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Archive for October, 2009
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009
The multi-billion dollar American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) was an economic stimulus package enacted by Congress, and signed into law by President Barack Obama, last February.
As you may know, the $787 billion Recovery Act included federal tax cuts, the expansion of unemployment benefits and other provisions benefiting social welfare, education and the energy sector. What you might not be aware of is that the Act also included an earmark of $1,408,200,000 for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
According to the VA’s website, the funds provided by the Act will benefit veterans via the following:
- Improvement of medical facilities and national cemeteries
- Grants to assist states in acquiring/constructing State nursing homes
- Remodeling, modifying, altering existing facilities that furnish care to veterans
- Hiring and training temporary claims processors
- Pursuing needed IT systems initiatives
- Disbursing one-time payments of $250 to eligible veterans
- Overseeing and auditing programs, grants, projects funded by the Act
To see a breakdown of the $1.4 billion earmarked for the VA, go to the VA’s website.
Tags: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Department of Veterans Affairs
Posted in Veterans' Benefits | No Comments »
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009
Top administrators from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense joined yesterday to host an unprecedented summit on mental health issues in the military.
VA Secretary Eric Shinseki and Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, spoke individually and invited mental health experts from their departments, Congress, cabinet members and non-government organizations to participate in the event. The goal of the summit is to discuss mental health initiatives for military members, veterans and their families.
A report will be released following the summit which will summarize policies, programs and practices that will benefit the target audience.
The VA operates the largest mental health program in the country.
If you are a veteran and suffering from PTSD and fighting the VA to get disability compensation, contact the veteran rights law firm of LaVan and Neidenberg.
Top administrators from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense joined yesterday to host an unprecedented summit on mental health issues in the military.
VA Secretary Eric Shinseki and Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, spoke individually and invited mental health experts from their departments, Congress, cabinet members and non-government organizations to participate in the event. The goal of the summit is to discuss mental health initiatives for military members, veterans and their families.
A report will be released following the summit which will summarize policies, programs and practices that will benefit the target audience.
The VA operates the largest mental health program in the country.
If you are a veteran and suffering from PTSD and fighting the VA to get disability compensation, contact the veteran rights law firm of LaVan and Neidenberg.
Tags: Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs
Posted in VA News | 1 Comment »
Monday, October 26th, 2009
Minnesota veterans will benefit from a state administrator’s bad decision to purchase 25 deluxe flat-screen TVs for state sex offender facilities. The governor of the state, Tim Pawlenty was outraged when he learned of the big purchase and decided to take swift action.
Governor Pawlenty has ordered the TVs to be removed from the sex offender centers and 13 of 50-inch TVs will be installed in five state-run veterans homes. The deputy commissioner of Veterans Affairs expressed gratitude for the reassigned TVs and noted that the state’s veterans agency had been working to upgrade the homes. Veterans currently use the TVs for activities like “Movie Days” and for rehabilitative purposes using Nintendo Wii systems.
The flat-screen TVs cost state taxpayers $1,576 per television plus $706 for each TV’s mounting bracket. The remainder of the sets will likely be sold off, according to Governor Pawlenty.
Tags: minnesota veterans, veterans affairs
Posted in General | No Comments »
Monday, October 26th, 2009
The first Jewish memorial in a veterans cemetery was dedicated yesterday at the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Michigan. Members of the Jewish community gathered to pay their respects to the Jewish war veterans honored by the memorial.
The Daily Tribune reports that veterans such as Hans Weinmann, 83, attended the ceremony and recalled time served as an Army radio engineer in World War II. Other attendees, such as, Jewish War Veterans Michigan department Commander, Jerry Order, discussed the contributions that Jewish servicemen and women have made to the country.
The memorial reads, “Lest We Forget. Dedicated by the Department of Michigan Jewish War Veterans and Ladies Auxiliary.”
Learn more about the Jewish War Veterans organization.
Tags: Jewish servicemen, Jewish war veterans, Jewish War Veterans Michigan, veterans cemetery
Posted in General | No Comments »
Monday, October 26th, 2009
A program originally designed to aid Pentagon employees is now helping disabled veterans reenter the workforce. The Computer Electronic Accommodation Program (CAP) benefits veterans with hearing and visual impairments. The program provides vets with specialized computers, software and electronics which help make them more marketable to employers, according to the Washington Post.
The director of the program, Dinah Cohen, realized it could be of benefit to veterans after visiting injured soldiers in hospitals. In 2008, approximately 4,600 veterans received training and equipment through the program.
Those interested in receiving assistance through CAP should contact a VA medical center. If approved for the program, the medical center will incorporate the training into your rehabilitation schedule.
Learn more about CAP and its founder, Dinah Cohen.
