Sent: Sunday, February 03, 2008 12:22 AM
Subject: [VetPax] February 08 NYC Veterans Newsletter

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NYMetroVets/ 

This Newsletter Includes the Following Articles:

· NDAA 2008
· VA Performance
· 2008 VA Insurance Dividends
· VA Increases Travel Reimbursement
· VA Estate Debt Collection
· New Appointments to VA Women’s Vet Committee
· President Restores Governors Power Over Guard
· Brain Screenings for Vets may be flawed
· Battle Concussions Tied to Stress Disorder
· Honoring the Four Chaplains
· NYS Cold War Medal
· NYS Real Estate Property Exemption
· NYC Council Reaffirms Opposition to DADT
· Rebuilding Together NYC
· February Events
· My Final Thoughts

NDAA 2008: The Senate passed a $696 billion 2008 Defense Authorization Bill H.R. 4986 on January 22, 2008 and President Bush signed it into law on January 28, 2008. The fiscal 2008 defense budget has been laden with challenges, from Congress' inclusion of non-defense-related earmarks to its insertion of controversial language regarding Iraq.

President Bush had announced that he wouldn't sign the bill until it was revised. Instead, the President signed an executive order authorizing a 3% military pay raise. The amount was 0.5 % lower than the 3.5% rate provided for in the authorization act, but took effect January 1, 2008. All pays and incentives included in the authorization act will be retroactive to 1 January, a defense official said.

The bill became law just a week before the next budget cycle begins as Bush sends his fiscal 2009 request to Capitol Hill. The NDAA contains provisions improving the transition from active duty to veterans’ status and improving VA health care for returning service members, especially those with traumatic brain injury (TBI) or mental health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Among the key provisions to improve care for veterans and their families, the NDAA:

• Provides an additional three years of access to free VA health care for returning service members from Iraq and Afghanistan.
• Improves and expands VA’s ability to care for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with TBI, including research, screening, care coordination, and working with non-VA providers to provide the care needed by our veterans;
• Requires a comprehensive policy to address mental health conditions, including PTSD;
• Requires DOD and VA to streamline the records transmission process, including moving forward with fully interoperable medical records;
• Provides for a more seamless transition between active duty and veterans’ status, including a single physical exam for DOD and VA benefits;
• Creates Wounded Warrior Resource Center to serve as a single point of contact for service members, their families, and primary caregivers to report issues with facilities, obtain health care, and receive benefits information;
• Requires VA to provide age-appropriate nursing home care for our veterans;
• Allows members of the National Guard and Reserves that are eligible for Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) to use their education benefits for ten years after separation;
• Requires a study on the feasibility of streamlining statutory provisions addressing GI Bill benefits for active duty and guard and reserves.[Source: AFPS, 28 Jan 08]

VA PERFORMANCE: The health care system of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) received a highly favorable review in an interim report recently published by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The report credits organizational restructuring and management systems, performance measurement and information technology (IT) as contributors to VA's success. It also outlines ways in which VA can continue serving as a model for other health care systems. The interim report is located on the CBO’s website at: http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/88xx/doc8892/12-21-VA_Healthcare.pdf.

The final report, expected in early 2008, will address the potential for other public and private health care systems to apply similar approaches and other issues. The report, completed at the request of the chairmen of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies of the House Committee on Appropriations, reviews the quality of VA’s health care, examines VA’s achievements and looks at lessons learned from both its management initiatives and application of information technology. Key factors cited in the report included VA’s restructuring efforts to permit more shared decision making between VA’s central office, regional managers and facility directors; measuring performance, process and outcomes; and system-wide use of health information technology.

The CBO report pointed to VA’s structure as an integrated health care system that allows the use of two important tools: incentives given to managers and providers to meet quality of care and practice guideline targets; and health IT systems that provide reminders about tests and treatments recommended by the practice guidelines. It also examined the low cost of care for veterans as an incentive for seeking care. VA has an electronic health record for every patient, which provides up-to-date information about a patient at the point of care, including his or her history, allergies, and medications. It also consists of relevant diagnoses and laboratory tests, enabling providers to avoid duplicate tests and adverse drug interactions. Research indicates that computer reminders and prompts can significantly improve adherence to clinical guidelines, particularly for preventive care.

The CBO said that VA’s integrated structure and appropriated funding may have helped VA focus on providing the best quality care for a given amount of funds as contrasted to fee-for-service incentives toward billable services and procedures. These and other issues will be addressed in the final report. [Source: Various, 9 Jan 08]

2008 VA INSURANCE DIVIDENDS: More than a million veterans are in line to share $349 million in annual insurance dividends during 2008, according to the VA. The VA operates one of the nation’s largest life insurance programs, providing more than $1 trillion in coverage to 7.1 million service members, veterans, and family members. The dividend payments will be sent to an estimated 1.1 million holders of VA insurance policies on the anniversary date of their policies. Sent automatically through different payment plans, the amounts will vary based on the age of the veteran, the type of insurance, and the length of time the policy has been in force. The dividends come from the earnings of trust funds into which veterans have paid insurance premiums over the years, and are linked to returns on investments in U.S. government securities.

Dividends are paid each year to veterans holding certain government life insurance policies and who served between 1917 and 1956. World War II veterans holding National Service Life Insurance ("V") policies comprise the largest group receiving 2008 insurance dividend payments. They are expected to receive total payments of $269.6 million. An additional group of World War II era veterans, those who have Veterans Reopened Insurance ("J," "JR" and "JS") policies, will in total receive dividends of $9.2 million. Korean War era veterans who have maintained Veterans Special Life Insurance ("RS" and "W") policies can expect to receive dividends totaling $69.3 million. Dividends totaling $875,000 will be paid to veterans who served between World War I and 1940 and who hold U.S. Government Life Insurance ("K") policies. Veterans who have questions about their policies may contact the VA insurance toll-free number at 1-800-669-8477 or send an email to: vainsurance@va.gov. You can also visit the VA on the Internet at: www.insurance.va.gov. [Source: VA PR, 3 Jan 08]

VA INCREASES TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT: Over a million eligible veterans will see their mileage reimbursement more than double starting tomorrow, for travel to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities.

The 2008 appropriations act provided funding for VA to increase the beneficiary travel mileage reimbursement rate from 11 cents per mile to 28.5 cents per mile. The increase goes into effect on Feb. 1. Secretary Peake used his authority to establish the first increase in the mileage reimbursement in 30 years, fulfilling a pledge he made during his Senate confirmation hearing last month.

While increasing the payment, VA, as mandated by law, also equally increased the deductible amounts applied to certain mileage reimbursements. The new deductibles are $7.77 for a one-way trip, $15.54 for a round trip, with a maximum of $46.62 per calendar month. However, these deductibles can be waived if they cause a financial hardship to the veteran. [Source: VA PR, 31 Jan 08]

VA ESTATE DEBT COLLECTION: A bill that would block the Department of Veterans Affairs from trying to collect money from the estates of service members who die in combat was introduced by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX). Her bill, S2536, applies only to debts to the VA, and not to money owed to private-sector creditors or other federal agencies, such as the Internal Revenue Service.

Hutchison is asking Senate leaders for quick passage of the bill, hoping to bypass the normal process in which new bills are sent to committee for consideration. She could get high-level support.

Waiving normal procedures would require the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, on which Hutchison serves, to allow the bill to proceed without its involvement. Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI) the veterans’ affairs committee chairman, would have to approve the move. Akaka aides said the committee staff would study the measure first.

Few people die owing the VA money, but Hutchison aides found that the VA has collected more than $56,000 from the families of 22 deceased soldiers, mostly National Guard and reserve members called to active duty who received overpayments of GI Bill education benefits. Her bill would be retroactive to Sept. 11, 2001, allowing families or estates that paid a debt to VA to receive a refund of any payment made since that date.

A Senator Hutchison spokesman said few people may be affected, but Hutchison considers it improper for any family of a service member who dies in combat to be contacted with a demand for money. Current law requires contacting a family or estate if there is any outstanding debt to VA at the time of death. A family has 180 days to file a grievance, with the VA secretary permitted to waive the debts.

Three of the 22 cases involved constituents of Hutchinson in Texas. Hutchison aides said their review found similar cases in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington and Wisconsin. [Source: Navy Times, 23 Jan 08]

NEW APPOINTMENTS TO VA WOMEN VETS COMMITTEE: Four new members have been appointed to the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), an expert panel that advises VA on issues and programs affecting women veterans.

