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NOVEMBER 2009

REP. BUYER SEES PROBLEMS FOR VETS IN HEALTH CARE BILL (11-07-09)   Steve Buyer objects "to the bill that was unveiled today because it would limit veterans' ability to choose a health care provider."

SHINSEKI CALLS FORT HOOD SHOOTINGS "SENSELESS"
(11-07-09)  VA Secretary makes remarks during address at the University of South Florida.

SEN. COBURN STALLS VETERANS' CAREGIVERS BILL (11-06-09)   The bill's centerpiece is unprecedented support for family caregivers of severely wounded veterans, those injured since 9/11.

VA SEEKS SYSTEM TO TRACK AND ASSESS PTSD TREATMENT (11-05-09)   The software will run alongside VA's VistA computerized patient record system and extract data on veterans' PTSD care.

SHINSEKI: FIXING PROBLEMS AT MARION VA A "PERSONAL PRIORITY" (11-05-09)   Sen. Roland Burris: "What I learned from Marion was there were a lot of people who knew what was going on and were just afraid to speak out."

SHINSEKI UNVEILS PLAN TO END HOMELESS VET CRISIS (11-04-09)   "President Obama and I are personally committed to ending homelessness among Veterans within the next five years."

MANAGEMENT SHAKE-UP AT MARION VA HOSPITAL
(11-04-09)   Hospital director removed but will continue career with VA. Quality Management team arrives Thursday for further investigation.

VAOIG: PROBLEMS STILL RAMPANT AT MARION, ILL. VA HOSPITAL (11-03-09)   Report shows inconsistencies with reporting deaths and problems with patient safety, including surgeons performing procedures they weren't authorized to perform.

A LOOK BACK: U.S. MILITARY HUMAN EXPERIMENTATION (11-02-09)   Edgewood Arsenal Medical Volunteer Handbook and 1994 GAO report reveal the dark side of human experiments.

SENATE NOW HAS AGENT ORANGE EQUITY ACT, TOO
(11-02-09)   Sen. Gillibrand's S. 1939, identical to Rep. Filner's H.R. 2254, will resolve VA's discriminatory "boots on the ground" ruling.

VAOIG: VA HAS PROBLEMS TRACKING FLOW OF STIMULUS FUNDS (11-02-09)   VA needs to more closely follow Recovery Act reporting requirements related to the awarding and use of funds.

OCTOBER 2009

ACT OF DESPERATION: VA SEEKS OUTSIDE HELP TO FIX G.I. BILL PAYMENT MESS (10-29-09)   VA's inability to process G.I. Bill payments on time forces agency to find private contractor to bail them out.

DUCKWORTH APOLOGIZES FOR VA'S G.I. BILL PAYMENT SNAFU (10-28-09)   This, as reports indicate VA will be late with up to 14,000 G.I. Bill payments due November 1.

HAS A VA DOCTOR FOUND A CURE FOR CANCER? (10-27-09)   Motivated by his wife's death from cancer, the doctor made a promise to one of his teenage sons to slay the demon disease that ravaged their beautiful mother.

SHINSEKI, GATES HOST MENTAL HEALTH SUMMIT (10-27-09)   Striking down the stigma associated with the mental health risks of service in a combat zone is among the priorities of the joint VA-DoD conclave.

RESEARCH: DIABETES DRUGS NO HELP TO HEART (10-26-09)   Commonly-prescribed drugs for Type 2 diabetes offer no cardiac benefit and may put heart at greater risk.

ATLANTA VA "CONFIDENT" ITEMS TAKEN AT STAND DOWN NOW RETURNED (10-23-09)   VA spokesperson says employees have returned merchandise meant for distribution to homeless veterans.

PRESIDENT OBAMA SIGNS VA'S ADVANCE FUNDING BILL (10-23-09)   Obama: "It ensures that veterans' health care will no longer be held hostage to the annual budget battles in Washington."

SHINSEKI ADDS 4 JUDGES TO BOARD OF VETERANS APPEALS (10-22-09)   VA Secretary Shinseki: "This expansion of BVA will enable Veterans to receive more expeditious decisions on their appeals."

