|


PAGE LINKS
HOME VA HEADLINE NEWS VA NEWS FLASHES WEEK IN REVIEW HOW TO FILE A CLAIM NEWS WIDGETS VA SHREDDER SCANDAL UNDER THE RADAR CONTAMINATED EQUIP. SIGN OF THE TIMES JIM STRICKLAND AGENT ORANGE IRAQ WAR TOXINS VAOIG REPORTS GAO REPORTS VA: TEAR IT DOWN CONG. HEARINGS VIDEOS / PODCASTS HOUSE CVA NEWS SENATE CVA NEWS VA PRESS PUBLISHED ARTICLES HALL OF SHAME YOUR VA BENEFITS USEFUL LINKS 4 VETS VA LINKS EZ GUIDE HEALTH RESOURCES BE A VA WATCHDOG BOOKS FOR VETS RSS/XML INFO VETS' DATA SECURITY MESOTHELIOMA MISSION STATEMENT ADVERTISE COMMENT POLICY DONATIONS CONTACT / STAFF
Be sure to get all four
VA Watchdog dot Org
RSS feeds --
Daily VA
News Flashes
House CVA
Veterans' News
Senate CVA
Veterans' News
VA Press
Releases


member DAV & VFW
WA1VET - ARRL
email Larry

VA Watchdog Stuff...
cups, hats, shirts...
click on item to order
and support the site.


Download your
free copy of the
2009 VA benefits
handbook here...


Books for Vets
at Powell's

Volunteer at your
VA Hospital

Be sure to get all four
VA Watchdog dot Org
RSS feeds --
Daily VA
News Flashes
House CVA
Veterans' News
Senate CVA
Veterans' News
VA Press
Releases

Larry Scott
member DAV & VFW
WA1VET - ARRL
email Larry

Books for Vets
at Powell's

VA Watchdog Stuff...
cups, hats, shirts...
click on item to order
and support the site.

Be sure to get all four
VA Watchdog dot Org
RSS feeds --
Daily VA
News Flashes
House CVA
Veterans' News
Senate CVA
Veterans' News
VA Press
Releases


Books for Vets
at Powell's

Download your
free copy of the
2009 VA benefits
handbook here...

Volunteer at your
VA Hospital


| Privacy Policy -- We
use third-party advertising companies to serve ads when you visit
our website. These companies may use information (not including your
name, address, email address, or telephone number) about your visits
to this and other websites in order to provide advertisements about
goods and services of interest to you. If you would like more
information about this practice and to know your choices about not
having this information used by these companies,
click here. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NEWSPAPER
OBTAINS VA DOCUMENT CONFIRMING
DATA BREACH AT ATLANTA
(03-13-10)
The VA document said there are
reportedly two sets of patient
information involved, one that includes more than 18 years of
data, and another that includes up to three years of data.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
VA
INVESTIGATING BREACH OF VETERANS'
MEDICAL DATA
(03-10-10)
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. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|
|
|
|
Click here to make VA Watchdog dot Org your homepage
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WEDNESDAY -- 17 MARCH 2010 --
HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY -- BE SAFE
CON MAN USES PTSD
VETERANS TO STEAL DONATIONS -- Bilked donors out of
$94,130 which he claimed would be used to help veterans
suffering from PTSD.

SENATOR PRESSES VA ON
HIGH PERCENTAGE OF WRONGLY DENIED CLAIMS -- Sen. Chuck
Grassley: This "shows me that there are serious, systemic
problems with the process for approving veterans' claims."

LEJEUNE VETERAN GETS
FULL COMP ON CONTAMINATED WATER CLAIM -- "Service
connection for Multiple Myeloma with prior symptoms (acute renal
failure, anemia, and infections) has been established as
directly related to military service."

VAOIG: VA'S PUERTO RICO
FACILITIES NOT DISINFECTING REUSABLE EQUIPMENT -- Just
one of many problems: Endovaginal transducers were not submitted
to disinfection as required after each patient procedure for
approximately 2 years. Management knew and did nothing.
TUESDAY -- 16 MARCH 2010
VAOIG: VHA BOTCHES 70%
OF STIMULUS FUNDS MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS -- During VHA's
initial implementation of the Recovery Act, contracting officers
did not properly publicize and prepare non-recurring maintenance
contract solicitations and awards in accordance with Recovery
Act requirements.

MORE PROBLEMS FOUND AT
RHODE ISLAND VETERANS HOME -- Problems included poor
attention
to the medical needs of two residents and an insufficient level
of activities for others.

