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FRIDAY -- 09 JANUARY 2009

UPDATE: MURFREESBORO VA SAYS ONLY TWO VETS AFFECTED BY DIRTY COLONOSCOPY GEAR -- The Chief of Gastroenterology for the VA Hospital in Nashville said an improper valve was used on a tube between the pump and other colonoscopy equipment during the procedure.

VA RESEARCH: METABOLIC SYNDROME A RISK FOR VETERANS WITH PTSD -- Metabolic syndrome is composed of a cluster of clinical signs including obesity, high blood pressure and insulin resistance and is also associated with cardiovascular disease.

UPDATE: BAND OF BROTHERS TRIAL PONDERS VETERAN'S SANITY -- If jurors decide the vet diagnosed with PTSD was sane during the crime, he faces a 12-year mandatory minimum prison sentence.

UPDATE: GOVERNMENT SEEKS NEW WAYS TO TREAT TROOPS AND VETS -- "This new combination of moderate traumatic brain injury along with PTSD and substance abuse has been very difficult to treat."

IS PLAYING TETRIS THE PRESCRIPTION FOR PTSD? -- The Tetris experiment uses the game as a means to "jam" the mental process of recording frightening events.

VA MAKES IT OFFICIAL: WILL OPEN SYSTEM TO SOME GROUP 8 VETERANS BY JUNE 30 -- The change affects veterans whose incomes exceed the current VA means test and geographic means test income thresholds by 10% or less.

THURSDAY -- 08 JANUARY 2009

SIGN OF THE TIMES: TEXAS VETERANS SEEKING MORE HELP -- The Amarillo VA Hospital has seen an increase in the number of veterans applying for benefits because they are falling below the means test threshold.

WHERE IS DoD's PHYSICAL DISABILITY REVIEW BOARD? -- The December 2007 act of Congress that created the board mandated it start hearing appeals within 90 days. They're just a little late.

VETERANS' COURTS BEING EYED IN PENNSYLVANIA AND ARIZONA -- Veterans' courts would provide options such as counseling and medical treatment instead of jail time.

SIGN OF THE TIMES UPDATE: OHIO GOV. VETOES VETERANS' BENEFITS BILL -- "I am disappointed the governor has chosen to veto the veterans' bonus and expressed his support for incurring more state debt..."

BAND OF BROTHERS SUPPORTS FELLOW VETERAN ON TRIAL -- "We all fought for our country. We've all been through the experience."

MKULTRA "TEST VETS" SUE CIA, DoD AND U.S. ARMY -- Complaint asks the Court to determine that Defendants' actions were illegal and that Defendants have a duty to notify all victims and to provide them with health care going forward.

WEDNESDAY -- 07 JANUARY 2009

SHINSEKI PLEDGES TO FIX GAPS IN VETERANS' CARE IF CONFIRMED AS VA SECRETARY -- But, disclosure questionnaire to Congress is long on concepts and short on specifics.

AMARILLO VA SEES SPIKE IN VETERAN SUICIDES AND ATTEMPTS -- In past three months -- two suicides, 12 attempts and 50 admissions for inpatient psychiatric care.

VA RESEARCH: BRAIN PACEMAKER HELPS PARKINSON'S, BUT WITH RISKS -- New technique reduced tremors, rigidity and flailing, but 40 percent of patients suffered serious side effects.

VA SPIN DOCTORS HYPE "ASSISTANCE" -- BUT HOW WILL VETERANS FIND OUT? -- VA press release tells of many healthcare programs, but where's the outreach to vets who need the information?

71-YEAR-OLD GETS PRISON FOR STEALING VETERANS' BENEFITS -- Stands convicted of wearing unauthorized military medals, presenting false statements and documents to the VA and theft of government funds.

VA FINDS DANGEROUS BUG IN PATIENT HEALTHCARE SOFTWARE -- "When switching from a patient's record to a second patient's record ... the first patient's information may still be displayed in the second patient's ... display, impacting patient care decisions."

TUESDAY -- 06 JANUARY 2009

VETERANS, DEPRESSION AND SUICIDE -- With a suicide rate that is three times higher than that of the overall VA patient population, depression is a very potent risk factor for suicide among people receiving treatment for depression at the VA.

VETERAN COMMITS SUICIDE IN VEHICLE AT TOMAH VA -- Vet was a resident of the Veterans Assistance Foundation, a program for homeless veterans located on the grounds of the VA facility.

VA STUDY CLAIMS TELEMEDICINE MAKES CARE MORE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT -- "The results are not really about the technology, but about how using it helps coordinate the full scope of care our patients need."

UPDATE: PENTAGON SAYS NO PURPLE HEART FOR PTSD -- MOPH National Adjutant: "I don't think people should get the Purple Heart for almost getting wounded."

VETERANS TAKE AIM AT VIRTUAL DUCK HUNT -- "Just because your legs may not be able to take you out to the woods doesn't mean you are not a hunter anymore."

STUDY: VETS WITH HEADACHES OR REDUCED SENSE OF SMELL COULD HAVE BRAIN INJURY PROBLEMS -- "People who have multiple exposures to blasts that cause loss of consciousness need to be carefully monitored for potential problems in the future."

SIGN OF THE TIMES: LOUISIANA TO CUT JOBS AT STATE VA DEPARTMENT -- Facing huge budget deficit, Gov. Bobby Jindal takes axe to many departments.