OBAMA PRESENTS PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION TO VIETNAM VETS (10-21-09)   Citation awarded for extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry to 86 members of the Army's Troop A, First Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment.

VA OUTREACH AIMED AT NEW G.I. BILL VETERANS (10-20-09)   VA Secretary Shinseki: "We're reaching out to Veterans so they can get the money they need to stay in school."

PTSD VETS TWICE AS LIKELY TO DIE WITHIN A YEAR OF SURGERY (10-20-09)   "The magnitude of the detrimental effect of PTSD diagnosis on postoperative mortality is unexpectedly large -- greater than that of diabetes."

BUYER DEFENDS SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION WHICH HASN'T HELPED ONE STUDENT (10-20-09)   "No good deed goes unpunished ... you see the need ... you want to do good, you want to help people, but all of a sudden I'm getting smacked around for it."

VA EMPLOYEES STEAL FROM HOMELESS VETERANS (10-19-09)   Internal email says employees took merchandise specifically donated to help homeless veterans at Stand Down held by Atlanta VA. "For every item stolen, there is a veteran somewhere whose day-to-day life is now a little more difficult."

NO COLA IN 2010 MEANS MANY WILL HAVE TO SCRIMP (10-17-09)   The money isn't the biggest issue, some say. It's the message the government is sending about caring.

VA OFFERS NEW GRAVESITE LOCATOR FOR MOBILE DEVICES (10-17-09)   "It will simplify and enhance the experience of many who visit our national cemeteries."

THE VA: TEAR IT DOWN BRICK BY BRICK -- PART 11 (10-16-09)   Kurt Priessman concludes his series with, "What do We do with the Jobs, People and Property?"

TURNAROUND: SUDDENLY THE VA LOVES ITS VistA SOFTWARE (10-16-09)   VA's CIO is calling VistA "the best in the world" and seeking to offer it to the rest of the government and the private health care industry.

IT'S OFFICIAL: NO VA, SS COLA IN 2010 (10-16-09)   President Obama supports a one-time $250 payment, but not all politicians think that is appropriate.

OBAMA ENDORSES $250 PAYMENTS TO DISABLED VETS, SENIORS (10-15-09)   Figures coming out soon indicate no COLA for 2010, so one-time payment would help those hardest hit by recession.

SHINSEKI GIVES "STATE OF THE VA" ADDRESS TO HOUSE PANEL (10-15-09)   "Our mission is to serve veterans by increasing their access to VA benefits and services, to provide them the highest quality of health care available, and to control costs to the best of our ability."

SENATE APPROVES ADVANCE FUNDING FOR VA BUDGET (10-15-09)   Legislation is now on the way to President Obama for his signature.

THE VA: TEAR IT DOWN BRICK BY BRICK -- PART 10 (10-14-09)   Kurt Priessman offers solutions with, "Restore Accountability and Rights to Due Process."

VA CONFIRMS NEW AGENT ORANGE PRESUMPTIVE DISEASES -- NOW WHAT? (10-14-09)   Approval of ischemic heart disease expected to clog VA's already backlogged disability benefits system.

REPORT: VA TO ADD AGENT ORANGE PRESUMPTIVE DISEASES (10-13-09)   VA will add Parkinson's, ischemic heart disease and hairy-cell leukemia to list of diseases presumed to be caused by Agent Orange exposure.

WHAT VA DOCTORS TALK ABOUT WHEN THEY TALK TO EACH OTHER (10-13-09)   Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland "eavesdrops" on a VA physicians' bulletin board.

THE VA: TEAR IT DOWN BRICK BY BRICK -- PART 9 (10-12-09)   Before offering solutions for a reborn VA, Kurt Priessman explains "The Final Straw."

THUMBS UP OR DOWN: HOW DOES YOUR VA HOSPITAL RATE?
(10-12-09)   While the VA doesn't provide true side-by-side hospital ratings, VAOIG offers valuable insights into the workings of your VA hospital.

HOUSE PASSES ADVANCE FUNDING FOR VA BUDGET (10-09-09)   Veterans' Service Organizations praise legislation that will put an end to late VA budgets.