CONGRESS WANTS TO GIVE
FEDERAL WHISTLE-BLOWERS MORE PROTECTION -- The current
whistle-blower protection law " ... really wasn't intended to
help if you blow the whistle on senior executives."

VA'S NEW ORLEANS
BUILDING COULD END UP IN LEGAL DISPUTE -- A group of
investors who wanted to turn the old Pan American Life Insurance
building into housing and retail space plans to fight the state
in court for more money.

VETS' COMMITTEES
SCHEDULES FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 15, 2010 -- The House
Committee
on Veterans' Affairs has two hearings this week and there is one
joint House-Senate hearing.

AT LOMA LINDA VA, PTSD
PATIENTS MORE THAN DOUBLE IN FIVE YEARS -- The VA wants
to reach people before the war experience explodes across the
returning veteran's life.

VETERANS Q&A with JIM
STRICKLAND, #17 for 2010 -- Veterans' Advocate Jim
Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers.

VA GIVES BLACK VETERANS
FEWER HEART-PROTECTING DRUGS, HEART SURGERIES -- The
published
findings are based on VA records for 117,071 African-American
and 357,494 white patients, mostly men.

PHONY MARINE GETS A
YEAR PROBATION AND MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING -- "The
defendant chose the rank of ... gunnery sergeant because it is a
well-respected rank within the USMC." court documents state.

IS THERE A FUTURE FOR
ATTORNEYS WHO PRACTICE VETERANS' LAW? -- "For what
possible reason in 2010 is it necessary for the federal
government ... to protect veterans FROM attorneys??? My God man,
how can these people face themselves ... ?"
MONDAY -- 15 MARCH 2010
VA TO START
CONSTRUCTION ON NEW ORLEANS HOSPITAL COMPLEX -- "We
expect that this, along with the University medical center, will
be a cornerstone for health care for the future of New
Orleans."

VERMONT'S VETERANS WANT
A PIECE OF THE LOTTERY PIE -- "Not that we have anything
against veterans, but it is an alternative use to the Education
Fund that is going to mean more property taxes."

COPS GET COMMENDATIONS
FOR USING RESTRAINT WITH ARMED VETERAN -- "There's a vet
alive
today I hope will recover and live a long and fruitful life
because of the actions of these two police officers."

IWO JIMA SURVIVOR SAYS
HE'S NO HERO -- "Nobody that got off of that island is a
hero," he said. "The heroes are still over there."

GETTING IT RIGHT THE
FIRST TIME by VETERANS' ADVOCATE JIM STRICKLAND -- "The
DAV has finally come around to my point of view. It's taken
years for me to shout out this information but if imitation is
the sincerest form of flattery, the love that DAV has for my
message is overwhelming."
WEEKEND -- 13 & 14 MARCH 2010
VA PUBLISHES
DETERMINATIONS ON DEPLETED URANIUM PRESUMPTIVES -- Based
on the
2008 Institute of Medicine report, VA says there are no
presumptive conditions related to DU exposure.

THE
WEEK IN REVIEW from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG -- A
complete, one-page look at VA and veterans' news for the week
ending March 13, 2010.

VETERAN WHO THREATENED
TO KILL VA WORKER GETS PSYCH EVALUATION -- Britten
Walker, 32, threatened to kill a VA worker, and
threatened to bomb a Buffalo television station and cars on the
New York State Thruway.

NEWSPAPER OBTAINS VA
DOCUMENT CONFIRMING DATA BREACH AT ATLANTA -- The VA
document said there are reportedly two sets of patient
information involved, one that includes more than 18
years of data, and another that includes up to three years of
data.

THE GREAT PRETENDER:
80-YEAR-OLD VETERAN CAUGHT IN WEB OF LIES -- Lafayette
Keaton claims to be a veteran of World War II, Korea and
Vietnam. All wrong! (with videos)

VA ISSUES GULF WAR VETS
ILLNESS TASK FORCE BACKGROUND BRIEF -- The Task Force
developed action plans to deliver new and improved tools for VA
personnel based on seven core themes.
FRIDAY -- 12 MARCH 2010
STATE OF TENNESSEE GOES
AFTER VETERANS "CHARITY" -- About Veterans Support
Organization: "It's a concern when they misrepresent the fact
that there's going to be a homeless
shelter that's going to be built with the money they're
raising." (with video)

A HERO: HE BUILDS FREE
HOMES FOR WOUNDED VETERANS -- "It was like someone hit
me upside the head with a 2X4 ... I just felt like this is what
God wants me to do." (with video)

FISHER HOUSE GETS
LARGEST SHARE OF OBAMA'S NOBEL PEACE PRIZE MONEY -- The
biggest donation, $250,000, will go to Fisher House, a
non-profit group that provides housing for families of veterans
getting care at VA medical centers.

