VA News of interest to Veterans

VETERAN'S PENSIONS: If you are a wartime veteran with a limited income and you are no longer able to work, you may qualify for a Veterans Disability Pension or the Veterans Pension for Veterans 65 or older. Many veterans of wartime service are completely unaware of the fact that if they are 65 or older and on a limited income they may qualify for a VA Pension without being disabled.  An estimated 2 million impoverished veterans and their widows are not receiving the VA pension they deserve because they do not know about it. The VA has had limited success in getting the information to them. You may be eligible if you were discharged from service under other than dishonorable conditions, AND you served 90 days or more of active duty with at least 1 day during a period of war time. With the advent of the Gulf War on 2 AUG 90 (and still not ended by Congress to this day), veterans can now serve after 2 AUG 90 during a period of war time. When they do, they generally now must serve 24 months to be eligible for pension or any other benefit provided they meet the exclusions of 38 CFR 3.12(d). which require you are permanently and totally disabled, or are age 65 or older, AND your countable family income is below a yearly limit set by law. Family Annual Income Limits effective 1 DEC 07 cannot exceed the following: 
*  Veteran with no dependents $11,181
*  Veteran with a spouse or a child $14,643
* Veteran married to a veteran $14,643
*  Veterans with additional children: add $1,909 to the limit for EACH child
*  Housebound veteran with no dependents $13,664
*  Housebound veteran with one dependent $17,126
*  Veteran who needs aid and attendance and you have no dependents $18,654
*  Veteran who needs aid and attendance and you have one dependent $22,113

     Some income is not counted toward the yearly limit (for example, welfare benefits, some wages earned by dependent children, and Supplemental Security Income). It's also important to note that your medical related expenses are considered when determining your yearly family income.  VA pays you the difference between your countable family income and the yearly income limit which describes your situation. This difference is generally paid in 12 equal monthly payments rounded down to the nearest dollar. You can apply by filling out VA Form 21-526, Veteran's Application for Compensation Or Pension. If available, attach copies of dependency records (marriage & children's birth certificates) and current medical evidence (doctor & hospital reports). You can also apply on line through the VONAPP website  http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp. For More Information Call 1(800) 827-1000. http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/pension/vetpen.htm

LONG TERM CARE w/MEDICAID: If you qualify for Medicaid, a federal and state program that covers medical care for people with low incomes and very little assets, it will pay for nursing home care and other long-term care (LTC) costs that Medicare does not cover. Medicaid may also pay for some LTC services provided at home. Medicaid is the country's largest public payer of long-term care services. Most people with long-term care needs spend down their assets until they are eligible for Medicaid coverage. The Medicaid program varies a great deal from state to state, as well as within each state. This is because within broad national guidelines set by the federal government through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), each state can:
•    Establish its own eligibility standards;
•    Determine the type, amount, duration and scope of services;
•    Set the rate of payment for services; and
•    Administer its own program.

Each state has its own method of determining eligibility depending on your age, family size, medical condition and financial situation. Generally, to be eligible for Medicaid, your monthly income must be less than $867 in 2008* ($1,020 for couples). You also must have little or no assets (savings and investments). If you have high medical expenses, you may still qualify for Medicaid if your income is more than $867 in 2008* ($1,020 for couples). Income levels are based on the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), which goes up every year in February or March.  For a list by state of Medicaid descriptions and plans refer to http://64.82.65.67/medicaid/states.html  For a list of Medicaid benefits by state refer to http://www.kff.org/medicaid/benefits/state_main.jsp www.medicareinteractive.org

CRSC UPDATE 38: A phishing scam has been sent to families of fallen Soldiers. As part of the scam, the proponents request personal information, such as SSN, DOB, addresses, etc., and are instructed to come to either visit the Army Human Resources Command Offices in Alexandria, VA, or email the information to an overseas Yahoo account.  Like most scams, the grammar is poor, it is not on official letterhead, nor does it come from a valid Army e-mail account. CRSC will never ask for personally identifiable information to be sent over e-mail due to security concerns. CRSC will never promise payment or award of any kind. CRSC is not eligible for SBP. An example of  phishing letter follows:
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE
Supplemental Guidance for Benefit Pay off Section 644, P.L.108-375, Administration Letter (BAL) #98-109, US Army Survivor Benefit Plan).
21 May 2008

Attn: Dear Mr. Mark,
     We believe you are the next of kin of a deceased officer who died in service in that you bear the same name and last known geographical area of same person. We wish to duly compensate the family by paying the deceased officers benefits and financial entitlements to them. So many deceased officers have the same problem of difficulty in locating their kin but we are doing the best we can. We have gone as far as Asia, Central and southern Africa, Europe, Australia and the Americas in search for next of kin of deceased officers. So the benefits entitled to you amounts to $12,859,555.23 and you can receive it in one week. Our search attorney Mr. Louis Manches undertaking Group B16 search (AMERICA ,EUROPE & AFRICA SEARCH GROUP) found & located you. We need you to come to our office at: U.S. Army Human Resources Command, Army Physical Disability Agency (CRSC), 200 Stovall Street Alexandria , VA 22332-0470 With photocopies of the following documents. (As the originals will not be returnable.)
1. Letter of Introduction or ID of next of kin (In which case you)
2. Sworn affidavit of next of kin.
3. You are also required to complete the forms below.
A. FORM DD 2860, CLAIM FOR COMBAT-RELATED SPECIAL COMPENSATION (CRSC)
B. FORM DD 2656-7, VERIFICATION FOR SURVIVOR ANNUITY
You can download these forms from our US Army Human Resources Command website using the URL (FOR DD FORM 2860) (web links deleted) Or Defense Technical Information website using this URL (FOR DD FORM 2656-7) (web links deleted)
     To make it simpler for you, if you cant come to our offices yourself to submit these documents due to ill health or whatever you can appeal to your search attorney to file these documents on your behalf. The search attornies are legal practitioners contracted by the United States Army to help locate next of kins who are in various countries of the world. Your name fell among Group 16 Search which complises of beneficiaries from EUROPE,AMERICA & ASIA. The search attorney responsible for this areas is Barrister Louis Manches. It is the search attorney who shortlisted your name for payment. You are therefore advised to contact him if you have difficulty in completing the forms as well as providing the necessary documents. We understand the problems you could face in getting these documents owing to the fact that it has taken a long time when the officer died. You can write your search attorney for clarifications through the following email (e-mail address deleted by S1NET) If you also have problems filling all these forms , just fill out and return by email the short version attached below. Your search attorney will fill the rest of the forms on your behalf but of course you will contact him and negotiate this service with your search attorney. We expect to hear from you soon.
H.S. Park
Defense Finance and Accounting Service,
US Army Human Resources.