SENATORS HEAR OF TROOPS' TOXIC EXPOSURES
(10-09-09)   From Camp Lejeune to Atsugi, from burn pits to sodium dichromate, Senate Vets' Committee hears about "witch's brew of toxic chemicals."

VA'S EMERGENCY CHECK TOTAL NOW PAST $105 MILLION (10-08-09)   VA has issued 36,161 emergency checks to veterans whose New G.I. Bill benefits were delayed.

VA TO OFFER H1N1 FLU VACCINE TO VETERANS
(10-08-09)   VA expects to administer 3 million doses of H1N1 flu vaccine to veterans and VA staff.

NATIONAL ARCHIVES DATA BREACH COULD IMPACT MILLIONS OF VETERANS (10-06-09)   "This is the single largest release of personally identifiable information by the government ever. We leaked 70 million records, and no one has heard a word of it."

SOME VETS HAVING TROUBLE CASHING VA'S EMERGENCY CHECKS (10-05-09)   VA is asking all banks to honor the checks and has provided a toll-free number for verification.

JIM STRICKLAND'S "A to Z GUIDE OF VETERANS DISABILITY COMPENSATION BENEFITS" (10-05-09)   Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland launches the most authoritative and easy-to-use guide to a successful VA claim.

VA DEFENDS ENDING GULF WAR RESEARCH AT U. OF TEXAS (10-05-09)   "We stand by our decision not to exercise the third-year option with University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center."

VETS GET $50 MILLION IN VA EMERGENCY FUNDS (10-04-09)   Over 16,000 veterans signed up for VA emergency funds to help pay the bills until G.I. Bill payments arrive.

VA HAS NO BUDGET FOR THE 20th TIME IN 23 YEARS (10-02-09)   Agency is now operating on a continuing resolution which will lead to rationing of care.

VA PRESS RELEASE DISTORTS PHARMACY SATISFACTION DATA
(10-02-09)   VA shuffles "customer satisfaction" data to paint a picture that isn't so.

THE VA: TEAR IT DOWN BRICK BY BRICK -- PART 8 (10-02-09)   The latest commentary from Kurt Priessman is titled, "The Hub and Spokes."

NEW G.I. BILL VETS CAN SIGN-UP FOR EMERGENCY CHECKS ONLINE (10-01-09)   But, they should consider delays involved in issuing and mailing the checks.

VAOIG FINDS MAJOR WEAKNESSES AT TWO VA REGIONAL OFFICES
(10-01-09)   Nashville, TN and Wilmington, DE fall short of standards in many critical areas.

VAOIG: VA'S INFO TECH PUTS $3.4 BILLION AT RISK
(10-01-09)   OI&T management control deficiencies increased the risks that IT investments could experience cost and schedule overruns, which could ultimately lead to other costly, unproductive, or failed programs and projects.

VAOIG: 6 MORE VA CLINICS FAIL TO MEET STANDARDS
(10-01-09)   Community-Based Outpatient Clinics found lacking in 14 vital areas.

VAOIG CLOSES DOOR ON VA'S DOCUMENT SHREDDING SCANDAL
(10-01-09)   Although report finds fault with Regional Office mailrooms, says controls are in place to prevent shredding of important claims documents.

VA SOLVES PROBLEM, BANS RELEASE OF REPORTS (10-01-09)   Reports like the one that found glaring problems at the VA's Philly nursing home will no longer be released to the public.

SEPTEMBER 2009

THE VA: TEAR IT DOWN BRICK BY BRICK -- PART 7 (09-30-09)   Kurt Priessman's latest commentary is titled, "When the Wheel is Broken."

VAOIG REPORT BLASTS VA FOR MISPLACED, LOST CLAIMS FOLDERS (09-29-09)   VAOIG estimates that claims folders for 296,00 vets were misplaced and 141,000 folders were lost, a total of 10 percent of all folders.

OF CORPORATIONS, BASALT BOULDERS, AND OUR VETERANS (09-28-09)   Commentary by Gordon P. Erspamer: "Does anyone really believe the VA when it says that veterans don't need lawyers because the system is 'nonadversarial?'"

