Watt questions politics around VA; timing of letter and Dole's stance raise concerns for lawmaker
Friday, October 17, 2008 1:22 AM
By Kathy Chaffin
kchaffin@salisbury post.com
Rep. Mel Watt said he was surprised to see an article in Wednesday's Post quoting a letter Veterans Affairs Secretary James B. Peake sent to Sen. Elizabeth Dole.
With the exception of one change, Watt said he received the same letter from Peake saying that he has asked his staff to review and consider concerns raised about proposed changes to eliminate emergency, surgical and inpatient services at the Hefner VA Medical Center.
Though the letter was dated Wednesday (Oct. 15), Watt said it arrived at his Charlotte office via e-mail at 8:47 a.m. Thursday.
"I can't understand how she got the letter before I got the letter," he said. "It don't smell right. This is supposed to be on the level and not about politics."
Dole's office released copies of three letters to the Post on Wednesday night: two dated Oct. 1 and Oct. 8 expressing her concerns about the changes and Peake's Oct. 15 response dated for Wednesday. Dole's letters were identical, and her representative said the later one was a followup to the earlier letter.
The only difference in Peake's letter to Dole and his letter to Watt was that he referred to the dates of their letters sent to him. Watt sent a letter to Peake on Sept. 22 addressing his concerns about the plan to eliminate inpatient, emergency and surgical services as part of a transition to a long-term care and mental health facility for veterans.
Watt, who is running for his ninth term as the 12th District representative, said he's not upset that he received the same letter as Dole. "That happens all the time," he said.
What does upset him, he said, is that he wrote to Peake first and didn't get a response until the morning after Dole's office had sent out a press release with the letter. "It seems to me that Dole is trying to use your newspaper to make it sound like this was a response to her letter," he said.
Watt said he was preparing a followup letter to Peake, thanking him for his response and asking for two things. "No. 1, I want to see the plan, which is what I requested on Sept. 22," he said.
And No. 2, Watt said he wants to know what Peake is going to do between now and Nov. 15, the date he specified in the letter as the deadline for his staff to provide him with the results of the review.
"Is it just full speed ahead?" he asked. "And is this just a political response to get Liddy Dole through the election? I think these people are playing games, and some of this has to do with politics.
click post title for more
Showing posts with label Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake. Show all posts
Friday, October 17, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Appointments to deal with veterans crisis "unacceptable" to veteran
This morning I received this email from my friend, Irish, a veteran's advocate, who has been testifying in Washington several times over the years. She types in all capital letters because of her own condition that has caused her to battle for herself and others.
The woman in this post that was turned away from the VA, I can verify. Irish called me when it happened. I suggested taking her to a different VA hospital because she was ready to get help and time was crucial to address the needs of the veteran. To have just sent her on her way when she was begging for help was outrageous. Too much of this is outrageous and if the VA keeps trying to hold off this tsunami with a beach shovel, we'll be burying too many veterans that should be living!
The woman in this post that was turned away from the VA, I can verify. Irish called me when it happened. I suggested taking her to a different VA hospital because she was ready to get help and time was crucial to address the needs of the veteran. To have just sent her on her way when she was begging for help was outrageous. Too much of this is outrageous and if the VA keeps trying to hold off this tsunami with a beach shovel, we'll be burying too many veterans that should be living!
THESE APPOINTMENTS ARE TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.. THESE ARE NOT KNOWLEDGEABLE VETERANS AS STATED IN THIS EMAIL.. TERRY SCOTT SAT ON HIS ARSE AND ALLOWED TESTIMONY OF HOW TO CHEAT AND DENY VETERANS THEIR JUST DUE
... WHETHER IT WAS UNFIT FOR SERVICE DUE TO PRIOR PERSONALITY DEFECT.. TO THE FULL BIRD COLONEL IN CHARGE OF PHYCH AT WALTER REED, AND THIS WAS LONG BEFORE THE CONDITIONS OF WALTER REED WAS DISCLOSED BY THE MEDIA.. AND THAT JACKASS IS STILL THERE
.. THAT SAID " WE TRICK THEM INTO ASKING DO YOU NEED A DRINK OR MEDS TO GET
TO SLEEP AND THEN WE PUT THEM OUT UNFIT FOR SERVICE"..... OR THE FAT BASTARD
FROM GAO ... WHO NEVER WORE A UNIFORM IN THE US MILITARY THAT MADE THE
STATEMENT NOT TO GRANT ANY SERVICE CONNECTED CLAIMS................ "
BECAUSE THERE IS NO RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PAY
THEM " THE IRAQ WAR VETS WITH A ONE TIME PAYMENT" AND BE DONE WITH IT
......PEAKE SAID NO FULL SERVICE FOR THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE VA HOSPITAL IN MANCHESTER
... THE SAME VA HOSPITAL THAT HAS A STAFF WHO TURNS AWAY VETS FOR TREATMENT. ALLOWS HUMAN FECES TO STAY ON THE FLOOR OF THE 5TH FLOOR SPECIALITY CLINIC FOR OVER AN HOUR
.. THAT TURNED AWAY A DECORATED GULF WAR VET BECAUSE HE WAS THERE 15 MINUTES PRIOR
TO HIS SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT
.....THE FACT THAT HE HAD TO BORROW A CAR TO GET THERE AND THAT THERE WAS A MAJOR ACCIDENT ON THE ROAD HE HAD TO TAKE TO GET THERE.
..... TURNED AWAY................ BY SOME
B........... THAT HAD NO IDEA WHAT SERVICE IS.................
OR THE COMMAND SARGENT MAJOR.. THAT SPOKE TO A CAPTAIN AT THAT HOSPITAL..
AND FOUND OUT THAT THE LESSIONS ON HER WAS AS A RESULT OF EXPOSURE... NO ONE
TOLD HIM THAT
THE WOMAN VET WHO AFTER 11 YEARS OF TREATMENT AT THE VA HOSPITAL
MANCHESTER.. WENT TO THE HOSPITAL TO DETOX FROM ALL THE PAIN MEDS... WAS
TOLD THEY WOULD NOT TREAT HER.. AND GAVE HER A BAG OF PILLS AND SAID " GO
HOME AND TAKE THESE WHEN YOU START TO GO THROUGH
WITHDRAWAL////////////////////////////////////"
HOW DO I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I WAS AT THE VA DISABILITY COMMISSION HEARINGS IN
SEP AND NOV 2006.. ALONG WITH NAM AND GULF WAR VETS... AND THIS IS IN THE
PUBLIC RECORD... AND HAVE FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS.. SEEN THIS FIRST
HAND..............
VETERANS NOT ONLY DO NOT ACCEPT THESE MEMBERS BUT WE WILL HOLD THEM
ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIER VIOLATION OF THIS APPOINTED OFFICE.. DELERICTION OF
DUTY AND OTHER CRIMES AS COVERED BY LAWS,,, THIS INCLUDES PEAKE...
TRANSCRIPTS OF THE VA DISABILITY COMMISSION ARE ON THAT SITE........
INCLUDING MINE AND OTHERS ...............