MOBILIZED RESERVE 28 MAY 08: The Army, Air Force and Marine Corps announced the current number of reservists on active duty as of 23 APR 08 in support of the partial mobilization. The net collective result is 2,927 fewer reservists mobilized than last reported in the Bulletin for 23 APR 08. At any given time, services may mobilize some units and individuals while demobilizing others, making it possible for these figures to either increase or decrease. The total number currently on active duty in support of the partial mobilization of the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 77,007; Navy Reserve, 4,543; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 8,135; Marine Corps Reserve, 9,704; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 341. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been mobilized to 99,730, including both units and individual augmentees. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel, who are currently mobilized, can be found at http://preview.defenselink.mil/news/May2008/d20080528ngr.pdf .

VA CLAIM BACKLOG UPDATE 15: In fiscal 2007, VA employed 4,900 staff to handle disability compensation claims, a 40% increase between fiscal 2000 and 2006. Still, in 2007, VA had a backlog of 392,000 claims with an average waiting time of more than four months. This year, VA plans to add 3,100 new claims-processing employees. Although the Veterans Affairs Department has added thousands of staff to help process disability claims, a new study finds those new employees face no consequences if they don't attend mandatory training. And because the caseload is so heavy, instructors aren't always available to provide on-the-job training for new employees. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) said in a report released 26 MAY that the VBA “is taking steps to strategically plan its training, but does not adequately evaluate its training and may be falling short in some areas of training design and implementation”.  Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA), chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, asked GAO to find out what training is provided and whether it is uniform; how well it is implemented and evaluated; and how it compares with performance management practices in the private sector. The questions came after veterans testified that the disability compensation system is Byzantine in complexity, and that it takes months — sometimes years — to make it through the process.

     From SEP 07 to MAY 08, GAO looked at four VBA regional offices, in Atlanta; Baltimore; Milwaukee; and Portland OR. VA officials said it takes at least two years to properly train disability claims employees, and they must complete 80 hours of training a year. New employees have three weeks of intense classroom training before they begin several months of on-the-job training at their home offices. But “because the agency has no policy outlining consequences for individual staff who do not complete their 80 hours of training per year, individual staff are not held accountable for meeting their annual training requirement,” the GAO found. “And, at present, VBA central office lacks the ability to track training completed by individual staff members.” In 2007, VBA conducted 67 centralized training sessions for 1,458 new claims processors, compared with 27 sessions for 678 new employees in 2006.nVBA's online training tool, the Training and Performance Support System, was found to be out of date, too theoretical, and lacking in real-life examples. Employees at one office did not know what the system was.

     GAO also found that more experienced staff members felt training was not helpful because it was redundant or was not specific to the work they do, and some said the training is adapted directly from training for new employees. They also said they did not have time to spend 80 hours a year in training because their caseloads are too heavy. “A number of staff from one regional office noted that instructors were unable to spend time teaching because of their heavy workloads and because instructors' training preparation hours do not count toward the 80-hour training requirement,” the GAO said. “Staff at another regional office told us that, due to workload pressures, staff may rush through training and may not get as much out of it as they should.” GAO found VBA's performance management conforms to accepted practices in the private sector, except that almost all employees fell into two standards: “outstanding” or “fully successful.” GAO auditors said that does not provide constructive feedback to employees, and is not a good way for managers to evaluate staffs.

     GAO recommended that VBA collect feedback on training from regional offices to see if 80 hours is the right amount for all staff, to see if training is relevant and to see if the online training tool needs to be improved. The report also recommended that VBA hold individual staff members accountable if they do not receive their annual training, and that the performance rating system be adjusted. VA said such changes are already in the works. Officials also are working on an automated system to track which employees have attended training and how much they received. VA Secretary James Peake wrote in response to the report. “VA will closely monitor and evaluate the success of our efforts to enhance claims processor performance.” Peake said that VA has an “active program for training evaluation driven by the administration's priorities”; that the 80-hour requirement is evaluated annually; that VA officials will evaluate the training through its regional offices; that supervisors will evaluate training at the individual level; and that they have already evaluated the on-line learning tool and have made recommendations for improvement. VA also plans to establish training specific to certain jobs, and to provide standardized training progress reports. [Source: Air Force Times Kelly Kennedy article Posted 28 MAY 0-8 ++]


