Tag: GI Bill

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Harlingen, Texas, Abbeville, Louisiana, Bismark, North Dakota, Poplar Bluff, Missouri, Amarillo, Texas, Green Bay, Wisconsin, Little River, North Carolina, Whittier, California, Ventura, California, and Palmer Lake, Colorado.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Gardner, Massachusetts, Rutgers, New Jersey, Baltimore, Maryland, Rolling Meadows, Illinois, Bend, Oregon, Kerrville, Texas, Corvallis, Oregon, Providence, Rhode Iskand, Austin, Minnesota, and Broomfield, Colorado.

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

VA is establishing new partnerships with five of the country’s finest nursing schools to strengthen its nurse corps. These new VA Nursing Academy partnerships will expand the number of collaborations between the department and nursing schools from 10 to 15. “The expanded role of VA in the education of nurses will ensure the department has the nurses needed to continue our world-class health care for Veterans,” said Dr. Linda D. Johnson, director of VA Nursing Academy.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Ocala, Florida, Springfield, Missouri, Montgomery, Alabama, Sierra Vista, Arizona, San Diego, California, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Pensacola, Florida, Albany, New York, Okaloosa, Florida, and Rothschild, Wisconsin.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Dickinson, Murphysboro, Illinois,, North Dakota, Las Cruces, New Mexico, La Salle, Illinois, Painesville, Ohio, Chicago, Illinois, Coatesville, Pennsylvania, and Evanston, Illinois.

Formerly homeless Veteran, Jeffery Anderson has stabilized home and family thanks to his new job at the Waco, Texas, VA Regional Office. In response to Secretary Shinseki’s charge to end homelessness among Veterans within five years, the Waco VA Regional Office began a Homeless Veterans Hiring Initiative.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Coos Bay, Oregon, Albuquerque, New Mexico, St. Paul, Minnesota, Roseburg, Oregon, Palm Beach, Florida, Washington, DC, and Madison, Wisconsin.

The VA Regional Office in Boise, Idaho, was recently recognized by an independent group for reducing its environmental impact. The U.S. Green Building Council recently awarded its “gold” rating for the construction design of the 25,000 square-foot facility. Three other VA facilities have been cited by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for their programs. The Reno Regional Office in Nevada received a LEED “silver” rating. The Fort Harrison Regional Office in Montana and the Oakland Mental Health Clinic in California each received a LEED-certified rating. LEED is a leading, independent rating system based on environmental assessments of buildings

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Gaylord, Michigan, Austin, Texas, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Williston, North Dakota, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Hartford, Connecticut, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Cleburne, Texas, and Mecklenburg, North Carolina.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Mountain Home, Arkansas, Wichita, Kansas, New London, Connecticut, Centralia, Washington, Contra Costa, California, Las Cruces, New Mexico, Tacoma, Washington, Snowmass, Colorado, and Rochester, Minnesota.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from South Bend, Indiana, Jacksonville, North Carolina, Lynn, Massachusetts, Billings, Montana, Norwich, Connecticut, Dartmouth, Massachusetts, Murphysboro, Illinois, Rapid City, South Dakota, Buffalo, New York, and Hilo, Hawaii.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from North Platte, Nebraska, Lafayette, Louisiana, Chicago, Illinois, Corpus Christie, Texas, Port Angeles, Washington, Boston, Massachusetts, Savannah, Georgia, Kirtland, New Mexico, Wilmington, North Carolina, and Berlin, Pennsylvania.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Hayward, Wisconsin, Fremont, Nebraska, Las Cruces, New Mexico, Lexington, Missouri, Canandaigua, New York, New Britain, Connecticut, Edmond, Oklahoma, St. Petersburg, Florida, Pendleton, South Carolina, and Portage, Wisconsin.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Bullhead City, Arizona, St. Cloud, Minnesota, Ft. Hood, Texas, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Sandusky, Ohio, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Cleveland, Ohio, and Hilo, Hawaii.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Farmington, New Mexico, LaSalle, Illinois, Sioux City, Iowa, Snowmass, Colorado, Salt Lake City, Utah, Kennewick, Washington, Canyonville, Oregon, Batavia, Ohio, and Augusta, Georgia.

VA Pittsburgh’s University Drive Division hosted a Post Deployment Health Reassessment (PDHRA) for more than 335 members of the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Pennsylvania Army National Guard earlier this year. Members of the National Guard, who returned from Iraq this past fall, received information about VA health care services and resources available to them through VA Pittsburgh and local veteran service organizations.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Snowmass Village, Colorado, Whittier, California, Pullman, Washington, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Haverhill, Massachusetts, Mankato, Minnesota, Frankfort, Kentucky, La Grange, Illinois, and Rockwood, Tennessee.

The last item in the Washington Times (3/24, Fales, 77K) "Sgt. Shaft" column offers thanks "to Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki for directing VA attention to Persian Gulf War veterans." After noting that a "special task force has nearly completed a comprehensive report that will redefine how VA addresses the pain and suffering of ill veterans who deployed during the Gulf War in 1990 and 1991," the Times quotes Gulf War vet John R. Gingrich, the task force's chairman, who said, "Reaching out to Gulf War veterans is not only essential to our transformation of VA; for many of us it is also personal."

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Regional stories today from: Tonawanda, New York, Hartford, Connecticut, Orangeburg, South Carolina, Temecula California, Palm Springs, California, Jensen Beach, Florida, Tampa, Florida, and Lansing, Michigan.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Greenwood, South Carolina, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Seattle, Washington, Chicago, Illinois, Atlantic Maryland, Portland, Maine, Tampa, Florida, Knoxville, Tennessee, and Redwood City, California.

VA Attempting To Make It Easier For Iraq, Afghan Vets To Obtain Disability Benefits. In a story published by at least 74 news sources, the AP (3/19, Hefling) reports, ―The Veterans Affairs Department took steps Thursday to make it easier‖ for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans ―to get disability benefits.

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

In a story published by at least 113 news sources, the AP (3/18) reports the Office of Inspector General, the "internal watchdog" for the Veterans Affairs Department, "says VA medical centers need to give compensation and pension medical exams to veterans sooner in order to expedite disability claims."

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Lakeport, California, Hampton Roads, Virginia, Lafayette, Louisiana, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, La Porte, Indiana, Wareham, Massachusetts, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Monroe, Louisiana, Omaha, Nebraska, and Branson, Missouri.

Find out What's Inside Today's Local News for Veterans VA NWIHCS To Host Women Veterans Focus Group. VA Sued For Violating Veteran's Free-Speech Right. ...

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from New Concord, Ohio, Los Angeles, California Farmington, New Mexico, Hartford, Connecticut, Burlington, Massachusetts, Walnut Creek, California, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Lincoln, Nebraska, and Elmira, New York.

The New York Times (3/16, A14, Schwartz, 1.09M) reports, "Many veterans...have returned from Afghanistan and Iraq burdened by post-traumatic stress, drug dependency and other problems.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Jacksonville, North Carolina, Green Bay, Wisconsin, Kirtland, New Mexico, Sioux City, Iowa, Riverside, California, Gainesville, Florida, Bristol, Rhode Island, and Melrose, Massachusetts.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Silver City, New Mexico, Green Bay, Wisconsin, Vacaville, California, Memphis, Tennessee, Amarillo, Texas, New Orleans, Louisiana, Columbus, Ohio, Whistler, British Columbia, Anderson, South Carolina, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

VA-purchased equipment is flying down the slopes and gliding across the ice at the 2010 Winter Paralympics Games in Vancouver this week. Five Veterans are competing in Vancouver and the adaptive sports equipment they will use to compete and for day-to-day mobility (wheelchairs and prosthetic limbs) were provided by VA Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service (PSAS). This is the first Paralympics Winter Games in which athletes will be competing with equipment provided by VA.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Mount Clemens, Michigan, Frazier Park, California, Selma, Alabama, Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, Augusta, Georgia, Farmington, New Mexico, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Knoxville, Tennessee, Chicago, Illinois, and Cedar City, Utah.

Veteran Homelessness Fell 18% Last Year. The online version of the Gloucester County (NJ) Times (3/13) hails "Good news out of the national Department of Veterans Affairs this week as the VA announced that the number of veterans out on the streets on a typical night dropped 18 percent. The VA is entering the second year of its initiative to eliminate homelessness among those who have served within the next five years.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Andalusia, Alabama, Orangeburg, South Carolina, Clute, Texas, Montpelier, Vermont, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jewett City, Connecticut, Atlanta, Georgia, Phoenix, Arizona, and Dallas, Texas.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Tahlequah, Oklahoma, Waukegan, Illinois, Nashville, Tennessee, Sarasota, Florida, Midlothian, Illinois, Bath, New York, Minneapolis, Minnesota, St George, Utah, and Fridley, Minnesota.

VA Planning To Expedite Agent Orange Claims Process. In continuing coverage, Government Technology (3/12, Wilkinson) reports, "In what's being touted as a major step to better serve Vietnam veterans," the US Department of Veterans Affairs "is planning to expedite the claims process for those with illnesses due to Agent Orange exposure."

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Passaic, New Jersey, Alexandria,Louisiana, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Oakland, Michigan, Shenandoah, Iowa, Los Angeles, California, Madison, Wisconsin, Humboldt, California, Cincinnati, Ohio, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

In continuing coverage, NextGov (3/11, Brewin) reports, "Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki told a House panel on Wednesday that he could cut $2 billion from the department's $15 billion annual procurement budget through management reforms, including the development of a centralized acquisition infrastructure.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Shawnee, Kansas, Denver, Colorado, West Palm Beach, Florida, Rochester, Minnesota, Madison, Wisconsin, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Annapolis, Maryland, Phoenix, Arizona, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Mesa, Arizona.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Pierre, South Dakota, Huntington, West Virginia, La Crosse, Wisconsin, Statesboro, Georgia, Clarksville, Tennessee, Daytona Beach, Florida, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Portland, Oregon, Naples, Florida, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

VA Education Call Center Again Operating Five Days a Week - The Department of Veterans Affairs today announced that the Education Call Center, closed on Thursdays and Fridays over the past two months, is again operating five days a week. (2/23/10)

VA is known for its commitment to innovative quality and safety programs and for the transparency of results they achieve. In 2008, VA issued its first comprehensive facility-level report of quality and safety data, reporting on care provided in inpatient and outpatient settings, quality of care within specific patient populations, and patient satisfaction and outcomes. Improved and re-issued in 2009, the report is a comprehensive snapshot of the quality of care VA provides.