SUBMIT NAMES OF THOSE THAT SHOULD BE ON THIS COMMISSION... NO MORE DOG AND
PONY SHOWS............. OUR GENERATION VIETNAM HAVE NO MORE TIME AND WE WILL
NEVER LET AGAIN ANOTHER GENERATION TO BE TREATED DISHONORABLY.. THIS
INCLUDES OUR SISTERS AND BROTHERS WHO HAVE AND ARE IN WHAT IS CALLED THE
GULF WARS.........
FEEL FREE TO PASS THIS EMAIL ALONG .............
MY RECOMMENDATION FOR THIS BOARD
CHARLES KELLEY
GALE REID
NOONIE FORTIN
PAUL SUTTON
BJ STEWART
NICK BACON
HENRY SNYDER
MICHAEL BRESNAHAN
WAYNE BLAIR
KATHLEEN BOYD
STEVE BURNS
KATHIE COSTOS
SANDY DOUCETTE
P GREGORY
DOC HILL
LET THE VETERAN DECIDE.............
CAPTAIN US ARMY 10 SEP 1971 TO 10 JUN 1977 SIGC/MI... NEVER AGAIN..
AGNES M "IRISH" BRESNAHAN
Thursday, August 21, 2008
VA 400,000 claim backlog causes search for "tech savvy workers"
Peake: VA needs young, tech-savvy workers
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Aug 21, 2008 12:59:38 EDT
Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake is happy to see younger workers being hired to handle veterans’ benefits claims because he said they tend to have more computer skills than longtime Veterans Affairs Department employees.
“Getting rid of some of those older-age guys in the work force is not that bad. It gives you the opportunity to move forward,” Peake said Thursday in a breakfast meeting hosted by the Defense Writers Group to talk about veterans’ issues.
Peake said the key to reducing the backlog of disability and benefits claims from veterans and their families will be technology — especially making active-duty medical records electronically available to quickly determine if a veteran’s injury or illness is connected to military service.
VA expects to receive almost 900,000 benefits claims this year, and has a backlog of about 400,000 claims. In mid-July, VA officials reported that they were beginning to make a dent in the backlog because they were hiring new claims workers and using better training and a more efficient claims management process.
Still, it is taking an average of 185 days to process claims, two months longer than VA’s goal.
go here for more
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/08/military_va_peake_082108w/
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Aug 21, 2008 12:59:38 EDT
Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake is happy to see younger workers being hired to handle veterans’ benefits claims because he said they tend to have more computer skills than longtime Veterans Affairs Department employees.
“Getting rid of some of those older-age guys in the work force is not that bad. It gives you the opportunity to move forward,” Peake said Thursday in a breakfast meeting hosted by the Defense Writers Group to talk about veterans’ issues.
Peake said the key to reducing the backlog of disability and benefits claims from veterans and their families will be technology — especially making active-duty medical records electronically available to quickly determine if a veteran’s injury or illness is connected to military service.
VA expects to receive almost 900,000 benefits claims this year, and has a backlog of about 400,000 claims. In mid-July, VA officials reported that they were beginning to make a dent in the backlog because they were hiring new claims workers and using better training and a more efficient claims management process.
Still, it is taking an average of 185 days to process claims, two months longer than VA’s goal.
go here for more
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/08/military_va_peake_082108w/
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Senators to VA: Help veterans vote
Senators to VA: Help veterans vote
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Jul 23, 2008 10:42:46 EDT
Ten Senate Democrats have decided they will not take no for an answer in their efforts get the Veterans Affairs Department to allow voter registration drives in its hospitals and nursing homes.
Led by Dianne Feinstein of California and John Kerry of Massachusetts, the senators introduced a bill Wednesday under which VA would have to let nonpartisan groups conduct voter registration drives at its health care facilities.
Last week, VA Secretary James Peake told lawmakers he would not allow outside groups to register voters because VA could not determine whether organizations were linked to particular political parties, candidates or causes — and any involvement with partisan groups would be a violation of federal law.
Peake said VA would try to provide voter registration materials at its facilities.
That did not satisfy lawmakers.
“Given the sacrifices that these men and women have made, providing easy access to voter registration services is the very least we can do,” Feinstein said.
go here for more
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/07/military_veterans_voting_072308w/
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Jul 23, 2008 10:42:46 EDT
Ten Senate Democrats have decided they will not take no for an answer in their efforts get the Veterans Affairs Department to allow voter registration drives in its hospitals and nursing homes.
Led by Dianne Feinstein of California and John Kerry of Massachusetts, the senators introduced a bill Wednesday under which VA would have to let nonpartisan groups conduct voter registration drives at its health care facilities.
Last week, VA Secretary James Peake told lawmakers he would not allow outside groups to register voters because VA could not determine whether organizations were linked to particular political parties, candidates or causes — and any involvement with partisan groups would be a violation of federal law.
Peake said VA would try to provide voter registration materials at its facilities.
That did not satisfy lawmakers.
“Given the sacrifices that these men and women have made, providing easy access to voter registration services is the very least we can do,” Feinstein said.
go here for more
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/07/military_veterans_voting_072308w/
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Did Nicholson's departure from VA really matter?
From 2007 and not much has changed but this is an important voice that should be re-heard. I get Google Alerts so this must have come from someone hitting on this piece from last year before Peake replaced Nicholson.
Changing of the Guard
Does VA Secretary Jim Nicholson's departure matter to the men and women fighting the Iraq war? A veteran's view.
By David Botti Newsweek Web Exclusive
Jul 19, 2007
Botti, a former Marine Corps reservist, served as a rifleman in Iraq in 2003. He is now a freelance writer in New York.
On my first trip to a Veterans Affairs hospital for a post-deployment evaluation after returning from Iraq, the doctor said he didn't have time to screen me. He asked a nurse to do it instead.
Halfway through the interview, she suggested I change one of my answers, or I would be spending all day waiting to speak with doctors in the psych department.
I walked out as soon as the evaluation was over, and I never went back. If Ineeded help, I wasn't going to get it there.
It seems little has changed between then and now, except perhaps for the severity of soldiers' injuries inflicted by a more adept and resourceful enemy.
Nicholson's announcement on Tuesday that he would resign as Secretary of Veterans Affairs came as a surprise to most. The political spin storm still managed to get off the ground in no time. Illinois Sen. Barack Obama released a statement saying Nicholson left the VA worse than he found it. White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said the president was grateful forMr. Nicholson's service.
It seemed that those with the most to say were the least affected.
This was in 2004, six months before James Nicholson inherited a Department of Veterans Affairs already strained by the nearly two-year-old war. As a Marine among the first wave of veterans to return from Iraq, I simply figured it was going to take a little while longer for the VA to get its wartime footing.
go here for more
http://www.newsweek.com/id/32946/page/1
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Peake still doesn't get it on PTSD
VA SECRETARY PEAKE MINIMIZES PTSD AND MARGINALIZES
VETS WITH DISORDER -- Peake: "It doesn't mean you have
a disorder that is going to be longstanding..." and "...it is not
just a federal responsibility, it is a national responsibility."
VA Secretary James Peake
Although the following article's headline is about VA Secretary Peake's reaction to the New G.I. Bill...the real story of importance is his comments about PTSD.
Peake, very well-trained in public relations, is using what we call the "M&M" strategy, "minimize & marginalize."
When you "M&M" a situation, you try to make a problem appear smaller that it really is (minimize), and then you try to show that those with the problem are really alright because the problem is being taken care of (marginalize).