VA TO CUT EMERGENCY CHECKS FOR G.I. BILL RECIPIENTS (09-26-09)   Secretary Shinseki: "Students should be focusing on their studies, not worrying about financial difficulties."

UPDATE: ATOMIC VETERAN'S WIDOW WINS CLAIM -- CASE CLOSED (09-25-09)   "Until there is change in the very ethos of this giant, dysfunctional machine, veterans will continue to fight them in every way possible."

NEW G.I. BILL PAYMENTS LAG AS VA JUGGLES NUMBERS (09-25-09)   VA issues confusing numbers on G.I. Bill payments as veterans worry about how they will pay the rent.

THE VA: TEAR IT DOWN BRICK BY BRICK -- PART 6 (09-25-09)   Kurt Priessman continues his commentary series with, "Looking for Solutions to the Delays and Denials."

VAOIG: INEFFICIENT VA CAUSES DELAYS IN VETS' BENEFITS (09-24-09)   "These delayed benefit payments have the potential to adversely affect the economic status and quality of life for veterans who are eligible for benefits."

VAOIG DETAILS PROBLEMS AT MORE VA CLINICS
(09-24-09)   Report finds problems in 17 key areas at seven VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinics.

FILNER SAYS VA / DoD TURF WARS HURTING VETERAN CARE (09-23-09)   House Vets' Committee Chair on incompatible electronic medical records: "They've talked about it for years and still haven't figured it out."

VAOIG: VA'S SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM ON TRACK
(09-23-09)   IG evaluated 24 VA facilities and found they generally met program requirements.

THE VA: TEAR IT DOWN BRICK BY BRICK -- PART 5 (09-23-09)   Kurt Priessman's latest commentary asks, "Why is Planning the Brick That's Missing?"

VA SECRETARY DETAILS AGENCY'S STIMULUS SPENDING (09-22-09)   VA's Shinseki cites progress in funds distribution, but there has been a glitch.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DISABILITY COMPENSATION TO MEET (09-21-09)   Open meeting to review VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities is in Washington, DC on September 21 and 22.

REPORT: VA'S PHILLY NURSING HOME ENDANGERED PATIENTS (09-19-09)   An inspection turned up conditions placing veterans at imminent risk of harm, including one patient whose leg had to be amputated after maggots were seen falling from his foot.

VAOIG: 3 REPORTS FIND FAULT WITH VA HEALTH CARE (09-19-09)   Unreported abnormal chest X-ray, technician suturing a patient, and failure to diagnose a stroke among problems.

VAOIG: FOLLOW-UP REPORT ON VA'S CONTAMINATED EQUIPMENT (09-18-09)   Among the 129 facilities inspected in August, all 129 were compliant with respect to SOPs.

THE VA: TEAR IT DOWN BRICK BY BRICK -- PART 4 (09-18-09)   Kurt Priessman's latest commentary is titled, "Planning? Planning? We Don’t Need No Stinking Planning!"

VA DREW BLOOD FOR RESEARCH, VETERANS NOT INFORMED
(09-18-09)   Researchers at Philly VA drew blood samples from veterans for a research project without their knowledge or consent, resulting in "serious noncompliance" with federal law and regulations.

VAOIG: NEW VA SOFTWARE EFFORT MAKING SAME OLD MISTAKES (09-17-09)   VA's new FLITE software is mired in the same mistakes made by developers of CoreFLS, the infamous third of a billion dollar boondoggle.

DISABLED VETS STILL FACING ZERO PERCENT COLA FOR 2010
(09-17-09)   Social Security recipients and veterans who receive VA disability compensation can expect no increase in monthly benefits.

THE ATOMIC VETERAN'S WIDOW AND HER CLAIM (09-17-09)   Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland examines a VA claim decision you just won't believe.

LETTER FROM VA SAYS EMPLOYEES REMOVED EVIDENCE FROM CLAIM FILE (09-16-09)   Profanity-laced letter from VA's Montgomery Regional Office tells widow that VA employees deliberately removed medical records from her late husband's file. Now, VAOIG is investigating widow.

THE VA: TEAR IT DOWN BRICK BY BRICK -- PART 3 (09-16-09)   The latest article from Kurt Priessman asks, "How did the VA Stray so Far from Its Mission and Structure?"