SSA TRUST FUND:    There actually is a Social Security Trust Fund — of sorts.  It lays nestled in the bottom drawer of an unremarkable filing cabinet in a government office building in West Virginia.  It's kept in a pair of loose-leaf notebooks holding plastic page covers, and each page resents a bond worth billions, according to a 2005 story from The Associated Press (AP).  Today, the total “assets” in the Social Security Trust Fund are worth more than $2.2 trillion. The paper is “symbolic,” a spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Public Debt says.  According to AP, in 1994 Congress anticipated the current debate about Social Security's solvency and whether the Trust Funds held anything more than I.O.U.s.  Congress passed legislation requiring the Treasury to create a physical document “rather than an accounting entry.”  Andy Jacobs, the former Indiana Congressman responsible for the law, said he wanted to rebut the “disingenuous assertions” that there was no trust fund, even though there was, in fact, no vault stuffed with cash to pay benefits.   In 2008 it was projected that the Social Security Trust Fund cash surplus excluding interest will be $79 billion reflecting a growing downward trend as baby boomers enter the programs. This does not take into consideration cost associated with Congress's recent attempts to add illegal immigrants to the program. 
    According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) neither the Medicare Trust Fund nor the Social Security Retirement and Disability Trust Funds operate like a “Trust Fund” as the average person would understand it.  Instead of setting the money aside and protecting it in a special account, both the Medicare and Social Security Trust Funds exist only on paper as an accounting mechanism.   Government accounting is hiding serious financing problems, making the trust funds appear to have more cash coming in than they actually do.  The majority of Medicare Hospital Insurance (Part A) and Social Security costs are presently financed by the payroll taxes that workers pay and taxes that seniors pay on a portion of their Social Security benefits.  When one of the trust funds receives more from these sources  than it needs to pay benefits, the U.S. Treasury issues a government bond to the Trust fund and  borrows the cash from the surplus to pay for other government expenses.  The bonds earn interest, but are very different from the bonds sold to the public that can be redeemed for cash.  The bonds placed in the trust funds are non-marketable, representing only an “I.O.U.” from the Treasury. 

     A big problem is that in recent years the so-called “interest” earned by the bonds in the government trust funds has become a growing source of funding for both programs, at least on the government's books.  But the interest funding, like the trust funds, exists only on paper and does not represent any real cash resources to pay benefits.  GAO says for the trust funds to be paid, the Treasury will need to provide cash from general revenues in exchange for those trust fund securities and interest I.O.U. bonds.  Such use of general revenue for Social Security would represent a major policy shift in how the government pays for expenditures.  In the past Congress for the most part has rejected general revenue financing for Social Security.  The GAO says payments to the trust funds  in the future, should only come through “increased revenue, increased borrowing, and reduced spending (benefit cuts) or some combination.” The current state of denial is leading to a day of reckoning that could have serious long-term financial repercussions for both today's and tomorrow's retirees. 

     The Social Security Trustees further estimate that the program costs will begin to exceed cash revenues in 2017, or about nine years from now. According to the former U.S. Comptroller General, David Walker, the new president and Congress will have about 5 years to make changes, before we run out of cash revenues to pay full Social Security benefits.  The Medicare Part A Hospital Insurance Trust Fund is in trouble today. The Social Security and Medicare Lock-Box Act” (H.R. 4338) that was recently introduced in the House by Representative Timothy Walberg (MI) and (S. 302) in the Senate by Senator David Vitter (LA) would establish new procedures to safeguard extra Social Security and Medicare taxes.  Congress would be prevented from dipping into the Trust Fund surpluses to pay for other wasteful or pet projects. Instead the extra Social Security taxes would be “locked away” to pay future Social Security benefits  [Source: TSCL, The Budget And Economic Outlook, CBO, Jan 08,. Social Security & Medicare Trustees Reports 23 Apr 07, and   Social Security Reform GAO-07-213 Mar 07 ++]  


MEDICARE TRUST FUND: When a government trust fund no longer has enough cash revenues to pay benefits in full, the Treasury must provide cash from general revenues to pay the interest and redeem the bonds held by the trust fund.  But, first, lawmakers must agree on where the money will come from to do that. They can increase taxes, increase borrowing, curt benefits, or cut spending such as COLAs. Historically, seniors have paid their share in higher out-of-pocket costs. The Medicare Hospital Insurance (Part A) Trust Fund last ran low on cash in the late 1990's.  By 1997 Congress passed the most massive cuts to Medicare in the history of the program — $116 billion ($153 billion in today's dollars) over five years.  In addition to cutting payments to hospitals, a provision of the 1997 law moved certain costs that were originally paid under Part A to Part B.  While most seniors do not pay a premium for Part A, they do pay a hefty one for Part B.  Thus the transfer of costs was one of several factors contributing to the astronomical growth in Medicare Part B premiums, which grew from $43.80 in 1998, to $96.40 in 2008 (120%).

     Now the Medicare Part A Trust Fund is in trouble all over again.  Earlier this year, the Congressional Budget Office projected that the Medicare Part A Hospital Insurance Trust Fund ended 2007 with a $17 billion surplus, and would end 2008 with a $16 billion surplus.  But if the government only counts the real cash revenues (excluding government bonds on interest earned), according to the 2008 Medicare and Social Security Trustees reports the Part A Trust Fund ended 2007 about $500 million in the red, and is projected to end 2008 with a $10 billion deficit. President Bush has proposed $178 billion in cuts over the next five years, which, if passed, would exceed the cuts in the 1997 Balanced Budget Act.  The Senior Citizen's League (TSCL) is highly concerned and recently submitted a statement to a hearing on The President's Fiscal Year 2009 Budget to the House Ways and Means Committee supporting the passage of “The Social Security and Medicare Lock-Box Act,” in addition to recommending that the government do a better job of reducing waste, fraud, and abuse.  Because the new President and Congress will surely be tasked with fixing Medicare's financing, TSCL also urges seniors to carefully examine the records of candidates, and make sure your voter registration is up-to-date to be ready for the upcoming elections. [Source: Social Security and Medicare Advisor, Vol. 13, No. 5 dtd 27 May 08 ++]


AWARD MODIFICATIONS: The Department of Defense announced today that The Institute of Heraldry (TIOH) will remove the word "medal" from four campaign and service medals in order to align their designs with heraldic protocols. The word "medal" will be removed from the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal and Armed Forces Service Medal. In addition, TIOH will resize eight campaign and service medals that were initially designed one-eighth of an inch larger in diameter than required by specification. The larger medals will be gradually replaced over the next several years as current stock levels are depleted. These medals will not be made obsolete and will remain authorized decorations. In addition, the applicable miniature medals will also be re-sized from eleven-sixteenths of an inch diameter to five-eighths of an inch. The medals being resized are the: Kosovo Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. Historically, campaign and service medal pendants are 1 1/4 inches in diameter; the only exceptions are the two victory medals commemorating the end of World War I and World War II; these medals were designed at 1 13/32 inches in diameter in order to enhance their heraldic stature given the magnitude of the two world wars. Questions may be directed to Army Public Affairs at (703) 692-2000.

