Veterans Report - Week of September 29, 2014

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Veterans Report - Week of September 29, 2014

American Legion to Conduct Outreach in D.C.
The American Legion-sponsored town hall meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Sept. 29 in the Freedom Auditorium of the Washington DC VA Medical Center on 50 Irving St. NW, Washington, D.C. The meeting is open to the public and veterans are encouraged to attend. The American Legion will also conduct a Veterans Outreach Center (VOC) from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 at the VA medical center on Irving St. in Conference Room 4-C. Hours of operation for the center are noon to 8 p.m. on Sept. 30 and 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. Oct. 1-2. Services provided will include assistance with scheduling VA medical appointments, filing benefits claims and help with enrollment into VA health care.
For more veterans benefits info and updates, visit the (http://militaryadvantage.military.com) Military Advantage blog.


IG Now Says Waitlist Led to Vets Deaths
In a stunning reversal, the Department of Veterans Affairs' acting inspector general now says that long wait times at VA health care facilities in Phoenix did contribute to a number of veterans' deaths. Acting Inspector General Richard Griffin made the statement Sept. 17 in a hearing before the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Testimonies from and an archived webcast of the hearing are available on the (http://veterans.house.gov/hearing/sched ... nal-report) House Committee on Veterans Affairs website. An additional oral statement by Inspector General Griffin is available on the Department of Veterans' Affairs (http://www.va.gov/oig/pubs/statements/V ... riffin.pdf) Office of Inspector General website. The OIG's final report, 'Review of Alleged Patient Deaths, Patient Wait Times, and Scheduling Practices at the Phoenix VA Health Care System' is available (http://www.va.gov/oig/pubs/VAOIG-14-02603-267.pdf) online. A statement by Rep. Jeff Miller, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs is available (http://veterans.house.gov/press-release ... phoenix-va) online.


VA Albany, Ga. Clinic Moves
The final move of VA health care services from the VA clinic previously located in downtown Albany, Ga. to Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany. VA community-based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) primary care and ancillary services (audiology, podiatry and optometry) are now co-located within Naval Branch Health Clinic Albany's 22,179-square-foot building at MCLB Albany. Additional VA specialty care services, including mental health, are provided at Bldg. 7200, which is adjacent to NBHC Albany. To make appointments, eligible veterans can call 800-595-5229, ext. 2711. Care is provided on an appointment basis only, with same-day appointments available for urgent care. The VA's CBOC hours of operation are Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. To 4:30 p.m. Due to security requirements for base access, veterans without military identification cards should contact the MCLB Pass and ID Office at 229-639-5100.
For more veterans benefits info and updates, visit the (http://militaryadvantage.military.com) Military Advantage blog.


Hispanic Heritage Month
Since 1968, when President Lyndon B. Johnson was in office, America has observed National Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 to celebrate the contributions and culture of citizens of Latin American descent. Servicemembers are encouraged to join celebrations at bases and installations and to reach out to Hispanics to learn about their stories. For more information, visit the National Hispanic Heritage Month website at (http://hispanicheritagemonth.gov/) hispanicheritagemonth.gov, the Hispanic Heritage Month website at (http://www.hispanicheritagemonth.org/) www.hispanicheritagemonth.org, the Hispanic Heritage in the U.S. Army webpage at (http://www.army.mil/hispanicamericans/e ... about.html) www.army.mil/hispanicamericans/english/about/about.html, and the Department of Defense National Hispanic Heritage Month 2014 webpage at (http://www.defense.gov/home/features/20 ... -heritage/) www.defense.gov/home/features/2014/0914 ... c-heritage.


House Passes Veteran Bills
The U.S. House of Representatives passed four veterans related bills: (1) (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d113:h.r.3593:) H.R 3593 would direct the inclusion of an outside entity to assist in the management of VA's major facility construction efforts; (2) (http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.uscongress/legislation.113hr5404) H.R. 5404 would extend a number of expiring current authorities and critical programs at both VA and the Department of Labor; (3) (http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.uscongress/legislation.113hr4276) H.R. 4276 would require VA to provide reports to Congress on the pilot program for assisted living services for veterans with traumatic brain injury; and (4) (http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.uscongress/legislation.113s2258) S. 2258 would authorize a cost-of-living adjustment for disabled veterans receiving disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs. S. 2258 will be sent to the president to be signed into law.
For more veterans benefits info and updates, visit the (http://militaryadvantage.military.com) Military Advantage blog.


Citizen Honor Program
The Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation sponsors the Citizen Honor Program. To be considered for this rare civilian honor, nominees must have made a difference in the lives of others through a singular act of extraordinary heroism, or through their continued commitment to putting others first. For Americans, this is an opportunity to nominate fellow citizens, neighbors and co-workers -- the heroes all around you. Three remarkable citizens will be chosen to receive the Citizen Honors on March 25, 2015 in conjunction with National Medal of Honor Day. Nominations for the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation's Citizen Honors are accepted beginning Oct. 1. To nominate someone or learn more about the program, visit the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation website at (http://www.cmohfoundation.org/citizen-honors) www.cmohfoundation.org/citizen-honors.


VA Develops Mobile App for TBI
To better meet the needs of Veterans and others who have suffered mild to moderate concussion associated with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), the Department of Veterans Affairs has developed "Concussion Coach," a mobile application that is designed to educate users about concussions, related symptoms, treatments and to enable users to recognize and assess symptoms. It also provides access to crisis resources. Concussion Coach is available for mobile Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, and IPod Touch) from the App Store and will be available to Google Play for Android devices later in 2014. For more information, visit VA's Polytrauma/TBI System of Care website at (http://www.polytrauma.va.gov) www.polytrauma.va.gov.
For more news on military apps, visit the (http://www.military.com/topics/best-apps) Military.com App page.