Established in 1983, the advisory committee makes recommendations for administrative and legislative changes. The committee members are appointed to one, two, or three-year terms. The new committee members include: Rene A. Campos from Washington, D.C.; Helena R. Carapellatti from Upper Marlboro, Md; Barbara Pittman from Washington, D.C.; and Rosemarie (Rose) Weber from Springfield, Va.

Women veterans are one of the fastest growing segments of the veteran population. There are approximately 1.7 million women veterans. They comprise 7 percent of the total veteran population and nearly 5 percent of all veterans who use VA health care services. VA estimates that by 2020 women veterans will comprise 10 percent of the veteran population.

VA has women veteran’s program managers at VA medical centers and women veteran’s coordinators at VA regional offices to assist women veterans with health and benefits issues.

Note: Currently there is one member from New York State on the committee. Brenda Moore, Getzville, N.Y. - Served in the Women’s Army Corps; currently a professor in the Department of Sociology at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Former Commissioner of the American Battle Monuments Commission and former member of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS). [Source, VA PR, 3 Jan 08]

PRESIDENT RESTORES GOVERNORS POWER OVER GUARD: President Bush signed legislation pushed by Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont repealing a controversial law that had made it easier for the White House to take over control of the National Guard from state governors.

The nation’s 50 governors had complained that the Insurrection Act, passed as part of a 2006 defense bill, hurt the states’ ability to use the guard to respond to natural disasters. Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas applauded the repeal, a top legislative priority of the National Governors Association.

The defense bill also included a provision by Senator Leahy and Senator Kit Bond, R-Mo., to increase the National Guard’s clout at the Pentagon when decisions are made about the guard’s missions, equipment and staffing. The change elevates the chief of the National Guard from the rank of lieutenant general to the rank of general, makes the chief the prime military adviser to the defense secretary on Guard issues, and directs the Pentagon to work with the Guard on homeland defense planning. [Source: Gannett News Service, 1 Feb 08]

BRAIN SCREENINGS FOR VETS MAY BE FLAWED: Thousands of Iraq war veterans who could have suffered traumatic brain injury may be getting unnecessary or inadequate health care because Veterans Affairs officials have yet to determine whether their initial screening tests are reliable, investigators say.

A draft report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), obtained by The Associated Press, highlights the Bush administration's continuing difficulties in treating traumatic brain injury, a leading problem among soldiers struck by roadside bombs in the Iraq war. It also comes as a provocative military study this week found that symptoms of memory loss and irritability that have been tied to brain injury might be more accurately attributed to post-traumatic stress and depression.

The GAO review of nine VA medical centers, including one at Tomah, Wis., found that months after former VA Secretary Jim Nicholson in April promoted new screenings for brain injury and pledged personal responsibility in seeing them through, the department was still struggling to determine how to best gauge the clinical accuracy of its screenings.

In the report, the VA also acknowledged problems with follow-up appointments after veterans initially tested positive under the VA's screening tool. One medical center reported 27 cases in which their doctors failed to notify patients for additional evaluation because of glitches in the computerized program.

The department has since put in place safeguards to help track whether such patients are given follow-up appointments, but it was not immediately clear how many other veterans who might have needed care were missed at dozens of other VA centers around the country, the report said. Two VA medical centers also acknowledged they did not follow department protocol for up to three months after procedures were established when they failed to use a symptom checklist. The centers said they either did not know the checklist existed or did not have adequate staffing to follow protocol.

"Until VA evaluates the TBI screening tool's validity and reliability, VA providers will continue to use the screening tool without knowing how effective the tool is in identifying which veterans are and are not at risk for having mild TBI," GAO investigators wrote.

Such false results, the investigators said, could result not only in injured veterans failing to receive proper care, but also in VA medical centers facing growing, unmanageable workloads due to high numbers of veterans being unnecessarily referred for follow-up and treatment.

As many as 20 percent of U.S. combat troops who fought in Iraq or Afghanistan are believed to leave with signs of possible brain injury, and as of last August, VA officials said about 61,000 Iraq war veterans who sought VA care had been screened. A study being published in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine found that brain injury may be less to blame for soldiers' symptoms than doctors once thought.

Other GAO findings:

Inconsistent follow-up. Iraq war veterans face greater burdens in keeping appointments because they tend to be younger than other VA patients, with daytime work, school or child-care commitments. Some Iraq veterans also said they were under the impression that VA facilities catered to an elderly population and did not want to treat younger patients.

Poor rural access. Two medical centers reported no-show rates of 50 percent or greater for Iraq war veterans with possible brain injury, in part because they lived in small towns or farms and would have to drive 100 miles or so to reach a VA facility.

The nine VA medical facilities reviewed by GAO are in Decatur, Ga.; Augusta, Ga.; Baltimore; Dublin, Ga.; Richmond, Va.; Washington, D.C.; Hines, Ill.; Iron Mountain, Mich.; and Tomah, Wis. They were chosen based on high usage by Iraq war veterans as well as geographical representation. [Source: Associated Press, 31 Jan 08]

BATTLE CONCUSSIONS TIED TO STRESS DISORDER: About one in six combat troops returning from Iraq have suffered at least one concussion in the war, injuries that, while temporary, could heighten their risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder, researchers are reporting.

The study, in The New England Journal of Medicine, is the military's first large-scale effort to gauge the effect of mild head injuries -- concussions, many of them from roadside blasts -- that some experts worry may be causing a host of undiagnosed neurological deficiencies.

The new report found that soldiers who had concussions were more likely than those with other injuries to report a variety of physical and mental symptoms in their first months back home, including headaches, poor sleep and balance problems. But they were also at higher risk for the stress disorder, or PTSD, and that accounted for most of the difference in complaints, the researchers concluded. Symptoms of the disorder include irritability, sleep problems and flashbacks.

Experts cautioned that the study had not been designed to detect subtle changes in mental performance, like slips in concentration or short-term memory, that might have developed in the wake of a concussion and might be unrelated to stress reactions. Many returning veterans are still struggling with those problems, which can linger for months.

The findings are in line with previous research linking concussions to post-traumatic stress disorder that develops after frightening events outside a military context, like car accidents; concussions from athletic collisions rarely lead to the disorder.

In the study, military psychiatrists had 2,525 soldiers from two Army infantry brigades fill out questionnaires asking about missed workdays and dozens of kinds of physical and emotional difficulties, including symptoms of PTSD. The soldiers had been back home from Iraq for three to four months. The questionnaires also asked about concussions and their severity. A concussion is an injury from a blow or shock to the head that causes temporary confusion or loss of consciousness, without any visible brain damage. The investigators found that 384 of the soldiers, or 15 percent, reported at least one concussion. One-third of that 15 percent had blacked out when injured.

The severity of the concussion was related to the risk of developing the stress disorder, the survey showed. Nearly 44 percent of the soldiers who had blacked out qualified for the diagnosis, about three times the rate found in soldiers with other injuries. Among soldiers who did not black out, the rate of PTSD was 27 percent, significantly higher than the 16 percent rate among veterans with other kinds of injuries.

In an editorial that accompanied the study, Richard A. Bryant, a psychologist at the University of New South Wales in Australia, emphasized that concussed troops “should not be led to believe that they have a brain injury that will result in permanent damage.”

On the contrary, Dr. Bryant and other experts say, the link to post-traumatic stress suggests that mild brain injuries have a significant psychological component, which can improve with treatment. The report can be located at: http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/358/5/453. [Source: AP, 31 Jan 08]

HONORING THE FOUR CHAPLAINS: February 3rd is “Four Chaplains Day” in America by the unanimous resolution of the U.S. Congress in 1988.

Who are they and why do we honor them? Do we Americans, generally, know, and transmit to our young, the story of the Four Chaplains and their heroism in World War II; their willing, knowing, and loving ultimate sacrifice of their lives in service to God and country so “that others may live;” the lesson of their lives?

On February 3, 1943, the Dorchester, a converted luxury cruise ship, was transporting Army troops to Greenland, escorted by three Coast Guard Cutters and accompanied by two slow moving freighters. On board were some 900 troops, and four chaplains, of diverse religions and backgrounds, but of a common faith and commitment to serve God, country, and all the troops, regardless of their religious beliefs, or non-belief. The four Chaplains are:

Rev. George Fox (Methodist); Father John Washington (Roman Catholic); Jewish Rabbi Alexander Goode and Rev. Clark Poling (Dutch Reformed).

At approximately 12:55 AM, in the dead of a freezing night, the Dorchester was hit by a torpedo fired by German U-boat 233 in an area so infested with German submarines it was known as “Torpedo Junction.” The blast ripped a hole in the ship from below the waterline to the top deck. The engine room instantly flooded. Crewmen, who were not scalded to death by steam escaping from broken pipes and the ship's boiler, were drowned. Hundreds of troops in the flooded lower compartments drowned or washed out to the frigid waters, where most would die.