VA COMMERCIAL INSURANCE COVERAGE: UnitedHealthcare has bridged a wall between private and public insurance with a national agreement that gives eligible veterans in their commercial health plans in-network coverage at facilities in the Department of Veterans Affairs. Those enrollees meeting VA eligibility requirements can use all VA hospitals and outpatient clinics the same way they would use any hospital or doctor's office in United's network. Also included are transplants and services for mental health and substance abuse services, administered by United Behavioral Health.  Adding the VA to United's network enables veterans to more easily coordinate their medical care and finances when they use both private and VA facilities, CEO Ken Burdick said. The agreement provides more convenient access to the "VA's vital and relevant health care services on which so many veterans rely," Burdick said. Along with the network agreement, UnitedHealth Group has created UnitedHealth Military & Veterans Services with a focus on providing health care benefits and services to veterans, active-duty military, retirees and their families by augmenting the existing military health systems.

VA EMERGENCY CARE UPDATE 02: On 21 MAY, the House passed the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act of 2007 (H.R.3819) by a vote of 412-0.  The ball now has been passed to the Senate under a companion bill S.2142 introduced by Senator Sherrod Brown.  Currently, when a veteran needs emergency medical treatment, the VA allows that veteran to go to the nearest private or community hospital. Once the veteran is stabilized, the veteran must then be transferred to a VA hospital for any necessary continued care. A problem arises when there is a wait for a bed in a VA hospital. The law does not require the VA to reimburse the hospital for the care given after the point of stabilization. S.2142/HR 3819 simply closes that loophole and requires the VA to reimburse the private hospital for care. In rural areas, the problem with the current law is particularly pronounced. Often, a patient may be deemed stable but is not necessarily stable enough to make ambulance trips traveling long distances. More specifically, the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act:
•    Requires (under current law, authorizes) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reimburse certain veterans without a service-connected disability enrolled as active participants of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care plan for the cost of emergency treatment received in a non-VA facility until such time as such veterans are transferred to a VA facility.
•    Requires (under current law, authorizes) the Secretary to reimburse certain veterans with a service-connected disability or a non-service- connected disability associated with or aggravating a service-connected disability for the value of emergency treatment for which such veterans have made payment from sources other than the VA.

Veterans are encouraged to contact their Senators and impress upon them the necessity of voting favorably on this legislation. This can be easily done by referring to http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=11407326&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id ] , entering a zip code, reviewing a preformatted message, and completing constituency data to forward the message to their Senators.

VA BENEFIT ROLLS: Following are the numbers of veterans, children, parents, and surviving spouses on the U.S. Veterans and Dependents Benefits Rolls as of SEP 07:

CONFLICT …………….    VETS – Kids – PARENTS - SPOUSES
Civil War ……………….. 0 – 3 – 0 – 0
Indian Wars ……………..    0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Spanish-American War ...    0 – 108 – 0 – 108
Mexican Border ................ 0 – 15 – 0 – 62
World War I …………….    0 – 3,500 – 0 – 6,059
World War II (Note 1)…..    396,944 – 15,006 – 167 – 225,908
Korean Conflict …………    223,499 – 3,278 – 335 – 60,885
Vietnam Era …………….. 1,141,946 – 9,227 – 3,252 – 158,127
Gulf War (Note 2) ………    802,381 – 13,189 – 859 – 14,471

Nonservice-connected    322,875 – 19,176    – 0 – 180,664
Service-connected    2,844,354 – 28,176 – 6,133 – 317,385

(Note 1) Based on new population projections VA estimates the number of living World War II U.S. vets over the next 15 years will be:

•    SEP 08 - 2,457,000;  SEP 09 - 2,143,000; SEP 10 - 1,850,000; SEP 11 -1,581,000;
•    SEP 12 - 1,336,000; SEP 13 - 1,117,000; SEP 14 - 921,000; SEP 15 - 750,000;
•    SEP 16 - 602,000; SEP 17 - 477,000; SEP 18 -371,000; SEP 19 - 285,000;
•    SEP 20 - 214,000; SEP 21 - 158,000; and SEP 22 – 115,000.

(Note 2) For compensation and pension purposes, the Persian Gulf War period has not yet been terminated and includes veterans of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.)


ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE UPDATE 06: Clarification for tax filers who are using Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN) vice Social Security numbers on their 1040 & 1040A tax forms for their spouse or children  is provided in the below taken from the IRS website. Bottom line if your spouse does not have a SSN and you file jointly using his/her ITIN neither of you will receive a ECS payment.  If you both have SSNs and your child does not you will receive your ECS payment but nothing for the child:

Q. I file using an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN). Can I still get a stimulus payment?
A. No. The law does not allow stimulus payments to people who file a return using an ITIN. A taxpayer must have a valid Social Security number to qualify for the stimulus payment. If married filing jointly, both taxpayers must have a valid Social Security number. And children must have valid Social Security numbers to be eligible as qualifying children.

Q. If I currently have an ITIN and file my return but later this year get an SSN, can I amend my return to get the payment or will I need to wait until I file my 2008 return to claim it?
A. You will need to wait until you file your 2008 income tax return to claim the economic stimulus payment. [New 4/14/08]

Q. I have an ITIN, but my spouse has a valid Social Security number. Can we get a payment?
A. If you and your spouse file a joint return, you will not get a stimulus payment. If your spouse files a separate return, your spouse may qualify for a payment, based on his or her income deductions and credits.

Q. If I have a spouse with an ITIN and therefore choose "married filing separately" status to qualify for the economic stimulus payment and later on amend my original return to "married filing jointly" status, will I need to return the stimulus payment?
A. No. [New 4/14/08]


Q. If I have a valid Social Security number and my child has an ITIN, do I get extra money for the child?
A. No. To qualify for the extra credit for qualifying children, not only do the taxpayer and spouse, if filing jointly, need valid Social Security numbers, but the qualifying child must also have a valid Social Security number.

Q. I adopted a child this year and my child has an ATIN (Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number). Will I receive the $300 additional child payment?
A. An ATIN is issued by the IRS as a temporary taxpayer identification number for the child. Adoptive parents who do not yet have a Social Security number for their child will not get the advance payment. However, if they receive a Social Security number for the child before the end of 2008, they can claim the additional child payment on their 2008 tax return.
[Source:  IRS Website http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=181995,00.html


VA PTSD EVALUATION CRITERIA: Per 38 CFR DC 9440 the evaluation criteria for chronic adjustment disorder and General Rating Formula for mental disorders is:

•    100%: Total occupational and social impairment, due to such symptoms as: gross impairment in thought processes or communication; persistent delusions or hallucinations; grossly inappropriate behavior; persistent danger of hurting self or others; intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene); disorientation to time or place; memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name.
•    70%:  Occupational and social impairment, with Deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to such symptoms as: suicidal ideation; obsessional rituals which interfere with routine activities; speech intermittently illogical, obscure, or irrelevant; near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately and effectively; impaired impulse control (such as unprovoked irritability with periods of violence); spatial disorientation; neglect of personal appearance and hygiene; difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances (including work or a work like setting); inability to establish and maintain effective relationships.
•    50%: Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to such symptoms as: flattened affect; circumstantial, circumlocutory, or stereotyped speech; panic attacks more than once a week; difficulty in understanding complex commands; impairment of short- and long-term memory (e.g., retention of only highly learned material, forgetting to complete tasks); impaired judgment; impaired abstract thinking; disturbances of motivation and mood; difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships.
•    30%:  Occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks (although generally functioning satisfactorily, with routine behavior, self-care, and conversation normal), due to such symptoms as: depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, panic attacks (weekly or less often), chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss (such as forgetting names, directions, recent events.
•    10%:  Occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms which decrease work efficiency and ability to perform occupational tasks only during periods of significant stress, or; symptoms controlled by continuous medication.
•    0%: A mental condition has been formally diagnosed, but symptoms are not severe enough either to interfere with occupational and social functioning or to require continuous medication.
[Source:  VFW VSO Scott H. Langhoff article 15 May 08 ++]


VA PTSD CLAIM SUPPORT: There has been some confusion concerning what is a decoration for Valor in combat to support PTSD claims filed due to combat.  The decorations on the below list are the only decorations recognized for Valor in combat.  If the Veteran has one of these decorations, he (or she) does not need a diagnosis of PTSD, as exposure to combat is conceded by the VA.  They only need to complete VA form 21-0781 detailing stressful incidences to the best of their ability, and provide a "Stressor Statement" detailing the symptoms they're experiencing (see attached list). There can be other acceptable evidence in the form of official Unit Records, Diaries and Ship's Deck Logs on occasion.

•    Air Force Cross
•    Air Medal with "V" Device
•    Army Commendation Medal with "V" Device
•    Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device
•    Combat Action Badge
•    Combat Action Ribbon (Note: Prior to FEB 69, the Navy Achievement Medal with "V" Device was awarded.)
•    Combat Aircrew Insignia
•    Combat Infantry/Infantryman Badge
•    Combat Medical Badge
•    Distinguished Flying Cross
•    Distinguished Service Cross
•    Joint Service Commendation Medal with "V" Device
•    Medal of Honor
•    Navy Commendation Medal with "V" Device
•    Navy Cross
•    Purple Heart, and/or
•    Silver Star.
[Source:  VFW VSO Scott H. Langhoff article 15 May 08 ++]


PTSD PURPLE HEART UPDATE 01: Recently, a military psychologist John E. Fortunato at Fort Bliss TX told reporters during a roundtable that making troops with PTSD eligible for the Purple Heart could help destigmatize the disorder. "These guys have paid at least a high as high a price, some of them as anybody with a traumatic brain injury, as anybody with shrapnel wound, and what it does is it says this is the wound that isn't worthy, and I say it is.” When asked about Fortunato's suggestion later, Defense Secretary Robert Gates called it an interesting idea, adding the matter is clearly something that needs to be looked into. On 16 MAY, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said the issue was referred to the Defense Department Awards Advisory Group after Gates' remarks. "I should point out they've looked at this before, and they determined that it was not appropriate to make PTSD a qualification for the Purple Heart," Morrell said at a news conference. Right now, the regulation that outlines the criteria for the Purple Heart lists PTSD as an injury that does not merit the award, along with trench foot, heat stroke and self-inflicted wounds. The group does not have a timetable to produce a recommendation on the issue, Morrell said. The awards group is made up of awards experts from the services and the Defense Department, said Lt. Col. Jonathan Withington, a Defense Department Spokesman.

     The Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) veterans group for combat wounded troops whose mission is to preserve the integrity of the Purple Heart has come out against giving the award to troops suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. They claim that PTSD does not merit the Purple Heart, according to an Army regulation that lays out the criteria for the award.  MOPH representatives said, the Purple Heart was set up for combat wounds, for those who have shed blood, and although PTSD is a physical disease and is an injury it does not qualify for the merit of Purple Heart based on that.  Injuries that merit the Purple Heart must happen in a combat theater and must be a direct result of enemy action. The group's concern about PTSD is that it can be caused by other factors, not necessarily the enemy. "Did it occur in boot camp? Did it occur because of the rough air flight into theater? Or did it occur because an individual saw the results of the Taliban massacre of a village? Stars and Stripes called the medical center where Fortunato works for a response, but a spokesman there referred questions to Army Human Resources Command, adding that Fortunato should not have commented on the Purple Heart in the first place because the issue is “out of our medical lane."   

