Hot key issues for veterans -- The latest from the VA -- News you'll want to know. http://www.vawatchdog.org The VA stabilized the man before he was transferred to a civilian hospital because complex surgeries are still banned at the troubled Marion VA facility. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf112108-7.htm "We made significant progress in caring for our veterans over the past two years, but much remains to be done." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf112108-6.htm GIs would undergo mandatory diagnosis for brain injuries and PTSD in order to reduce instances of domestic violence and suicide. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf112108-5.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf112108-4.htm Unless given new life by Capitol Hill hearings, expect the VA shredder scandal to quietly disappear. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf112108-3.htm "Spatial modeling in brain imaging is new. This has not been done the way we are doing it." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf112108-2.htm Stand accused of ripping-off the VA for nearly 2 million dollars in disability benefits. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf112108-1.htm "Wal-Mart has been a great friend to the military, and I look forward to collaborating with our newest valued partner to achieve mutual goals to attract, develop and retain a quality workforce." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf112008-6.htm "We want our lives back and we need help. We need more support for emotional difficulties." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf112008-5.htm "Non-shuffle" in the Senate means Patty Murray will not move up to Vets' Chair. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf112008-4.htm "Why did it take so long to listen to the vets and their families. Why have they denied benefits and hurt people and let families fall apart and have soldiers go bankrupt seeking help." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf112008-3.htm Veterans Aviation Outreach, created by seven vets, provides food, help with claims and flights to the doctor. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf112008-2.htm VBA chief promises to take care of vets whose VA claim documents have been "mishandled." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf112008-1.htm From the PBS News Hour with Jim Lehrer, Tuesday, November 18, 2008. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111908-7.htm "Learning to use My HealtheVet opens up a whole other world for veterans." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111908-6.htm "You fill out a job application and you can't write 'long-range reconnaissance and sniper skills.'" http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111908-5.htm The percentage of veterans hired into federal agencies has increased steadily in the last nine years. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111908-4.htm A primer for those attending the House Vets' Committee roundtable discussion on VA's document handling. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111908-3.htm State of Massachusetts provides free nicotine patches to veterans and their family members. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111908-2.htm "We have the resources. We have the working functionality. We have a full pool of people to do the testing and manage all the efforts under way." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111908-1.htm She bought three dog tags from a vendor in Ho Chi Minh City, and vowed to return them. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111808-9.htm New benefits system should go online in 2010, but SPAWAR is still trying to figure out how it will do this. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111808-8.htm Increasing the time troops have at home is probably the most important element for readying them for future assignments. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111808-7.htm House Vets' Committee email changes name of shredder "roundtable" and website has no info at all. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111808-6.htm Deductible will stay the same until the first of the year, and then see a marked reduction. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111808-5.htm VA Secretary Peake says, "Benefit of doubt for vets, accountability for VA staff." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111808-4.htm Gulf War illness, dismissed by some as a psychosomatic disorder, is a very real illness that affects at least 25 percent of U.S. veterans who took part in the Gulf War. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111808-3.htm When Brian Hart lost his son to a roadside ambush in Iraq, he channeled his grief into creating an affordable robot that defuses bombs so the troops don't have to. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111808-2.htm From the CBS Evening News with Russ Mitchell, Sunday, November 16, 2008. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111808-1.htm Walter Reed Army Institute of Research working on vaccines for HIV-AIDS, malaria and typhoid fever. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111708-5.htm Claimed Purple Heart and received VA medical benefits to which he was not entitled. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111708-4.htm "The goal is to find Mr. Simmons another place to stay that Mr. Simmons is OK with." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111708-3.htm Medal of Honor recipient's family finally rights a terrible wrong. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111708-2.htm Temporary VA rule will allow some veterans to re-open claims where vet says "lost" paperwork affected decision. But wait, there's a catch. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111708-1.htm At West Haven VA, amputee vets tired of being left behind while others go on outings. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111608-3.htm Veteran Scott Winkler had many scary encounters while serving in Iraq, but they were nothing compared with his recent experience swimming alongside a massive whale shark. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111608-2.htm Two stories detail the importance of communication when dealing with veterans in need of help. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111608-1.htm The outreach is so unexpected that some veterans ask if the service is trying to call them back to duty. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111508-6.htm During his recovery from cancer surgery, doctors put Jim Szamlewski on oxygen. But the Tampa VA discharged him without the thing most essential to his survival. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111508-5.htm Dark comedy set in a VA hospital centers on a veteran consumed with piecing together an old radio. The radio's completion will signal his readiness for the outside world. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111508-4.htm Bob is 80 years old. Sam is 94. They were given 400 dollars each and had an hour to give it away. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111508-3.htm "Two years ago, I stood in a rural upstate New York cemetery, next to the casket of my oldest and closest friend." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111508-2.htm Eight dollars a month instead of eight hundred dollars a month. "It makes a big difference." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111508-1.htm Committee spokesman verifies there will be a live audio feed, and perhaps live video. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111408-8.htm House Vets' Chair's "roundtable discussion" on VA document shredding will have no cameras or microphones. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111408-7.htm DoD has imposed a more rigorous screening process on the services for separating troubled members due to "personality disorder." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111408-6.htm For more than 30 years many a veteran has been faced with the chilling reality of discovering that their military service records had gone up in smoke in a St. Louis fire. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111408-5.htm "Substantial federal Gulf War research funding has been used for studies that have little or no relevance to the health of Gulf War veterans." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111408-4.htm House Vets' Chair's promised hearing on VA document shredding will now be an informal "discussion." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111408-3.htm "It looks like there's 48 states that are taking better care of our veterans than we are." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111408-2.htm Nine veterans across the country have died in their sleep after taking antidepressant and antipsychotic medications. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111408-1.htm "We don't know how long it's going to be before we get our money, but we're a happy bunch." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111308-7.htm Prepared to buy scores of houses and relocate the people who live there in order to give the VA land for hospital. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111308-6.htm Restoration to repair years of neglect, vandalism and wear and tear. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111308-5.htm "My administration will recommend passage of advance appropriation legislation" for the VA. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111308-4.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111308-3.htm "He is my full-time job now. I just feel like I should be compensated for that. They should value what I do." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111308-2.htm VA spokesperson acknowledges someone in the office intentionally entered veterans' claim documents with incorrect dates, called "backdating," into an internal database. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111308-1.htm From the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, Tuesday, November 11, 2008. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111208-7.htm "I can't really sleep and I can't really be in places I'm not familiar with. I'm seeing a psychiatrist at the VA in Jamaica Plain, but it's not helping." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111208-6.htm "In my view, America has missed the boat in documenting this part of history. It was such a pivotal moment in global history." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111208-5.htm The money is for a program designed to move veterans back into the community and provide them with mental health treatment and other services. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111208-4.htm "They're all personalized, usually with their rank, service, units they belonged to, and ribbons and medals they received." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111208-3.htm Obama and Tammy Duckworth lay wreath at memorial in Chicago. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111208-2.htm Income, employment and mental health all suffer for new veterans in West Virginia. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111208-1.htm Secretary Peake claims high veteran suicide rate not related to experiences of war. http://www.vawatchdog.org/hall%20of%20shame.htm From PBS News Hour with Jim Lehrer, Monday, November 10, 2008. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111108-11.htm St. Petersburg Times - "Documents such as key medical assessments may get destroyed as a way to make denials easier." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111108-10.htm Disabled veterans and their families turned down by the VA for help turn to Widener University's law clinic. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111108-9.htm "And this guy grabbed me and we kissed, and then I turned one way and he turned the other." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111108-8.htm In addition to retrieving dropped objects and helping with balance, the dog barks only in an emergency. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111108-7.htm A look at the latest statistical information about U.S. veterans from the Census Bureau. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111108-6.htm "We've observed previously that the United States likes its veterans one of two ways - fully employed and fully functioning or in a box." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111108-5.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111108-4.htm "Over the next few years we will see dramatic changes in the VA system." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111108-3.htm "The recognition of their service transcends their death, and in places like this cemetery, we will continue to devote ourselves to their cause." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111108-2.htm Vietnam Veterans of America and Veterans of Modern Warfare file suit in U.S. District Court. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111108-1.htm "I knew I had to do something to get them off the streets and keep them from getting locked up." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111008-6.htm "We would not forget any woman who served in support of our armed forces. They answered the call, too. They count." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111008-5.htm Confidential correspondence from 1984 reveals that scientists discovered DNA defects in an atomic test veteran. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111008-4.htm Breathing device from VA not at hospice when patient arrived. He died in less than 24 hours. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111008-3.htm Old soldiers never die -- they just move to Florida. Only California is home to more veterans. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111008-2.htm "When he plays taps, there's a stillness unlike anything I've heard. You can't even hear people breathe." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf111008-1.htm "I went to check in and they said, 'Well, your dog will have to go home with your wife'." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110908-6.htm He believes his development would offer a place for troubled veterans to come to terms with their demons in the same secluded setting that he did. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110908-5.htm "So you have 60 minutes divided by 15 people. That's four minutes apiece, and that's not going to help." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110908-4.htm Modern warfare is having a lasting impact at home. "It's hard for people to understand." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110908-3.htm "Now I will have more time. I can sit over there and talk to him." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110908-2.htm Maj. Gen. David Blackledge - "I have dealt with it. I'm dealing with it now. We need to be able to talk about it." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110908-1.htm Several dozen veterans and hospital staff spent the day in front of the VA Hospital waving signs. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110808-6.htm William and Mary Law School will assist veterans with the filing, adjudication and appeal of service-related disability compensation claims. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110808-5.htm General will look into allegations of cover-up and low morale in Houston unit. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110808-4.htm "We hope that hyperbaric oxygen therapy will stimulate the area around injured brain tissue to improve the patients' cognitive functions." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110808-3.htm Wounded service members leaving the military will have easier, quicker access to their veterans benefits. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110808-2.htm With the Dems trying to "bounce" Joe Lieberman, Patty Murray could take Daniel Akaka's chair. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110808-1.htm From WACH-TV News, Fox 57, Columbia, South Carolina -- Friday, November 7, 2008. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110708-8.htm VFW - "We don't know how many, we don't know why it happened. It will be interesting to find out." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110708-7.htm Admitted that she placed herself in the role of "monitoring nurse" to steal Fentanyl medication. Is still employed by VA. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110708-6.htm They explained the difficulty vets can face with the nearest VA hospital 50 miles away. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110708-5.htm "Our goal for this website is to provide policymakers with a comprehensive portrait of the operations of the federal government and the challenges ahead." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110708-4.htm Published reports say Rep. Chet Edwards, Paul Rieckhoff and Phillip Carter are also being considered. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110708-3.htm An easy way to support veterans by making a five dollar donation from your cell phone. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110708-2.htm VA developing policy that affords veterans the benefit of the doubt as to whether they had a document or evidence lost or improperly handled. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110708-1.htm Microsoft is in hot water again for again taking the name of the VA's software for one of its fledgling products. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110608-7.htm Heart attack patients face the highest risk of dying from sudden cardiac death within the first month after heart attack. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110608-6.htm AFGE - "Obama has been vocal in his commitment to fully fund and staff the Social Security Administration, Bureau of Prisons, and the Department of Veterans Affairs." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110608-5.htm How a community of professionals can serve those who served our country. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110608-4.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110608-3.htm All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for veterans and other patients. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110608-2.htm PTSD treatments need to be combined with specialized domestic violence intervention programs. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110608-1.htm Man cashed VA death benefit checks on behalf of his mother, who died in June 2003. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110508-6.htm City Council Member - "I think we could make this into a moneymaker for the city." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110508-5.htm Program will verify earned income of nonservice-connected and zero percent service-connected vets who get VA care. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110508-4.htm At the top of the list are Tammy Duckworth, Max Cleland and current VA Secretary James Peake. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110508-3.htm The primary aim of the study is to assess the efficacy and tolerability of nepicastat in the treatment of PTSD-induced hyperarousal. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110508-2.htm With cost-cutting high on the new administration's agenda, will veterans feel the pinch. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110508-1.htm SPAWAR was the last choice of high-level VA executives, who favored what can best be described as the Dulles Toll Road approach to IT systems. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110408-8.htm Churches key to helping veterans and families readjust to civilian life. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110408-7.htm "So often there is the assumption that the Department of Veterans Affairs will take care of veterans, and that's not necessarily true." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110408-6.htm "It's never going to get fixed. You need to retrain your mind." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110408-5.htm VA spokeswoman said that officials would not discuss the program suspensions or any aspect of the investigation. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110408-4.htm Sign at VA's Indianapolis Regional Office warns of danger. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110408-3.htm VA gets better marks in performance improvement and commercial services management. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110408-2.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110408-1.htm From the CBS News program 60 Minutes, Sunday, November 2, 2008. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110308-6.htm Congressional Research Service reports on the 110th Congress and their work on veterans' benefits issues. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110308-5.htm "Because of the kind of war we are fighting, they're coming back with injuries that demand long-term care." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110308-4.htm "The new G.I. Bill is so beneficial for any veteran, I don't know why you wouldn't take it." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110308-3.htm Vets with depression had lower mental component scores and physical component scores, indicating worse health. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110308-2.htm On overwhelmed WTUs - "Guess what. They did it so well everybody wants in." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110308-1.htm U.S. News and World Report - It will be nearly impossible to figure out how many documents had been incorrectly destroyed in the past. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110208-3.htm "It's shocking to realize there are that many people in the Charleston area who are either on the streets or close to it." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110208-2.htm Nationwide number not known, but about 1,600 vets in Portland, Oregon had personal info posted on public web site. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110208-1.htm "If I were to talk to a head-shrinker, I would prefer to talk to someone that I know. Somebody that has knowledge of my background, of my culture." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110108-5.htm Military officials responsible for reviewing servicemembers' records could not explain why many PD separations were approved. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110108-4.htm "If they succeed and I am truly a dead man, then they will have to deal with the stench of my corpse." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110108-3.htm Detectives want to know if Oxycontin on the street is coming from the VA pharmacy. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110108-2.htm Provides list of what documents were found and where...also offers draft of action plan. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfnov08/nf110108-1.htm Consultants say that they can save many buildings including the historic Dixie Brewery. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf103108-7.htm It's a constitutional amendment that if passed would give veterans a boost in competing for public-sector jobs. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf103108-6.htm "After a 34-year love affair with cigarettes, quitting is the best decision I ever made." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf103108-5.htm Dr. Kenneth Kizer - The unprecedented survival rate of casualties in the Iraq War is attributable to rapid mobilization of battlefront medical care. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf103108-4.htm A denied VA claim is just a click away. Altering files and changing dates all too common. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf103108-3.htm A band of formerly homeless veterans stay straight by playing, and hope to take their message to others, too. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf103108-2.htm The "New Approach" calls for less VA construction, leasing facilities and care contracts with affiliate or community hospitals. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf103108-1.htm Consumer-providers are individuals with personal experience of serious mental illness who provide support services to others with serious mental illness, typically as clinical team members. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf103008-7.htm The new system will cost 75 million dollars to develop and initially will be funded by 35 million that VA will transfer from its 2009 general operating budget. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf103008-6.htm The curtains that hang between patient beds in hospitals can become contaminated with drug-resistant bacteria and may be playing a role in the spread of these germs. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf103008-5.htm The Army and the National Institute of Mental Health have begun a five-year research program into the factors behind Soldier suicides and how to prevent them. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf103008-4.htm Sen. Daniel Akaka - "Any major shift in VA healthcare policy, especially one being proposed so close to the end of the current administration, requires open review by Congress and the public." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf103008-3.htm The U.S. Agency for International Development will provide the funding for new projects to three nonprofit groups. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf103008-2.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf103008-1.htm From the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, Tuesday, October 28, 2008. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102908-8.htm Across-the-board cuts of 10 percent in the state budget would eliminate dozens of positions and reduce numerous program services. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102908-7.htm Experience with releasing such information by the VA has left veterans and the public waiting after many deadlines have passed. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102908-6.htm "There is a culture of acceptance about tobacco in the military. It's embraced by the leadership." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102908-5.htm "The facility has been instructed to stand down on their planning efforts related to the Salisbury facility." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102908-4.htm More than one in seven female Iraq and Afghanistan veterans seeking VA medical care reported experiencing sexual trauma during their service. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102908-3.htm "I don't know what we'll do yet. We just want to sit down and have a discussion about why they moved it." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102908-2.htm Finally, VA sends letter to unemployable vets extending deadline to file earnings information. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102908-1.htm More than 300 attend ceremony at new burial ground in Richland County, South Carolina. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102808-6.htm Vet says VA has lost his medical records, a story we are hearing all too often. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102808-5.htm One myth is that the disorder is only psychological. But it's a biologically-based condition with the body's stress-response system in overdrive. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102808-4.htm The British government has promised to launch a study into the illnesses suffered by survivors of nuclear tests carried out in Australia. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102808-3.htm Veterans Incarcerated Program reaches out to imprisoned vets with help to make a better life after release. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102808-2.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland - "The issues at the VA have reached critical mass. The only fix is an investigation by the Department of Justice." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102808-1.htm The new program is being launched in response to a growing demand among service members for mental health care. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102708-6.htm He accuses the Army of unjustly punishing him and dropping its original diagnosis of PTSD only after he began to break rules and laws. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102708-5.htm "It's one of the most life-changing events that's ever happened to us." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102708-4.htm Veteran alleges that his colon and abdomen were permanently damaged as a result of two botched surgeries. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102708-3.htm "The Last Stand" depicted a wounded soldier holding up a sword with a tattered flag on the end. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102708-2.htm At the core of the VA's shredder scandal is a "Who Cares" attitude when it comes to handling mail and properly filing documents, problems the VA is studiously trying to minimize. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102708-1.htm The study will test the effectiveness of CMBM's model, which includes mind-body approaches including meditation, guided imagery, biofeedback and yoga. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102608-6.htm Man says his service cat soothes his PTSD, although some public places deny him entry. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102608-5.htm Chicago Tribune investigation reveals hundreds of unsupported claims regarding veterans with war medals. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102608-4.htm "More daytime movement was especially associated with better executive function, which is the ability to plan and execute daily tasks." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102608-3.htm "We are going to be able to really look to the future here with this facility for the needs of all veterans here." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102608-2.htm Date for unemployable vets to respond to income verification letter is now extended to December, 22, 2008. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102608-1.htm Rep. Bob Filner - "This completely shatters confidence in the whole VA system. These documents are matters of life and death." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102508-7.htm VA has not developed a detailed action plan that includes a timetable for building, testing, and implementing a new nurse staffing system. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102508-6.htm Pam Saulsby - "Most of them were in wheelchairs. Most of them were elderly men. Most of them were alone." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102508-5.htm But, researcher at Oregon Health and Science University is having trouble finding volunteers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102508-4.htm GAO describes selected national initiatives and local programs VA has in place that address education and support for families of OEF-OIF veterans who are receiving VA healthcare. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102508-3.htm "From our perspective it is pretty simple to administer." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102508-2.htm "These changes will allow VA to assist a substantial number of veterans with subprime mortgages refinance into a safer, more affordable, VA guaranteed loan." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102508-1.htm From ABC World News Tonight with Charles Gibson, Thursday, October 23, 2008. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102408-7.htm Mayor Susan Kluttz said the VA hospital is one of the city's greatest assets. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102408-6.htm So far, Illinois has given more than 4.7 million dollars in veterans' grants from lottery proceeds. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102408-5.htm A closer look at where McCain and Obama stand on veterans' issues. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102408-4.htm Rep. Dennis Kucinich says, "Errors of that magnitude are disgraceful," as Pentagon reviews program. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102408-3.htm A six-decade fight for justice for a World War II veteran is finally coming to an end. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102408-2.htm "The DAV urges the VA to take prompt corrective action...and that individuals found to be responsible are held fully accountable." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102408-1.htm VA finds hundreds of documents critical to veterans' claims in shredder bins across the country. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102308-7.htm New medical center will mean much less travel for many Florida veterans. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102308-6.htm "I'm still working with the lender. They're friendly, but they want their money." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102308-5.htm High doses of a cortisol-related substance prevented negative consequences of stress exposure, including increased startle response and behavioral freezing. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102308-4.htm 50 motor coaches to bring services closer to veterans. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102308-3.htm "We act as the Walter Reed of the veterinary world." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102308-2.