The latest news affecting veterans and their families. http://www.vawatchdog.org Attorney paid VA employee more than 45,000 dollars for steering contracts to his companies. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjul09/nf070309-4.htm A federal jury decided the VA retaliated against four employees and awarded them 3.73 million in damages. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjul09/nf070309-3.htm VA Whistleblower - "What really pisses me off is that nobody has been held accountable for the waste, fraud, and mismanagement ... " http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjul09/nf070309-2.htm VA has made no offer of any special compensation and won't comment about any potential benefit beyond continuing to provide medical care. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjul09/nf070309-1.htm A nice title and a good salary have turned Tammy Duckworth into the VA's "yes-woman." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjul09/nf070209-5.htm The veteran may have had mental and alcohol problems, but the death is being ruled accidental. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjul09/nf070209-4.htm Senate Vets' Chair - "It's not that I don't want to use the VA system ... " http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjul09/nf070209-3.htm "The wounded expressed concern that ... they were stigmatized and treated as lesser Soldiers for being wounded, ill, or injured." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjul09/nf070209-2.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjul09/nf070209-1.htm FDA advisers vote to ban Vicodin and Percocet, and limit use of Tylenol, because of links to liver damage. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjul09/nf070109-4.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland asks - Was the VBA even looking at his medical records or was this just another attempt to back him off until he dies an early death. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjul09/nf070109-3.htm Veteran received prostate cancer treatment but his records do not specify the prescribed radiation dosage or his actual dosage. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjul09/nf070109-2.htm VAOIG report says opportunities exist to bypass internal controls to generate fraudulent large benefits payments. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjul09/nf070109-1.htm VA Watchdog dot Org report prompts VAOIG investigation of VA's bug-ridden software upgrade. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf063009-4.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf063009-3.htm In one county, financial relief applications have increased 23 per cent in 2009. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf063009-2.htm Dr. Gary Kao, who botched prostate cancer treatments at the Philly VA, says the mistakes he made are not uncommon. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf063009-1.htm "We want a full investigation, and we think media attention will hold the right feet to the fire so that we get one." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062909-3.htm One county DVA Director says, "The activity load is overwhelming." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062909-2.htm Canadian researcher feels PTSD may be caused by blast induced injuries to the brain. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062909-1.htm Simply offering veterans a Medicare card with drug benefits would allow them to choose their doctor and be treated locally. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062809-5.htm Houston is at the heart of a growing national crisis involving the backlog of claims at the VA that's approaching a record 1 million. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062809-4.htm The wife of a soldier who died from a brain tumor after being exposed to smoke from burn pits in Iraq joined more than a dozen Florida soldiers in a class-action lawsuit. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062809-3.htm It is considered a sign of distress, but VA Police may have a different opinion. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062809-2.htm The change from "mental health services" to "behavioral health services" seems to signal a policy shift. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062809-1.htm The U. of Penn. radiation oncologist at the center of the controversy about the VA's Philly prostate cancer program has taken a leave from Penn's medical school. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062709-3.htm "The commitment to restoring the authentic monument is consistent with the best of American traditions - we do not discard our national treasures." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062709-2.htm Infected veteran tally - 12 with hepatitis B, 36 with hepatitis C and 7 with HIV. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062709-1.htm The VA contends that the large figure is misleading and that it is incorrect to refer to it as backlog. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062609-6.htm "We should not continue to recklessly use burn pits to dispose of hazardous waste across Iraq and Afghanistan." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062609-5.htm Soon after officials closed a poor-quality prostate cancer program, the entire facility was accredited by the Joint Commission. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062609-4.htm Provides information not included in published reports. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062609-3.htm "Take the Test, Take Control," is the theme of National HIV Testing Day, June 27, 2009. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062609-2.htm If the problem of incomplete exams is not corrected, veterans will continue to experience delays in receiving their disability benefits. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062609-1.htm "As a matter of fact, a lot of our patients are a lot more forthcoming, and we're not sure why, over the television set than they are in person." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062509-9.htm KBR denies any wrongdoing. Company said it found the chemical, restricted access and cleaned it up. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062509-8.htm Veteran didn't report change in income, and now must return benefits overpayment to VA. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062509-7.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062509-6.htm Legislation would enhance services for women veterans including those suffering from military sexual trauma. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062509-5.htm Rep. Harry Mitchell - "...Shoddy standards - systemic across the VA - put veterans at risk..." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062509-4.htm "True quality assurance has to be managed across the system and that means central office must exercise greater control." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062509-3.htm During his last days, most of us probably would have crossed the street to avoid him. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062509-2.htm 250 dollar VA Economic Recovery Payment checks begin to arrive. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062509-1.htm The bill would allow Congress to appropriate funds for VA health care programs one year in advance. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062409-5.htm The National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans has pie-in-the-sky goal that cannot be accomplished. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062409-4.htm "Welcome Home" from Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland will help vets from Iraq and Afghanistan navigate the VA system. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062409-3.htm Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs to hold field hearing in Philly on June 29. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062409-2.htm VAOIG finds VA's pharmacies in such disarray that they suspended inventory analysis because data was incomplete and therefore, not reliable. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062409-1.htm Veterans fight the unemployment odds with the help of free certifications through the CompTIA Educational Foundation. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062309-6.htm TBI damage, primarily toxic protein deposits and tangled brain fibers, cannot be detected through noninvasive procedures like MRIs and CT scans. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062309-5.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062309-4.htm But, is the sample big enough and is the term of the study long enough to get meaningful results. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062309-3.htm Oregon soldiers will find it easier to avoid repossessions, keep their jobs, stay in college, get a home loan and spend time with their families. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062309-2.htm New report offers little help to vet who says, "All the evidence I submitted, the VA threw out." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062309-1.htm The government was intent on developing a group of troops hardened by repeated exposure to radiation. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062209-5.htm But, what kind of living space can you get for just 625 dollars a month. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062209-4.htm Non-VA hospitals are double-checking their inspection procedures to avoid contaminated endoscopic equipment. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062209-3.htm "For Subway to take my businesses without ever notifying me was just wrong." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062209-2.htm VA will not say how widespread the contaminated equipment problem might be, leaving veterans in fear of infection. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062209-1.htm Radioactive seeds put in wrong organ, doctor changes records, no outside scrutiny and broken monitoring equipment. Report calls it a systemwide failure. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062109-1.htm The rate of Army soldiers enrolled in treatment programs for alcohol dependency or abuse has nearly doubled since 2003. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062009-3.htm It talks, cries, sweats, moves and even bleeds. It's iStan, a computer-operated human simulator. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062009-2.htm New CIO will require accountability on technology projects. But, can he really do it. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf062009-1.htm Federal prosecutors say vet faked paralysis to get disability benefits and avoid deploying to Iraq. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061909-6.htm Stole four phone and ran up over 10 thousand dollars in charges. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061909-5.htm Two veterans are not entitled to damages from a 2007 VA computer breach in Birmingham, an appeals court panel has ruled. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061909-4.htm In wake of contaminated equipment debacle, VAOIG praises VA's National Patient Safety Program. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061909-3.htm Facial recognition flagged his driver's record. Further investigation revealed he may have committed VA benefits fraud. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061909-2.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland investigates how one PTSD vet in treatment lost his CWP. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061909-1.htm A surprisingly large mercury spill at the Phoenix VA Hospital wasn't so large after all. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061809-4.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061809-3.htm Contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune can't definitively be linked to health problems among people who lived at the Marine base over three decades. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061809-2.htm CPI-W inflation was just 0.4 per cent in May, leaving disabled veterans projected with no COLA for 2010. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061809-1.htm Synthes Inc., was indicted for conducting an unapproved study of the use of bone-mending cement that led to the deaths of three patients. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061709-3.htm "The carbon foam-based composites in this research study will hopefully find that it acts as an advanced bone filler." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061709-2.htm VAOIG says, "We think there are systemic issues." Rep. Bob Filner adds, "There will be a public accounting of this situation." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061709-1.htm On contaminated equipment - The failure of medical facilities to comply on such a large scale with repeated alerts and directives suggests fundamental defects in organizational structure. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061609-7.htm Money from embezzling VA funds spent on shopping sprees. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061609-6.htm Patients with psoriasis are at increased risk for atherosclerosis and accompanying vascular diseases. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061609-5.htm Leaked VAOIG report states only 43 per cent of VA facilities had proper training and guidelines in place for endoscopic procedures. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061609-4.htm "I don't know if there is anything they could say that would make me happy, not after they did something like this." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061609-3.htm "If you're enrolled at Georgetown, or whatever, it's not really going to help." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061609-2.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061609-1.htm Suit alleges - Driving out older doctors, workers urged to collect dirt on co-workers, patient records confiscated, physician called a "terrorist" by boss. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061509-7.htm "Most of us just tried to sneak back into the life we had before. We didn't get any fanfare, and we didn't go around publicizing we were in the war." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061509-6.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland remembers six men forever united by the Brotherhood of the Marine Corps. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061509-5.htm Faults VA health management for arrogance, lack of knowledge, lack of understanding and lack of integrity. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061509-4.htm Expert says veterans could have had infections for years - "Probably all of the infections that are being reported are infections people already had." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061509-3.htm Suburban Chicago trash collector rescues flags and sees that they are disposed of with dignity. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061509-2.htm Priority Group 8 income threshold now raised by 10 per cent giving more non-disabled vets access to VA health care. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061509-1.htm Court documents say clerk used a computer at VA hospital to search for images of preteen pornography. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061309-3.htm Claim KBR burned human corpses, biohazards, Styrofoam, tires, lithium batteries, asbestos, paint, pesticides and latrine waste. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061309-2.htm Screening of veterans exposed to VA's contaminated equipment reveals more viral infections. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061309-1.htm "Disturbing reports are coming to light everyday about these burn pits and the toll they are taking on the health of many of our service men and women." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061209-5.htm Year-to-date, Army suicides are up a staggering 61 per cent over 2008. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061209-4.htm "Welcome Home" from Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland will help vets from Iraq and Afghanistan navigate the VA system. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061209-3.htm The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program has a position open for a Veterans Law Specialist. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061209-2.htm VAOIG finds that VA's mail pharmacies could be overpaying more than 40 million dollars for contract services. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061209-1.htm St. Petersburg Times says it is an insult to ask Navy veterans to prove now that their health problems are related to Agent Orange. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061109-5.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061109-4.htm Advance funding measure and seven other bills now go to full House for vote. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061109-3.htm "We are working to develop and test technologies that we hope will help patients with devastating illnesses that limit their ability to move or to speak." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061109-2.htm How to stay informed about VA's drug recalls and equipment safety issues. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061109-1.htm Two get 20 years in prison while a third person gets 25 years hard time. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061009-5.htm Why were the surgical instruments at the Kansas City VA coming out of sterilization with rusty-looking stains, gray film and residue. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061009-4.htm The 58-year-old woman collected 18 months' worth of veterans benefits sent to her dead aunt. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061009-3.htm "I'm having a hard time getting work. It's rough, but we're still making what bills we can." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061009-2.htm VA's lack of performance measures means it can't be held accountable for achieving the intended results of the CARES process. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf061009-1.htm At the heart of the matter for Navy vets seeking Agent Orange compensation from the VA is this question - Who is a Vietnam veteran. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf060909-7.htm Five current and former Guard soldiers filed suit against KBR, claiming they were knowingly exposed to hexavalent chromium in Iraq. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf060909-6.htm He bathes in a tub behind the shed, using cold water from a hose hooked up to a utility line on the property. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf060909-5.htm The charismatic drifter with a history of mental illness and petty crimes managed to fool many veterans in Colorado. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf060909-4.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf060909-3.htm Monterey County's Military and Veterans Services Office is being asked to shave off a sixth of its budget. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf060909-2.htm Although doctors never warned vet or family of toxic drug interactions, Court rules negligence not cause of death. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf060909-1.htm Want to learn more about vets with "soldier's heart," what is thought to be an early name for PTSD. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf060709-4.htm HIV infection increases the risk of atherosclerosis by the same amount that traditional risk factors such as diabetes or smoking do. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf060709-3.htm Rick Strandlof claims he cannot remember many events over the past three years due to schizophrenia and bipolar mental disorders. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf060709-2.htm Some common cardiac drug combinations could raise bleeding risks and the risk for perforation of the upper gastrointestinal tract. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf060709-1.htm Don't like recent VAOIG report. Call it "incomplete at best." Want GAO to investigate. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf060609-4.htm "...D-Day was a time and a place where the bravery and selflessness of a few was able to change the course of an entire century." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf060609-3.htm William Feeley, former COO of VA's VISN system, returns to run VA's Western New York Healthcare System. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf060609-2.htm Both Houses of Congress to hold hearings on VA's contaminated equipment. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf060609-1.htm "This is important when rapid vaccine development is needed for a newly emerging disease threat or possibly for a genetically engineered biological warfare pathogen." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf060509-6.htm Shotgun, rifle and two hand guns get man arrested. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf060509-5.htm "Any reasonable person would know that the worst place to train a psychologist would be in a combat environment." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf060509-4.htm Dr. Robert van Boven responds to the VA's preposterous press release. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf060509-3.htm New study shows veterans in college report higher rates of PTSD and sexual assault. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf060509-2.htm VAOIG report blasts VA-SPAWAR contracts for technology services as costs spiral out of control. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf060509-1.htm Says government and Ford Foundation should spend as much on U.S. veterans as they are in Vietnam. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf060409-5.htm Viral email makes astoundingly stupid claim that the VA is trying to take guns away from veterans. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf060409-4.htm VAOIG report indicates a tip-off - "Managers initiated new procedures to improve the process prior to the inspection." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf060409-3.htm Critics say the ban and the settlement preserving it unfairly discriminate against disabled people who prefer to move around on the upright Segways. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf060409-2.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfjun09/nf060409-1.htm Panel will question VA officials about mistakes that put patients at risk of possible exposure to HIV and other infectious body fluids. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf053009-5.htm VA officials are also trying to change the minds of 72 veterans who have been notified but have declined testing. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf053009-4.htm VA reports 48 vets with viral infections from possibly contaminated equipment. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf053009-3.htm Marine Corps veteran Ian Colin MacPherson always figured he must have been poisoned. But by whom. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf053009-2.htm VA's Information Technology capital investment programs are in shambles, but IT execs say they'll fix it. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf053009-1.htm "It's a travesty. The greatness of a nation will be judged by how it treats its veterans." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052909-6.htm "We knew nothing about radiation. We were on a destroyer with two scientists with meters. That's all. Nobody else knew anything." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052909-5.htm As many as 39,000 disabled military retirees have been left out of the VA Retro Pay program by mistake, say officials at DFAS. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052909-4.htm "Welcome Home" from Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland will help vets from Iraq and Afghanistan navigate the VA system. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052909-3.htm If nothing else, Dr. Robert Van Boven's journey with the VA proves that persistence pays off. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052909-2.htm VAOIG says VA's mail pharmacies cannot accurately account for their inventory or calculate an accurate shrinkage rate. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052909-1.htm Fort Campbell, KY holds three-day stand down to educate troops on suicide prevention. Video from ABC News. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052809-6.htm "What's the greater good. We want a veterans hospital and veterans medical care, not apartments." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052809-5.htm "Proliferating research has shown the prevalence of mental health problems among the veterans after their deployment." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052809-4.htm And, Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland offers advice to vets who may have been exposed to toxins from Iraq burn pits. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052809-3.htm Vets with medical marijuana prescription who test positive will not be removed from pain management programs. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052809-2.htm Will A. Gunn, former defense attorney for Guantanamo detainees, sworn in as General Counsel for the VA. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052809-1.htm "We found that carbohydrate restriction without energy restriction, or weight loss, does indeed result in tumor growth delay." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052709-5.htm Sign of the Times - "We didn't have the contributions coming in that we had hoped." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052709-4.htm VA researchers that the more you need to drink to feel the effects of alcohol, the greater your chance of becoming an alcoholic. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052709-3.htm The scans and autopsies are done in a facility that is both a pathology laboratory and a mortuary. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052709-2.htm "Welcome Home" from Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland will help vets from Iraq and Afghanistan navigate the VA system. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052709-1.htm "To the man who had given so much so that I could come and dress his wounds, God had given one last baseball game in sunset." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052609-6.htm "He was still a forgotten veteran. Our interest was to get him into Arlington National Cemetery with the military honors he deserves." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052609-5.htm But tucked in the back corner of the cabinet was a small box that had been overlooked for nearly two decades. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052609-4.htm "They've even taken the actual headstones, if they're made of bronze, off of the graves. Some people are that desperate for stealing things." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052609-3.htm "He served his country. He deserved a proper burial. Plus, he was a very nice man." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052609-2.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052609-1.htm More vets test positive for viral infections as VA buries statistics on contaminated equipment infections in maze of web pages. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052509-4.htm Thanks to Honor Flight, The Greatest Generation gets to see their memorial. Video from NBC News. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052509-3.htm She's paid her respects, bowed her head in prayer, shed more tears than she can begin to mention over those known, and those never met. She'll never get over the sorrow. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052509-2.htm "Welcome Home" from Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland will help vets from Iraq and Afghanistan navigate the VA system. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052509-1.htm California's state universities charge "fees" not "tuition," and that could cost vets plenty. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052409-3.htm Frank Buckles, 108, wants a national World War I memorial. Video from ABC News. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052409-2.htm "...Pray that one day our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines will know true peace somewhere short of the grave." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052409-1.htm "...What makes all we are and all we aspire to be possible are the sacrifices of an unbroken line of Americans that stretches back to our nation's founding." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052309-4.htm East Providence, RI starts Memorial Day early to make sure every veteran is honored. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052309-3.htm The VA will continue its annual tradition of hosting services at most of its national cemeteries and many other facilities nationwide. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052309-2.htm VA employees apparently delayed benefits to veterans to qualify for bonuses. Three U.S. Reps. demand accountability. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052309-1.htm A new feature where veterans' attorneys will keep VA Watchdog dot Org readers up-to-date on changes in veterans' law. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052209-6.htm Newspaper article seems to think so, but VAOIG report calls it "misunderstanding and confusion." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052209-5.htm "Welcome Home" from Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland will help vets from Iraq and Afghanistan navigate the VA system. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052209-4.htm "We just can't say, 'Oh well we tried our best.' It's shameful and it sounds like a bad movie plot." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052209-3.htm The Real Warriors Campaign is designed to combat the stigma keeping some service members, veterans and their families from seeking needed psychological health care. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052209-2.htm Vet denied benefits even though he has a letter from high-ranking VA official telling him he is a Vietnam veteran and has earned the benefits. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052209-1.htm The two are former VA employees and helped supply heroin to co-workers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052109-6.htm As assistant secretary, Duckworth will direct VA's public affairs programs and intergovernmental efforts. She also will oversee programs for homeless Veterans and consumer affairs. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052109-5.htm VA will now have annual audits that include documentation of waivers of informed consent. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052109-4.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052109-3.htm "He stood about three foot to the right of me and dropped his pants to his ankles. He kept telling me to look..." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052109-2.htm Bob Filner says VA is unresponsive to Gulf War vets' needs. At stake, presumption of disability for exposures during War. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052109-1.htm "They break the rules, they break our feelings. Everything goes down with the budget." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052009-6.htm Congressional staffers will evaluate whether a brain injury research program housed at the University of Texas should move to Waco. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052009-5.htm The executive branch will grow to more than 2 million civilian employees for the first time in 15 years. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052009-4.htm "Welcome Home" from Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland will help vets from Iraq and Afghanistan navigate the VA system. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052009-3.htm FBI is looking into vet's story to see if he illegally profited from his work with the Colorado Veterans Alliance. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052009-2.htm VA providers can "copy and paste" from a patient's previous notes. This cloning can cause clinical, ethical, financial and legal problems. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf052009-1.htm "A lot of lessons that I learned in the Army help me here. There is a lot that goes on that I have to do with a smile even if I really don't want to." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051909-5.htm Better treatments for acute renal failure may be possible by blocking the mitochondrial fragmentation that occurs when kidneys don't get enough blood or are exposed to toxins. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051909-4.