SENIOR MOMENTS:

All of us have “senior moments” at one time or another. Perhaps you forgot where you placed your car keys, or you returned from the grocery store only to realize you forgot to purchase milk. These small “brain glitches” are normal at any age and become more frequent with age. But how can you tell if your loved one is crossing the line from normal forgetfulness to true dementia?  The key to recognizing early warning signs of dementia is to be aware of the pattern, consistency, and type of forgetfulness displayed by those you re concerned about. If these senior moments are increasing in frequency and affecting their ability to carry out day-to-day functions, you have cause to be concerned. Ask a health care provider to evaluate your parent if you spot any of the following telltale signs:

•    Repeating the same conversation each time you talk
•    Forgetting to take medications or taking extra pills because of forgetfulness
•    Paying bills late or missing payments
•    Getting lost while driving familiar routes
•    Difficulty balancing thee checkbook
•    Unexplained purchases (including large quantities or unusual items)
•    Unexplained weight loss (perhaps because of forgetting to eat)
•    Change in appearance (wearing the same outfit everyday, an unkempt appearance)

An evaluation will rule out any physical cause for behavioral and mental changes. Physical causes can include infection, low vitamin B or iron levels, depression, strokes, and seizures. A doctor also can give a presumptive diagnosis of dementia based on a physical exam, laboratory tests, a CT scan or MRI of the brain, and a mini mental exam (a set of questions and simple tests for cognitive function). A definitive diagnosis is more difficult, because brain structures affected by dementia are not always indicated on a scan. In addition, there are many forms of dementia:

•    Alzheimer's disease. This is the most widely recognized form of dementia and is characterized by the formation of plaques and tangling of nerve fibers in the brain. The decline that occurs as the condition progresses follows a distinct pattern, referred to as stages. Each stage marks a specific decline in memory and brain function.
•    Vascular or multi-infarct. This form is caused by “mini-strokes,” which disrupt the blood flow to specific parts of the brain, rendering them useless. This condition might present itself more subtly than Alzheimer's and doesn't always follow prescribed stages.
•    Lewy-body. Signs of dementia and Parkinson's disease characterize this disease. In addition to the cognitive and memory problems, Lewy-body patients often have trouble maintaining balance and experience a shuffling gait, tremors, and stiffness of the arms and legs.
•    Mixed dementia. This is a combination of Alzheimer's and vascular dementia.
•    Alcohol or drug-induced dementia. This form of brain damage often is seen in younger people, generally as a direct result of alcoholism or drug use.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for dementia. Treatment focuses on slowing the progressive nature of this disease. Your health care provider can tell you if one of the currently available drugs (such as Aricept, Exelon, Namenda, and Razadyne) is right for your loved one. Medications to treat dementia-associated depression, anxiety, and behavioral issues (agitation, paranoia, and delusions) also might be prescribed if appropriate. Dementia is not a diagnosis to wish on anyone, but erroneously attributing its warning signs to normal aging or senility can rob loved ones of years of improved function and quality of life. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential.  For additional info on the subject refer to the Alzheimer's Association www.alz.org and/or the Alzheimer's Education and Referral Center www.alzheimers.org websites.

VIETNAM COMMON MYTHS :
Myth: Common Belief is that most Vietnam veterans were drafted.
Fact: 2/3 of the men who served in Vietnam were volunteers. 2/3 of the men who served in WW II were drafted. Approximately 70% of those killed in Vietnam were volunteers.

Myth: The media have reported that suicides among Vietnam veterans range from 50,000 to 100,000 - 6 to 11 times the non-Vietnam veteran population.
Fact: Mortality studies show that 9,000 is a better estimate. The CDC Vietnam Experience Study Mortality Assessment showed that during the first 5 years after discharge, deaths from suicide were 1.7 times more likely among Vietnam veterans than non-Vietnam veterans. After that initial post-service period the rate of suicides is less. 

Myth: Common belief is that a disproportionate number of blacks were killed in the Vietnam War.
Fact: 86% of the men who died in Vietnam were Caucasians, 12.5% were black, 1.2% were other races. Black fatality figures were proportional to the number of blacks in the U.S. population at the time and slightly lower than the proportion of blacks in the Army at the close of the war.

Myth: Common belief is that the war was fought largely by the poor and uneducated.
Fact: Servicemen who went to Vietnam from well-to-do areas had a slightly elevated risk of dying because they were more likely to be pilots or infantry officers.  Vietnam Veterans were the best educated forces our nation had ever sent into combat. 79% had a high school education or better.

Myth: The Common belief in the U.S. is that the domino theory was proved false.
Fact: The domino theory was accurate. The ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries, Philippines , Indonesia , Malaysia , Singapore and Thailand stayed free of Communism because of the U.S. commitment to Vietnam . The Indonesians threw the Soviets out in 1966 because of America 's commitment in Vietnam . Without that commitment, Communism would have swept all the way to the Malacca Straits that is south of Singapore and of great strategic importance to the free world.  The Vietnam War was the turning point for Communism.

Myth: The common belief is that the fighting in Vietnam was not as intense as in World War II.
Fact: The average infantryman in the South Pacific during World War II saw about 40 days of combat in four years. The average infantryman in Vietnam saw about 240 days of combat in one year thanks to the mobility of the helicopter. One out of every 10 Americans who served in Vietnam was a casualty. 58,148 were killed and 304,000 wounded out of 2.7 million who served. Although the percent that died is similar to other wars, amputations or crippling wounds were 300% higher than in World War II ....75,000 Vietnam veterans are severely disabled. MEDEVAC helicopters flew nearly 500,000 missions. Over 900,000 patients were airlifted (nearly half were American). The average time lapse between wounding to hospitalization was less than one hour. As a result, less than one percent of all Americans wounded, who survived the first 24 hours, died.

Myth: Kim Phuc, the little nine year old Vietnamese girl running naked from the napalm strike near Trang Bang on 8 June 1972 was burned by Americans bombing Trang Bang.
Fact: No American had involvement in this incident near Trang Bang that burned Phan Thi Kim Phuc. The planes doing the bombing near the village were VNAF (Vietnam Air Force) and were being flown by Vietnamese pilots in support of South Vietnamese troops on the ground. The Vietnamese pilot who dropped the napalm in error is currently living in the United States . Even the AP photographer, Nick Ut, who took the picture, was Vietnamese. The incident in the photo took place on the second day of a three day battle between the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) who occupied the village of Trang Bang and the ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam ) who were trying to force the NVA out of the village. Reports in the news media that an American commander ordered the air strike are incorrect. There were no Americans involved in any capacity. The Commanding General of TRAC at that time said Americans had nothing to do with controlling VNAF.