In less than a minute, the Dorchester lost way, and listed on a 30-degree angle. Troops on deck searched for life jackets in panic, clung to rails and other handholds, saw overloaded life boats overturn in the turgid water, leaped overboard as a last desperate hope for life. Many with life jackets drowned when the life preservers became waterlogged.

Of the 900 troops and crew on board, two-thirds would ultimately die; most of those who survived, had lifelong infirmities and pain from their time in the icy waters.

Dorchester survivors told of the wild pandemonium on board when it was hit and began sinking. Many men had not slept in their clothes and life vests as ordered because of the heat in the crowded quarters below. There was panic, fear, terror; death was no abstraction but real, immediate, seemingly inescapable.

The four Chaplains acted together to try bring some order to the chaos, to calm the panic of the troops, to alleviate their fear and terror, to pray with and for them, to help save their lives. The Chaplains passed out life jackets, helping those too panicked to put them on correctly, until the awful moment arrived when there were no more life jackets to be given out. It was then that a most remarkable act of heroism, courage, faith, and love took place.

Each of the four Chaplains took off his life jacket, and, knowing that act made death certain, put his life jacket on a soldier who didn't have one, refusing to listen to any protest that they should not make such a sacrifice. They continued to help the troops until the last moment.

Then, as the ship sank into the raging sea, the four Chaplains linked hands and arms, and could be seen and heard by the survivors praying together, even singing hymns, joined together in faith, love, and unity, as they sacrificed their lives so “that others might live.”

The few survivors testified to the selfless act of the four Chaplains. These testimonies, taken from author Dan Kurzman's book “No Greater Glory: The Four Immortal Chaplains and the Sinking of the Dorchester in World War II,” are but some of the sworn statements of grateful survivors upon which Congress awarded the Four Chaplains an unprecedented “Congressional Medal of Valor” in 1961.

The lesson of their lives is as inspiring as is the lesson of their ultimate sacrifice. For more information on the four chaplains, visit the Immortal Chaplains Foundation, and the affiliated Chapel of the Four Chaplains at: www.immortalchaplains.org. [Source: Record Gazette, 3 Feb 07]

NEW YORK STATE COLD WAR MEDAL: Currently there is legislation in the NYS Senate and Assembly that would authorize and award a state Cold War Medal to any person who is a citizen of the state of New York or was a citizen of the state of New York while serving in the armed forces of the United States, who served in the United States Armed Forces during the period of time from September second, nineteen hundred forty-five through December twenty-sixth, nineteen hundred ninety-one, commonly known as the Cold War Era and who was honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances during the Cold War Era.

The bills (A5156 / S5650) would allow for the recognition of the contributions of our service men and women who served honorably during the Cold War. Please contact your State Senator (http://www.senate.state.ny.us) and Assembly member (www.assembly.state.ny.us) and express your support for these bills. For more information about the Cold War Veterans Association, contact Sean Eagan at: Sean.Eagan@gmail.com or visit: http://cold-war-veterans-blog.blogspot.com/. [Source: Sean Eagan PR, 21 Jan 08]

NYS REAL ESTATE PROPERTY EXEMPTION: The New York State Office of Real Property has updated the Veterans Exemption pamphlet to reflect the addition of the Cold War veterans' exemption. The Site and pamphlet entitled: Veterans' Exemption Questions & Answers: Partial Exemption from Property Taxes in New York State can be found at: http://www.orps.state.ny.us/pamphlet/exempt/vets.htm. There you can either look at the web page or click on the PDF sign to get a printable version. [Source: NYS Office of Real Property]

NYC COUNCIL REAFFIRMS OPPOSITION TO DADT: The Veterans and Civil Rights Committees of the New York City Council held a joint hearing on January 25, 2008 on a proposed resolution asking the President and Congress to repeal the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy, that bars service by openly gay and lesbian soldiers.

The measure was introduced by Speaker Christine Quinn, Civil Rights Committee chair Larry Seabrook, and Veterans Committee chair Hiram Monserrate, along with 14 of their colleagues. In 2005, the Council passed a similar measure at the request of American Veterans For Equal Rights New York (AVERNY), and in its wake, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, St. Louis, Atlanta, Portland, and Tucson, among other cities, and the State of California followed suit.

Representatives of AVERNY, the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), the New York Civil Liberties Union, and Lambda Legal were among those who testified. Although opponents of allowing gays in the military were invited, none appeared.

Two Vietnam-era veterans who are heterosexual offered what observers described as the most poignant testimony. Both talked about having overcome homophobic attitudes they held earlier in life to understand that gay service members should be welcomed in an all-volunteer military. Seabrook compared the racial discrimination he had experienced as an African-American to the disenfranchisement of LGBT Americans, especially those willing to serve their country. [Source: GayCityNews, 31 Jan 08]

REBUILDING TOGETHER: Rebuilding Together NYC (RT-NYC) mission is to rehabilitate the houses of low-income homeowners, and the facilities of nonprofit organizations, so that they may live & work in warmth, safety & independence.

Thanks to special funding from Sears & Kmart, RT-NYC is looking to rehabilitate the homes of low-income veterans (or the widow of a veteran) in the 5 boroughs of New York City. Thanks to this sponsorship, all work that RT-NYC performs is free to the homeowner.

Income guidelines are as follow. We are able to consider applications on a case-by-case basis, so please don't take these guidelines as absolutes with no flexibility:

1-person $39,700 annual income
2-people $45,350
3-people $51,050
4-people $56,700
5-people $61,250
6-people $65,750
7-people $70,300
8-people $74,850

Joe’s Note: I have put the notice and application for home modifications/repairs in the Files section on NYMetroVets. However, if you cannot get it for some reason, reach out to me and I will send it to you directly. If you are interested, or know of a veteran who could use this service, please contact Mr. Matthew Lang at (631) 804-6479. For more information on RT-NYC, please visit their website at: www.rebuildingtogethernyc.org and the website of the national organization: www.rebuildingtogether.org [Source: Kevin O’Brien & Matthew Lang]

FEBRUARY EVENTS IN NYC: The following is a list of events that are taking place throughout the five boroughs during the month of February. This list is not all inclusive and other events may be taking place throughout the city. Please pass this on to others.

February 9, 2008 – Wounded Warriors Project Event: www.woundedwarriorproject.org. Join us at 3 PM for the 2nd Annual Degenerate Saturday BBQ sponsored by Brady's Bar. Brady’s Bar is located at: 1583 Second Ave (82nd & 2nd), New York City, NY. $15 buys all you can eat! There will be a 50/50 raffle, great prizes and lots of fun!

February 11, 2008 – The City Bar Justice Center is hosting a Free Legal Clinic for Veterans with VA benefits issues at the New York City Bar, 42 West 44th Street (between 5th & 6th Avenues). Volunteer lawyers will be available to meet with you from 2 to 4 PM to help you fill out your disability benefits application. Appointments are required. To make an appointment, call 1-877-564-3384 or e-mail: schang@nycbar.org.

February 15, 2008 - The City Council's Veteran’s Committee is scheduled to have a hearing at 1 PM in the Committee Room at City Hall. The meeting agenda is not set at this time.

February 15, 2008 – NYMAS Talk: “Triumph Forsaken: The Vietnam War, 1954-1965” with Mark Moyar, Marine Corps University. NYMAS talks are free and open to the public. They are held at the City University of New York Graduate Center, at 365 Fifth Avenue between 34th and 35th Streets from 7 PM to 9 PM. These lectures are held on the 6th floor, Room 6-495, but confirmation of the room should be obtained from the guard at the street-level entrance. Topics and speakers may be subject to change without notice. A current updated schedule is always available at this website (www.nymas.org).

February 19, 2008 – O’Lunney’s Times Square Pub (www.olunneys.com), located at 145 West 45th Street, NYC will host a party for our nation’s service members from 6 to 9 PM. There will be a buffet, open bar and live entertainment. Cost is $50 dollars per person with 100% of the proceeds going to the Wounded Warriors Project: (www.woundedwarriorproject.org). This is an opportunity for you to meet, greet and thank our brave men and women for their service. For more information on this event, please contact Major Dave Andersen, USMC (Ret.) at (917) 420-3804. (Note: Flyer Posted on NYMetroVets.)