Tags: CAP benefits, Computer Electronic Accommodation Program, Disabled Veterans, injured soldiers
Posted in Disabled Veterans | 1 Comment »
Monday, October 26th, 2009
The Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs announced last week that four new judges will be added to an appeals court that issues decisions on veterans’ claims for disability compensation and pension. Eric Shinseki said that, “This expansion of BVA will enable Veterans to receive more expeditious decisions on their appeals.”
The Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA) hears cases that are appealed after a Veterans Affairs Regional Office issues an unfavorable decision to the veteran requesting disability compensation. In fiscal year 2009, the 60 BVA judges that issue decisions reviewed 48,804 cases. The addition of four new judges will help to speed the lengthy process that many veterans must go through in order to receive benefits that are supposed to be guaranteed to them for their service to our country.
Addressing the backlog of veterans disability cases, Shinseki said, “We must foster a responsive approach when we consider Veterans,” Shinseki said. “Reducing the backlog of benefits decisions and waiting times are essential to providing our Veterans and their families with the service they deserve.”
If you’re disabled vet and need assistance with your VA disability claim, contact the disability rights law firm of LaVan and Neidenberg.
Tags: board of veterans' appeals, BVA, veterans affairs, veterans disability cases
Posted in Veterans' Disability | No Comments »
Monday, October 26th, 2009
The Presidential Memorial Certificate (PMC) is an engraved paper certificate, signed by the current President, to honor the memory of a deceased veteran. The PMC program was initiated by President John F. Kennedy and is administered through the Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA prepares the certificates which bear the President’s signature “expressing the country’s grateful recognition of the Veteran’s service in the United States Armed Forces.”
You are eligible to receive the certificate if you are the next of kin or a loved one of the deceased veteran. More than one certificate can be requested by an eligible recipient, or someone acting on their behalf.
To request a PMC, you can apply:
- In person at a VA regional office
- Via U.S. Mail
- By toll-free fax
Complete VA Form 40-0247 and then submit it for processing along with copies of the veteran’s discharge papers and death certificate. Allow up to eight weeks for processing.
Tags: deceased veteran, Preidential Memorial Certificate, United States Armed Forces, veterans
Posted in Veterans' Benefits | No Comments »
Friday, October 23rd, 2009
The mayor of Austin, Texas, is concerned about recent protests at a downtown veterans memorial and is exploring options to redirect such protests in the future.
Mayor Tom Stiehm, a former Marine who served from 1970-1973, is struggling with the issue which arose when members of the National Socialist Movement (a neo-Nazi group) and a counter group clashed at a protest this past weekend. The neo-nazis had reserved the veterans memorial area for its protest. Arrests were made during the protest and chemical spray was used at various times for crowd control.
Stiehm has reportedly contacted the policy chief, city attorney, and city council to determine what course of action can be taken to deter such protests from the memorial in the future.
In an online poll, readers were asked if neo-nazi groups should be allowed to state events at public veterans memorials. The majority of voters said, “Yes. That’s one of the freedoms our veterans fought to preserve.”
What do you think?
Tags: Marine, veterans memorial
Posted in General | No Comments »
Friday, October 23rd, 2009
The game of golf is providing disabled veterans at Walter Reed Army Medical Center with a helpful distraction from their debilitating injuries. The program, coordinated by Disabled Sports USA, the National Amputee Golf Association and the military has been successful in helping injured veterans take a break from the monotony of rehabilitation and teaches them how to overcome physical obstacles.
According to an article by the Associated Press, veterans are hitting the links at the Woodmont Country Club, near Walter Reed. Most have lost at least one limb and some are trying their hand at the game of golf for the first time in their life. Specially adapted golf carts and accessories help to make the game enjoyable and competitive.
Similar sports programs are available across the country and disabled veterans can participate in sports such as kayaking, sailing, scuba diving, rock climbing, and horse riding.
If you are a veteran who has been injured while serving in the U.S. military, please contact the Florida veterans disability rights law firm of LaVan & Neidenberg.
Tags: LaVan & Neidenberg, veterans, veterans disability rights law firm, Walter Reed
Posted in Disabled Veterans | No Comments »
Friday, October 23rd, 2009
A researcher at the Institute for Creative Technologies at the University of Southern California has developed a virtual healing center for veterans. The “Coming Home” center can be found in Second Life, a site that people can log onto and create characters (otherwise known as “avatars”) that can be manipulated through a virtual environment.
Jacquelyn Ford Marie, a former animator for Disney, created Coming Home which she hopes veterans will visit to interact and seek assistance from stress reduction experts. The online center features a lodge with a fireplace, a game room, and a deck next to a waterfall. Visitors can also climb a tower and meet a “historical warrior” character that shares life experiences.
The project has been financed by the Army and National Science Foundation. Pilot studies on the online healing center will be conducted next year through an Army hospital.
Have you visited Coming Home on Second Life? If so, let us know what you think and please share your experience in our forum, Your Voice.
Tags: Coming Home, Second Life, veterans
Posted in Veterans' Resources | No Comments »
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