In the article below, Peake minimized PTSD by saying, "It doesn't mean you have a disorder that is going to be longstanding and problematic for the rest of your life..." The message here is that PTSD is not debilitating...and many Americans will believe this.
He then marginalized PTSD vets by saying, "...it is not just a federal responsibility, it is a national responsibility." This statement was made in reference to private providers stepping in to help PTSD vets because the VA can't handle the load. The message here is, "It's OK. They are being taken care of." But, Peake is wrong. It IS a federal responsibility. When Peake makes it a national responsibility, he turns PTSD veterans into welfare cases, needing to rely on the sympathy of the public instead of the care that the VA should be providing.
A veteran wrote me recently and said, "Peake doesn't have a clue." Wrong! He knows exactly what he's doing. He's trying to sell his "minimize & marginalize" program to the American people.
I hope they see this for what it is...just another way for the government to avoid their responsibility to veterans who come home from war with the unseen wound of PTSD.
For more about veterans and PTSD, use the VA Watchdog search engine...click here... http://www.yourvabenefits.org/sessearch.php?q=ptsd&op=and
Story here... http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0628/p25s34-usmb.html
Story here on VA Watchdog
http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfJUN08/nf062808-1.htm
Can anyone in this country wonder why there has been so many problems with our veterans getting the help they need for PTSD with an attitude like this?
VETS WITH DISORDER -- Peake: "It doesn't mean you have
a disorder that is going to be longstanding..." and "...it is not
just a federal responsibility, it is a national responsibility."
VA Secretary James Peake
Although the following article's headline is about VA Secretary Peake's reaction to the New G.I. Bill...the real story of importance is his comments about PTSD.
Peake, very well-trained in public relations, is using what we call the "M&M" strategy, "minimize & marginalize."
When you "M&M" a situation, you try to make a problem appear smaller that it really is (minimize), and then you try to show that those with the problem are really alright because the problem is being taken care of (marginalize).
In the article below, Peake minimized PTSD by saying, "It doesn't mean you have a disorder that is going to be longstanding and problematic for the rest of your life..." The message here is that PTSD is not debilitating...and many Americans will believe this.
He then marginalized PTSD vets by saying, "...it is not just a federal responsibility, it is a national responsibility." This statement was made in reference to private providers stepping in to help PTSD vets because the VA can't handle the load. The message here is, "It's OK. They are being taken care of." But, Peake is wrong. It IS a federal responsibility. When Peake makes it a national responsibility, he turns PTSD veterans into welfare cases, needing to rely on the sympathy of the public instead of the care that the VA should be providing.
A veteran wrote me recently and said, "Peake doesn't have a clue." Wrong! He knows exactly what he's doing. He's trying to sell his "minimize & marginalize" program to the American people.
I hope they see this for what it is...just another way for the government to avoid their responsibility to veterans who come home from war with the unseen wound of PTSD.
For more about veterans and PTSD, use the VA Watchdog search engine...click here... http://www.yourvabenefits.org/sessearch.php?q=ptsd&op=and
Story here... http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0628/p25s34-usmb.html
Story here on VA Watchdog
http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfJUN08/nf062808-1.htm
Can anyone in this country wonder why there has been so many problems with our veterans getting the help they need for PTSD with an attitude like this?
PTSD in Military: "A shared national problem"
Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report
Coverage & Access Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report Highlights Recent Developments Related to Veterans' Health
[Jun 23, 2008]
Summaries of several recent developments related to health care for veterans appear below.
Disparity for women: Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake on Friday said that the department has begun efforts to eliminate disparities in the quality of outpatient care for women, the AP/Orlando Sentinel reports. At the National Summit on Women Veterans' Issues, a meeting organized by VA and other veteran groups after the release of a report by the Associated Press that highlighted the issue, Peake said that the department will spend about $32 million on equipment to meet the health care needs of women. He said, "We are making a full-court press to ensure that women veterans receive the highest quality care" (Hefling, AP/Orlando Sentinel, 6/21).
Mental health: The Chicago Tribune on Monday examined the "complex decisions facing the U.S. military" in efforts to address the "mental health problems plaguing its troops while maintaining its warrior ethos and respect for the chain of command." According to the Department of Defense, physicians have diagnosed at least 40,000 veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with post-traumatic stress disorder, and 12% to 15% of soldiers in combat areas take antidepressants or insomnia medications.
In 2007, 115 soldiers committed suicide, the highest annual number since the military began to track such cases, according to DOD. Lt. Gen. Eric Schoomaker, chief medical officer for the Army, said that the Army needs to improve health care facilities and lacks an adequate number of mental health care providers. He said, "I think we can say as a nation that our mental health facilities and access to mental health providers is not adequate to the need right now," adding, "So part of the problem that we as a military are suffering is a shared national problem" (Madhani, Chicago Tribune, 6/23).
View entire Policy Report.
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=52901
Coverage & Access Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report Highlights Recent Developments Related to Veterans' Health
[Jun 23, 2008]
Summaries of several recent developments related to health care for veterans appear below.
Disparity for women: Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake on Friday said that the department has begun efforts to eliminate disparities in the quality of outpatient care for women, the AP/Orlando Sentinel reports. At the National Summit on Women Veterans' Issues, a meeting organized by VA and other veteran groups after the release of a report by the Associated Press that highlighted the issue, Peake said that the department will spend about $32 million on equipment to meet the health care needs of women. He said, "We are making a full-court press to ensure that women veterans receive the highest quality care" (Hefling, AP/Orlando Sentinel, 6/21).
Mental health: The Chicago Tribune on Monday examined the "complex decisions facing the U.S. military" in efforts to address the "mental health problems plaguing its troops while maintaining its warrior ethos and respect for the chain of command." According to the Department of Defense, physicians have diagnosed at least 40,000 veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with post-traumatic stress disorder, and 12% to 15% of soldiers in combat areas take antidepressants or insomnia medications.
In 2007, 115 soldiers committed suicide, the highest annual number since the military began to track such cases, according to DOD. Lt. Gen. Eric Schoomaker, chief medical officer for the Army, said that the Army needs to improve health care facilities and lacks an adequate number of mental health care providers. He said, "I think we can say as a nation that our mental health facilities and access to mental health providers is not adequate to the need right now," adding, "So part of the problem that we as a military are suffering is a shared national problem" (Madhani, Chicago Tribune, 6/23).
View entire Policy Report.
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=52901
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Peake promises better care to women veterans too
VA secretary: Care of women vets will improve
By Kimberly Hefling - The Associated Press
Posted : Saturday Jun 21, 2008 17:32:31 EDT
WASHINGTON — Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake told women veterans on Friday that the agency is working to eliminate disparities in the care offered to women and men.
An internal review by the VA submitted to Congress last week found that women veterans aren’t getting the same quality of outpatient care as men in about one-third of the VA’s 139 facilities that offer it.
“We are making a full-court press to ensure that women veterans receive the highest quality of care,” Peake said, speaking at the National Summit on Women Veterans’ Issues, put on by the VA and veterans service organizations.
go here for more
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/06/ap_women_va_062008/
By Kimberly Hefling - The Associated Press
Posted : Saturday Jun 21, 2008 17:32:31 EDT
WASHINGTON — Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake told women veterans on Friday that the agency is working to eliminate disparities in the care offered to women and men.
