Tag: GI Bill

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from

Do you demand to understand what you sign; or do you take the salespersons’ word for what’s on the page of “small print”? If you just roll your eyes and sign, you’re not alone. Check out the short public service videos produced by the Center for Plain Language to remind you why you need to stand up for yourself and demand to understand what you sign. The Center for Plain Language has been working to fix brain-numbing language by supporting laws that will make Plain Language the law of the land, and by training writers who want to be understood.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from White River Junction, Vermont, Coos Bay, Oregon, Columbus, Ohio, Edmonds, Washington, Wichita Falls, Texas, Columbia, Missouri, El Paso, Texas, Newton, Iowa, Marco Island, Florida, and Washington, DC.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from New London, Connecticut, Grand Island, Nebraska, Topeka, Kansas, Escambria, Alabama, Lakewood, Washington, Swannanoa, North Carolina, Washington, DC, Cleveland, Ohio, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, and Alamogordo, New Mexico.

This week, we salute VA research achievements through the decades. Research Week 2010 recognizes the tremendous accomplishments of VA researchers, and salutes the Veterans whose willingness to participate in VA studies make medical advances possible. But this year’s celebration is unique as it hails the distinguished accomplishments of the past, as well—starting with the program’s inception in 1925.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Macon, Georgia, Fort Riley, Kansas, Dickinson, North Dakota, Vero Beach, Florida, Tacoma, Washington, Jefferson City, Missouri, Ovid, New York, Palo Alto, California, Cedar Falls, Iowa, Mount Clemens, Michigan.

New Disability Benefits Could Soon Be Available to Vietnam Vets Parkersburg, WV - April 24, 2010 -- According to attorney Jan Dils, Vietnam veterans who have developed diseases such as Parkinson’s Disease, B cell leukemia and ischemic heart disease should have an easier time obtaining disability benefits under a recently proposed change in veterans benefits. In March, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs published a proposed rule change that will add these three illnesses to the list of health problems presumed to be caused by exposure to Agent Orange and other herbicides.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Sarasota, Florida, Montpelier, Vermont, East St Louis, Illinois, Richmond, Virginia, Pahrump, Nevada, Oregon City, Oregon, Clarksville, Tennessee, Sedalia, Missouri, and Nogales, Arizona.

VA's Plan for Open Government Government should be transparent, allow for citizen participation, and encourage collaboration among organizations. And that's what VA aims to accomplish through our new Open Government Plan. At our site, you can read the just-released plan and learn more about the process. Get started!

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Oroville, Callifornia, Westport, Connecticut, Manila, Philippines, Montpelier, Vermont, Livermore, California, Jacksonville, Florida, Davenport, Iowa, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, San Francisco, California, and Selma, Oregon.

During National Volunteer Week, VA salutes Joyce Brown, the Voluntary Service Chief from the South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS) in San Antonio, Texas, who is the latest winner of the Award for Excellence given by VA Voluntary Service’s National Advisory Committee. Brown and her staff pursued numerous community outreach avenues to obtain programs and donations improve Veteran’s quality of life under VA care.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Wentzville, Missouri, Watertown, Connecticut, Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania, Fort Richardson, Alaska, Columbus, Georgia, Houma, Louisiana, French Camp, California, Beaufort South Carolina, Dayton, Ohio, and Ft. Wayne, Indiana.

VA salutes June Valdivia during National Volunteer Week. She is the recipient of the Female Volunteer of the Year Award, given by VA Voluntary Service’s National Advisory Committee. Valdivia, who will be 89 years old in June, serves as the American Gold Star Mothers representative at the VA Medical Center of the Miami VA Healthcare System. Her first job at the hospital was filing, but she soon gravitated to the nursing home unit where she was a dedicated volunteer for years.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Kalama, Washington, Silver Bay, Minnesota, Madison, Wisconsin, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Cincinnati, Ohio, Kinston, North Carolina, Clovis, New Mexico, Destin, Florida, Greenville, South Carolina, and Dayton, Ohio.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Manitowoc, Wisconsin, Seneca, Illinois, Ottumwa, Iowa, Millsboro, Delaware, Louisville, Kentucky, Tallahasse, Florida, Portland, Oregon, Laurinburg, North Carolina, and Greenfield, Indiana.

During National Volunteer Week, VA salutes Marwah Ahmed, 17, of Montgomery Village, Md., the 2009 recipient of the James H. Parke Memorial Scholarship for her volunteer work at the Washington, D.C. VA Medical Center. Ahmed, a high school senior, has been volunteering at the VAMC since she was 13. She has served in a variety of departments, including the lab, research and the director’s office.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Lakeville, Minnesota, Melbourne, Florida, Grand Island, Nebraska, Pleasantville, New Jersey, Montgomery, Texas, New Bedford, Massachusetts, and Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

U.S. Spent $5.6 Billion Last Year Treating Veterans with Mental Disabilities Washington, DC - Caring for soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental illnesses is costing the federal government billions of dollars a year, and will continue to do so for years to come. According to an analysis of Department of Veterans Affairs’ records by the Chicago Tribune, the VA spent $5.6 billion last year to treat mental disabilities. While these costs included treating veterans from previous wars, such as Vietnam and the Persian Gulf, the ballooning expenses have been driven largely by soldiers serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Morgantown, West Virginia, Ballston Spa, New York, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, New Bedford, Massachusetts, Souh Bend, Indiana, Gadsden, Alabama, Wesley Chapel, Florida, Lexington, Kentucky, Seattle, Washington, Knoxville,Tennessee, and Newton, North Carolina.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Columbia, Missouri, Fort Jackson, South Carolina, Muscatine, Iowa, Temple, Texas, Watertown, New York, Seattle, Washington, Burnsville, Minnesota, Columbus, Georgia, Troy, New York, and Newnan, Georgia.

From The VA VA Nutrition and Food Services across the nation celebrated National Nutrition Month (NNM) throughout March. VA dieticians took the opportunity to...

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Lebanon, Oregon, Ramona, California, Hingham, Massachusetts, Portales, New Mexico, Marshalltown, Iowa, Manatee, Florida, Horseheads, New York, Danville, California, and Moses Lake, Washington.

While the head of the nation’s largest organization for combat veterans is pleased that Congress stepped in to assure Tricare beneficiaries that the new health care reform law will not penalize them for having military group health coverage, he says lawmakers need to do the same for veterans. On Monday, Congress gave final approval to the Tricare Assurance Act, which officially exempts Tricare beneficiaries from a health care reform requirement to purchase private health care insurance or face a $750 annual penalty.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Paramus Park, New Jersey, Jacksonville, Florida, Lafayette, Louisiana, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Randolph, New Jersey, Dedham, Massachusetts, Richmond, Virginia, San Jose, California, and Montgomery, Alabama.

VA's Medical Foster Home program finds a caregiver in the community who is willing to provide a Veteran with 24-hour supervision and personal assistance. Read about the program in the Wall Street Journal

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Jefferson City, Missouri, Monroe, New Jersey, Fallon, Nevada, Anchorage, Alaska, Land O' Lakes, Florida, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Lincoln, Nebraska, Opelika, Alabama, Beaufort, South Carolina, and San Antonio, Texas.

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. If you’re a Veteran trying to quit, VA wants you to know that there are resources available to help. Learn more from The American Veteran.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Texarkana, Texas, Plymouth, Massachusetts, Spokane, Washington, Benicia, California, Jefferson City, Missouri, Los Angeles, California, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Bristol, Connecticut, Batavia, New York, and Pendleton, South Carolina.

The Department of Defense is the agency responsible for the four branches of military service in this country. Those branches - The Navy, the Marine Corps, Army and the Air Force - are honored by this every citizen in this country on May 16th, the national holiday known as Armed Forces Day. Honoring those who serve was established during President Harry S. Truman's administration. He was the primary motivator to establish a single day to pay our respects to those who perform such a patriotic service for this country. Once compiled under the Department of Defense, the four branches as the Armed Forces received national recognition.

Survivors of the Buchenwald concentration camp have been joined by U.S. veterans and German dignitaries at a ceremony marking the 65th anniversary of its liberation. The U.S. Army freed Buchenwald on April 11, 1945. Some 56,000 people died at the Nazi camp, including Jews, communists, Gypsies and others from across central Europe.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Harlingen, Texas, Oceanside, California, Norton, Massachusetts, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Grants Pass, Oregon, Nashville, Tennessee, Vineland, New Jersey, Swartz Creek, Michigan, and Stockton, California.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Parsippany, New Jersey, Salem, Oregon, Lafayette, Louisiana, Bellingham, Washington, Santa Cruz, California, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Jacksonville, Illinois, Glens Falls, New York, Bernardsville, New Jersey, and South Weber, Utah.

The men were saying goodbye once again to those who did not come home from Vietnam. Inside the stainless steel-lined coffin-shaped vault were flowers, letters, photos, jewelry and other mementos left at the base of the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall during its 10-day stay earlier this month at Rose Hills.

Our Armed Forces veterans make quite a few sacrifices, both on the battlefield and throughout their time served, both home and abroad. Some give their lives in the service of the United States. Others come home from battle with injuries. For many, these injuries include permanent disabilities that make it difficult for them to be employed as civilians.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Redondo Beach, California, Clarksville, Tennessee, Schaumburg, Illinois, St. Louis, Missouri, Washington, DC, Whittier, California, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Salt Lake City, Utah, Charlotte, North Carolina, Bay City, Michigan, and Dallas, Texas.

South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS) in San Antonio, Texas, is among six organizations recognized by The Quality Texas Foundation for Achievement in Organizational Excellence for effective and systematic approaches to organizational management. South Texas is in good company with Raytheon and Baylor Medical Center among those recognized by the Foundation. The Quality Texas Foundation is a non-profit corporation focused on quality assessment and feedback, education, training, and recognition to help businesses, schools, hospitals, non-profits, and government agencies improve performance.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Hernando, Mississippi, Oroville, California, Rochester, Minnesota, Green Bay, Wisconsin, Lompoc, California, Ottawa, Illinois, Harrington, Delaware, Santa Cruz, California, St George, Utah, and Bath, New York.

The U.S. Navy Veterans Association, a group that claims to raise money for vets and their families, has been ordered to stop fundraising in New Mexico. The office of state Attorney General Gary King determined two of the officers of the state chapter are listed at fictitious addresses, the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times reported.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Springfield, Illinois, Natchez, Mississippi, Plant City, Florida, North Platte, Nebraska, Seattle, Washington, Yountville, California, Royal Oak, Michigan, Grand Island, Nebraska, New Bedford, Massachusetts, and Hillsboro, Oregon.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Marshalltown, Iowa, Norristown, Pennsylvania, Victoria, Texas, Manchester, Missouri, Roanoke, Virginia, Clearlake, California, Bangor, Maine, Superior, Wisconsin, Jackson, Michigan, and Austin, Texas.

Did you know that April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month? About one in five women and one in a hundred men seen in VA medical facilities report that they experienced Military Sexual Trauma (MST); that is, sexual assault or repeated, threatening sexual harassment that occurred during military service. MST can affect veterans' physical and mental health many years after the event.

* From the VA * VA's spending obligations under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 have surpassed $1.1 billion, a tribute...