Myth: The United States lost the war in Vietnam .
Fact: The American military was not defeated in Vietnam . The American military did not lose a battle of any consequence. From a military standpoint, it was almost an unprecedented performance. General Westmoreland said the war was a major military defeat for the VC and NVA. The United States did not lose the war in Vietnam , the South Vietnamese did.

USMC Overrun by Recruits

May 7, 2008 :  The U.S. Marine Corps has had more success than expected in attracting recruits, and has moved up the date for completing their current expansion. Last year, Congress ordered the marines to expand their strength from the current 181,000 to 202,000. At first, the marines thought it would take them four years to do it. But between the large number of recruits, and the many current marines who are staying in, the expansion will be accomplished by next year.

At the end of the Cold War, the marines had 202,000 troops, and were ordered to reduce strength to 174,000. Since then, Congress has found they needed the marines more than anticipated, and Marine Corps strength has gradually moved back to Cold War levels.

Veteran Bills Heading to Governor Crist for Signature

TALLAHASSEE , Fla. -- The end of the 2008 Legislative Session in Florida holds good news for the state's more than 1.7 million veterans.

“Three primary bills proposed by the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs have passed the legislature and are on their way to the governor's office for signature,” said Jim Brodie, FDVA's Legislative and Cabinet Affairs Director.

The Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith Memorial Act creates the Florida Veterans' Foundation, a non-profit direct-support organization to uphold and expand FDVA's mission of veterans' advocacy.

The Service-Disabled Veteran Business Opportunity Act creates a state contract preference for eligible service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.

The Nursing Home Trust Fund Enhancement initiative will provide an additional $100,000 annually to the State Homes for Veterans' Trust Fund.

It allows all current and any future military or veteran stamped tag to contribute to the trust fund. The bill will also provide for a voluntary contribution to the nursing homes by all Florida motorists when they renew their vehicle registration.

More than 85,000 Serve Veterans as VA Volunteers

Secretary: Volunteer Week a Time to Salute Service to Vets

WASHINGTON  – As the nation prepares to mark National Volunteer Week, April 27 to May 3, officials at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) encourage more Americans to join the Department's corps of 85,000 volunteers.

“Volunteers make important contributions to the operation of VA hospitals, nursing homes and national cemeteries,” said Dr. James B. Peake, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. “I encourage everyone to consider becoming a VA volunteer.  These dedicated private citizens prove that one person can make a difference in the lives of our veterans.”

The 11.6 million hours of service donated last year by VA volunteers was equivalent to 5,500 full-time employees, the Department estimated.  VA officials say the donated time was worth nearly $220 million.

When VA's volunteer program began in 1946, volunteers helped primarily in VA medical centers, escorting patients to appointments, helping with administrative duties and overseeing recreational programs for patients.

In recent years, however, the role of VA volunteers has expanded.  In the health care arena, the volunteers are involved in helping VA medical staff in hospices, outpatient clinics and home-based programs.  Volunteers are also active at many of the 125 national cemeteries managed by the Department, where they place flags on gravesites, provide military honors and help with landscaping.

Volunteers are also important in programs reaching out to homeless veterans, especially annual “stand downs” held in many communities to provide health check ups, clothing, and benefits assistance to the homeless.

To become a volunteer, contact the nearest VA facility, or complete a form on the Internet at www.va.gov/volunteer .

VA Voluntary Service

VA's Voluntary Service is one of the largest volunteer programs in the federal government.  Men and women from their teens to their nineties become volunteer partners on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care team.  Some bring special skills and knowledge, while others have a desire to explore and learn.  Many come with a gift for working directly with patients, while others bring dependability to assignments behind the scenes.  Voluntary Service matches the volunteer to the assignment, provides orientation and training for volunteers and maintains an awards program to recognize volunteer service.

Over the past 60 years, VA volunteers have donated more than 689 million hours of service worth an estimated $12.9 billion.  In fiscal year 2007, 85,428 active volunteers contributed a total of more than 11.6 million hours of service -- equal to 5,574 full-time employees worth $218 million.  Volunteers and their organizations generated another $59 million last year in direct gifts and donations.

Volunteer Activities

VA volunteers perform a variety of duties at VA medical centers, national cemeteries, regional offices and regional counsel offices.  At medical centers, their roles range from traditional ones, such as escorting patients and administrative duties, to creative activities, such as teaching arts and crafts and developing newsletters.  As VA has expanded its care of patients into the community, volunteers now assist VA staff in hospice programs, outpatient clinics, home-based primary care and outreach centers.

At cemeteries, volunteers provide military honors at burial services, create memorials, plant trees and flowers, build historical trails and place flags on graves for Memorial Day and Veterans Day. 

Volunteers have been particularly active in supporting community programs aimed at reaching and serving the homeless in one- to three-day events offering a variety of services.  Volunteers also have become an integral part of national and local "showcase events" aimed at introducing people with disabilities back to mainstream activities.  These include the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, the National Veterans Wheelchair Games (the largest wheelchair athletic meet in the world), the National Veterans Golden Age Games and the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival. 

Corporate volunteers play a strong role in these events, setting the pace for the future of VA Voluntary Service, along with a strong and growing youth volunteer program that is introducing teenagers and college students to careers and community service.  In VA medical centers, young volunteers work in such areas as audiology, speech pathology, dietetics and physical therapy.  Scout groups assist in landscaping and decorating at VA national cemeteries.  

