Up-to-date news from the VA and other Veterans related sites.

This is provided for your information. Views expressed in the links below are not necessarily shared by MVSOA.

Senators Pushing More VA Funds
The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee is asking for an additional $380 million in discretionary spending for the Veterans Administration budget for next year. Sen. Daniel Akaka said that most of the committee wants to see more money put into improving VA hospitals, veterans caregiver support, and job training.

Source: Headlines | 9 Mar 2010 | 6:54 pm

Nip and Tuck on the Military's Buck
The military is adamant: It does not pay for unnecessary plastic surgery. But an audit of patient records released by the Pentagon in February shows that's not always the case.

Source: Headlines | 9 Mar 2010 | 6:49 pm

Some US Troops to Leave Kosovo
The U.S. is pulling 570 of its troops out of Kosovo in the next two months as part of a NATO restructuring, the Army announced Monday.

Source: Headlines | 9 Mar 2010 | 6:44 pm

Panetta Says US Disrupting al-Qaida
CIA Director Leon Panetta said Monday the country's counterterrorism operations have placed al-Qaida's top leaders under extreme pressure and many are "on the run" but recent thwarted terror plots in the U.S. indicate the terror network is changing its tactics.

Source: Headlines | 9 Mar 2010 | 6:42 pm

Petraeus Dismisses Presidential Talk
For a guy who professes to have no interest in running for president, Gen. David Petraeus can come off as surprisingly eager to talk about it - sometimes without even being asked.

Source: Headlines | 9 Mar 2010 | 6:39 pm

Japan Confirms ‘Secret' Pacts With US
Japan confirmed Tuesday secret Cold War-era pacts with Washington that tacitly allowed nuclear warships in Japanese ports in violation of a hallowed postwar principle, effectively acknowledging that previous governments had lied about them for decades.

Source: Headlines | 9 Mar 2010 | 6:38 pm

US Mulls Gitmo Inmate’s Return to Canada
The U.S. government is quietly seeking a way to repatriate the youngest Guantanamo inmate, Canadian Omar Khadr, local media said Monday. "They don't have the stomach to try a child for war crimes," a source with knowledge of the matter told the Canwest newspaper group.

Source: Headlines | 9 Mar 2010 | 11:32 am

NKorea Has Medium-Range Missile Division
North Korea has recently created an army division in charge of newly developed intermediate-range missiles capable of striking U.S. forces in Japan and Guam, a South Korean news agency said Tuesday.

Source: Headlines | 9 Mar 2010 | 11:25 am

Gates Praises Troops in Afghanistan
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates told a hard-hit battle unit Tuesday that its heavy losses have helped the U.S. begin to push back against the Taliban in southern Afghanistan.

Source: Headlines | 9 Mar 2010 | 11:20 am

Navies Go on Offensive Against Pirates
European naval forces plan to disrupt pirate operations off the coast of Somalia by hunting down and sinking the pirates’ supply ships, rather than simply trying to defend cargo ships as they transit through the area.

Source: Headlines | 9 Mar 2010 | 11:05 am

Secretary Seeks Fast Track to Process Claims
The Department of Veterans Affairs announced today an aggressive new initiative to solicit private-sector input on a proposed 'fast track' Veterans' claims process for service-connected presumptive illnesses due to Agent Orange exposure during the Vietnam War.

Source: VA News Releases | 9 Mar 2010 | 5:00 am

Northrop Drops Tanker Bid
Northrop Grumman announced Monday that it will not bid on the KC-​​X tanker and will not file a protest that might delay the program any further, which paves the way for Boeing to supply the new aircraft more than eight years after the company's original effort to do so.

Source: Headlines | 9 Mar 2010 | 12:57 am

Military Tests Hazmat Exposure in Haiti
The U.S. military is testing samples of soil, water and air from hundreds of sites in Haiti to determine if troops could have been exposed to hazardous substances during earthquake relief efforts. Troops in the Haitian capital have been working in an environmental nightmare since the Jan. 13 earthquake.

Source: Headlines | 9 Mar 2010 | 12:21 am

Karzai Gets an Earful in Marjah
Elders in a former Taliban stronghold berated and challenged Afghanistan's president Sunday, delivering a litany of complaints about government corruption and NATO's military operations on the Afghan leader's first visit to Marjah.

Source: Headlines | 8 Mar 2010 | 7:24 pm

US Troops Exiting Haiti En Masse
U.S. troops are withdrawing from the shattered capital, leaving many Haitians anxious that the most visible portion of international aid is ending even as the city is still mired in misery and vulnerable to unrest.

Source: Headlines | 8 Mar 2010 | 7:22 pm

Obama Taps Retired General to Head TSA
President Barack Obama plans to appoint a former senior Army official with a career in intelligence to lead the Transportation Security Administration.