An internal review by the VA submitted to Congress last week found that women veterans aren’t getting the same quality of outpatient care as men in about one-third of the VA’s 139 facilities that offer it.
“We are making a full-court press to ensure that women veterans receive the highest quality of care,” Peake said, speaking at the National Summit on Women Veterans’ Issues, put on by the VA and veterans service organizations.
go here for more
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/06/ap_women_va_062008/
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Operation of a Transitional Housing Facility for Eligible Homeless
[Federal Register: June 19, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 119)]
[Notices]
[Page 34993]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19jn08-130]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Enhanced-Use Lease of VA Property for the Development and
Operation of a Transitional Housing Facility for Eligible Homeless
Veterans at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Dayton,
OH
AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
ACTION: Notice of Intent to Enter into an Enhanced-Use Lease.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
intends to enter into an enhanced-use lease of approximately 41,817
gross square feet of underutilized building space at the VA Medical
Center in Dayton, Ohio. The selected lessee will finance, renovate,
construct, design, develop, operate, manage and maintain a transitional
housing facility consisting of no less than 50 units for eligible
homeless veterans. As consideration for the lease, eligible veterans
will be provided facility units and related services on a priority
basis at no cost to VA.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Edward Bradley, Office of Asset
Enterprise Management (004B), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810
Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420, (202) 461-7778 (this is not
a toll-free number).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title 38 U.S.C. 8161 et seq. states that the
Secretary may enter into an enhanced-use lease if he determines that
implementation of a business plan proposed by the Under Secretary for
Health for applying the consideration under such a lease for the
provision of medical care and services would result in a demonstrable
improvement of services to eligible veterans in the geographic service-
delivery area within which the property is located. This project meets
this requirement.
Approved: June 10, 2008.
James B. Peake,
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. E8-13823 Filed 6-18-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P
http://regulations.justia.com/view/113568/
[Notices]
[Page 34993]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19jn08-130]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Enhanced-Use Lease of VA Property for the Development and
Operation of a Transitional Housing Facility for Eligible Homeless
Veterans at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Dayton,
OH
AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
ACTION: Notice of Intent to Enter into an Enhanced-Use Lease.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
intends to enter into an enhanced-use lease of approximately 41,817
gross square feet of underutilized building space at the VA Medical
Center in Dayton, Ohio. The selected lessee will finance, renovate,
construct, design, develop, operate, manage and maintain a transitional
housing facility consisting of no less than 50 units for eligible
homeless veterans. As consideration for the lease, eligible veterans
will be provided facility units and related services on a priority
basis at no cost to VA.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Edward Bradley, Office of Asset
Enterprise Management (004B), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810
Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420, (202) 461-7778 (this is not
a toll-free number).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title 38 U.S.C. 8161 et seq. states that the
Secretary may enter into an enhanced-use lease if he determines that
implementation of a business plan proposed by the Under Secretary for
Health for applying the consideration under such a lease for the
provision of medical care and services would result in a demonstrable
improvement of services to eligible veterans in the geographic service-
delivery area within which the property is located. This project meets
this requirement.
Approved: June 10, 2008.
James B. Peake,
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. E8-13823 Filed 6-18-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P
http://regulations.justia.com/view/113568/
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Lip service for PTSD From Peake and Stevens
VA: PTSD and TBI "Overblown"; Like "Football" Injuries
by Brandon Friedman
Tue May 27, 2008 at 03:38:47 PM PDT
VA Secretary James Peake continued to show little respect for the service of America’s newest veterans yesterday by dismissing concerns about the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) in troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Speaking alongside Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) in a remote Alaskan village, Peake first used the word "overblown" when discussing PTSD and TBI and then made a "football" comparison.
go here for more
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/5/27/182653/350/999/523775
Maybe Peake thinks this is a game, like high school football, and maybe he thinks it's overblown but what he fails to see is that THIS IS HIS JOB! It's his job to take care of the men and women who are risking their lives, and I don't mean just in Iraq and Afghanistan, but still risking them when they come home. What the hell is wrong with this administration? How can they take such a callous attitude when they could be saving lives? What about getting ahead of the curve instead of being stuck out waiting behind the opponents goal post? That is what they have been doing. They are supporting the enemy by ignoring PTSD and TBI, attempting to minimize this crisis instead of doing something about it. Sure they can say they take all of this very seriously when they are in front of congress with the cameras rolling, pretending to really give a crap about what's going on, but when you get right down to it, they have a totally different attitude when they are in front of their base. It shows!
It shows when the suicide rate goes up instead of down this long into all the reports of what they have supposedly been doing to address the crisis. It shows when there are still far too many waiting for appointments, for claims to be processed and approved, when workers have not all been hired, when psychologist have to donate their time to address this without pay because the VA is not able to deal with any of this. Given the tone from Peake it's obvious why all the problems are still ongoing. Overblown!!!! He called it overblown and the right wing bloggers have jumped on board this fantasy flight claiming the media is playing it all up instead of looking at the facts. This is a national disgrace but they take it as a slam against their hero Bush when the real heroes are dying for their attention.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
PTSD out of control, under-staffed VA and Akaka wants to know why
Akaka and Sanders Meet with Veterans Affairs Secretary Peake
Urge action on health care eligibility for middle-income vets, National PTSD Center
By Kawika Riley, 4/1/2008 7:45:46 PM
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Tuesday, U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI) and committee member Senator Bernard Sanders (I-VT) met with Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake. They discussed funding for the National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and a proposal to modify VA’s income threshold to make more middle-income veterans eligible for VA healthcare. Akaka, Sanders and other committee members have pressed Secretary Peake on both issues since his recent confirmation as VA Secretary.
“As we move through the final year of this Administration and this Congress, we must work together to find common ground for the sake of our veterans. I appreciate the Secretary’s willingness to work with us on these issues,” said Akaka. Secretary Peake agreed during the meeting to look more closely into the income threshold for veterans, as well as strengthening support for the National Center for PTSD.
Senators Akaka and Sanders wrote Secretary Peake on January 24, 2008, urging him to dedicate more funds to the National Center for PTSD. The Center has taken on a larger mission and workload in recent years, due in part to the increased number of veterans suffering from PSTD. Already, more than 100,000 servicemembers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan have reported mental health disorders, according to the Congressional Research Service.
click post title for the rest
Now maybe the media will understand why advocates get so angry over all of this! Paul Sullivan of Veterans For Common Sense wouldn't have taken on the enormous task of suing the VA if this was not going on. There would be no need for any legal action if they had taken care of the wounded.
Urge action on health care eligibility for middle-income vets, National PTSD Center
By Kawika Riley, 4/1/2008 7:45:46 PM
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Tuesday, U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI) and committee member Senator Bernard Sanders (I-VT) met with Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake. They discussed funding for the National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and a proposal to modify VA’s income threshold to make more middle-income veterans eligible for VA healthcare. Akaka, Sanders and other committee members have pressed Secretary Peake on both issues since his recent confirmation as VA Secretary.
“As we move through the final year of this Administration and this Congress, we must work together to find common ground for the sake of our veterans. I appreciate the Secretary’s willingness to work with us on these issues,” said Akaka. Secretary Peake agreed during the meeting to look more closely into the income threshold for veterans, as well as strengthening support for the National Center for PTSD.