History

On April 8, 1946 , General Omar Bradley, then head of the Veterans Administration, established a Voluntary Service National Advisory Committee to assist hospital administrators in organizing the spontaneous volunteer movements that developed in communities near military and VA hospitals.  A national advisory committee was established, made up of representatives of the American Legion and its Auxiliary; American Red Cross; Disabled American Veterans and its Auxiliary; United Service Organizations Inc.; and Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States  and its Auxiliary.  The committee recommended a plan for community volunteer participation in activities for hospitalized veterans, including the establishment of advisory committees at local hospitals.  The committee has grown from six to 65 major veterans, civic and service organizations and more than 350 local organizations.  The committee gives direction for the recruitment, training and placement of volunteers in medical centers.

VA Calling All Recent Combat Vets

Nearly 570,000 to be Reached by New Call Center

WASHINGTON  – On May 1, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will begin contacting nearly 570,000 recent combat veterans to ensure they know about VA's medical services and other benefits.

“We will reach out and touch every veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom to let them know we are here for them,” said Dr. James B. Peake, Secretary of Veterans Affairs. “VA is committed to getting these veterans the help they need and deserve.”

A contractor-operated “ Combat Veteran Call Center ” will telephone two distinct populations of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan .  

In the first phase, calls will go to an estimated 17,000 veterans who were sick or injured while serving in Iraq  or Afghanistan .  VA will offer to appoint a care manager to work with them if they don't have one already.  Care managers ensure veterans receive appropriate care and know about their VA benefits.

For five years after their discharge from the military, these combat veterans have special access to VA health care.  The Department screens combat veterans for signs of post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.  VA personnel have been deployed to the military's major medical centers to assist wounded service members and their families during the transition to civilian lives.

For the new call center, the second phase will target 550,000 OIF-OEF veterans who have been discharged from active duty but have not contacted VA for services.  

Once contacted, veterans will be informed about VA's benefits and services.  The initial calls will be made by a private contractor, EDS , which specializes in technology “We will leave no stone unturned to reach these veterans,” said Dr. Edward Huycke, chief of the Veterans Affairs - Department of Defense coordination office. 

VA BURIAL BENEFIT:

The VA has changed the regulation concerning the provision of a VA headstone or marker for a grave already marked in a private cemetery.  As a result of passage of the Dr. James Allen Veteran Vision Equity Act of 2007, the VA can now provide a headstone or marker for those graves already marked in a private cemetery for those Veterans who died after 1 NOV 90 .  The claimant must pay the cost of the installation of the Government headstone or marker in a private cemetery. Details of the new regulation can be read at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-10635.htm .

PTSD PURPLE HEART:  

With growing recognition of the toll post-traumatic stress disorder has taken on U.S. forces, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said the Defense Department may consider awarding Purple Heart medals to combat veterans afflicted with it. “It's an interesting idea,” Gates said when asked about the concept during a 2 MAY media availability at Red River Army Depot, Texas . “I think it is clearly something that needs to be looked at.”  Gates' comment followed his visit the previous day to Fort Bliss , Texas , where he toured the post's Recovery and Resilience Center , which is using a holistic approach to treating troops with PTSD. John E. Fortunato, who conceived of and runs the center, told reporters that awarding the Purple Heart to PTSD sufferers would go a long way toward chipping away at prejudices surrounding the disease,. Because PTSD affects structures in the brain, it's a physical disorder, “no different from shrapnel,” Fortunato said. “This is an injury.” The Army classifies PTSD as an illness, not an injury, so troops with PTSD don't qualify for the Purple Heart. That distinction is limited to troops killed or wounded in a conflict. “I would love to see that changed, because these guys have paid at least as high a price, some of them, as anybody with a traumatic brain injury, as anybody with a shrapnel wound,” Fortunato said.  Not recognizing those with PTSD with a Purple Heart “says that this is the wound that isn't worthy,” Fortunato said. “And it is.”

     Fortunato said he'd also like to see a regulation prohibiting harassment of troops with PTSD, similar to regulations banning racial or sexual harassment. “Until there are sanctions that make a superior pay a price for harassing a soldier with mental health problems, I don't know that it will change that much.”  Soldiers still get laughed at for seeking mental-health services or told that it will ruin their careers, he said. Some in the force view people with PTSD as weak, believing that if those with the disease “just sucked it up and soldiered on, [they would] could get over this,” Fortunato said.  “The Army is making a lot of strides toward changing that, but it's a slow go, because it has to happen at the grassroots level,” he said. “Like any other prejudice, it's hard to die.”  During his visit to Fort Bliss , Gates announced a new policy as of 18 APR in which veterans no longer have to acknowledge on their Standard Form 86 federal security clearance forms mental health care that only involved marital, family, or grief counseling, not related to violence by the applicant, unless the treatment was court-ordered. They also do not have to acknowledge mental heath care if it was related to service in a combat zone. The revised wording has been distributed to the services and will be attached to the cover of the questionnaire. Gates said he hoped the policy would eliminate troops' concerns that seeking mental health care can cause them to be denied a security clearance and threaten their careers. He also expressed hope it would take the stigma away from seeking treatment. 

NPRC ONLINE RECORDS REQUEST :  

The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) makes it easier for veterans with computers and Internet access to obtain copies of documents such as their DD-214from their military files.  Military veterans and the next of kin of deceased former military members can use NPRC's online military personnel records system to request documents. The web-based application was designed to provide better service on these requests by eliminating the records center's mailroom processing time. Also, because the requester will be asked online to supply all information essential for NPRC to process the request, delays that normally occur when NPRC has to ask veterans for additional information will be minimized.  The application can be accessed at http://vetrecs.archives.gov . Users will be required to complete the application online and then download a signature verification document that must be signed and mailed to NPRC WEB , 9700 Page Avenue , St. Louis , MO 63132-5100 or faxed to (314) 801-9049 within 30 days.  If NPRC does not receive your signature within 30 days, your request will be automatically deactivated and removed from their system.  A service request number will be provided for follow up to (314) 801-0800, if necessary. Other individuals with a need for documents must still complete the Standard Form 180 which can be downloaded from the web at http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/standard-form-180.html