Source: Headlines | 8 Mar 2010 | 7:21 pm

Court to Rule on Military Funeral Protest Case
The Supreme Court is getting involved in the legal fight over the anti-gay protesters who show up at military funerals with inflammatory messages like "Thank God for dead soldiers."

Source: Headlines | 8 Mar 2010 | 7:13 pm

Olympic Gold Medalist Bode Miller and Olympian Casey Puckett to Join Assistant Secretary Tammy Duckworth at VA's National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic
On Wednesday, March 31, Olympic Gold Medalist and World Champion Alpine skier Bode Miller and Olympian Casey Puckett will join Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs L. Tammy Duckworth at the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass Village, Colo. The Clinic, in its 24th year, teaches adaptive Alpine and Nordic skiing to more than 400 disabled Veterans annually.

Source: VA News Releases | 5 Mar 2010 | 5:00 am

Secretary Shinseki Announces Gulf War Task Force Report
Today, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced that the department's Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses Task Force has nearly completed a comprehensive report that will redefine how VA addresses the pain and suffering of ill Veterans who deployed during the Gulf War in 1990 and 1991.

Source: VA News Releases | 27 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am

VA Announces $41 Million in Construction Contracts for San Antonio
The Department of Veterans Affairs announced the award of two contracts totaling $41.5 million to create a 'polytrauma center' that cares for the most severely injured Veterans and to improve the existing wards at the Audie L. Murphy VA Medical Center.

Source: VA News Releases | 26 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am

Web Site Offers Single Access Point for Wounded Warriors
The federal departments of Veterans Affairs, Labor and Defense unveiled today an improved Web site for wounded warriors.

Source: VA News Releases | 25 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am

VA Education Call Center Again Operating Five Days a Week
The Department of Veterans Affairs today announced that the Education Call Center, closed on Thursdays and Fridays over the past two months, is again operating five days a week.

Source: VA News Releases | 23 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am

VA Begins Nationwide GI Bill Advertising Campaign to Reach Student Veterans and Schools
The Department of Veterans Affairs today announced a two-month, nationwide advertising campaign to assist student Veterans and servicemembers applying for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

Source: VA News Releases | 23 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am

VA Expands Evaluation of Technology Projects
The Department of Veterans Affairs today announced that all information technology (IT) projects at the Department will now be managed under its program management and accountability system (PMAS).

Source: VA News Releases | 23 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am

Shinseki Announces Winners of Innovation Competition for Improving Claims Processing
The Department of Veterans Affairs selected 10 winners in a competition that solicited ideas from VA employees and co-located Veterans service organizations to improve claims processing and provide greater transparency to Veterans.

Source: VA News Releases | 19 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am

Petzel Sworn in to Head Veterans Health Care System
Dr. Robert A. Petzel has taken the oath of office as the Under Secretary for Health within the Department of Veterans Affairs, stepping up to lead the nation's largest integrated health care system.

Source: VA News Releases | 18 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am

'Innovation Initiative' Underway for Health Records Improvements
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki launched the 'Veterans Health IT Innovation Initiative,' an employee-based Health Information Technology (HIT) competition to spur VA's transformation into a 21st Century organization that is Veteran-centric, results-oriented, and forward-looking.

Source: VA News Releases | 18 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am

New GI Bill Rates Posted
The new Active Duty GI Bill rates are now posted online! For more information click the above link.

Source: Active Duty GI Bill RSS Feeds - (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) | 12 Aug 2008 | 3:30 pm

Army Makes Changes to its Program offering Transferability of GI Bill to Dependents
Effective November 1, 2007 the Army has made changes to its GI Bill transferability program. Eligible soldiers may now transfer up to 18 months of their GI Bill to spouses or children.

Source: Active Duty GI Bill RSS Feeds - (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) | 24 Jan 2008 | 4:40 pm

$600 Buy-up Program
Some servicemembers can be eligible for increased GI Bill benefits! For more information contact your local VA office or your education services officer.

Source: Active Duty GI Bill RSS Feeds - (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) | 10 Jul 2007 | 3:08 pm

VA, DoD GO FORWARD WITH MEDICAL RECORDS EXCHANGE WITH PRIVATE SECTOR -- 03-09-2010
Even though there are many questions regarding the security of medical records in the private sector, especially at Kaiser Permanente.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

REPUBLICANS WANT MORE MONEY IN THE 2011 VA BUDGET -- 03-08-2010
Republican Members of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs want to add 2.66 billion dollars including more money and staff for VAOIG oversight of VA operations.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

IRS TRIES TO END CONFUSION OVER 2009 VETERANS' STIMULUS PAYMENT -- 03-09-2010
So far, IRS has rejected 1.7 million returns because they were filled out incorrectly.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

PHONY MARINE CHANGES STOLEN VALOR PLEA TO GUILTY -- 03-06-2010
Angel Ocasio-Reyes never served in the military but wanted to belong to the American Legion.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