Senators Akaka and Sanders wrote Secretary Peake on January 24, 2008, urging him to dedicate more funds to the National Center for PTSD. The Center has taken on a larger mission and workload in recent years, due in part to the increased number of veterans suffering from PSTD. Already, more than 100,000 servicemembers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan have reported mental health disorders, according to the Congressional Research Service.
Meanwhile, the PTSD Center’s budget, adjusted for inflation, has been flat for the past half-decade, and overall staff levels have been reduced since 1999.
click post title for the rest
Now maybe the media will understand why advocates get so angry over all of this! Paul Sullivan of Veterans For Common Sense wouldn't have taken on the enormous task of suing the VA if this was not going on. There would be no need for any legal action if they had taken care of the wounded.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Peake pops into Tampa VA without an appointment
Normally I don't like to post an entire article and never like to use the comments but in this case, you have to read it all to believe it.
March 18, 2008
VA secretary pays Tampa unannounced visit
TAMPA -- The secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs made an unannounced visit to Tampa today to address a group representing paralyzed veterans and to visit with patients and VA workers at the nation's busiest VA hospital.
Dr. James Peake, appointed by President Bush in October, addressed the Paralyzed Veterans of America board of directors at its annual meeting at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. The meeting was closed to the public.
Afterward, Peake visited with doctors, nurses and patients at the James A. Haley VA Medical Center. Reporters were not invited or told Peake was in town.
The St. Petersburg Times has made repeated requests to interview Peake since his nomination. But a VA spokesman said Peake decided before departing Washington for Tampa that he was too pressed for time to grant any interviews.
-- William R. Levesque, Times Staff Writerhttp://blogs.tampabay.com/breakingnews/2008/03/va-secretary-pa.html
March 18, 2008 in Hillsborough, Pinellas Permalink
Comments
I certainly hope the Hon. Mr. Secretary left with some Bay Pines careers in his briefcase.
The Medical end of the house is visibly trying to improve, but the everyone in disability adjudication can go out and get a real job.
To tell me after a fourteen year appeal (sluggishly going from 10% to 50%) that if I'm not drooling on my shoulder while sitting in a wheelchair, then I'm not disabled, is a travesty.
Don't. Permit. Your. Children. To. Enlist.
Posted by: Don March 18, 2008 at 04:07 PM
Thank God this putrid Administration is on its way out and either Hillary or Obama is taking over. This man sneaks in and out and could not really care less about the injured Vets and thehir families Mr. Cheney's & Mr Bush's war oil war has hurt.
Posted by: Ray March 18, 2008 at 04:19 PM
Put away the kazoos. Quick, sound the trumpets, roll out the red carpet.
Posted by: March 18, 2008 at 05:48 PM
Senator Murray wants to know Peake's words turn to action
Veterans also asked Murray for her take on James Peake, the new Veteran Affairs secretary. Peake, sworn into the office in December, appears to be sympathetic to veterans' causes, but Murray said she's not yet convinced his words will translate into action.
"I'm holding his feet to the fire."
Sen. Murray hears veterans' concerns during local stop
Tuesday, March 18, 2008 6:22 AM PDT
By Stephanie Mathieu
Local veterans told a key lawmaker on Monday that they need quicker access to health care, more beds in veteran hospitals and more rural veteran clinics.But U.S. Sen. Patty Murray said she was most shocked to learn 1,100 veterans in Cowlitz County are homeless or living in transitional housing."That's appalling," she said.
Murray, a member of the Senate Veteran Affairs Committee for 14 years, listened for an hour to local vets at the Cowlitz County Administration building, hoping to relay their stories to lawmakers in Washington, D.C.Transportation is a huge problem, the veterans panel said. Many must commute to Seattle or Vancouver to take advantage of veteran care."
The distance, the travel is extraordinary," said Wendy Carolan, chairwoman of the Lewis County Veteran Advisory Board. "It's a problem of being able to get our veterans to where the services are being provided."A mobile veterans clinic that visited rural areas, such as Long Beach, was discontinued, said Ray Palmer, a veteran from Pacific County. "It was a great thing for older veterans," Palmer said. "Just getting to (Interstate 5) is a chore."
go here for the rest
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/03/18/area_news/10163302.txt
Friday, February 29, 2008
VA Taps $37 Million for Homeless Grants
VA Taps $37 Million for Homeless Grants
Peake: Applications Being Accepted from Local Providers
WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is designating $37 million to fund at least 2,250 new transitional housing beds by giving grants to local providers.
"This is the largest one-time designation of funds for the homeless program in VA's history," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake. "This is a great opportunity for community organizations to join VA in its mission of eradicating chronic homelessness among veterans."
The grants are intended to offset the operating expenses for transitional housing facilities operated by state and local governments, Indian tribal governments, and faith-based and community-based organizations that are capable of providing supported housing and supportive services for homeless veterans.
VA began its national effort to eradicate chronic homelessness 20 years ago by providing $5 million for a pilot program to support contract residential care and to create domiciliary care for homeless veterans in San Diego.
go here for the rest
http://sev.prnewswire.com/aerospace-defense/20080228/DC1531028022008-1.html
Peake: Applications Being Accepted from Local Providers
WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is designating $37 million to fund at least 2,250 new transitional housing beds by giving grants to local providers.
"This is the largest one-time designation of funds for the homeless program in VA's history," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake. "This is a great opportunity for community organizations to join VA in its mission of eradicating chronic homelessness among veterans."
The grants are intended to offset the operating expenses for transitional housing facilities operated by state and local governments, Indian tribal governments, and faith-based and community-based organizations that are capable of providing supported housing and supportive services for homeless veterans.
VA began its national effort to eradicate chronic homelessness 20 years ago by providing $5 million for a pilot program to support contract residential care and to create domiciliary care for homeless veterans in San Diego.
go here for the rest
http://sev.prnewswire.com/aerospace-defense/20080228/DC1531028022008-1.html
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Dr. James B. Peake doing what Nicholson should have done years ago
VA Has Added 20 New Vet Centers
Posted : Wed, 27 Feb 2008 17:19:51 GMT
Author : U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake today said an expansion by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) of its Vet Centers, which provide readjustment counseling and outreach services to returning combat veterans, is well ahead of schedule.
In February 2007, VA announced it would open 23 new centers during the next two years. Fifteen of those centers are already operational, and five others are seeing patients in temporary facilities while finalizing their leases. The other three facilities will begin operations later this year.
"Building on our past successes, 2008 will see a permanent increase in the number of Vet Centers, as we bring the remaining facilities on line to reach a record 232 Vet Centers by the end of the year," Peake said.
"To support this expansion and augment the staff at 61 existing Vet Centers, this year we are channeling a 44 percent increase in funding to the Readjustment Counseling Service, which operates the Vet Centers -- nearly $50 million more than last year's budget," he added.
The community-based Vet Centers are a key component of VA's mental health program, providing veterans with mental health screening and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) counseling, along with help for family members dealing with bereavement and loved ones with PTSD.
click post title for the rest
Posted : Wed, 27 Feb 2008 17:19:51 GMT
Author : U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake today said an expansion by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) of its Vet Centers, which provide readjustment counseling and outreach services to returning combat veterans, is well ahead of schedule.
