future work force. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041808-6.htm "This is the worst it has ever been...How is this going to work. What are we going to do." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041808-5.htm This therapy is based on the assumptions that the mental or emotional illness and the functional impairment of the identified patient are related to family interactions and that the family is the unit that should be treated. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041808-4.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041808-3.htm VA researchers are working with a computer game they hope will encourage patients with COPD to get the much-needed exercise that makes breathing easier and more efficient. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041808-2.htm Yet, only slightly more than half seek treatment fearing it will harm their careers And, study says 19 percent of troops report possible traumatic brain injury. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041808-1.htm McCain has become the target of veterans groups pushing hard for more aid and relief for troops returning from conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041708-8.htm Warrior transition units bring military-style structure to the recovery process and gather wounded soldiers into groups where their main mission is to heal. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041708-7.htm New legislation would let "sole survivors" keep their enlistment bonus and receive all VA benefits. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041708-6.htm For men damaged by war, drugs, alcohol and the hard knocks of life, the garden teaches the simple pleasures that come from nurturing rather than destroying life. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041708-5.htm VA Secretary Peake - "We hope to build upon this effort soon with another step providing more case managers to support a marked increase in permanent housing units." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041708-4.htm Patients soiled with feces and soaked in urine wandered aimlessly, screaming, rolling delirious on the floor. "I was more traumatized after five days in the VA than I was when I was admitted." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041708-3.htm "It's an opportunity to re-create some of the freedoms they had before their disability. The veterans are so excited to get here." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041708-2.htm Echoed concern voiced by some in the Pentagon who worry that the promise of full college tuition could entice many troops to leave the military sooner than they otherwise might. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041708-1.htm A new program aims to help injured soldiers make a transition into the IT work force. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041608-7.htm Effective July 1st, the measure allows combat veterans to attend SUNY graduate and undergraduate institutions at no cost. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041608-6.htm He lost hearing in one ear, had knee surgery and has moved on with his life and is close to graduating from college. But, now that may not happen. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041608-5.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041608-4.htm Researchers have identified a gene variation in heart disease patients who appear especially vulnerable to the physical effects of mental stress. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041608-3.htm The outage during the afternoon of April 10 affected 12 medical centers from Colorado to California and lasted five to seven hours depending on the facility. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041608-2.htm Gates - "My impression is, it's still uneven, in terms of implementation at the local level." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041608-1.htm Vet's widow - "I blame the doctors. If he was a high-risk patient like they said, he should have been watched and monitored. They haven't called me to offer condolences. They won't even respond to me." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041508-10.htm "In occupational therapy, games have historically been used. But a 27-year-old does not want to play a game of checkers with you." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041508-9.htm "It enabled me not to lose my house...I owed back taxes...It enabled me just to put some money back in the account which I've depleted over the years." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041508-8.htm Results considered surprising because of stress the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are putting on couples. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041508-7.htm "She loves this country and does stuff people who were born here are unaware of. I just thought she was so amazing and so did everybody else." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041508-6.htm "Some people are nasty patients, and some workers have attitudes. But in the VA system they go out of their way to accommodate even the vet who is grouchy..." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041508-5.htm "It's a felony to say what ought to be done with VA bureaucrats, and I'm not alone in this." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041508-4.htm "I need to look him in the eye and find out what's going on." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041508-3.htm "The film will be about how four ordinary people, who put their lives on the line for their country, came back injured and were then abused and ignored by the crown jewel of the military." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041508-2.htm World War II vets are finally seeking stress counseling and treatment, and filing for disability compensation. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041508-1.htm From NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, Sunday, April 13, 2008. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041408-9.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041408-8.htm During World War II "everyone pulled together. We don't do that anymore. Appreciation of country is something we seemed to have lost." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041408-7.htm Increasing number of soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are falling into homelessness upon discharge. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041408-6.htm Waiting list now has over 800 veterans for free flight to Washington, D.C. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041408-5.htm The translator is now in the United States under a visa program for Iraqis who have aided the U.S. military, and she is being helped by a network of Iraq veterans who try to make sure those new immigrants make a soft landing in this country. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041408-4.htm "Under his leadership, thousands of military service members and families have been assisted and honored." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041408-3.htm Vet walking Vietnam's Highway 1 to raise funds for Agent Orange kids. "Our walk is not intended to point any fingers, merely to ask the world to help us. These kids, like all kids, belong to the world, not any one country." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041408-2.htm Vet says of reenlistment tactics - "Unfortunately, it would appear that misinformation and fear has become a part of the mission doctrine." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041408-1.htm Valor Healthcare gets a flat, per-patient rate. Vets claim, "...The more money they saved, the more money they made." Now, VA says they are "not satisfied" with Valor's performance. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041308-10.htm "The bad news is, soldiers are not sticking well with treatment. They want to get back to their lives." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041308-9.htm "I believe our government is being a tyrant. I'm proud of my country. I'm not proud of my government." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041308-8.htm A class of drugs commonly used in HIV therapy are associated with higher levels of a clotting factor linked to coronary artery disease. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041308-7.htm Beyond helping preserve history, the psychologist said she has found that among those veterans with PTSD who speak about their time in combat, more than three-quarters experience a remission of their symptoms. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041308-6.htm Accused doctors of botching a hernia operation by mistakenly severing an artery in his stomach. He nearly died of severe bleeding. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041308-5.htm One vet says, "I'd probably be dead right now if it weren't for them." But, the other says, "It's like walking into hell." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041308-4.htm "The veterans living in Ohio sacrificed as much as veterans living elsewhere. There is no reason that a veteran here should receive less than veterans in other states." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041308-3.htm "All I want to know is, what the hell did I do to get all this. I just done what I was supposed to do." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041308-2.htm VA declares vet's liver was removed, which it wasn't and which would cause death, and then rates it at zero percent. But, there's more to this flawed decision. Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland reports. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041308-1.htm "This changes the end of the story for homeless veterans. This housing will be sustainable in perpetuity for low-income veterans." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041208-9.htm Fluvastatin lowered the level of the Hepatitis C virus in the blood six-fold in two out of three patients. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041208-8.htm "I have a hard time understanding why someone would do a thing like this. This is honoring the memory of those killed in World War II, the Korean War." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041208-7.htm A mix-up at the VA showed Bonita Bench was dead, and that cut off her only source of income, 931 dollars a month. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041208-6.htm Set to be completed by 2015, the 300 million dollar expansion will include a campus of six new buildings. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041208-5.htm "At this point, there's no time frame. The important thing is to get it right. When the unit reopens, we will be absolutely ready to provide the best of care for our veterans." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041208-4.htm "They were incensed that I would tell the world how their donated money was being wasted," said Henry Cook, national commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041208-3.htm Carl Nissen, of Billings, Montana, admitted he altered documents about his military record and wore medals he didn't earn. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041208-2.htm Secretary Peake calls voter registration "partisan." Senators cry foul. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041208-1.htm New York veterans are angry - "If we did something like that, they'd put us in jail." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041108-7.htm "If Procter and Gamble is allowed to get away with this, I think it will become a norm, and then this could happen again and again with these men and women coming back." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041108-6.htm "The guitar was something I could sit down with. It helped me find some peace and calm." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041108-5.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041108-4.htm "We have to have our legal counsel look at this and work with the other departments to see if it's even feasible..." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041108-3.htm "I have a claim. I know it's true. They can't tell me it never happened like they did before." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041108-2.htm Secretary Peake says VA sets example. Vets say they are stuck in low-paying, menial jobs. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAPR08/nf041108-1.htm