NEW STUDY: IRAQ VETERAN PTSD RATE AS HIGH AS 35% (09-15-09)   The authors write, the VA system, which is already experiencing significant delays for PTSD treatment, urgently needs to ramp up its mental health resource capacity.

DAV KICKS OFF "VIRTUAL MARCH" ON WASHINGTON (09-15-09)   One of the goals is to discuss the VA's outdated and overwhelmed disability claims process and the resulting backlog of nearly 1 million claims.

IS VA'S SUICIDE PREVENTION EMAIL ANTI-GUN? (09-14-09)   Email sent to VA's Central Texas users raises concerns about anti-gun message. Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland explains.

STUDY: VA CARE COSTS 33% MORE THAN PRIVATE SECTOR CARE (09-14-09)   Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland looks at study by Dr. William Weeks of the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice.

VA SEEKS EMPLOYEE INPUT ON ENDING CLAIMS BACKLOG (09-11-09)   "These employees who grapple with the claims process every day have the first hand knowledge and experience necessary to help us understand inefficiencies and improve the system."

THE VA: TEAR IT DOWN BRICK BY BRICK -- PART 2 (09-11-09)   The second installment of Kurt Priessman's series asks the question: "Is it a Vision Gone Blind?"

COURT THROWS OUT VA'S "EXTRAORDINARY AWARDS" REVIEWS
(09-11-09)   Federal Court says VA's reviews of large dollar awards "is not in accordance with 'law, rule, or regulation,' and is invalid."

COURT: STATE CAN SEIZE VA BENEFITS TO PAY FOR CARE (09-10-09)   Upheld VA regulations allowing a state hospital to receive a portion of the benefits of a veteran whom the agency has classified as mentally incompetent.

COURT: VA CAN PRESUME COMPETENCE OF ITS MEDICAL EXPERTS
(09-10-09)   Unless veteran can prove VA expert is not qualified, then Court presumes competence under "presumption of regularity" doctrine.

THE VA: TEAR IT DOWN BRICK BY BRICK -- PART 1 (09-09-09)   Kurt Priessman begins his thought-provoking series with, "What Gives Us Pause to Consider?"

PTSD: VIETNAM'S LEGACY AFTER FOUR DECADES (09-08-09)   "I figured these guys were doing it to collect a disability check. It took two to three years before I started realizing what I was doing was crazy."

ISRAELIS CLAIM "BRAIN PROFILING" TOOL PREDICTS PTSD (09-04-09)   The tool will permit clinicians to diagnose and treat soldiers immediately, before the stressors of combat lead to chronic psychological problems.

VA SAYS SOME HOUSING CHECKS IN THE MAIL (09-03-09)   VA claims most September housing checks for the New G.I. Bill have been sent out.

TRICARE A WINNER AS PFIZER SETTLES LARGEST FRAUD CASE (09-03-09)   But, TRICARE didn't always win. We look back as former VA Secretary Anthony J. Principi, now Pfizer's chief lobbyist, pulled the billion dollar boondoggle.

VAOIG: VA BOTCHES STIMULUS GRANTS FOR STATE VETERANS' HOMES (09-02-09)   Program's insufficient and inadequately trained staff jeopardizes state grants by delaying the distribution of stimulus funds.

VA'S EDUCATION CLAIMS BACKLOG JUMPS 20,000 IN ONE WEEK (09-02-09)   VA losing ground as claims for New G.I. Bill benefits keep mounting.

VA ADDS ONLINE CHAT TO SUICIDE PREVENTION OUTREACH (09-01-09)   Pilot program is an online, one-to-one chat service for Veterans who prefer reaching out for assistance using the Internet.

AUGUST 2009
 

VETERANS' BENEFITS CLAIMS KEEP PILING UP AT VA (08-31-09)   Claims backlog continues to grow with latest figures showing a 17.3% increase since the first of the year.

VA NOW SAYS 600 VETS GOT BOGUS ALS DIAGNOSIS LETTER (08-28-09)   Since acknowledging the mistake, the VA has increased its estimate on the number of veterans who received the letters in error.