In February 2007, VA announced it would open 23 new centers during the next two years. Fifteen of those centers are already operational, and five others are seeing patients in temporary facilities while finalizing their leases. The other three facilities will begin operations later this year.
"Building on our past successes, 2008 will see a permanent increase in the number of Vet Centers, as we bring the remaining facilities on line to reach a record 232 Vet Centers by the end of the year," Peake said.
"To support this expansion and augment the staff at 61 existing Vet Centers, this year we are channeling a 44 percent increase in funding to the Readjustment Counseling Service, which operates the Vet Centers -- nearly $50 million more than last year's budget," he added.
The community-based Vet Centers are a key component of VA's mental health program, providing veterans with mental health screening and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) counseling, along with help for family members dealing with bereavement and loved ones with PTSD.
click post title for the rest
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
VA expects to see 5.8 million needing care by 2009
Peake: Rural health problems to be addressed
By Matthew Brown - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Feb 20, 2008 18:51:02 EST
BILLINGS, Mont. — Facing a barrage of complaints about veterans’ health care in rural America, the incoming secretary of Veteran Affairs pledged Wednesday to address “systemic” issues that hobble the quality and accessibility of care.
Secretary James Peake heard from a group of about 100 Montana veterans who described the Department of Veterans Affairs as a sometimes dysfunctional bureaucracy — and one particularly slow to address mental health issues.
Veterans told him they face months-long waits for appointments, arbitrary rejections of claims and 500-mile trips to receive care. Those who spoke spanned generations, including veterans of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War and peacetime service.
“We need more doctors. And it would be nice if we could keep them for a while,” said Ernest LaFountain, who did three tours in Vietnam and now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Peake, also a Vietnam combat veteran, took the helm of the scandal-battered VA in December. He said Wednesday he wanted to “reach out to rural America” and help those veterans not getting adequate care.
“The notion that the VA is uncaring, if we have pockets of that we’re going to find it and root it out,” he said.
Peake was appointed by President Bush in the wake of widespread reports of dismal care received by troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan — problems for which Bush later apologized. The secretary was in Montana at the invitation of Sen. Jon Tester, a Democratic member of the Veterans Affairs Committee.
The number of veterans under VA’s care is expected to hit 5.8 million by 2009.
go here for the rest
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/02/ap_ruralhealth_080220/
Looks like the line is going to get a lot longer!
By Matthew Brown - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Feb 20, 2008 18:51:02 EST
BILLINGS, Mont. — Facing a barrage of complaints about veterans’ health care in rural America, the incoming secretary of Veteran Affairs pledged Wednesday to address “systemic” issues that hobble the quality and accessibility of care.
Secretary James Peake heard from a group of about 100 Montana veterans who described the Department of Veterans Affairs as a sometimes dysfunctional bureaucracy — and one particularly slow to address mental health issues.
Veterans told him they face months-long waits for appointments, arbitrary rejections of claims and 500-mile trips to receive care. Those who spoke spanned generations, including veterans of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War and peacetime service.
“We need more doctors. And it would be nice if we could keep them for a while,” said Ernest LaFountain, who did three tours in Vietnam and now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Peake, also a Vietnam combat veteran, took the helm of the scandal-battered VA in December. He said Wednesday he wanted to “reach out to rural America” and help those veterans not getting adequate care.
“The notion that the VA is uncaring, if we have pockets of that we’re going to find it and root it out,” he said.
Peake was appointed by President Bush in the wake of widespread reports of dismal care received by troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan — problems for which Bush later apologized. The secretary was in Montana at the invitation of Sen. Jon Tester, a Democratic member of the Veterans Affairs Committee.
The number of veterans under VA’s care is expected to hit 5.8 million by 2009.
go here for the rest
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/02/ap_ruralhealth_080220/
Looks like the line is going to get a lot longer!
VA Sec. Peake and Senator Tester address needs of veterans
Federal Veterans Affairs Secretary visits Billings
By TOM LUTEY
Of The Gazette Staff
Limited by staff and space, Veteran's health care services in Montana fall short, said U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., who today brought U.S. Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake to Billings to meet with local veterans.
"What I'm getting at is the staff and the square footage is a big issue," Tester said. "That's not just here. It's the same in Great Falls and other places."
Tester and the secretary got a firsthand look at the tight cramped quarters of the Veterans Affairs Primary Affairs Clinic in Billings. Roughly a decade old, the King Avenue health care facility is no longer big enough to accommodate services for Billings-area veterans. Plans to relocate to a larger facility are in the works, but the VA Primary Care Center is also short on staff.
Wait time
Veterans speaking to Tester and Peake said phone calls to the VA Primary Care Center often go unanswered for half an hour. Getting in to see a counselor about war-related stress can take days.
Rural areas
Addressing veteran's care in rural areas specifically, Peake announced the creation of a rural health advisory committee to bring rural health care issues to the fore. Tester brought Peake to Montana to so the secretary could see challenges of veteran health care in rural areas first hand. Peake in turn said some areas of Montana went beyond rural and were actually frontier.
Release of medical records
The need for better mental health care was later driven home during a town hall meeting, in which the father of a suicidal Marine living in Billings pleaded for the release of his son's military records so the boy could get help. Trembling and near tears, the man barely made his request.
But this is the most troubling of all
The average time for processing claims currently is 185 days and only one in 10 claims are filed correctly.
go here for the rest
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/02/20/news/local/20-vavisit.txt
This last part is the biggest reason all veterans should seek the help of service officers to fill these claims out the right way the first time. It's too hard to know what the form is asking for half the time. While organizations like the DAV do not charge for their help, all they ask is that you consider joining them. That's all. They are not connected to the government but they know how the system works. They operate on donations. Most of them do.
Stunning Statement From VA Sec. Peake At Walla Walla
Secretary of VA Visits Walla Walla
By Chelsea Kopta
Published: Feb 19, 2008 at 7:40 PM PST
WALLA WALLA -- The man responsible for the nation's veterans is now promising to help our local vets.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Dr. James Peake toured the Walla Walla medical center Tuesday.
It was Peake's first official visit to any VA hospitals since he was sworn in exactly two months ago to the day.
At his confirmation hearing in Washington D.C., Senator Patty Murray invited Peake to visit the local VA center in Walla Walla.
"We need to make sure that we keep learning about it because I'm not sure that that fresh PTSD is exactly the same as dealing with people from my generation," he said.
go here for the rest
http://www.keprtv.com/news/15786492.html
Nothing against Peake because given what we got from Nicholson, he's a breath of fresh air. The problem is, he's the head of the VA and doesn't seem to know enough about PTSD. He's a Vietnam veteran. You'd think he would know all about PTSD but with the statement he made, it caused an alarm bell in my brain to go off.
Redeployments increase the risk of developing PTSD by 50% according to an Army report. This is the only difference between Vietnam and Iraq/Afghanistan. PTSD strikes 1 out of 3 exposed to the same event. With combat there are events almost everyday. The difference is not in PTSD itself but in the number of people re-exposed to traumatic events.
While Vietnam was more jungle warfare for the most part, Iraq is more urban with condescend populations. There are more people involved in these attacks between citizens and soldiers. They are witnessing a lot more horrific events on a larger scale. I truly believe this is why we are seeing so many already with deep wound PTSD. It also involves more awareness of what PTSD is.
