allan

** I wonder how they will judge successful completion -- in favor of VA or in favor of claimant ? I've had honest evaluations from VA C&P examiners. The ones that symply copy the previous SOC's denial without looking at the evidence, really gets me. The last one the AMC ordered from a contract Dr in New Jersey. I can except an honest and therough evaluation if it comes back unfavorable. As long as all my records were properly weighed and a medical reason a bases for denying it was included. I hav't seen an honest evaluation since my records went to the BVA. Is COVA just as crooked? I hope not. When these crooks start doin time for lyin to cheat vets and widows out of their benefits, than we'll start to remove some of the backlog of remands.

Department of Veterans Affairs VHA DIRECTIVE 2008-005 Veterans Health Administration Washington, DC 20420 January 29, 2008 CERTIFICATION OF CLINICIANS PERFORMING COMPENSATION AND PENSION EXAMINATIONS 1. PURPOSE: This Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Directive establishes policy for the implementation of an education and certification program for clinicians who perform compensation and pension (C&P) examinations. 2. BACKGROUND a. VHA performs over 700,000 C&P examinations yearly. As part of the ongoing quality assurance program operated by the office of Compensation and Pension Examination Program (CPEP), and from reports issued by the office of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Inspector General, it has been concluded that there is observed variation in the performance and quality of C&P examination reports between Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs). b. As health care providers traditionally approach examinations in the purely clinical domain, training is critical to ensure that they have an understanding of the legal ramifications of the examinations, and what elements are required by the Veterans Benefit Administration (VBA) in order to make a valid determination. Given the importance of a thorough examination to the veteran in terms of eligibility for future benefits and compensation, it is critical that standards are consistently enforced and applied fairly across all VISNs. As a result, VHA and VBA have determined the need for a training and certification program established for all clinicians performing C&P examinations, no matter where they are performed. These courses are available on VA Learning Management System (LMS) http://www.lms.va.gov to meet the requirements identified below (search for keyword "CPEP"). c. After completion of the certification process, employees who have demonstrated increased performance in the efficiency of claims processing, customer satisfaction, and improved quality of examinations being performed may be acknowledged. In recognition of this increased performance, VHA physicians and other clinicians who are "certified C&P examiners" on a prorated basis may receive a one-time incentive award up to $1,000 from their local health facility. NOTE: Any VHA clinician may take the certification training and receive continuing medical education (CME) for course completion, but only clinicians designated to perform C&P examinations are eligible to receive the cash award. Residents and interns assisting with C&P examinations, as part of their graduate training curriculum under the supervision of a VHA certified C&P examiner, are encouraged to complete the training modules that are appropriate to their courses of training, but are not eligible for the cash awards. 3. POLICY: It is VHA policy that all clinicians designated to conduct C&P examinations must complete the required training modules and post-tests and become certified by CPEP; new clinicians must be certified prior to being allowed to perform any C&P examination; clinicians already performing C&P examinations have until July 1, 2008, to be certified; however, they may still perform C&P examinations during the interim period. THIS VHA DIRECTIVE EXPIRES ON JANUARY 31, 2013 VHA DIRECTIVE 2008-005 January 29, 2008 2 4. ACTION a. Under Secretary for Health. The Under Secretary for Health, or designee, is responsible for joint oversight of CPEP. b. Compensation and Pension Examination Program (CPEP) Office. The CPEP Office is directly responsible for: (1) The development, evolution, management and implementation of the ongoing clinician certification program. (2) Working collaboratively with the Employee Education System (EES) to: (a) Produce the certification training modules, and (b) Document and track clinicians who have successfully completed the required training. (3) Coordinating the certification process and providing a list of certified clinicians to the appropriate field facility. (4) Monitoring field facilities for compliance with this Directive. (5) Establishing and chairing the C&P Examiner Certification Review Board (ECRB). Membership on the board shall include representation from Patient Care Services (PCS), Employee Education System (EES), C&P Service, Office of Nursing Services, Mental Health Services, and a field representative from a Medical Center C&P Program Office. The ECRB shall be responsible for the identification and oversight of all future modules and updates to existing modules which will be used as content requirements for maintaining certification. The ECRB will serve in an advisory capacity to the CPEP office which has overall responsibility for the clinician certification program. c. EES Office in Northport, NY. The EES Office in Northport, NY, is responsible for the: (1) Production of C&P training modules in direct collaboration with CPEP and field-based subject matter experts who perform C&P examinations. (2) Development and maintenance of the web-based training and testing sites. (3) Access to course completion and testing data. d. VISN Director. Each VISN Director is responsible for ensuring: (1) Certification of all clinicians performing C&P examinations (including fee-for-service physicians) within their areas of responsibility. VHA DIRECTIVE 2008-005 January 29, 2008 3 (2) The VISN C&P Contact Person compiles and maintains a list of providers who perform C&P examinations at each facility, and submits the list to CPEP Office. (3) Additional instructions provided by CPEP on the certification process are distributed to the VISN facilities. e. Facility Director. Each facility Director is responsible for ensuring: (1) Certification of all clinicians performing C&P examinations (including fee-for-service physicians) within their area of responsibility. (2) Consideration of cash awards acknowledging successful completion of certification. (3) Local record keeping strategies are developed and implemented to track employees’ completion of C&P certification training. (4) All clinicians who perform VA C&P examinations (for VHA this means all employee and Fee-For-Service Providers) complete the interactive video module on "CPEP General Certification Course." (5) All clinicians who perform VA C&P examinations (for VHA this means all employee and Fee-For-Service Providers) successfully complete the post-test examination. (6) Requirements are met for certain special examinations. In addition to completing the interactive video module on "CPEP General Certification Course," and successfully completing the post-test examination, those: (a) Clinicians performing joint, feet, and spine examinations, must complete the module on the "Musculoskeletal Examination," and successfully complete the post-test. (b) Psychiatrists and clinical psychologists performing initial mental disorders examinations, must complete the "Mental Disorders Initial Examination" module, and successfully complete the post-test. © Psychiatrists and clinical psychologists performing initial Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) examinations must complete the "Initial PTSD Examination" module and successfully complete the post-test. (d) Clinicians who perform mental disorder review examinations (including nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and licensed social workers) must complete the module for "Mental Disorders Review Examinations," and successfully complete the post-test. (e) Clinicians who perform Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) review and/or increase examinations, (including nurse practitioners, physician assistants and licensed social workers) must complete the module for "PTSD Review and/or Increase Examinations," and successfully complete the post-test. VHA DIRECTIVE 2008-005 January 29, 2008 (7) Timely completion of updates to existing modules and any new module requirements that may be added in the future for enhancing the efficacy of the clinician certification program. (8) The completion of the certification process is linked to increased performance in the efficiency of claims processing, customer satisfaction, and improved quality of examinations being performed. In recognition of this increased performance, VHA physicians and other clinicians who become "certified" C&P examiners, and are involved in the actual performance of C&P examinations, may receive a one-time incentive cash award up to $1000. The decision to grant any cash award is the responsibility of the facility Director, as is the determination of the actual amount of the award that each clinician may be eligible to receive. NOTE: Any VHA clinician may take the certification training and receive continuing medical education (CME) for course completion, but only clinicians designated to perform C&P examinations are eligible to receive the cash award. Residents and interns assisting with C&P examinations as part of their graduate training curriculum under the supervision of a VHA certified C&P examiner, are encouraged to complete the training modules that are appropriate to their courses of training, but are not eligible for the cash awards. 5. REFERENCES: None. 6. FOLLOW-UP RESPONSIBLITIES: The Office of Department of Defense (DOD) Coordination (10D) is responsible for the contents of this Directive. Questions may be addressed to the Office of DOD Coordination at (202) 461-6082. 7. RESCISSIONS: None. This VHA Directive expires on January 31, 2013. Michael J. Kussman, MD, MS, MACP Under Secretary for Health DISTRIBUTION: CO: E-mailed 1/30/08 FLD: VISN, MA, DO, OC, OCRO and 200 – E-mailed 1/30/08