LED BY VETERANS, AMERICAN TRIBES GATHER TO CELEBRATE HERITAGE -- Veterans entered a large sacred inner circle with a parade of flags carried by those representing different tribes and U.S. Armed Services branches.

UPDATE: ATTORNEY SPEAKS OUT ON BUDDY POPPY LAWSUIT -- National Park Service officials have threatened to prosecute disabled Vietnam veteran John Miska or confiscate his supply of Buddy Poppies if he accepted donations.

MONDAY -- 05 JANUARY 2009

DEPT. OF JUSTICE REPORT BLASTS ALABAMA VETS' HOME -- DOJ faults the home for what the feds call inadequate health care, inadequate nutrition and hydration for residents, and dangerous psychotropic medication practices.

UPDATE: VIETNAM VET ONE STEP CLOSER TO HIS "SANCTUARY" FOR BROTHERS -- He says approval of his rezoning request brought him closer to helping other veterans who have withdrawn from society and are struggling in ways he once did.

FIGHTING FOR BENEFITS: "WE'RE COMBATING AN ARCHAIC VA SYSTEM" -- Rep. Carol Shea-Porter: "It has become an adversarial system. It certainly isn't supposed to be that way."

PAIN OF WAR IS GENDER NEUTRAL -- VA medical clinics today increasingly treat veterans who are young and female.

NIH TO LOOK AT SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND AMONG MILITARY, VETERANS, AND FAMILIES -- National Institutes of Health to formulate a research agenda for conducting addictions prevention and treatment research.

HOLIDAY GIFT-MATCH PROGRAM A BOOST FOR HOMELESS VETERANS -- The generosity of strangers let those at the New England Center for Homeless Veterans know they were not forgotten.

WEEKEND -- 03 & 04 JANUARY 2009

SIGN OF THE TIMES: IN CALIFORNIA, VETS' HOMES MAY HAVE TO CHARGE RESIDENTS MORE -- The veterans fee hikes would save the state millions a year by removing a cap that ensures that residents pay no more than a certain amount each month.

AT THE VET CENTER: HEALING THE WOUNDS OF WAR DOWNTOWN -- "If I didn't get therapy, I would be sadly locked away in my apartment, not able to function."

UPDATE: VETS OBJECT TO "BIG RED ONE" GEAR AT SEARS -- It's bad enough that the Army-style gear has unit crest, to add another insult, it's made in China.

SIGN OF THE TIMES: BUDGET CUTS IN MISSOURI COULD SHUT DOWN VETS' NURSING HOME -- State is also considering shutting down its veterans' cemeteries as the budget squeeze is on.

UPDATE: MURFREESBORO VA VOLUNTEER CALLS SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS DIRTY -- A volunteer who said she's seen instruments delivered day after day in the women's and dental clinic for 20 years said they're often dirty.

UPDATE: ARMY RECRUITER SUICIDES PROMPT INVESTIGATIONS -- "Part of this that was troubling was the suggestion that there was pressure being put down the chain of command to keep this quiet."

GULF WAR VET, 50, GETS RECALLED AND IS HEADING TO IRAQ -- "Here he's 50 years old, getting his AARP card, and here he's being redeployed with all these 18-year-olds."

A FOCUS ON VIOLENCE BY RETURNING GI's -- The Secretary of the Army says he is considering conducting an Army-wide review of all soldiers involved in violent crimes since returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

AFTER MORE THAN 30 YEARS, REGULATORS LOOK AT DOW'S DIOXIN POLLUTION IN MICHIGAN -- Dioxin, an Agent Orange byproduct, was dumped into rivers creating 50 miles of polluted waterways. Dow says contamination does not threaten people or wildlife.

FRIDAY -- 02 JANUARY 2009

MURFREESBORO VA WITHHOLDS INFORMATION ON POSSIBLE INFECTION THREAT FROM COLONOSCOPY -- TV station learns that VA has known of infection risk for nearly a month, but vets have not been notified.

SIGN OF THE TIMES: MARTINSBURG VA DOES AWAY WITH SECURITY CONTRACTOR -- Officials say 22-member VA Police force can properly handle security at the facility.

DEMONSTRATION CALLS ATTENTION TO HOMELESS VETERANS' SLAYINGS IN FLORIDA -- But, head of homeless shelters says he has plenty of beds and vets made the decision not to come in off the street.

VA'S FAILURES EXPOSED IN LIVING COLOR DECLARES WHISTLEBLOWER -- "The American people assume we are taking care of our kids...we are not...If they want to cover-up, they can cover-up."

WAR DOG JOINS THE AMERICAN LEGION -- "He was a tried and true veteran. He took his time in service and performed his duty. We think he deserves the recognition that should come to anybody."

CBO BUDGET OPTIONS REPORT: HAVE MORE VETERANS PAY FOR VA HEALTHCARE -- Congressional Budget Office targets Group 5 vets who now use one-third of VA healthcare resources.

UPDATE: ARMY VET WHO LIED ABOUT SERVICE ONLY GETS PROBATION -- A federal judge said the veteran, who served two tours in the Army, had served his country honorably and didn't deserve prison.

MORE GULF WAR CASES MAY BE COMING -- "I have one case that's heart wrenching. He's a Vietnam War vet who also fought in Gulf War I. He's suffering from both wars."

HOW THE VA COULD LEAD THE BATTLE FOR UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE -- Peter J. Ognibene: "No medical institution in the U.S. can match the experience of the VA and its employees."

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