Who can say how many Vietnam veterans could have been saved the ravages of PTSD claiming their lives from suicide had the PC been in use back then? Who can say how many would have sought treatment if the ability to develop educational videos for them existed? The media has been helping out a great deal in brining this dark secret into the awareness of the public, not just in America, but across the world. Today we are seeing hopeful signs the stigma of PTSD is eroding, the investment in research increasing and people filling the need to have support groups but there is so much more work to be done.
25 years ago, I wouldn't have thought that I would be doing this work or to the point where I can't keep up with all the news even though it's a 12 hour a day/7 days a week vocation. In all the hope I want to offer that it is possible for marriages to be saved, the numbers of homeless veterans can be decreased and veterans can heal to the point where they begin to live productive lives once more, I am compelled to caution all that unless we get caught up really fast on the demand for help, we will go from overwhelmed to beyond control. We are fast approaching that point.
The Congress can provide funds to build all the hospitals and clinics they want but that does not take care of the need today. We need veteran's centers in every city of this nation. We especially need them in rural areas of the nation where help is just too far away. We need more suicide hotlines that are not telling suicidal veterans to call back because it's the weekend. We need more support groups for them and their families. We need advocates to be put to use with the expertise to provide their knowledge to the general public on a grand scale. The DOD and the VA, as well as service organizations avoid using citizen experts instead of relying on their research.
I know people in the DAV and other service organizations who ignore me and my work, as well as the thousands of others just like me around the country, instead of using us today. Is it because they view us as competition? Is it because they doubt our work? They would be wrong on both counts. Our work has been based on decades of research from experts, as well as the fact most of us live with it on a daily basis. As for the competition thought, they do not understand our role is not to take their place but to enable more to use their services.
Our job is to provide the education and awareness of what PTSD is and then rely on the DAV and other service organizations to provide the assistance with their claims. If nothing else, our work could increase the demand for their services and increase their memberships because they would be providing a service in great need. The veterans want to know all their needs are taken with the same kind of interest as their membership is. Most members of these organizations in leadership positions are not aware of what PTSD is and they cannot provide the knowledge we have already in hand. They can no longer ignore us if they are going to be able to live up to claim they are there for the veterans.
Kathie Costos
Namguardianangel@aol.com
http://www.namguardianangel.org/
http://www.namguardianangel.blogspot.com/
http://www.woundedtimes.blogspot.com/
"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation." - George Washington
By Chelsea Kopta
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James Peake speaks before a crowd at the Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center. It was Peake's first formal visit to any VA hospital in the region.
Published: Feb 19, 2008 at 7:40 PM PST
WALLA WALLA -- The man responsible for the nation's veterans is now promising to help our local vets.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Dr. James Peake toured the Walla Walla medical center Tuesday.
It was Peake's first official visit to any VA hospitals since he was sworn in exactly two months ago to the day.
At his confirmation hearing in Washington D.C., Senator Patty Murray invited Peake to visit the local VA center in Walla Walla.
"We need to make sure that we keep learning about it because I'm not sure that that fresh PTSD is exactly the same as dealing with people from my generation," he said.
"The veterans coming back from Iraq and the Middle East situation are over-burdened with the number of tours that they've encountered," local veteran Toby Armijo said. "Yes, they are definitely going to need benefits."
go here for the rest
http://www.keprtv.com/news/15786492.html
Nothing against Peake because given what we got from Nicholson, he's a breath of fresh air. The problem is, he's the head of the VA and doesn't seem to know enough about PTSD. He's a Vietnam veteran. You'd think he would know all about PTSD but with the statement he made, it caused an alarm bell in my brain to go off.
Redeployments increase the risk of developing PTSD by 50% according to an Army report. This is the only difference between Vietnam and Iraq/Afghanistan. PTSD strikes 1 out of 3 exposed to the same event. With combat there are events almost everyday. The difference is not in PTSD itself but in the number of people re-exposed to traumatic events.
While Vietnam was more jungle warfare for the most part, Iraq is more urban with condescend populations. There are more people involved in these attacks between citizens and soldiers. They are witnessing a lot more horrific events on a larger scale. I truly believe this is why we are seeing so many already with deep wound PTSD. It also involves more awareness of what PTSD is.
Who can say how many Vietnam veterans could have been saved the ravages of PTSD claiming their lives from suicide had the PC been in use back then? Who can say how many would have sought treatment if the ability to develop educational videos for them existed? The media has been helping out a great deal in brining this dark secret into the awareness of the public, not just in America, but across the world. Today we are seeing hopeful signs the stigma of PTSD is eroding, the investment in research increasing and people filling the need to have support groups but there is so much more work to be done.
25 years ago, I wouldn't have thought that I would be doing this work or to the point where I can't keep up with all the news even though it's a 12 hour a day/7 days a week vocation. In all the hope I want to offer that it is possible for marriages to be saved, the numbers of homeless veterans can be decreased and veterans can heal to the point where they begin to live productive lives once more, I am compelled to caution all that unless we get caught up really fast on the demand for help, we will go from overwhelmed to beyond control. We are fast approaching that point.
The Congress can provide funds to build all the hospitals and clinics they want but that does not take care of the need today. We need veteran's centers in every city of this nation. We especially need them in rural areas of the nation where help is just too far away. We need more suicide hotlines that are not telling suicidal veterans to call back because it's the weekend. We need more support groups for them and their families. We need advocates to be put to use with the expertise to provide their knowledge to the general public on a grand scale. The DOD and the VA, as well as service organizations avoid using citizen experts instead of relying on their research.
I know people in the DAV and other service organizations who ignore me and my work, as well as the thousands of others just like me around the country, instead of using us today. Is it because they view us as competition? Is it because they doubt our work? They would be wrong on both counts. Our work has been based on decades of research from experts, as well as the fact most of us live with it on a daily basis. As for the competition thought, they do not understand our role is not to take their place but to enable more to use their services.
Our job is to provide the education and awareness of what PTSD is and then rely on the DAV and other service organizations to provide the assistance with their claims. If nothing else, our work could increase the demand for their services and increase their memberships because they would be providing a service in great need. The veterans want to know all their needs are taken with the same kind of interest as their membership is. Most members of these organizations in leadership positions are not aware of what PTSD is and they cannot provide the knowledge we have already in hand. They can no longer ignore us if they are going to be able to live up to claim they are there for the veterans.
Kathie Costos
Namguardianangel@aol.com
http://www.namguardianangel.org/
http://www.namguardianangel.blogspot.com/
http://www.woundedtimes.blogspot.com/
"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation." - George Washington
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Larry Scott, VAWatchdog, clears up PTSD new rule
Leave it to Larry Scott of VAWatchdog to get to the bottom of this.
As posted earlier, it sounded too good to be true. It's a step in the right direction but leaves too many holes to be plugged up.
Personality Disorder discharges, all over 20,000 of them, along with the misdiagnosed are left with what under these new rules?
PTSD being diagnosed while active, in other words by the DOD, have not protected any of them so far. Remember the redeployed under medication for PTSD? Where does this leave them?
What about the discharged who were diagnosed with PTSD but at such low levels they are receiving zero compensation or ridiculously low compensation?
This will do nothing to reduce the backlog of claims in the VA especially if they were diagnosed after they were discharged. Then we also have to figure in those who have not been diagnosed yet but are trapped in the waiting line. How do they turn around and prove the traumatic event happened? Are they supposed to end up like the Vietnam veterans still trying to find people who will offer support for a claim?