February 22, 2008 – CUNY Student-Veterans Conference from 9 AM to 4 PM. Student Veterans from across CUNY will have the opportunity to attend workshops, panels and discussions on: government benefits, professional development, health, and on-campus activities. Participants will also be able to network and connect with other vets. This full day conference at the City College of New York (Convent Ave & 140th Street, NYC – Shepard’s Hall Building) is not to be missed. Breakfast and lunch will be served. This event is open to CUNY Veteran Students only. To reserve your seat and enter to win an iPod, visit: www.cuny.edu/veterans or call (212) 652-2002. (Note: Flyer Posted on NYMetroVets.)

February 28, 2008 - The Marine For Life Meet Up will be taking place at the Soldiers and Sailors Club in NYC at 1800 (6 PM). If you would like more information or are interested in attending, please contact Mr. Ed Arias at: usmcnypd911@yahoo.com.

February 29, 2008 - The City Council's Consumer Affairs Committee is scheduled to have a hearing at 10 AM in the Council Chambers at City Hall. The agenda for this hearing is Intros. 446 & 447 – CM Avella’s requested sponsor’s privilege hearing on Veteran Vendors Bills. Please make every effort to attend this important veteran hearing.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: First off, GO GIANTS and don’t forget to vote for your Presidential candidate on Super Tuesday (February 5, 2008). Now, Last month I asked everybody to stick together in the community, share information with others and help your fellow brother/sister veterans when you can. I want to drive this point home because as I stated in my January 17, 2008 State of NYC Veterans Affairs e-mail, I have increasingly become concerned with what is happening in the veteran’s community here in the city. If you did not see my comments, you can read them at: http://nyc.indymedia.org/en/2008/01/94187.html.

The point I was trying to make is that I believe we – as a community – are marginalized. I believe Mayor Bloomberg wants to truly help veterans but the sense is that he doesn’t understand us and therefore is not comfortable with the community, while we all still wait to hear and see Commissioner Newman’s “vision” of how he will move MOVA in a positive direction. Like the story of the Four Chaplains, we must link our arms together and show that we are united in a common cause – for our community. Now, more than ever – we need each other.

Lastly, as I stated in January’s newsletter, there was a rumor that the VA VISN3 Network Director, Mr. James Farsetta was retiring. That rumor turned out to be true and Mr. Farsetta retired on February 1st. I am told that the Mid-Hudson Director is the current acting director while the VA searches for a new VISN director. I also want to thank and wish Mr. Peter Juliano good luck as he moves into his new position with the VA Central Office.

As always, please pass this newsletter to others and if you have any comments or questions, please feel free to e-mail me at: bjoe7@hotmail.com. Until next month...

Joseph Bello, NYC Veterans Advocate

December 07 NYC Veterans Newsletter
Posted by: "Joseph A. Bello" bjoe7@hotmail.com
Mon Oct 1, 2007 3:19 pm (PST)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NYMetroVets/