No place for other veterans to check. Don't they want our support? I noticed that too & it left me with the same question. It didn't stop me from passing it along though. I expect nothing from the King, except the invasion of Iran and more deaths, while any entitlement program & VA benefits funds it. Less government, means less government spending on the people. "we don't give a damn, take care of it yourself", republican philosophy,(KATRINA) was a good example. I believe the only reason Bush stepped in after 7 days, was due to nations around the would offering to come here and help them. Or else he would have let them all parish. Expect the king to veto this and anything else that takes a dime from his agenda.

First we have to remember to separate VAMC from VARO? The VAMC provides health care and is controlled by benefits for the Vet. The VARO controls the benefit the Veteran receives, the VAMC C&P dept, contract Dr's for medical opinions, VOC Rehab benefits, etc. I'm grateful for the health care, but would prefer a coverage card to use in the private sector. There is allot less experiments performed without our knowledge in the private sector. "Medications" Women Veterans that live in north central washington State have to make the nearly 300 mile trip to Seattle to recieve health care. There are two male Dr's with no experience in womens care. Seems like the VA should atleast have "one" on the staff to care for our Vets. These are the things I see women going through, that males don't. Women that have been exposed to biotoxins have a variety of reproductive problems that need attention. Making long trips will cause them to just put it off.