2014 Tax Break, No PMI, $0 Down VA Loan
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Two VA Scientists Honored
In the past, spinal cord injuries often meant a death sentence for patients. But thanks to the work of two Veterans Affairs scientists and researchers at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), many paralyzed Veterans now have a reason for hope. VA researchers William A. Bauman, M.D., and Ann M. Spungen, Ph.D were recently awarded the Samuel J. Heyman Science and Environment Medal, which is awarded to federal employees who have made a significant contribution to the nation. Spungen most recently tested a new bionic walking assistance system that enables individuals with paralysis to stand, walk, and climb stairs. The research by the two physicians is relevant not only to people with spinal cord injury, but to a larger population who are immobilized, from those with ALS to cancers, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, dementia or Parkinson's disease.
For more veterans benefits info and updates, visit the (http://militaryadvantage.military.com) Military Advantage blog.


Veterans, Bring Your Talents to Prudential
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Senator Supports Full MilPay Raise
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) introduced an amendment to the Senate version of the defense authorization bill to support a (http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2 ... n-pay-cap/) 1.8 percent pay raise for those in uniform. In late August the President exercised his executive authority to notify Congress of an alternative pay adjustment affecting active duty military pay. The President is able to exercise this option if he considers the adjustment necessary due to national emergency or economic concerns. (http://www.military.com/benefits/milita ... harts.html) See the proposed 2015 pay charts.
(http://www.moaa.org/MRPayRaiseChampion/) Get the full story at Military Officers Association of America.


VA Caregiver Program Excludes Many
The unprecedented package of caregiver benefits includes training to help to ensure patient safety; cash stipends to partially compensate for caregiver time and effort; caregiver health coverage if they have none, and guaranteed periods of respite to protect against burn out. However, most family members who are primary caregivers to severely ill and injured veterans are excluded.
(http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2 ... expansion/) Read the entire 'Military Update' story on the Military Advantage.


Yoga May Help Vets with PTSD
A new study has found that yoga may help soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. The new study is the first of its kind to provide scientific support for the benefits of yoga's breathing techniques for PTSD patients in a randomized and controlled (though small) long-term study which monitored effects of yoga over the course of the year. The study focused on the effects of sudarshan kriya yoga, a practice of (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3573542/) breathing-based meditation which has a balancing effect on the autonomic nervous system. An abstract of the report is available on the (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1 ... 6/abstract) Journal of Traumatic Stress website.
For more mental health guides and tips, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits/vetera ... d-wellness) Military.com Mental Health and Wellness section.


DoD Recognizes POWs/MIAs
Nearly 1,500 Airmen are still missing and unaccounted-for from various conflicts and there are more than 83,000 Americans still unaccounted-for across the Department of Defense (DoD). Every year, the nation pauses on the third Friday of September to Commemorate National POW/MIA Recognition Day. This year the observance was Sept. 19. Many organizations reach out to the military services' respective casualty affairs offices for help locating family members of those still unaccounted-for from past conflicts. Personnel Center's Missing Persons Branch, within the Airman and Family Care Directorate. For more information on attempts to find POWs/MIAs, visit the (http://www.pow-miafamilies.org/) National League of POW/MIA Families website, the (http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/) Defense Prisoner of War-Missing Personnel Office website, the (http://lcweb2.loc.gov/pow/powhome.html) Library of Congress Vietnam-Era POW/MIA Database, and the (http://www.afpc.af.mil/library/airforcepowmias.asp) Air Force Personnel Center's Missing Person's Branch webpage.
For videos relating to prisoners of war, visit the (http://www.military.com/video/specialti ... rs-of-war/) Military.com Video section.


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Proposed Pay Increase for VA Docs
The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced it will publish a notification in the Federal Register which increases the maximum rates of annual pay for in-coming Veterans Health Administration (VHA) physicians and dentists as part of VA Secretary Robert McDonald's nation-wide recruitment initiative to hire more clinicians and expand Veterans' access to care. The updated pay tables propose an increase in pay of $20,000 to $35,000 annually for physicians and dentists who are providing care for Veterans. There will be no change to the pay tables for physicians who serve in leadership roles. Information on VA's current recruitment initiative is available on the VA website at (http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2616) www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2616.
For more veterans benefits info and updates, visit the (http://militaryadvantage.military.com) Military Advantage blog.


VA Lays Groundwork for Private Health Care
The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to outsource issuance and administration of the "Veteran's Choice Card," which will allow veterans to seek health care from private providers outside the Veterans Health Administration network of 950-plus hospitals and clinics. A third-party administrator will manage the creation and distribution of the Veteran's Choice Card, which vets can use to obtain services from private sector clinicians and hospitals. The card will contain the veteran's name, an identifying number that is not a Social Security number, and VA provider contact information. Veterans who live more than 40 miles from a VA health facility will be allowed to seek private care.
For more veterans benefits info and updates, visit the (http://militaryadvantage.military.com) Military Advantage blog.


AF Makes Part of Oath Option
The Air Force has instructed force support offices across the service to allow both enlisted members and officers to omit the words "So help me God" from enlistment and officer appointment oaths if an Airman chooses. The Air Force will be updating the instructions in the coming weeks, but the policy change is effective now. A legal opinion by Department of Defense General Counsel made the change possible.
(http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014 ... ional.html) Read the full article on Military.com.