http://s1.video.blip.tv/0960001675023/Jimstaro-TheSurgeAtHome847.swf - The Surge at Home (Thanks to Hank, James and several others who sent this to me. A must see.)
This Newsletter Includes the Following Articles:
· DFAS 2008 COLA Payments· Peake Likely For VA Confirmation· VA Announces Funds to Help Caregivers· VA/DoD Testing All in One Medical Exam· VA Claims Backlog· VA Cuts Processing Time for GI Bill Benefits· Disabled Combat Vets Can Get $500, No Strings· Court Ruling Favors Funeral Picketers· Wreaths Across America· Former Generals/Admirals Question Gay Policy· NYC Council Resolution of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell· OIF/OEF Manhattan VA Study· Veteran Upward Bound Program Helps Students· Santa Claus Season Opens for NORAD· USMC Accepting Donations for “Toys for Tots”· December Events· My Final Thoughts
DFAS 2008 COLA PAYMENTS: According to Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) officials based on the increase in the U.S. Consumer Price Index, there will be a cost-of-living adjustment increase for retired pay and Survivor Benefit Plan annuities effective 1 December. The COLA increase will be reflected in the 2 January 2008 payment. Retirees being paid on an account where the retiree first became a member of the uniformed services before 8 SEP 80 and retired before 1 JUL 07 will receive a full COLA increase of 2.3%. The COLA increase for retirees being paid on an account where the retiree first became a member of the uniformed services on or after 8 September 08 will be as follows: -- 2.3% for those retiring before January 1, 2007-- 2.3% for those retiring in the first quarter calendar 2007-- 2.3% for those retiring in the second quarter calendar 2007-- 0.2% for those retiring in the third quarter calendar 2007-- No increase for those retiring in the fourth quarter calendar 2007 Retirees being paid on an account where the retiree first became a member of the uniformed services on or after 1 AUG 86 and retired on or before 1 January 07 but elected to receive a Career Status Bonus at 15 years of active service, will receive a COLA increase of 1.3%. Retirees being paid on an account where the retiree first became a member of the uniformed services on or after 1 August 86, retired on or after 1 January 07, and elected to receive a Career Status Bonus at 15 years of active service will receive COLA as follows: -- 1.3% for those retiring before 1 January 07-- 1.3% for those retiring in the first quarter calendar 2007-- 1.3% for those retiring in the second quarter calendar 2007-- No increase for those retiring in the third or fourth quarter calendar 2007. [Source: AFRN, 21 Nov 07] PEAKE LIKELY FOR VA CONFIRMATION: Retired Army Lt. Gen. James Peake pledged Wednesday to be an advocate for veterans and to be honest with Congress if he is confirmed as the new secretary of veteran’s affairs. His comments during a Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing appeared to seal the deal on his nomination, with plans for a Senate vote before Congress adjourns for the holidays. Democrats on the committee want a VA secretary who is willing to fight within the Bush administration for money and attention to take care of a growing list of problems. They wanted to know if Peake — a decorated Vietnam veteran who was an infantry officer before becoming a surgeon — is up to the job. “I think I can be tough,” Peake said. “My job is go fight for veterans, and I will do that effectively and efficiently.”
Asked what he would do if the Bush administration tries to short-change veterans programs, Peake vowed to argue within the administration for more money and, if that failed, to be open and honest with Congress about funding gaps. If confirmed — and that seems virtually assured unless his nomination is held up by something not directly related to his qualifications for the job — Peake would spend the final year of the Bush administration heading a department that faces major challenges, including a growing backlog of benefits claims, complaints of long delays getting medical appointments, and a new generation of combat veterans who have different needs and expectations. Peake said he would try to make the VA’s benefits claims process easier to use. “I look forward, if confirmed, to moving forward with making the system less complex, more understandable and better supported with the tools of information technology,” he said. “A veteran should not need a lawyer to figure out what benefit is due or to get that benefit.” He also promised to be open-minded about some of the controversial issues facing the VA. He said he would be willing to look at the idea of paying for veterans’ medical care with mandatory federal funding, similar to the way Medicare is funded, as an alternative the current system of discretionary budgets that must be approved each year and can fluctuate with the political winds of the moment. He also supports, in concept, legislation to dramatically increase GI Bill education benefits to cover more college expenses, saying the current system doesn’t seem as generous as benefits should be in wartime. Sen. Daniel Akaka, the veterans’ committee chairman, said running the VA is never easy but “doing so in a time of war is dramatically more difficult.” Akaka had a bleak assessment of the current situation with the VA benefits system. “It is “no exaggeration to say that VA’s … compensation system is broken,” he said. The committee’s ranking Republican member, Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina, said Peake seems like the perfect choice because of his background as a West Point graduate who served as an infantry officer in Vietnam, was twice wounded, used the GI Bill to attend medical school and went on to serve a full career in the Army, retiring as a three-star general. [Source: Navy Times, 6 Dec 07] VA ANNOUNCES FUNDS TO HELP CAREGIVERS: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it will provide nearly $4.7 million for “caregiver assistance pilot programs” to expand and improve health care education and provide needed training and resources for caregivers who assist disabled and aging veterans in their homes. “This funding will enhance support and training for the family members and other caregivers who sacrifice to care for disabled and aging veterans,” said Acting VA Secretary Gordon H. Mansfield. “At VA, we’re committed to looking after caregivers who dedicate their own time and well-being to take care of loved ones who are veterans.” The pilot programs will support eight caregiver projects across the country. In addition, VA provides support and assistance through a variety of programs such as care management, social work service, care coordination, geriatrics and extended care, and through its nationwide volunteer programs. Among the key services provided to caregivers are transportation, respite care, case management and service coordination, assistance with personal care (bathing and grooming), social and emotional support, and home safety evaluations. Education programs teach caregivers how to obtain community resources such as legal assistance, financial support, housing assistance, home delivered meals and spiritual support. In addition, caregivers are taught skills such as time management techniques, medication management, communication skills with the medical staff and the veteran, and ways to take better care of themselves. Many of the projects use technology, including computers, Web-based training, video conferencing and teleconferencing to support the needs of caregivers who often cannot leave their homes to participate in support activities. [Source: VA, 6 Dec 07] VA/DOD TESTING PROGRAM FOR ALL IN ONE MEDICAL EXAM: Defense and Veterans Affairs officials last week launched a pilot program to simplify the disability ratings process for wounded troops, trimming it down to a single medical exam, a system that could lead to faster and more generous benefits. The concept was one of several changes recommended by commissions examining the military health care system in the wake of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center controversy earlier this year.
Bill Carr, deputy undersecretary for military personnel policy, told reporters Friday that the pilot will be a single disability evaluation conducted by VA medical personnel for wounded troops. The idea, he said, is to provide a system that is “faster, more compassionate, less adversarial and by all means more efficient.”The pilot will include all troops with serious injuries being treated in the national capital region, including those at Walter Reed in Washington; the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.; and the Malcolm Grow Medical Center at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. Under the current process, wounded troops must undergo a complete physical evaluation to determine if they can remain in the military. Carr said depending on the results, they can return to duty, retire with a severance package or retire with a full pension. Those troops who retire must undergo a second VA evaluation to determine the extent of their veteran’s benefits. Critics said the multiple exams and conflicting ratings often left wounded troops confused and frustrated. Under the pilot program, troops will undergo a single disability evaluation performed by VA medical staff. The results will be used by both departments in their separate processes.
“For a federal agency to accept the work of another agency is not trivial,” Carr said. “But you’ve got to take that in order for this to work.” Typically, VA disability ratings are on average 8 percent higher than Defense ratings, Carr said. He said that gap likely isn’t enough to disqualify troops trying to stay on active duty.