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland - "They pounce on you very quickly to reduce your compensation because you didn't return the form they didn't mail you." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102308-1.htm From ABC World News Tonight with Charles Gibson, Tuesday, October 21, 2008. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102208-7.htm "I will repeat here the pledge I made... my highest priority is providing the best possible care for those who are wounded in combat." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102208-6.htm "My fondest memory is being freed from my prisoner of war camp and going AWOL...and spending 10 glorious days...in Paris." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102208-5.htm Sen. Arlen Specter - "There is no reason why veterans should have to pay more to the VA than Wal-Mart or some commercial place." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102208-4.htm Many vets won't qualify and there is concern VA can't implement the program on time. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102208-3.htm The sharp rise in outpatient prescriptions paid for by the government suggests doctors rely too heavily on narcotics. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102208-2.htm In 1995 two VA attorneys were sentenced to federal prison for destroying documents critical to veterans' claims. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102208-1.htm From the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, Monday, October 20, 2008. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102108-7.htm "I was trying to put a tourniquet on my leg. You're supposed to take your boot off, and when I did, everything came with it." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102108-6.htm "It didn't make any difference whether you were Army, Marines, Air Force, National Guard, whatever. We came together as one." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102108-5.htm Patients who were taking drugs to lower their blood pressure before, during, and after operations unrelated to their hearts had higher rates of heart attacks and death. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102108-4.htm "This group of veterans may face obstacles readjusting to civilian life that no organization is yet recognizing or addressing." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102108-3.htm There is no link between drinking alcohol and the likelihood of worsening COPD, which includes conditions like emphysema and chronic bronchitis. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102108-2.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland explains how to make sure your claim documents are not MIA...and, how to make your voice heard in Washington. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102108-1.htm Murders spur Ken Salazar to say he's concerned military officials are recruiting mentally troubled people into their ranks. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102008-6.htm Illinois vets' chief - "We are finding a huge number of Vietnam veterans calling in as well." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102008-5.htm The SBA Administrator should expedite efforts to coordinate assistance to service-disabled veterans and veteran-owned small businesses. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102008-4.htm The program allows managers to fill jobs without public notice or competition and then convert those interns to permanent positions. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102008-3.htm For vets already in school, choosing between the new G.I. Bill or staying with the old one, is a complicated decision. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102008-2.htm VA's decades-long history of document destruction and falsified performance reports comes back to haunt. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102008-1.htm The new building contains apartments for injured troops who no longer need to be hospitalized but aren't ready to live on their own. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101908-6.htm AmericanLife TV Network to premiere documentary about PTSD on Tuesday, October 21. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101908-5.htm "I am amazed. I feel really sorry for the people who have not been able to do what I was able to do. I guess I pushed some buttons." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101908-4.htm VFW Magazine interview sheds interesting light on veterans' and military issues. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101908-3.htm "He never complained, and he never gave up. He was a good Marine. He would have done anything for his country." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101908-2.htm "Any training the VA does as a result of this latest incident needs to address the handling of people's lives, not the handling of sheets of paper." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101908-1.htm Parade organizers said they need money within 10 days or they'll have to call off the event. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101808-6.htm Decorated World War II Sikh veteran had many problems with his "VA." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101808-5.htm Informal communication among British and U.S. veterans of the first Iraq war may have shaped the vets' characterization of Gulf War Syndrome. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101808-4.htm Will also pick up the full cost of the private medical care he was forced to receive when he was turned away by the VA. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101808-3.htm Will now pay 200 dollars to settle a disturbing the peace charge. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101808-2.htm VA spokesperson - "We're still trying to get a handle on how widespread the problem is and I can't say with certainly that this has never happened before." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101808-1.htm VARO management teams to spend weekend "dumpster diving" - VAOIG looks to expand investigation - Congress briefed, may investigate possible criminal intent. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101708-7.htm "Hopefully this will do away with some of the problems veterans have faced. We still look forward to a hospital." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101708-6.htm "We hope to keep costs down for families. Every veteran who comes forward will be buried." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101708-5.htm This is the largest COLA increase for veterans since 1982. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101708-4.htm VFW chief - "The question that begs to be asked and answered is how many veterans had their disability and compensation claims disappear down a paper shredder." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101708-3.htm 64-year-old vet dying of lymphocytic leukemia says Tampa VA won't admit him because it is too crowded. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101708-2.htm Veterans' issues get short shrift from both candidates during televised debates. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101708-1.htm Nuclear Regulatory Commission will now oversee VA's prostate cancer radiation program. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101608-6.htm The grant will be used to improve equipment used to diagnose and track neurodegenerative diseases. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101608-5.htm VA claims their IT staff can't do the job, but staffers have said otherwise. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101608-4.htm Report shows White House billed taxpayers for trips to get Republicans elected during 2006 election cycle. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101608-3.htm Vet's widow says, "I believe that the clinic helped kill my husband," but offers no evidence for claim. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101608-2.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland looks at the possibilities - VA ploy. Honest mistake. Conspiracy. Or, just the usual sloppy work. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101608-1.htm "I see the most valuable piece of property in the state of Mississippi, and it's sitting right here on the gulf coast undeveloped. It's a treasure." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101508-6.htm Researchers are developing a cheap, lightweight plastic strip that can be worn on a soldier's helmet to help diagnose brain injury. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101508-5.htm Matt Bumpus' family says his illness and death were caused by exposure to depleted uranium. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101508-4.htm "This place saved my life. They should not treat us this way." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101508-3.htm House Vets' Chair intends to include all veterans exposed to Agent Orange in new bill. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101508-2.htm The Detroit VARO "shredder" fiasco poses some very important questions to which veterans may never have answers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101508-1.htm "We're working to make sure that whatever is done is done for veterans. We're very serious about this..." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101408-6.htm The state's poor record in compensating disabled veterans lingers as federal and Ohio officials try to address the problems. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101408-5.htm DFAS representatives gave MOAA an update this week on the status of efforts to get payment increases to disabled retirees, SBP enrollees and military widows. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101408-4.htm VA Secretary Peake's obligation to veterans is clear cut. But, will he "do the right thing" as he promised. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101408-3.htm "I'm at a point where I believe we have to give a mental health screening to everybody to help remove the stigma of raising your hand." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101408-2.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101408-1.htm Debbie Camicia really doesn't talk about her time in Iraq. Debbie has PTSD, and now her family and fellow veterans are trying to help her find structure. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101308-6.htm "They told us they had been informed it was a protest and it didn't matter if we wanted to visit patients, we were not allowed on the property." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101308-5.htm About 100 Vietnam "brothers" gather for first Texas reunion. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101308-4.htm "I think the military is covering up the effect of Lariam. After a soldier dies, that's it, they don't want to get at the truth." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101308-3.htm "I didn't tell anybody," he said. "I didn't know how. How do you tell someone in the Marine Corps you've been raped." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101308-2.htm VA investigators find entire claims and other critical documents in shredding bins at Detroit Regional Office. VA official will only say, "I can't talk about that." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101308-1.htm Suspect's attorney - "You go to your doctor, he tells you to drop your pants, and there's the government - recording and watching the whole thing." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101208-7.htm Says her communications plan did not work well when it came to informing members of Congress about upcoming changes in veterans' services. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101208-6.htm "The two traits could be linked through a tangled web of biological and environmental interactions that has evolved to help women pick a mate." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101208-5.htm Discontinuity is defined as the degree to which key aspects of a patient's care during a hospitalization are performed by someone other than the physician primarily assigned to them. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101208-4.htm It is one of the most technologically advanced projects Homes for Our Troops has completed so far, with an array of low- and high-tech features tailored to the veteran's disabilities. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101208-3.htm "I think that he very much wanted to be in the officer corps and that despite his best efforts, he was disappointed that he never made it." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101208-2.htm Legal battle between two agencies may put vets out on the street. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101208-1.htm VA investigators find entire claims and other critical documents in shredding bins... http://www.vawatchdog.org/ Dr. Robert W. Ratliff, former chief at Birmingham VA, improperly influenced a hiring decision, overcharged for travel and destroyed his computer hard drive while he was under investigation. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101108-6.htm Omnibus bill and mental health bill offer additional benefits to many veterans. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101108-5.htm VA officials claim they did not receive enough proposals from qualified private-sector contractors. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101108-4.htm Cindy McCain - "The guys who had the trouble were the 18-year-olds who were drafted. He was...a trained United States naval officer, and so he knew what he was doing." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101108-3.htm The U.S. agreed to settle the nearly two-year-old case for 950,000 dollars to cover general damages and future lost income. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101108-2.htm Five patients transferred to Portsmouth Naval Medical Center to treat MRSA infection. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101108-1.htm Jury didn't buy PTSD defense. Christopher Partridge faces a minimum of 12 years in prison. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101008-7.htm Controversial commission details widespread problems and calls for a new facility. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101008-6.htm Documentary about "the saddest acre in America" premieres Monday, October 13 at 9pm. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101008-5.htm AFL-CIO Chief - "What's happening here is outrageous. It's an insult to the courageous veterans who have done so much for our country." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101008-4.htm Lack of security, lax inspections and unsecured medications top list of issues at VA domiciliaries. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101008-3.htm "The goal is to provide each soldier with an individually designed and tailored wardrobe of adaptive clothing in order to provide them comfort and maintain their dignity." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101008-2.htm U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit rules - "The petition for rehearing is denied. Judge Fogel would grant the petition for rehearing and respectfully recommends that the full court grant rehearing en banc." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101008-1.htm "The main thing is that the veterans are honored, that people actually care that we were over there and we were injured." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf100908-6.htm Veterans fighting to get "disability letter" to qualify for local tax breaks. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf100908-5.htm Rep. Steve Buyer - "With its enormous backlog of pending claims, VA should embrace the BDD program as means of easing the burden at regional offices." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf100908-4.htm Economic woes - In Harrison County, there is not enough money to pay the workers and keep the office open. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf100908-3.htm Dr. S. Ward Casscells, the Pentagon's assistant secretary for health affairs - "This new theme is a big departure for our cautious culture." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf100908-2.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf100908-1.htm Commentary from Lawrence Downes of The New York Times. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf100808-6.htm A petition by Vietnamese victims of agent orange-dioxin has been submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf100808-5.htm "Pittsburgh is the first to adopt a move from an institutional setting to a residential setting." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf100808-4.htm Suit accuses VA staff of medical malpractice for failing to properly diagnose and provide psychiatric help after learning about previous suicide attempts. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf100808-3.htm "A blackness overtook him and he picked up his gun and fired it...what he did was reasonable because of his history." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf100808-2.htm Rep. Mel Watt angered he wasn't told of cuts. Joins forces with Sen. Elizabeth Dole to demand answers from VA Sec. Peake. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf100808-1.htm From the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, Monday, October 6, 2008. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf100708-10.htm You don't recover from PTSD. You survive it. Jim Chaousis is one of many veterans who are hoping new drugs and treatment will make him a survivor. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf100708-9.htm Hospital bacteria which survive attacks by disinfectants and antiseptics are becoming ultra-resistant superbugs which cannot be killed, scientists have warned. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf100708-8.htm Fifteen minutes before his death, he and his longtime fiancee were married in his hospital room. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf100708-7.htm Has expanded the Purple Heart eligibility criteria allowing prisoners-of-war who died in captivity to receive the award. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf100708-6.htm She took oxycodone and hydromorphone prescribed for patients who suffered from terminal illnesses. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf100708-5.htm Covers everything a seriously ill and injured service member will need during his or her recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf100708-4.htm "Veterans can really help...give us other clues...They may have papers, which would not have been archived, that may help fill in blanks about what we understand happened." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf100708-3.htm "I think we've had this conversation before. We'll have it again, I'm sure." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf100708-2.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf100708-1.htm "We've heard all of this talk before, but nothing ever seems to change," said Wanda Story, the national commander of the United Female Veterans of America. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf100608-6.htm Catholic Charities has begun a crackdown on drug and alcohol use at St. Leo's veterans' home. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf100608-5.htm "I have lived a long life. I have loved my wife and I have served my country." http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf100608-4.htm Three patients and an intern have accused a nurse practitioner at the Miami VA hospital of inappropriate sexual behavior, going back to 1991. He remains employed. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf100608-3.htm No New Zealand doctor had penned "Agent Orange exposure" as the cause of a Vietnam veteran's death - until last week when Sergeant Rakai-Paka "Pat" Hauwai died of cancer. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf100608-2.htm Local Town Supervisor supports veterans in effort to keep more than 100 acres of VA land from developers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf100608-1.htm