WEST L.A. VA LOCKS OUT
VETERANS ON APPRECIATION DAY -- "It didn't take long to
sink in
that
this was the VA we're dealing with and this is a deliberate
attempt to mess up this event."

SOLDIER'S HOMECOMING
MARRED BY LIES ABOUT RANK, INJURY -- An Army specialist
is apologizing for lying about being injured in Afghanistan,
lying about his rank and wearing military honors that he hadn't
earned.

SHINSEKI SEEKS NEW
LAYER OF BUREAUCRACY AT VA'S CENTRAL OFFICE -- The VA
Secretary wants one new Assistant Secretary and eight new Deputy
Assistant Secretaries. Claims this will "streamline" the VA.
THURSDAY -- 11 MARCH 2010
VA CLAIMS HOMELESS
VETERAN POPULATION DOWN 18 PERCENT -- But, with the VA
dealing with a shortage of mental health and substance abuse
counselors, can we believe the numbers they
provide?

VETERAN CITES LACK OF
FULL-TIME PSYCHIATRISTS AT EL PASO VA -- "That
one-on-one with the individual, I can't build that trust in
them. Basically, those temporary doctors only refill
prescriptions."

BACK FROM THE WAR, COPS
STRUGGLE TO READJUST -- "I can't absolve myself of Iraq.
How deeply it affected me, I don't know ... I'm not the same
person who left."

GAO REPORT: VA HAS
PROBLEMS WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER SERVICES -- VA
lacks
trained staff and beds for veterans seeking treatment, and does
not effectively track treatment outcomes.

VET WHO LIED ABOUT
SERVICE BOTCHES PROBATION, MAY GO TO JAIL -- Vet pleaded
guilty to three misdemeanor charges of falsely claiming a Purple
Heart and a Bronze Star with valor and creating a fake military
ID card.

IMAGING IDENTIFIES
THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF GULF WAR ILLNESS -- From the
imaging, "we can tell the ill veterans from the well veterans.
And we can distinguish syndromes one, two and three from each
other."
WEDNESDAY -- 10 MARCH 2010
VA INVESTIGATING BREACH
OF VETERANS' MEDICAL DATA -- 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.

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

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

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

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

VA'S "FAST TRACK"
PROGRAM FOR NEW AGENT ORANGE CLAIMS COULD TAKE A YEAR --
"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!"
|
|
| |
Welcome to VA Watchdog dot Org --

If you're a veteran, the three men at the upper
right corner of the site may hold your life in their hands. That's why VA Watchdog
dot Org was founded...to keep an eye on them and their decisions.
This is NOT a VA hate site. We believe the VA offers the best
healthcare in this country. And independent studies by such
prestigious organizations as the Rand Corporation prove it time and again.
This site is designed to keep an eye on those who fund and run the
VA... the politicians and the political appointees who don't have to worry
about healthcare.
VA Watchdog dot Org will follow VA news and let
you know about policy, regulation and veterans benefits changes at the Department of
Veterans' Affairs and other veterans issues. And, what you won't find here is as important as
what you will find. You won't find rumors, rants or conspiracy
theories here... there are no "Black Helicopters" on this site.
The SITE
DIRECTORY (below) briefly explains the contents of the different pages.
Look around and take away lots of great information. Feel free to
email with any questions you might have about the VA.
And, you can
be a VA Watchdog, too
(click here).
And, should any of the "three wise men" step out of
line and make decisions harmful to veterans, you'll find out about it
here. We'd like to think they'll always do the right thing for
veterans...but.......
We'll be..."Keeping an eye on the VA because somebody
has to!"
Larry Scott
|
|
|
|
VA Loan Guide
-
Find the info you
need about VA
Loans from
VA Mortgage
Center.com |

Be sure to get all four
VA Watchdog dot Org
RSS feeds --
Daily VA
News Flashes
House CVA
Veterans' News
Senate CVA
Veterans' News
VA Press
Releases

Books for Vets
at Powell's


Download your
free copy of the
2009 VA benefits
handbook here...

VA Watchdog Stuff...
cups, hats, shirts...
click on item to order
and support the site.

Be sure to get all four
VA Watchdog dot Org
RSS feeds --
Daily VA
News Flashes
House CVA
Veterans' News
Senate CVA
Veterans' News
VA Press
Releases

Volunteer at your
VA Hospital


|