VA IS WEEKS BEHIND DELIVERING NEW G.I. BILL PAYMENTS (08-28-09)   After five years in the Army and four days into his second year at the U. of Iowa, Drew Mangler is unsure how he will pay his rent.

VA TO PAY VETERANS FOR ALS TESTING (08-27-09)   CNN reports that VA will reimburse vets who got bogus ALS diagnosis letter for private tests, if performed.

VAOIG: VA SPENDS $70MIL FOR SOFTWARE, GETS NOTHING (08-27-09)   IG finds that VA's planning and oversight of the patient scheduling project was lacking and/or ineffective.

VA CANCELS GULF WAR RESEARCH CONTRACT
(08-27-09)   VA blames University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, but the U. says this is VA's unilateral decision.

VAOIG: MORE VA CLINICS FAIL TO MEET STANDARDS
(08-27-09)   Six outpatient clinics in CA and NV found deficient in 14 important areas.

FOX ACCUSED OF EDITING VA DIRECTIVE TO CHANGE MEANING (08-26-09)   Media Matters reveals the parts of the end-of-life directive you didn't see on the Fox News screen.

VA FINALLY RESPONDS TO BOGUS ALS DIAGNOSIS LETTER
(08-25-09)   VA offers "sincere apologies for the distress caused by this unfortunate and regrettable error."

VA MUM ON BOGUS ALS DIAGNOSIS LETTER SENT TO VETS (08-25-09)   At least 1,200 vets got a letter from VA telling them they have ALS, when they don't.

WILL VA PROPOSAL REALLY SIMPLIFY PTSD COMPENSATION? (08-25-09)   Two attorneys who practice veterans' law say VA's proposed rule change is not what it appears to be.

FOX NEWS TRIPS DUCKWORTH ON VA'S END-OF-LIFE GUIDE (08-24-09)   Confusion reigns as VA's Tammy Duckworth flubs interview over "Your Life, Your Choices" end-of-life guide. (with videos)

VAOIG FINDS MAJOR FLAWS IN VA'S OUTPATIENT CLINICS (08-21-09)   Community Based Outpatient Clinics in nation's heartland need to improve in 16 critical areas.

REP. STEVE BUYER'S PLAN GOES AWRY WITH VA INFO TECH SCANDAL (08-21-09)   Buyer's push for centralized info tech at VA led to "strong" CIO, Robert Howard, who let employees give away the store.

VA'S INFO TECH SCANDAL CAUSES MEDIA TIDAL WAVE (08-21-09)   Millions in bonuses, nepotism, inappropriate relationship and stench of corruption captures mainstream media attention.

VAOIG NAMES VA'S FORMER INFO TECH CHIEF IN SCANDAL (08-20-09)   Subordinate of Robert Howard benefited from inappropriate relationship. Howard at center of two reports detailing nepotism, abuse of authority, misuse of position and more.

VA'S END-OF-LIFE GUIDE BOOK DRAWS FIRE (08-20-09)   Critics say guide presents end-of-life choices in a way aimed at steering users toward predetermined conclusions.

VETERANS COLA FOR 2010 STILL TRACKING AT ZERO PERCENT (08-19-09)   CPI-W goes negative in July leaving expectation of no COLA for 2010.

OBAMA PROMISES IT ALL TO VETERANS AT VFW CONVENTION (08-18-09)   Protected health care - concurrent receipt - advance funding - reduce homelessness - cut red tape in claims process - and, there's more.

VA SEC. SHINSEKI: "WE'RE WORKING AS FAST AS WE CAN" (08-18-09)   VA Secretary Eric Shinseki also says VA benefits won't change under health care reform.

VA SEEKS EMPLOYEE INPUT ON IMPROVING AGENCY (08-17-09)   VA Transformation Task Force looks for "Big Idea" and will survey 26,000 employees to identify needed changes.

CBO REPORT: HARD TO MEASURE QUALITY OF VA HEALTH CARE (08-15-09)   While the VA can use its data to show its own improvement over the years, comparisons of the agency's performance with non-VA providers "are problematic" and "need to be interpreted with caution."