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051909-3.htm Bikers will escort the cremains of three veterans to their final resting place at Arlington National Cemetery. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051909-2.htm VA is paying disability to more than twice the number of verifiable POWs from Vietnam and Gulf War. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051909-1.htm Even if a veteran has a medical marijuana prescription, they cannot bring it into a VA hospital. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051809-5.htm Gets 35 dollars an hour to open mail, make and receive phone calls, and pay bills which are, many times, in arrears. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051809-4.htm Gulf War vets report significantly higher rates of unexplained multi-symptom illness, chronic fatigue syndrome, PTSD and functional impairment. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051809-3.htm A form of meditation called mindfulness-based stress reduction helps patients deal with anxiety, chronic pain and other health issues. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051809-2.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland and Veterans' Attorney Douglas Rosinski offer "A Report of Two Experiences." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051809-1.htm Stress of multiple deployments and stigma surrounding seeking help top list of concerns. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051709-5.htm Offices to stay open through June 12 as state reworks budget, hoping to save service officers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051709-4.htm An official census of Agent Orange victims is part of a plan to provide the afflicted with improved services. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051709-3.htm "Lots of VAs are doing yoga. There are pockets of complimentary, alternative medicine present in the VA system." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051709-2.htm Although CPI has seen slight increase, disabled veterans still stand to get zero COLA in 2010. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051709-1.htm The United States VA will not prescribe, much less pay for, medical marijuana. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051609-5.htm "This is the wrong message to send to veterans. We're willing to work with cuts, but we can't work with zero." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051609-4.htm Infected veteran count up to 39 as VA says expanding blood tests to other locations would cause unnecessary patient "anxiety." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051609-3.htm "We have a lot of vets, they come to the shows, veterans of wars." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051609-2.htm Nearly one-third of all informed consent forms were noncompliant with most of those having no witness signature. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051609-1.htm Veteran drew VA and Social Security disability benefits but worked in tavern and as firefighter. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051509-6.htm Veterans are rushing to take advantage of the New GI Bill, raising the question of whether it will hurt retention. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051509-5.htm Nearly 10,000 people are likely to be homeless in Metro Orlando at some point this year, including a dramatically higher number of recently discharged veterans. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051509-4.htm Oregon Guard exposed to hexavalent chromium in Iraq could get some financial help. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051509-3.htm "What's going to happen is there's not going to be any veteran service officers out there working with veterans to file their claims." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051509-2.htm This is mental health military-style and there is only one aim. "Our goal is to get back to the fight and get on with business ... we deploy, we fight our nation's wars." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051509-1.htm Allegation of claims processing delays to receive monetary performance awards unfounded. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051409-8.htm Over 1,000 veterans who may have been exposed to disease during colonoscopy exams at the Miami VA have not had tests performed. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051409-7.htm Rep. Zach Wamp, Republican from Tennessee, doesn't want to give up control of VA funding. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051409-6.htm "I think that everybody kind of gave him the benefit of the doubt. Every veteran should feel betrayed." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051409-5.htm Unless enhancements and comprehensive changes are made, VA is likely to miss opportunities to improve performance at regional offices. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051409-4.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051409-3.htm Multiple charges, from public intoxication to interfering with an arresting officer, were recently dropped without prejudice. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051409-2.htm IAVA leader's remarks "were inappropriate and unbecoming" ... "He owes a sincere apology to our brethren." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051409-1.htm Pittsburgh VA apologizes to family for improperly releasing veteran from hospital. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051309-6.htm New findings show that chronic cigarette smoking is associated with poor recovery of brain blood flow during abstinence from long-term heavy drinking. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051309-5.htm Sgt. John Russell was charged with murder Tuesday. He was finishing his third tour in Iraq. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051309-4.htm There's a new nationwide VA initiative to unlock information in veterans electronic health records that has never before been available. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051309-3.htm Would give World War II Merchant Mariners 1,000 dollars a month. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051309-2.htm IAVA chief claims remark was about who fragged the most and not meant as disrespect. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051309-1.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051209-6.htm VA doctor prescribes aspirin that costs veteran co-pay, but is much cheaper at any drug store. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051209-5.htm Calls Vietnam veterans unprofessional and takes a swipe at all draftees. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051209-4.htm Soldier was on a third tour in Iraq and had been ordered into mental health treatment. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051209-3.htm Less than two months after arriving in Iraq for a third tour, he popped open some bottles of meds and committed suicide by overdose. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051209-2.htm Since the beginning of 2009, VA's backlog of veterans' benefits claims ballooned by 108,000 to stand at 916,000. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051209-1.htm Family who fought for private care for wounded son sees incredible strides. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051109-5.htm "I don't want anyone stealing money out of my retirement pay. It's unethical. It's unconscionable to do this. I want every cent due to me." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051109-4.htm New bill would deal with toxin exposures not covered by Agent Orange Equity Act of 2009. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051109-3.htm More than 70,000 veterans live in Alaska, and many are not signed up to receive military benefits. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051109-2.htm "The crisis is not going away." - "There is a combination of factors that are sending a big, yellow, blinking caution light." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051109-1.htm Federal prosecutors say Dr. William Weeks participated in five fixed-price contracts between the VA and Dartmouth College. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf051009-1.htm VA self-reports that it performs well and is accountable, then wins award for leadership in federal accountability. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050909-3.htm VA and DoD will share virtual record from the moment a person enlists to their entry into VA system. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050909-2.htm VA's chief patient safety officer says vets can't prove they were exposed to contaminated equipment or HIV virus. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050909-1.htm Rep. Bob Filner has introduced the Agent Orange Equity Act of 2009. But, it's not what he promised. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050809-4.htm Editorial from the Tennessean dot Com says a slap on the hand just won't do. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050809-3.htm The Army released suicide data for April, reporting one confirmed active-duty suicide and six potential suicides which are currently under investigation. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050809-2.htm VA's faulty projections and budget miscalculations could shortchange veterans once again. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050809-1.htm "Patients seen for military sexual trauma should not be billed for payment. We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050709-7.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050709-6.htm Sen. Chuck Schumer is urging President Obama to add the VA to list of other agencies that register voters. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050709-5.htm Because VA will not share veterans' information with states, millions miss out on extra benefits. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050709-4.htm "What they didn't know was there was a whole lot of stuff that would come up and bite them in the butt 40 years later." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050709-3.htm One bill would grant a monthly benefit of one thousand dollars to Merchant Mariners of World War II. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050709-2.htm For one veteran who traveled in and out of Vietnam, the battle for VA benefits continues. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050709-1.htm A proposed lottery scratch-off game designed to raise money for veterans assistance programs appears stalled in Texas Senate. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050609-4.htm VA says most problems were caused by invalid passwords, putting the blame back on the veteran. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050609-3.htm Bipartisan legislation would create equity for surviving spouses of veterans. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050609-2.htm VA whistleblower says he found ten boxes of old mail and a widow's claim from September of 2007. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050609-1.htm Wade Sanders, former Navy official, claimed PTSD led him to download hundreds of child pornography photos and videos. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050509-7.htm Veteran Paul Perez finally talked about his three tours in Vietnam and the war that eventually took his life. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050509-6.htm VA researcher finds sleep apnea increases the risk of several forms of heart and vascular disease. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050509-5.htm "Between the drugs and the alcohol and the nightmares, I just don't know. I don't remember doing any of the things they say I did." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050509-4.htm Veterans are now having difficulty attaching documents for filing with VONAPP electronic claim. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050509-3.htm VA says they already issued a memorial plaque for private family cemetery even though vet is not buried there. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050509-2.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050509-1.htm VA's VistA, open-source electronic health record software, is available to anyone who wants to use it. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050409-5.htm VA and FEMA are being sued to stop new hospital complex in New Orleans. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050409-4.htm President Obama's budget assumes no COLA for Social Security, and disabled veterans whose COLA is linked to Social Security, for two years. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050409-3.htm Former Pentagon official, Wade Sanders, says PTSD led to compulsive behavior regarding researching child pornography. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050409-2.htm Veterans who smoke can have a non-presumptive disability claim denied because of tobacco use. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050409-1.htm VA releases new figures on number of veterans with viral infections in wake of contaminated equipment debacle. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050209-4.htm Veteran who was told he had benefits for Vietnam service may have received bogus letter from VA. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050209-3.htm Joe Silva is alive and well, but the VA and other government agencies think otherwise. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050209-2.htm On the first day of the New GI Bill, VA's VONAPP system doesn't pass muster. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050209-1.htm Officials are encouraging anyone considering enrolling in the program to get educated about it first to ensure it's right for them. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050109-4.htm VA and DoD have made progress to jointly develop required policies but additional challenges remain. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050109-3.htm "Aspirin use for reasons other than medical indications is discouraged" because of risk of bleeding if injured or wounded. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050109-2.htm VA disregards its own letter verifying vet's Vietnam service. Defers decision on disability claim saying it needs "development." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmay09/nf050109-1.htm The new drug appears to cure far more people of Hepatitis C and does it in half the time of current therapies. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfapr09/nf043009-6.htm "I don't like the idea that a veteran gets a better deal than a person with a head injury or a mental health issue who didn't go into the military." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfapr09/nf043009-5.htm The government disavowed a federal report that found little or no cancer risk for adults who lived at Camp Lejeune where drinking water was contaminated for three decades. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfapr09/nf043009-4.htm This ... could worsen the challenges VA already faces when formulating its health care budget. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfapr09/nf043009-3.htm "It seems like, since they left the vets home, their health is deteriorating. It's depression, you know. They're not around people." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfapr09/nf043009-2.htm The 2009 edition of the Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents and Survivors is now available for free download at VA Watchdog dot Org. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfapr09/nf043009-1.htm California veterans will be eligible for up to zero dollars to cover their tuition under the new GI Bill. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfapr09/nf042909-5.htm A Swine Influenza advisory has been issued to all VA medical facilities nationwide. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfapr09/nf042909-4.htm Claim KBR jeopardized the health of soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan by burning vast quantities of unsorted waste in enormous burn pits. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfapr09/nf042909-3.htm VA researchers find a brain protein involved in fear behavior and anxiety may represent a new target for depression therapies. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfapr09/nf042909-2.htm "The spending blueprint lawmakers are expected to ratify this week ... clears the way for much-needed legislation to ensure sufficient, timely and predictable funding for veterans health care." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfapr09/nf042909-1.htm Fresno VA contracting officer and private contractor are sentenced for bribery. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfapr09/nf042809-7.htm Most of the veterans do not have mailing addresses, but they leave phone numbers of friends and relatives. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfapr09/nf042809-6.htm Photographer Tom Sanders - "I want to record as many faces and voices as I can before they all disappear." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfapr09/nf042809-5.htm "They didn't do anything about it until they were pushed and received violations from OSHA." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfapr09/nf042809-4.htm Former VA researchers are enraged their Legionella samples were destroyed. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfapr09/nf042809-3.htm Seeks creation of an in silico bio-computationally accurate model based on collection of multi-region, multi-scale neural activity in a non-human primate performing a complex dexterous task. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfapr09/nf042809-2.htm Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfapr09/nf042809-1.htm Could exposure to radiation be passed on as deformities. Yes, but how do the victims prove it. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfapr09/nf042709-5.htm "...It is quite unlikely that the problems will be limited to only VA facilities." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfapr09/nf042709-4.htm The VA is one of four agencies that make up the National Disaster Medical System. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfapr09/nf042709-3.htm They're welcomed back as heroes, but all too often the veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq are not welcomed back as employees. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfapr09/nf042709-2.htm VA researchers say vets who had prostate cancer surgery and took statins had a 30 percent lower risk of recurrence. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfapr09/nf042709-1.htm "What does one say about a person who steals disability benefits from a mentally ill Army veteran." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfapr09/nf042509-6.htm Air Force therapist says, "We are helping the patient deal with avoidance. Avoidance is the key to PTSD." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfapr09/nf042509-5.htm A police officer accused of using excessive force against an elderly veteran at the VA Medical Center in Durham has been fired. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfapr09/nf042509-4.htm "I pledge that the department has fixed the internal process that allowed this document to be released before it was ready." http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfapr09/nf042509-3.htm Though soldiers tend to be healthier than the general population, trauma of combat erases the advantage. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfapr09/nf042509-2.htm Contaminated equipment infection count rises as VA refuses to address magnitude of problem. http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfapr09/nf042509-1.htm