VA'S DEADLY PTSD "DRUG COCKTAIL" IS BACK IN THE NEWS -- 03-09-2010
Seroquel, a potentially deadly drug has been linked to the deaths of soldiers returning from war. Yet the FDA continues to approve it.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

VA SHUTS DOWN MEDICAL DATA EXCHANGE WITH DoD BECAUSE OF GLITCH -- 03-05-2010
DoD computer showed female prescribed an erectile dysfunction drug. VA found information was from another patient.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

VA SAYS IT WILL AUTOMATE NEW AGENT ORANGE CLAIMS PROCESS -- 03-09-2010
But, is VA Secretary Shinseki howling at the moon. VA's attempts to automate the claims process in the past have proved disastrous.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

SENATE DEMOCRATS WANT MORE MONEY FOR VA IN 2011, TOO, BUT ..... -- 03-09-2010
Democrats on the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs are seeking just one-seventh the amount proposed by House Republicans.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

WORLD WAR II WOMEN PILOTS FINALLY HONORED -- 03-09-2010
The groundbreaking Women Airforce Service Pilots were buried without military honors and long denied benefits. But now they'll receive the Congressional Gold Medal.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

VA'S "FAST TRACK" PROGRAM FOR NEW AGENT ORANGE CLAIMS COULD TAKE A YEAR -- 03-10-2010
"To Vietnam veterans, whose Agent Orange illnesses are becoming more debilitating, developing a computer program that could take a year is not the 'fast track' ... It is a death sentence."

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

MICROSOFT LAUNCHES INITIATIVE TO HELP VETERANS PREPARE FOR JOBS -- 03-09-2010
The initiative will provide veterans and their spouses with the support they need to be successful in their transition to civilian careers.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

QUALITY OF LIFE ENTERS GREY AREA AS NUMBER OF SENIORS EXPLODES -- 03-08-2010
When he started at the VA in the 1980s, Dr. Edmund Duthie was seeing patients who were veterans of WWI. Now, he's beginning to treat veterans of the Vietnam War.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

VETS' COMMITTEES SCHEDULES FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 8, 2010 -- 03-09-2010
The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs has three hearings this week and there is one joint House-Senate hearing.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

KAISER OFFICIALS DIFFER ON WHO HAS ACCESS TO COMPUTER MEDICAL RECORDS -- 03-08-2010
One official says everyone has access to everything, including veterans' files shared with VA. Another official says access is based on roles.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

IRKED BY HOLLYWOOD, VETERANS FILM THEIR OWN WAR STORIES -- 03-08-2010
For years, they have cringed at Hollywood's portrayals of the Iraq and Afghan wars. And don't get them started on the "The Hurt Locker."

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

VA INVESTIGATING BREACH OF VETERANS' MEDICAL DATA -- 03-10-2010
The VA's Inspector General has launched a criminal investigation into a physician assistant's alleged downloading of veterans' clinical data at its Atlanta medical center.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

VETERANS FRUSTRATED OVER VA CLAIMS DELAYS -- 03-08-2010
Veteran - "These people in the VA need to be more accountable for these delays."

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

COMMENTARY - STOLEN VALOR IS OFFENSIVE, BUT IS IT A CRIME -- 03-10-2010
Jonathan Turley - " ... In the end, true valor cannot be stolen. It can only be earned. What is left are pathetic pretenders ... "

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

IRAQI DOCTORS BLAME U.S. WEAPONS FOR FALLUJAH BIRTH DEFECTS -- 03-08-2010
Research shows that as of January, the rate of congenital heart defects was 95 per 1,000 births or 13 times Europe's rate.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

VA COP BUSTED FOR MISUSING GOVERNMENT CREDIT CARD -- 03-10-2010
VA removed cop's arrest authority and gun, and he now is at a desk job, with his status "pending administrative action."

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

THE WEEK IN REVIEW from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG -- 03-06-2010
A complete, one-page look at VA and veterans' news for the week ending March 6, 2010.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

KAISER SPOKESPERSON SETTLES DEBATE OVER WHO HAS ACCESS TO RECORDS -- 03-10-2010
"The comments made by Drs. Mattison and Liederman are both accurate, depending on the area of patient health information being accessed."

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

VA DIRECTOR WITH TROUBLED PAST RETURNS TO WEST HAVEN FACILITY -- 03-06-2010
Vincent Ng is returning as acting director, accompanied by a VAOIG report that he misused funds and abused power the last time he headed the facility.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

VETERANS STAGE PROTEST AT SAVANNAH VA CLINIC -- 03-10-2010
"The latest saying is, 'We leave no veteran behind,' but I can tell you, we are being left behind all the time."

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

MORE PROSTATE CANCER TREATMENT PROBLEMS IN PHILLY, NOW AT U. OF PENN. -- 03-05-2010
The incident seems to echo some of the problems at the U. of Penn-run brachytherapy program at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |