This Topic will be mostly cut and pastes of news items from the VA. This will eliminate multiple topics that are not read by the veterans on this Forum.
The first is a release from Monday November 24, 2003:

VA Seeks Volunteers To Inventory Its Cemetery Memorials
WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is seeking volunteers to research and photograph monuments in its 120 national cemeteries and 33 soldiers’ lots.
“We have a large number of cemetery memorials, large and small, remaining to be inventoried,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi. “The efforts of dedicated volunteers will assist VA in maintaining all national cemeteries as national shrines.”
When VA’s memorials inventory project began in May 2002, it was estimated that 300 memorials would be found in national cemeteries and soldiers’ lots. To date, nearly 800 memorials have been identified with help from over 220 volunteers. Approximately 300 memorials in 20 states remain to be documented and VA will continue to recruit volunteers for the project until all are documented.
VA provides volunteers with project instructions, survey questionnaires and film. Volunteers take measurements and photographs, record inscriptions, make notes on a monument’s condition and conduct historical research. The project has attracted a wide range of people, including students, teachers, scout groups, active and retired military members, scholars, history professionals and enthusiasts. The information obtained from the project will be made available to the public through the Smithsonian Institute’s art inventory database.
VA is now in the largest expansion of the national cemetery system since the Civil War. Three national cemeteries have opened since 2000, and five more national cemeteries are now being built.
For additional information about the project or to volunteer, please contact historian Darlene Richardson at (202) 565-5426 or email nca.memorials@mail.va.gov.

I will cast no stones!

Dave Barker

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DaveBarker,

DaveBarker

PTSD Forum Moderator

Registered: Tuesday, 12 November 2002
Posts: 673
VA Announces 2004 Insurance Dividends
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Sorry all you purists, this is another cut and paste. Sometimes you need the facts. With so many times, incorrect data has been distributed on this subject, I thought I would give a heads up!
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)has announced its distribution of more than $517 million in dividends to 1.5 million active policyholders of veterans' life insurance.
Over the next year, veterans will receive payments on the anniversary date of their policies, with the specific dividend amount varying according to age, type of insurance, and length of time the policy has been in force.
Veterans will automatically receive their annual dividend through one of the
nine payment options available to them.
Dividends cover only veterans with government life insurance policies who served between 1917 and 1956. Veterans who were discharged after 1956 are covered by VA term insurance programs that do not pay dividends.
The dividends represent a return of trust fund earnings on the premiums paid by policyholders throughout the years. They reflect the fact that veterans are living longer than originally predicted. Dividends are also attributable to the higher than expected yields earned by the trust funds from investments in U.S. government securities.
Only those with policies that have been kept in force when premiums were required are eligible for the payout. Inaccurate notices periodically surface in the veterans community suggesting that those who have not maintained insurance are eligible for a special dividend if they contact VA, but this is false. Dividends are automatically sent to eligible policyholders.
The largest group receiving 2004 payments will be 1.2 million veterans of World War II with National Service Life Insurance ("V") policies. Total payments are expected to reach $416.8 million.
Dividends totaling $1.8 million will be paid to about 11,000 veterans holding U.S. Government Life Insurance ("K") policies.
Nearly 200,000 Korean War era veterans who have maintained Veterans Special Life Insurance ("RS" and "W") policies can expect to receive dividends totaling $83.9 million.
Veterans from the World War II era who hold Veterans Reopened Insurance ("J", "JR" and "JS") policies, currently numbering nearly 53,000, will share a $14.7 million dividend.
Although VA administers a special life insurance program for disabled veterans and a program offering mortgage life insurance coverage, neither
pays dividends.
For current active-duty service members and reservists, VA supervises a contract with a private carrier to underwrite Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance. No dividends are paid on Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance.
Veterans who have questions about their policy may call the VA Insurance toll-free number at 1-800-669-8477, may send an e-mail to VAinsurance@vba.va.gov, or may visit the web site at www.insurance.va.gov.
I will cast no stones!

Dave Barker
posted Mon, 24 November 03 01:33

[This message was edited by DaveBarker on Thu, 07 October 2004 at 7:36.]

THIS IS A VERY GOOD IDEA. ONE THREAD CAN ALLOW 1 MAN TO KEEP ALIVE INFO FOR THE MANY WHO NEED OR WANT IT. I WILL HELP PUSH IT ALONG DAILY IF YOU SUPPLY THE RELEASES. KEEP UP THE IMPORTANT WORK!

Another cut & paste from the VA Hotline
The following is a brief description of some of the key steps that VA has taken to prepare for veterans from Operations Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Enduring Freedom (OEF) in the 7 months since the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom (March 19th, 2003).
Immediate Health Care Needs for Combat Veterans: In response to immediate health concerns for OIF and OEF veterans, on March 26 and 27, 2003, VA developed a program called “Caring for the War Wounded,” which was broadcast over the VA Knowledge Network satellite broadcast system.
Provided timely and relevant information about the anticipated health care needs of veterans of the current conflict in Iraq.
Included VA experts on treatments for traumatic injuries; chemical warfare agent health effects; infectious diseases; radiological health effects; and post-deployment readjustment health concerns.
Made a new Veterans Health Initiative (VHI) independent study guide, called “Caring for the War Wounded,” which is available to all VA health care providers online at vaww.va.gov/VHI/ and on the Internet at http://www.appc1.va.gov/vhi/.
New Clinical Guidelines for Combat Veteran Health Care: In collaboration with DoD, VA developed two Clinical Practice Guidelines on combat veteran health issues, including one general guideline to post-deployment health, and a second dealing with unexplained pain and fatigue.
Give our providers the best medical evidence for diagnoses and treatment.
Highly recommended for the evaluation and care of all returning combat veterans, including OIF and OEF veterans.
Available on line at www.va.gov/environagents, under the heading, “Environmental Health Clinicians.”
New Specialized Combat Veteran Health Care Program: In 2001, VA established two new War Related Illness and Injury Study Centers, or “WRIISCs” as they have become to be known, at the Washington, DC, and East Orange, NJ VAMCs.
Today providing specialized health care for combat veterans from all deployments who experience difficult to diagnose but disabling illnesses.
Concerns about unexplained illness are seen after all deployments including OIF, but we are building on our understand of these illnesses. More information available online at www.va.gov/environagents under the heading “ WRIISC Referral Eligibility Information.”
Expanded Education on Combat Health Care for VA Providers: In addition to the programs already described, VA has developed a Veterans Health Initiative (VHI) Independent Study Guide called “A Guide to Gulf War Veterans Health.”
Originally on health care for combat veterans from the 1991 Gulf War, this product is also very relevant for OIF and OEF combat veterans because most of the hazardous exposures are the same.
Written for both clinicians, and for veterans and their families.
Available in print, on a CD ROM. Outreach to Combat Veterans: VA has many new products to offer combat veterans and their families.
In collaboration with DoD, VA published and distributed one million copies of a new short brochure called “A Summary of VA Benefits for National Guard and Reservists Personnel.” which summarizes health care and other benefits available to this special population of combat veterans upon their return to civilian life. It is also available online at www.va.gov/environagents near the bottom of the page.
Another brochure produced called “Health Care and Assistance for U.S. Veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom,” on basic health issues for that deployment.
Improvements in Health Care Eligibility: VA has promoted new eligibility rules that provide reservists and active duty personnel who served in a designated combat zone such as Iraq or Afghanistan with 2 years of free health care from VA.
Streamlines access to health care for recently separated combat veterans.
Summarized in the brochure “Special VA Healthcare Eligibility for Combat Veterans. Special DU program: OIF veterans concerned about possible exposure to depleted uranium can be evaluated using a special DU exposure protocol that VA began after the 1991 Gulf War.
Combat Veteran Health Status Surveillance:
Today we can monitor the overall health status of combat veterans remarkably well using VA’s electronic inpatient and outpatient medical records.
This surveillance summarizes every single visit by a combat veteran including all medical diagnoses.
VA’s Gulf War registry remains open to all OIF veterans.
Finally, we are developing a new Clinical Reminder (part of VA’s computerized reminder system) to assist VA primary care clinicians in providing timely and appropriate care to new combat veterans.

I will cast no stones!

Dave Barker

LEE ANNE IS SMILING...KEEP UP THE IMPORTANT WORK.

I will try to keep this topic going, if readership shows it is used.

I will cast no stones!

Dave Barker

WE DON'T TAKE THE LIFE PRESERVERS OFF SHIPS JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT USED...

Let us pray the Congress will think as much as those who went into harm's way, as they do their own pay and benefit increases.

I will cast no stones!

Dave Barker

LET'S REMIND THEM DAILY THAT WE FORGET WHAT THEY SAY, BUT WE WILL WATCH WHAT THEY DO...AND VOTE.

This was a separate topic, but it was buried by all of the Swann posts, so one more time!
Try this, you will like it. Plop, plop, fizz
http://www.va.gov/kids/

The VA kids and veterans topic was moved to this topic by

Dave Barker

Catching up again. This thread is a great idea. I'm going to check the website to volunteer, if I am close enough to any of the places in question to be of help. I have some leave time I have to use or lose (app. two weeks) and can't think of any better way to use it.

I do my volunteer work during the X-Mas Holiday's by doing the Marine Corps, Toys-for-Tots Program, a few hours a day for two or three days.

You cannot imagine the good people who drop off toys, but also contribute large sums of money. All in all, every little bit helps.

Toys For Tots is g-r-e-a-t. Our AMVETS post is raising toys and cash for the USMC-R. Whatever is said and done
the Corps is #1
for kids!

and America!

Dave Barker

Volunteered via e-mail, if I'm close enough to help. Waiting for response...

Excellent link and website.

First off, thankyou for doing what your doing for the VETS!

The question I have is this...I was told by my VET REP, Duane, that I finally got My I.U. but that was back in Sept, He told me I would be getting the Papers around NOV, well, NOV, came and went, I called Him again, and He said.." Well, YOU are dealing with the Government, just be patient" so...DO I keep waiting, or do I rock the BOAT?
I don`t want to Piss anyone off, I just want to be done with all this, what do you think?
and again, Thankyou very Much. E-man.

Don't you ever rest?

http://www.va.gov/hac/champva/champva.asp

Excellent site

I will cast no stones!

Dave Barker

THIS IS WORTH THE EFFORT...PEOPLE DO READ IT!