BUYER: HEALTH REFORM BILL DOESN'T PASS "REALITY CHECK" (08-14-09)   Could classify certain veterans enrolled in VA as not meeting "acceptable" health coverage standards, exposing them to punitive new taxes.

VA NOT LIKELY TO PROCESS NEW G.I. BILL BENEFITS ON TIME (08-14-09)   Congressional source: The situation is "not pretty, and it's going to get uglier."

COURT RULES FOR VETERAN IN VA BENEFITS "DUE PROCESS" CASE (08-14-09)   "We conclude that such entitlement to benefits is a property interest protected by the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution."

APPEALS COURT URGES MEDIATION OR SETTLEMENT IN VA LAWSUIT (08-13-09)   Judge: "Congress and the administration should resolve the problem, but if they don't, you're left unfortunately with the court to do it."

U.S., VIETNAM AGENT ORANGE COMMITTEE TO MEET (08-13-09)   Committee has representatives from the U.S. Departments of State, Defense and HHS, as well as EPA and CDC.

VA CONTINUES FUNDING FOR LIMB-LOSS RESEARCH (08-12-09)   Focus is on tissue engineering, orthopaedics, neurotechnology, prosthetics design, and rehabilitation -- all in a bid to create "biohybrid" limbs made of both biological and man-made materials.

AGENT ORANGE DANGERS KNOWN AS EARLY AS 1965 (08-11-09)   Dow Chemical employee: "This material is exceptionally toxic; it has a tremendous potential for producing chloracne and systemic injury."

APPEALS COURT TO HEAR LANDMARK LAWSUIT AGAINST VA
(08-11-09)   "We are here today to demand justice, to see that the judicial system and executive branch are held accountable for VA's failure to properly and promptly treat our sick veterans."

INVESTIGATION: SPOKANE VETERAN SUICIDES MUCH HIGHER THAN REPORTED (08-10-09)   "The methods and sources routinely being utilized by the medical center to identify veterans who have committed suicide may be inadequate."

UNIV. EXPECTING A 10-WEEK DELAY IN G.I. BILL PAYMENTS (08-10-09)   VA asks for "flexibility and forbearance" as veterans wonder how they are going to pay their bills.

BUYER: NATIONAL HEALTH BILL COULD STILL HARM VETS (08-07-09)   "Contrary to statements by ... the White House, all of the concerns about legislative language in the bill that could harm veterans' health care have not been addressed."

SHINSEKI WANTS TO "TEACH RESILIENCE" TO PTSD (08-06-09)   VA Secretary Eric Shinseki indicates that troops can be taught not to get PTSD.

FILNER LEGISLATION WOULD LET VA BILL MEDICARE (08-06-09)   Rep. Bob Filner: "H.R. 3365 is an important bill that would allow elderly veterans to access both VA health care and their Medicare benefits."

OBAMA TO LEGION: NO CHANGES AT VA (08-05-09)   President assures Legion Commander that National Healthcare Program will not endanger VA care.

FORMER VA EXEC LANDS TOP JOB AT HUMANA VETS' CARE (08-05-09)   Tim S. McClain, former VA General Counsel, uses D.C.'s revolving door to replace another former VA exec as chief of Humana Veterans Healthcare.

VA'S OUTPATIENT FEE PROGRAM LACKS CONTROLS
(08-04-09)   VAOIG found a 37% error rate in payments while 80% of payments were not properly justified, costing VA hundreds of millions.

OBAMA WELCOMES NEW G.I. BILL
(08-04-09)   "We do this not just to meet our moral obligation to those who've sacrificed greatly on our behalf and on behalf of the country. We do it because these men and women must now be prepared to lead our nation..."

VAOIG FAULTS VA'S ELECTRONIC CONTRACT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (08-03-09)   Finds VA cannot achieve the expected benefits of eCMS because system is not used effectively and procurement information is incomplete.

THE DISENCHANTED PATRIOT
(08-03-09)   Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland: "Your VA only wants you to believe the colorful propaganda produced by the Public Affairs Department."

VETERANS' ORGS CONCERNED ABOUT OBAMA-CARE (08-03-09)   Fear veterans could face limited health care choices, see increased costs and lose dependent benefits.

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