Like I said, it's a step in the right direction but why does it have to be such a tiny baby step?
UPDATE: VA'S NEW PTSD POLICY APPLIES ONLY TO THOSE
DIAGNOSED WHILE ON ACTIVE DUTY -- VA agrees that
veterans who are diagnosed with PTSD while on active duty
should be recognized as having PTSD for VA purposes.
by Larry Scott
Yesterday it was reported that the VA had a new policy regarding proof of trauma in PTSD claims. That story here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfFEB08/nf021908-8.htm
Unfortunately, a confusing story published by the Military Times Group did not mention that the new policy applies only to those diagnosed with PTSD while on active duty.
We now have a clarification from Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Akaka's press release on this matter is here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/scva08/scva021508-1.htm
As posted earlier, it sounded too good to be true. It's a step in the right direction but leaves too many holes to be plugged up.
Personality Disorder discharges, all over 20,000 of them, along with the misdiagnosed are left with what under these new rules?
PTSD being diagnosed while active, in other words by the DOD, have not protected any of them so far. Remember the redeployed under medication for PTSD? Where does this leave them?
What about the discharged who were diagnosed with PTSD but at such low levels they are receiving zero compensation or ridiculously low compensation?
This will do nothing to reduce the backlog of claims in the VA especially if they were diagnosed after they were discharged. Then we also have to figure in those who have not been diagnosed yet but are trapped in the waiting line. How do they turn around and prove the traumatic event happened? Are they supposed to end up like the Vietnam veterans still trying to find people who will offer support for a claim?
Like I said, it's a step in the right direction but why does it have to be such a tiny baby step?
PTSD Victims No Longer Need to Prove Trauma 30 years too late
This is great but not cheering yet.
If you go here you'll see thousands and thousands of postings from veterans looking for others. Most of them are looking for someone to support a claim with the VA.
It is on Grunt space.
http://grunt.space.swri.edu/vetorgs.htm
While I am truly delighted this finally happened, it's 30 years too late for far too many. How many suicides could have been prevented if they had their claim for PTSD approved, provided with the compensation they need to replace the income they lost because of PTSD and had the treatment they needed? How many would have not been homeless or put into prison because of PTSD? Does this new rule include veterans of Vietnam or the Gulf War? This will go very far in reducing the number of claims backlogs and claims on appeal, but what does this do to the veterans who have been dishonorably discharged under "personality disorders" and what does it do to the veterans who have been misdiagnosed with the other illnesses PTSD resembles?
Sorry if I can't jump on the bandwagon and cheer but there are still too many questions not addressed in this release of information.
Will they review the cases of dishonorably discharged veterans who do in fact have PTSD?
Will they automatically approve claims for veterans who have been diagnosed by psychologists from the DOD, the VA as well as private doctors since a lot of veterans turn to private psychologist and psychiatrists because of the system?
If the diagnoses means an automatic approval, then will they actually do the right thing and pay back to when PTSD began to ravage their lives instead of when a claim was filed?
Will they review claims that have been turned down and veterans did not file appeals?
Will they review claims of veterans they denied the claims of only to have the veterans kill themselves and then provide the compensation they should have received to the families they left behind?
There have been too many veterans paying the price for their service and it took this new generation of combat veterans to push the system to the breaking point where they have to do something. It took Senator Akaka to take over the chairmanship to make these changes. It is a wonderful victory for the veterans of today, but there are still far too many issues the other veterans face and they all need to be included in these changes. After all, they did all serve the same nation, suffered the same wounds, only some of them suffered a lot longer.
PTSD Victims No Longer Need to Prove Trauma
Kelly Kennedy
Air Force News
Feb 18, 2008
February 18, 2008 - The Veterans Affairs Department has dumped a policy requiring combat vets to verify in writing that they have witnessed or experienced a traumatic event before filing a claim for post-traumatic stress disorder, said the chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
“This change provides a fairer process for veterans with service-connected PTSD,” Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, said in a written statement. It “leaves claim adjudicators more time to devote to reducing the staggering backlog of veterans’ claims.”
In the past, a veteran has had to provide written verification — a statement from a commander or doctor, or testimony from co-workers — that he or she was involved in a traumatic situation in order to receive disability compensation for PTSD from VA. The Defense Department uses the same rules in evaluating PTSD for disability retirement pay.
In Iraq, troops joke about keeping a pen and paper on hand in case they witness a shooting or explosion or are injured themselves. That way, they can run around and have all their buddies sign a quick statement saying it really happened. The joke loses steam when a Marine has to prove he was involved in a traumatizing event when he had a hand blown off in that event, or when a soldier has to prove he watched his friends die to qualify for benefits.
The rule also slows the process as veterans wait for yet more documentation before their claims may be processed.
Akaka said he asked VA Secretary James Peake if the rule was necessary, and asked that it be removed. Peake agreed.
“I am pleased that the secretary took quick action to reverse this requirement after it was brought to his attention,” Akaka said.
In the future, veterans will be diagnosed with PTSD through a medical examination with no further proof necessary, Akaka said, adding that he’s been told that Peake has already informed VA regional offices of the decision.
http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/articleid/9370
If you go here you'll see thousands and thousands of postings from veterans looking for others. Most of them are looking for someone to support a claim with the VA.
Vietnam Combat Area Listings (VN, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand)
U.S. Army (updated: 27 January 2008)
U.S. Marine Corps (updated: 27 January 2008)
U.S. Navy (updated: 27 January 2008)
U.S. Air Force (updated: 27 January 2008)
It is on Grunt space.
http://grunt.space.swri.edu/vetorgs.htm
While I am truly delighted this finally happened, it's 30 years too late for far too many. How many suicides could have been prevented if they had their claim for PTSD approved, provided with the compensation they need to replace the income they lost because of PTSD and had the treatment they needed? How many would have not been homeless or put into prison because of PTSD? Does this new rule include veterans of Vietnam or the Gulf War? This will go very far in reducing the number of claims backlogs and claims on appeal, but what does this do to the veterans who have been dishonorably discharged under "personality disorders" and what does it do to the veterans who have been misdiagnosed with the other illnesses PTSD resembles?
Sorry if I can't jump on the bandwagon and cheer but there are still too many questions not addressed in this release of information.
Will they review the cases of dishonorably discharged veterans who do in fact have PTSD?
Will they automatically approve claims for veterans who have been diagnosed by psychologists from the DOD, the VA as well as private doctors since a lot of veterans turn to private psychologist and psychiatrists because of the system?
If the diagnoses means an automatic approval, then will they actually do the right thing and pay back to when PTSD began to ravage their lives instead of when a claim was filed?
Will they review claims that have been turned down and veterans did not file appeals?
Will they review claims of veterans they denied the claims of only to have the veterans kill themselves and then provide the compensation they should have received to the families they left behind?
There have been too many veterans paying the price for their service and it took this new generation of combat veterans to push the system to the breaking point where they have to do something. It took Senator Akaka to take over the chairmanship to make these changes. It is a wonderful victory for the veterans of today, but there are still far too many issues the other veterans face and they all need to be included in these changes. After all, they did all serve the same nation, suffered the same wounds, only some of them suffered a lot longer.
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