But it would mean higher payouts once those troops enter the veterans affairs system. The joint evaluation also would cut down on the wait troops have before receiving that money after medical retirement, which is often up to six months. Michael Dominguez, principal deputy undersecretary for personnel and readiness, said officials have no time line for expanding the program beyond the capital region, but officials will be monitoring its progress to see when all wounded troops might be brought into a more simplified system. Also Friday, Defense officials announced the launch of a new Defense Center of Excellence focused on traumatic brain injury and mental health issues. The center, to have its headquarters in Virginia and due to be fully operational by October 2009, will work jointly with VA experts to evaluate and improve treatment of psychological health and brain injury issues. [Source: Stars and Stripes, 2 Dec 07] VA CLAIMS BACKLOG: The Department of Veterans Affairs fell further behind this year in its attempts to give veterans timely decisions on their disability claims, new records show.The latest numbers are in an annual performance report the VA prepares for Congress. Overall, the agency either has fallen behind or has made no progress in improving its performance in more than half of what it lists as its key goals.In its speed of processing disability claims, the agency lost ground for the third year in a row.Moreover, McClatchy Newspapers has found that the VA put a positive spin on many of its numbers and in two instances provided Congress with incorrect or incomplete figures.The agency said it took an average of 183 days to process a claim in fiscal 2007, longer than in any of the five years tracked in the report. Processing exceeded its 2007 goal of 160 days and its long-term goal of eventually reducing processing time to 125 days. Congress and veterans closely watch the time it takes the VA to process claims, and the agency has vowed in previous years to pick up the pace. When it was asked about its processing speed last year, for example, the VA told McClatchy that hiring new workers would help it increase production and decrease its backlog of claims in 2007.In fact, processing time increased by an average of six days, and the backlog of pending claims rose from 377,681 to 391,257, the agency’s records show.The VA said that it was aggressively tackling the issue, hiring more than 1,000 workers, boosting overtime and revamping training. The agency also said it was receiving more disability claims than it had at any time in recent history and that it had received more than it had expected in 2007.Beyond that, the agency said that meeting or exceeding its goals wasn’t always the best measure of success.“The VA sets goals to measure how we are doing so that we can continuously improve performance,” said Bob Henke, assistant secretary for management. “We use goals to move and improve performance.”But for Sen. Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat, the report is more evidence that the agency hasn’t been upfront with Congress about its performance or its needs.In many sections of the report, the VA looks past the missed goals to put the best face on its efforts.Under “Positive 2007 Outcomes,” for example, the VA highlights “accurate claims processing” and said the “accuracy rate ... was maintained at 88 percent, helping to ensure that veterans receive the proper level of monetary benefits.” Only elsewhere does the report note that 88 percent is below the agency’s goal of 98 percent.The VA reports that 95 percent or more of outpatient visits are scheduled within 30 days of the patients’ desired dates, a fact it has touted to Congress repeatedly. The agency’s inspector general, however, found this year that only 75 percent of the visits it examined took place within 30 days. The VA said it didn’t agree with that finding and was examining the issue.The VA also claimed that customer-satisfaction ratings by inpatients at VA hospitals are 10 points higher than ratings from private-sector hospitals. In fact, the number the agency used as a comparison is wrong, and as a result the advantage for VA hospitals is half as big as the VA claims.The VA told McClatchy that the mistake was made by a “transposition error, and we will be fixing that as soon as possible.” [Source: McClatchy News Service, 28 Nov 07] VA CUTS PROCESSING TIME FOR GI BILL BENEFITS: The Department of Veterans Affairs has cut eight days from the length of time it takes to process a new claim for GI Bill education benefits. VA officials announced Monday that the average processing time is 32 days for first-time recipients, down from 40 days a year ago. For those re-enrolling in school, the average is now 13 days, down from the previous 20, according to the statement. Keith Wilson, VA’s education services director, said processing time in November was cut to just 26 days for initial claims and to 10 days for re-enrollments, a sign of continued progress. VA officials said their goal is to cut processing time by 20 percent within one year. The drop applies to education benefits claims, not disability benefits claims, which have been an area of greater concern; it takes almost six months, on average, to process initial disability claims and almost two years if a veteran appeals the initial VA decision. On education benefits, VA officials used new procedures to cut the wait time, including creating a temporary call center to handle GI Bill-related calls. VA officials said this has worked so well that it will create a permanent call center in Oklahoma early next year.
The VA also has made changes so that schools where service members or veterans are enrolled can electronically submit claims, although this currently makes up a small proportion of total claims. In 2007, 524,000 veterans and beneficiaries received approximately $21 billion dollars of education assistance. Since 1944, more than 21.4 million veterans and their beneficiaries have received GI Bill benefits.
VA education benefits include Montgomery GI Bill for active duty personnel, Montgomery GI Bill for Selected Reserves, the Reservist Education Assistance Program and educational assistance for survivors and dependents.
For more information on VA education benefits, go to VA’s education Web site at: www.gibill.va.gov. [Source: Navy Times/VA, 3 Dec 07] DISABLED COMBAT VETS CAN GET $500, NO STRINGS: The Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes, in conjunction with the American Legion, is giving gifts of $500 each to 1,000 disabled veterans who served in the Iraq or Afghanistan wars. The Coalition presented a check for $500,000 to the American Legion, and the entire amount will be awarded to veterans, officials said. The Legion will assume all administrative costs.
There are no strings attached, and the money does not have to be used for any specific purpose, said American Legion spokeswoman Ramona Joyce. There is no “financial need” requirement — the only requirements are that veterans served in the Iraq or Afghanistan wars, and have a disability rated at 30 percent or more. The money will be given on a first-come, first-served basis.Grants will be available through May 2008, or until the money runs out. “We’d love to go through it before the holidays so they can have extra spending money for presents or maybe for a plane ticket home,” Joyce said. “These grants are just a small token of appreciation for the sacrifices made by so many of America’s men and women in uniform,” said Thomas Palma, general manager of the Coalition, in an announcement about the gifts. “Our Coalition was able to raise a lot of money from caring people but we do not have the distribution network of the American Legion. The Legion is a well-respected organization with a presence in communities across America.” The Legion also distributed checks for the Coalition in 2005.
To apply for a grant, veterans should contact their state’s headquarters office. Contact information can be found in the American Legion’s State Headquarters Directory (http://www.legion.org/?section=our_legion&subsection=ol_departments&content=ol_deptdir). If further assistance is needed, veterans can call Ms. Joyce at (202) 263-2982 or John Raughter at (317) 630-1253. [Source: Navy Times, 5 Dec 07] COURT RULING FAVORS FUNERAL PICKETERS: A federal appeals court on December 6 temporarily blocked Kansas laws restricting pickets at funerals as their constitutionality is reviewed. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit ruled in favor of Shirley Phelps-Roper, who sought to temporarily block enforcement of statutes restricting where members of Topeka, Kan.-based Westboro Baptist Church can picket at funerals is reviewed, the Topeka Capital-Journal reported. Westboro Baptist Church members believe God punishes the United States for tolerating homosexuality by killing Americans, including soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Members of the church have picketed funerals of soldiers killed in in the two theaters, sometimes prompting confrontations. Phelps-Roper said Thursday the challenged statutes weren't clear in defining how far from funerals church members can picket, using words like "in front of" and "about." Because of vague language, she said law enforcement officers and other officials could interpret how the statutes should be enforced. On Aug. 5, Phelps-Roper and other church members protested near a soldier's funeral in St. Joseph, Mo. Responding to the protest, the state enacted statutes that criminalized picketing "in front or about" a funeral location or procession, and within 300 feet of a funeral location or procession. [Source: United Press International, 7 Dec 07] WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA: The Department of Veterans Affairs' national cemeteries will again participate in this year's annual Wreaths Across America initiative scheduled to take place at noon on Saturday, December 15, 2007. That date marks the 16th anniversary of Maine wreaths being donated to decorate the graves at Arlington National Cemetery and the second year of a national campaign, dubbed Wreaths Across America, that will bring the same remembrance wreaths to over 230 National and State Veterans cemeteries and monuments across the nation. The Worcester Wreath Company has donated 5,000 wreaths for placement by volunteers on gravesites in Arlington National Cemetery, in a mission to Remember - Honor - and Teach the value of freedom in the world today. Participants include veterans groups, companies, school children and individuals. The truck carrying the wreaths, flanked by a contingent of Patriot Guard Riders, is scheduled to arrive at Arlington National Cemetery at 9:00 AM. The volunteers will then lay the wreaths, and a ceremony will be held at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers at noon. This year, all 125 VA national cemeteries will participate with wreath-laying ceremonies for six wreaths - one for each Service and one for POW/MIAs. The wreaths are made and decorated by the employees of Worcester Wreath Company. Through this program, company president Morrill Worcester wanted to recognize veterans, active duty military, and their families. For more information on this event, please visit: http://www.wreaths-across-america.org/. [Source: NAUS Weekly Update, 20 Nov 07] FORMER GERNALS/ADMIRALS QUESTION MILITARY GAY POLICY: Twenty-eight retired generals and admirals released a letter late November urging Congress to repeal the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ law, according to a report in the New York Times. The letter’s release marked the 14th anniversary of the policy that allows gay men and lesbians to serve in the military but only if they keep their orientation secret. “We respectfully urge Congress to repeal the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy,” says the letter, a copy of which Stars and Stripes also received. The officers said in the letter that “scholarly data show” that 65,000 gay men and lesbians now serve in the American armed forces and that there are more than 1 million gay veterans.
“They have served our nation honorably,” the letter states. Although the signers of the letter are high-ranking, none is of the stature of Gen. John Shalikashvili, who was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff when the policy was adopted and who now argues for its repeal, the Times noted. Shalikashvili refocused attention on the issue earlier this year when he wrote in a New York Times op-ed that conversations with military personnel had prompted him to change his position. Through 2006, more than 10,000 people were removed from the military under the policy, according to government statistics cited by the Times. But the number of servicemembers discharged under the policy has declined noticeably since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, dropping to 612 in fiscal 2006 from 1,227 in fiscal 2001, the paper reported. Bryan Whitman, a Pentagon spokesman, told the Times that there were no efforts at the Pentagon or across the military to alter the policy. [Source: Stars and Stripes, 1 Dec 07] NYC COUNCIL CONSIDERS RESOLUTION CALLING FOR REPEAL OF 'DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL': The New York City Council is considering a second resolution urging Congress to repeal the federal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual military personnel. The resolution, sponsored by openly gay Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, openly gay Council Member Rosie Mendez and Council Members Larry B. Seabrook, Chair of the Civil Rights Committee and Hiram Monserrate, Chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee, follows a similar resolution adopted by the city in May 2005. The resolution urges Congress to pass The Military Readiness Enhancement Act (H.R. 1246), a Congress bill to repeal the law. "Communities across the country are beginning to realize the impact the military's gay ban has on their security, safety and well-being," said Aubrey Sarvis, Executive Director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN). "The New York City Council is sending a strong, clear message to Washington that Americans no longer support the exclusion of qualified, capable Americans from our armed forces. All of our communities, and all of our citizens, are safer when we recruit based on qualification and refuse to perpetuate discrimination. Speaker Quinn and Council Members Mendez, Seabrook and Monserrate have taken an unmistakable stand in favor of military readiness and individual liberty, and SLDN salutes their commitment to ending this law." The New York City Council resolution follows similar resolutions adopted in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Portland, San Francisco, Saint Louis, Tucson and West Hollywood. The California State Assembly also passed a resolution in support of repeal, in 2005. [Source: PRNewswire/USNewswire, 3 Dec 07] OIF/OEF VA STUDY: My name is Adam Brown and I am a psychology intern at the Manhattan (23rd Street) VA Medical Center. I am currently recruiting OEF/OIF veterans and active duty personnel for a study that I am conducting on memory. The study takes about 2 hours and is being conducted at the New School for Social Research. Participants will receive $25 dollars and one round trip NYC Metrocard. If you have any questions or are interested, please contact me by phone or e-mail. Thank you. Adam Brown, M.A.Psychology Intern VA New York Harbor Healthcare SystemNew York Campus423 East 23rd Street, # 2652New York, NY 10010(212) 686-7500 ext. 7705(212) 951-6357 faxAdam.Brown3@va.gov VETERANS UPWARD BOUND AIDS STUDENTS: The Veterans Upward Bound program has helped numerous veterans to enter and succeed in college, vocational school or technical school. Currently recruiting participants, the program offers free educational services to qualified veterans. The Veterans Upward Bound program at LaGuardia Community College (CUNY) in Long Island City, Queens will serve military veterans who wish to prepare to enter postsecondary school. Classes start January 7, 2008. For additional information on LaGuardia’s Veterans Upward Bound program, please call:(718) 482-5386. Also, visit Military.com (http://education.military.com/timesaving-programs/veterans-upward-bound-vub) to learn more about Veterans Upward Bound programs nationwide. [Source: Military.com/LaGuardia CC]
SANTA CLAUS SEASON OPENS FOR NORAD: The highly serious North American Aerospace Defense Command is showing its warm and fuzzy side for the 52nd year in a row.
The NORAD Tracks Santa web site (http://www.noradsanta.org/) went live in late November, according to a press release.
On December 24, beginning at 2 AM Mountain Standard Time, the web site will feature a minute-by-minute update of Santa's travels around the world. All the information is available in English, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish.
The Santa tracking tradition began in 1955 with an errant phone call to NORAD’s predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command operations center in Colorado Springs, Colo., NORAD spokesman Michael Perini said in the release. “The call was from a local child who dialed a misprinted telephone number in a local newspaper advertisement."
The commander who answered the phone that night gave the youngster the information he requested and the trandition of NORAD tracking Santa began, he explained. The program has grown continually since it was first presented on the Internet in 1998.
"In 2006, the web site received a whopping 941 million hits frmo 210 countries and territories," Perini said.
On Christmas Eve, 756 volunteers at the NTS Operations Center answered nearly 65,000 phone calls and 96,000 e-mails from children around the world. The Web site features the history of the program, information on how NORAD tracks Santa and interactive games. [Source: Air Force Times, 20 Nov 07]
MARINES ACCEPTING DONATIONS FOR “TOYS FOR TOT’S: The "Toys for Tots" program began in the fall of 1947 when a group of Marine Reservists based in Los Angeles collected and delivered 5,000 toys to local needy children. Today, more than 550 Marine Corps' Toys for Tots distribution centers are located across the country. Toys for Tots enables families of limited means to provide something for their children on Christmas. Collected toys are distributed through local social welfare agencies and other organizations. Besides toys for young children, the program also seeks gift donations suitable for teenagers, such as hand-held video games, purses, watches and other items.
For more information, or if you are interested in donating toys, please visit the NYC Toys for Tots website at: http://www.toysfortotsnyc.org/ [Source: http://www.toysfortots.org, 27 Nov 07] DECEMBER EVENTS IN NYC: The following is a list of events that are taking place throughout the five boroughs during the month of December. This list is not all inclusive and other events may be taking place throughout the city. Please pass this on to others. December 10, 2007 - The City Council's Veteran’s Committee is having a hearing at 1 PM in the Committee Room at City Hall. The meeting agenda is: Oversight - Addressing Homelessness among NYC’s Veterans. Both the DHS and MOVA Commissioner are expected to testify. December 14, 2007 - The Marine Corps Reserve Association (MCRA) General Carl Day Chapter is having it’s Traditional Christmas-Chanukah Party from 7:15 PM until ??. The location is Sardi’s, 234 West 44th Street. There will be a Cash Bar, complimentary H’ors D'oeuvres and complimentary Egg Nog (Plain and Spiked). Please note that some members choose to have dinner in Sardi's Dining Room afterwards. You can call Sardi’s for dinner reservations at (212) 727-4371. Mention that you are with us. For more information, please contact Alexander Pas at (917) 572-1560. December 17, 2007 - The Manhattan Vet Center is hosting its Annual Holiday Party from 2 PM until 6 PM. There will be Food, Beverage and Music. All Veterans, Families and Friends are welcome! The Manhattan Vet Center is located at 32 Broadway, 2nd Floor, Suite 200.
December 17, 2007 - Kwanzaa and Holiday Celebrations - Veterans on Ice! Veteran's of All Eras, especially Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans, their children and families are invited to join Black Veterans for Social Justice (BVSJ) for a evening of Ice Skating. This event will take place from 6 - 9 PM at Wollman Rink in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. Admission and Skate Rental is FREE! If you don't skate, come out for Hot Chocolate and great Fellowship. To reserve your spot, contact Windy McClinton from BVSJ at (718) 852-6400 ext. 226 or 221. This event is sponsored by BVSJ.
December 18, 2007 – There will be a Veteran’s Press Conference on the Steps of City Hall with CM Avella at 11:30 AM. The purpose of this press conference is to speak out about Intro’s 446 & 447, two bills that help veteran vendors which have been pending before the Consumer Affairs Committee since September 27, 2006! Please join us and help get the word out to others. If you would like more information, please visit the City Council’s website or contact Dan Rossi at: rossi_danrossi@yahoo.com. December 21, 2007 – NYMAS Talk: “Al Qaeda’s Doctrine for Waging an Insurgency” with Norman Cigar, Marine Corps University. NYMAS talks are free and open to the public. They are held at the City University of New York Graduate Center, at 365 Fifth Avenue between 34th and 35th Streets from 7 PM to 9 PM. These lectures are held on the 6th floor, Room 6-495, but confirmation of the room should be obtained from the guard at the street-level entrance. Topics and speakers may be subject to change without notice. A current updated schedule is always available at this website (www.nymas.org). MY FINAL THOUGHTS: Well, November has come and gone and what a month it was! I would like to add my congratulations to EVERYONE who received an award or recognition this past month (and there were many of you). I hope that you and yours had a wonderful Veteran’s Day and Thanksgiving. Let me wish you all a Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Merry Christmas and a very happy and fruitful New Year. I was looking at what I wrote last year and (once again) this year has been a roller coaster and while we have had some highs, we have taken a number of lows. We lost (what I consider) a large number of individuals this year that were real fighters in the veteran’s community here in the city. Last year I wrote that the community seemed to be going through a sort of malaise. This year, the community seems to be going through a sort of difficult transition with battles (issues) looming on multiple fronts. As I continue to say, its way past time for the community to become more pro-active in what we want and expect from our local leaders. With our country at war and our servicemen and women coming home, there are many issues that need to be address and we are just not seeing the leadership that is urgently needed. It’s easy to give a speech and say the right things to the community – it’s a lot harder to actually show that support. So that’s it for now. As always, please pass on this newsletter to others. If you have any comments or questions, please e-mail me at: bjoe7@hotmail.com. So take care, please have a safe and wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year! Until next month... Joseph Bello, NYC Veterans Advocate

WELCOME BACK EDITION!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NYMetroVets/
This Newsletter Includes the Following Articles:
· Gordon Mansfield Becomes Acting VA Secretary·GAO Report: VA Still Far Off Care Goals· VA IG Report: VA Distorts Record on Wait Times· Sen. Burr Replaces Craig on VA Committee· House Vet Committee Comes to Hudson Valley· Former POW’s Not Getting Earned Benefits· Purple Heart Hall of Honor Seeks Recipients· Veterans Upward Bound Helps Students· VA Increases the GI Bill Rates· Rebuilding Together NYC· Columbia University Master’s Project· Artist Looking for Cold War Veterans· Veterans Day Info for Teachers and Students· New Tax Break for Vets in New York State· NYS Health Dept Vet Clearing House· NYC Veterans Day Parade· Veteran Events in NYC·

My Final ThoughtsGORDON MANSFIELD TO BECOME ACTING SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS: Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Gordon H. Mansfield will become the Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs following the resignation of Secretary Jim Nicholson. Secretary Nicholson tendered his resignation to President Bush on July 17, 2007.Mansfield assumes the role on October 1 under the terms of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, where a Deputy Secretary begins to serve as the acting officer immediately and automatically upon the occurrence of the vacancy. Mansfield will serve as Acting Secretary until the Senate confirms the nominee of the President.Appointed by President Bush in November 2003, Deputy Secretary Mansfield served as the chief operating officer for the federal government’s second largest department, responsible for a nationwide system of health care services, benefits programs and national cemeteries for America’s veterans and their dependents. He previously served as VA Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Legislative Affairs since August 1, 2001, serving as the legislative advisor to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. He was responsible for VA’s Congressional relations and representing VA programs, policies, investigations and legislative agenda to Congress.Prior to joining VA, Mr. Mansfield served as executive director of the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) since April 1993. In that position, the highly decorated Vietnam veteran oversaw daily operation of PVA’s national office in Washington, D.C. Mr. Mansfield held a number of positions at PVA from 1981 to 1989, and served as the organization’s first associate executive director of Government Relations.Mr. Mansfield served as Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at the Department of Housing and Urban Development from 1989 to 1993 under President George H. W. Bush’s Administration. Prior to 1981, he practiced law in Ocala, Fla.Mr. Mansfield received his undergraduate degree from Villanova University and law degree from the University of Miami. Following his 1964 enlistment in the Army, Mr. Mansfield served two tours of duty in Vietnam. While serving as company commander with the 101st Airborne Division during his second tour, he was wounded during the Tet Offensive of 1968 sustaining a spinal cord injury. For his actions while his unit was under fire, he was decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest personal decoration for valor in combat. He was medically retired by the U.S. Army at the grade of Captain. His other combat decorations include the Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge and the Presidential Unit Citation.Mr. Mansfield is a recipient of the Presidential Distinguished Service Award and the Villanova University Alumni Human Relations Medal. He was inducted into the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame in 1997. [Source: VA PR, 28 Sep 07]
GAO REPORT: VA STILL FAR OFF CARE GOALS: Months after pledging to improve veterans care, the Bush administration has yet to find clear answers to some of the worst problems afflicting wounded warriors, such as delays in disability payments and providing personalized care, investigators said.
A report by the Government Accountability Office, released on September 26, offers the first preliminary assessment of improvement efforts initiated by the Pentagon and Veterans Affairs Department after revelations in February of shoddy outpatient treatment at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
The report found that even though the Army has touted creation of more personalized medical care units so that wounded veterans don’t slip through the cracks, nearly half — or 46 percent — of returning service members who were eligible did not get the service due to staffing shortages.
The report said the Pentagon and VA still remain far away from having a comprehensive system for sharing medical records as injured veterans move from facility to facility.
And despite months of review by no less than eight congressional committees, a presidential task force, a presidential commission and the Pentagon and VA itself, the government has no apparent solution for reducing severe delays of 177 days, on average, in providing disability payments.
“Many challenges remain, and critical questions remain unanswered,” GAO investigators John H. Pendleton and Daniel Bertoni wrote in calling for urgent action. “Success will ultimately depend on sustained attention, systematic oversight by DoD and VA, and sufficient resources.”
Spokesmen for the Army and VA did not immediately return requests for comment. The Army has said it hopes to have full staffing of its medical care units by January 2008; the VA has said it was hiring 1,100 new processors to reduce delays.
Rep. John Tierney, D-Mass., chairman of the House Oversight subcommittee on national security, said he was troubled by the lingering problems. “Taking care of our wounded heroes is too important to not demand that we strive for the highest levels of care and respect,” he said.
Following the disclosures of patient neglect at Walter Reed, three high-level Pentagon officials stepped down. The Army quickly pledged to improve care by hiring more mental health counselors and creating new “warrior transition units” — comprising a doctor, nurse case manager and squad leader — who could help coordinate care.
The VA, which operates separate facilities for 5.8 million veterans, also said it would boost efforts, with VA Secretary Jim Nicholson vowing to work to improve data-sharing of medical records and to reduce backlogs.
As of mid-September, 17 of the 32 warrior transition units had less than 50 percent of the critical staff in place. And in many cases, the Army had filled slots by borrowing staff from other positions, thus providing only a temporary solution as thousands of veterans return from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Regarding disability benefits, the GAO said the government was currently in limbo amid competing proposals to fix the disability ratings system. The Dole-Shalala commission, for example, urged that only the VA — and not the Pentagon — provide disability payments, while other proposals gave the Pentagon a limited role.
But in all the proposals, no consideration was given as to how the additional duties would affect the VA, which is straining to reduce backlogs for disability benefits, the report said. Nicholson in recent days has acknowledged that the VA was nowhere close to reducing months-long delays and cited that as a top challenge for his successor.
“Delayed decisions, confusing policies and the perception that DoD and VA disability ratings result in inequitable outcomes have eroded the credibility of the system,” the GAO investigators said. “It is imperative that DoD and VA take prompt steps to address fundamental system weaknesses.” The GAO Report can be found here: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d071256t.pdf. [Source: AP, 26 Sep 07]
VA IG REPORT: VA DISTORTS RECORD ON WAIT TIMES: The Department of Veterans Affairs repeatedly understated wait times for injured veterans seeking medical care and in many serious cases forced them to wait more than 30 days, counter to department policy, an internal investigation shows.The review by the VA inspector general's office examined 700 outpatient appointments for primary and specialty care scheduled in October 2006 at 10 VA medical centers.It found that the Veterans Health Administration in recent months falsely reported to Congress that nearly all of its appointments – about 95 percent - were scheduled within 30 days of a patient's requested date. In fact, only three in four veterans - 75 percent - received such timely appointments.Of the veterans kept waiting more than 30 days, 27 percent of them had more serious service-connected disabilities, such as amputees and those with chronic problems including frequent panic attacks. Under VHA policy, such veterans must be scheduled for care within 30 days of their desired appointment date.In addition, despite warnings by the IG in 2005 to more accurately report wait times, department officials last year also may have understated the number of veterans on their electronic waiting lists by more than 53,000."While waiting time inaccuracies and omissions from electronic waiting lists can be caused by a lack of training and data entry errors, we also found that schedulers at some facilities were interpreting the guidance from their managers to reduce waiting times as instruction to never put patients on the electronic waiting list," VA investigators wrote."This seems to have resulted in some 'gaming' of the scheduling process," the 34-page report said.Responding, VA undersecretary for health Michael Kussman partly agreed that the agency should take additional steps to improve scheduling with better training, procedures and better accounting of records. But he insisted the VA in most cases was doing the best it can and challenged the IG report's methodology, citing patient satisfaction surveys showing roughly 85 percent of veterans getting appointments when they needed them.In April, Kussman testified to Congress that 95 percent of veterans were receiving the timely appointments. The VA's 2006 annual report, issued last November, makes similar claims."To obtain a more objective, professional analysis of all components ofVHA's scheduling process, including electronic wait lists and waiting times reporting, I plan to obtain the services of a contractor who will thoroughly assess the factors," Kussman wrote the IG report.The report comes amid intense political and public scrutiny of the VA and Pentagon following reports of shoddy outpatient care of injured troops and veterans at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and elsewhere.In recent weeks, injured Iraq war veterans have filed a lawsuit against the VA alleging undue delays in health care. The department also is struggling to reduce a severe backlog of disability payments, with delays of up to 177 days to process an initial claim.The VA medical facilities reviewed in the IG report were for both primary and specialty care in the following cities: Birmingham, Ala.; Atlanta; Columbia, S.C.; San Antonio, Temple and Dallas in Texas; Cincinnati; Detroit; Indianapolis; Chillicothe, Ohio.Other findings:- The VA facilities with the worst record of scheduling appointments within 30 days were Columbia (64 percent), Chillicothe (64 percent) and San Antonio (67 percent). The best performance was seen in Detroit (84 percent), Temple (83 percent), Birmingham and Cincinnati (both 80 percent).- VA monitoring of scheduling procedures was spotty and incomplete. In one case, a veteran with eye problems visited a VA clinic in December2005 and was told by his doctor to return in six weeks. However, it wasn't until many months later, in September 2006, that the VA scheduler set an appointment - for October of that year.The scheduler then reported the veteran had requested an October date, when in fact he had waited 259 days from the six-week target date appointment in January, the report said."We saw no documentation to explain the delay and medical facility personnel said it 'fell through the cracks,'" investigators said. The VA OIG report can be found at: http://www.va.gov/oig/52/reports/2007/VAOIG-07-00616-199.pdf. [Source: AP, 10 Sep 07]
SENATOR RICHARD BURR REPLACES CRAIG ON VETERANS COMMITTEE: Republican members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs announced they have chosen Senator Richard Burr (R-North Carolina) as the temporary ranking member of the committee. Burr will temporarily replace Senator Larry Craig (R-Idaho).
The North Carolina Republican has placed special focus this year on improving life for the nation's estimated 200,000 homeless veterans. In June his Services to Prevent Veterans Homelessness Act of 2007 (S. 874), was approved by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs as part of the Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury and Programs Improvement Act of 2007 (S. 1233). Burr's legislation will increase veterans' access to assistance for housing, physical and mental health services, health insurance, as well as vocational and financial counseling.
Burr is also active on veterans' health issues. A health care policymaker for over a decade, Burr has most recently been vocal on traumatic brain injury, Department of Defense and VA sharing of electronic medical records and the efficiency of the VA health system, especially for veterans in rural areas.
Burr has served on the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs since he was sworn in as a U.S. Senator on January 3, 2005. He was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994 and served five terms before be elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004.
In addition to his new leadership position on the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Burr serves on the Senate Intelligence Committee; the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee; the Energy and Natural Resources Committee; and the Indian Affairs Committee. [Source: US Senate - 11 Sept 07]
REP.HALL TO BRING VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE TO HUDSON VALLEY: U.S. Rep. John Hall (D-NY19), Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Sub-committee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, announced that he will be bringing his House Subcommittee to the Hudson Valley for a special Field Hearing entitled "The Personal Costs of the Claims Backlog," on Tuesday, October 9, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. at the New Windsor Town Hall. The New Windsor Town Hall is located at 555 Union Avenue in New Windsor.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has a backlog of nearly 600,000 cases and it currently takes an average of 177 days for a veteran to receive a decision on his or her case.
"The VA claims backlog is flat out unacceptable," said Hall. "The long wait times have caused my office to intervene for a number of veterans in my district to get their cases heard by the VA. I'm bringing members of the Veterans Affairs Committee here to the Hudson Valley so they can see and hear firsthand the personal effects that this claims backlog has had on Hudson Valley veterans."
New York's veterans face significant claims backlog even higher than the national average. Hall is hosting this Field Hearing to provide Congress with an important opportunity to take notice of the needs and concerns of Hudson Valley veterans.
House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (CA-51) and U.S. Rep. Tim Walz (MN-1), a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee and the highest ranking enlisted soldier ever to serve in Congress, are among the Members of Congress who will be participating in Hall's Field Hearing. [Source: US Fed News, 21 Sep 07]
FORMER POWs NOT GETTING EARNED BENEFITS: The Department of Veterans Affairs is searching for prisoners of war — not in the jungles of Vietnam or the villages of Iraq, but in U.S. cities, where they may not be getting the benefits they deserve. VA officials estimate that about 25,000 former prisoners of war are still alive today, about 600 from the Vietnam War, 2,100 from the Korean War and the rest from World War II. VA officials believe about one-third are receiving any VA benefits or health care.
VA officials are trying to contact veterans who are not receiving any benefits or health care but who might be eligible. They are also trying to locate the surviving spouses and children of former POWs who might be unaware of the help VA could provide. VA officials said they have the most difficulty tracking down former POWs from World War II because the military used service numbers, not Social Security numbers, for identification. Tracking down a veteran by service number is extremely difficult if they have not had any contact with the VA in years, officials said.
Some former POWs may be unaware that available help has expanded over the years. For example, VA provides disability pay for former POWs who suffer strokes or some common heart diseases. To try to contact former POWs, VA officials have been reaching out to veterans’ groups and civic organizations in search of leads. They are also encouraging people who know of former POWs to ask them to contact a VA toll-free number to learn about help that may be available. The number is (800) 827-1000.
A similar effort several years ago resulted in about 1,000 former POWs or their survivors qualifying for VA assistance or increasing their existing benefits, VA officials said. Every VA regional office also has a POW coordinator to help former POWs and their families receive benefits and health care.
Details on benefits and health care for former POWs and their families are available online at: http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Benefits/POW/index.htm. [Source: Military.com, 27 Sep 07]
PURPLE HEART HALL OF HONOR SEEKS RECIPIENTS: The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is conducting a nationwi