GI Bill - sign the petition http://www.gibill2008.org/

Recent VA News Releases To view and download VA news release, please visit the following Internet address: http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel Health Care "Report Card" Gives VA High Marks Peake: Demonstrates VA's Openness and Accountability WASHINGTON (June 13, 2008) - A new "hospital report card" by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) gives the Department's health care system high marks, with VA facilities often outscoring private-sector health plans in standards commonly accepted by the health care industry. "This report is a comprehensive snapshot of the quality of care VA provides to our veterans," said Dr. James B. Peake, Secretary of Veterans Affairs. "From waiting times and staffing levels to hospital accreditation and patient satisfaction, this report demonstrates VA is providing high quality care to the veterans we serve." Among the report's findings: * 98 percent of veterans were seen within 30 days at primary care facilities, 97 percent at specialty clinics. (Veterans requiring emergency care are seen immediately.) * All of VA's 153 medical centers are accredited by the independent Joint Commission which accredits all U.S. health care facilities. * The quality scores for older veterans are similar to those for younger veterans. Although screening for breast and cervical cancer for women in VA facilities exceeds screening in private-sector facilities, women veterans lag behind their male counterparts in some quality measurements, the report noted. VA has already launched an aggressive program to ensure women veterans receive the highest quality of care, including placement of women advocates in every outpatient clinic and medical center. Health care will be a major topic at VA's National Summit on Women Veterans Issues scheduled for June 20-22 in Washington. The report also found minority veterans are generally less satisfied with inpatient and outpatient care than white veterans. That disparity will be the focus of an in-depth study, based upon input from veterans, which will be completed this summer. "Disparities in treatment and satisfaction based on gender or ethnic background are unacceptable," Peake said. "VA has a robust program to look at disparities and to deal with the underlying causes." The report card is available on the Internet at http://www.va.gov/health/docs/Hospital_Quality_Report.pdf. In February, Congress directed VA to complete the report card, highlighting measurements of quality, safety, timeliness, efficiency and "patient-centeredness." "This report demonstrates VA's determination to be open and accountable for the quality and safety of the care we provide," Peake said. "No other health care organization provides this much information about its ability to care for its patients." To unsubscribe from this list, or to update your name or e-mail address, please visit the following Internet address: <http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/opalist_listserv.cfm> <http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/opalist_listserv.cfm>

Has favorable evidence been ignored or given little weight? Did the VARO go doctor shopping? Has a favorable medical examinations wording, by the examining physician, been altered by the rater in the SOC to the point it means nothing? Has VA ignored requests for copies of your C-File/Military records? Has the RO ignored requests for an C&P examination? Has the VARO ignored requests for a copy of your C&P examination with opinion? Have you been told by the VARO or SO that you can not have a local hearing prior to a decision? Has the VARO lost records, NOD's, etc you've sent them? More than once? Has the VARO rater ever called you and asked, what are you filing for? tried to clearify anything for that matter before a decision was made? heres a few i can think of.

Thank you Wings for adding to this. There's alot of laws designed to help, protect and assist us that the DVA ignors, , breaks, twists or bends.

William, send it certified, returned receipt requested. Veterans may also request that their NSO be present. If you request or agree to an informal hearing,"nothing" discussed can be entered as part of the record. You must be sworn in. If you end up going all the way to, court you'll need it in the record. I asked IRIS for a status last fall. The claim was denied in dec and the AMC sent a notice of the action near the end of Jan. Finally in feb, I get a reply to the IRIS, request in the fall, stating the claim is in ready to rate status. Put no faith in the avenues the VA uses like the 800 numbers or IRIS. Pure BS the majority of the time. We sure are working on it. See! we have this IRIS thing working for them and many more projects like better record keeping, better trained raters, we're the best at everythang. They will sell you whatever your eager to hear, while passing you around the circus.

United States Codes concerning US Veterans TITLE 38VETERANS' BENEFITS TITLE 38AVETERANS' BENEFITS (APPENDIX) United States Code - index http://www.gpoaccess.gov/USCODE/index.html

PRESENTS! Welcome to VFVC on the air Live! LISTEN ON YOUR COMPUTER AT: WWW.STARDUSTRADIO.COM Hosted by Gene D. Simes and Jere A. Beery June 10, 2008 9pm Eastern 8pm Central 7pm Mountain 6pm Pacific The call-in number is; 877 213-4329 What is the Ghost Patrol? A special one hour Report July 29, 2008 To everyone that has visited www.offe2008.org in the last week, and did not quite understand why I only targeted Senator John McCain. I urge you to tune in to Stardust Radio, to express your full opinion, participating on the concerns regarding this important presidential election. Brothers and Sisters of this great Nation, Please join me on the next special hour of Welcome to VFVC on the air live! And let me hear the voices of each and everyone of you. At this time, I can not give my full support to any one presidential candidate wishing to become the next President of the United States. For I believe, that he who takes on this high level position of serving the people of this Great Nation, should earn our vote. Because as we know, it is not enough to buy into promises and pledges that politicians make to achieve their personal interests. Furthermore, the respect our Nation deserves should be voiced by its citizens, who are the true bearers of her best interest. I am grateful as an American to have the privilege to voice my opinion, and I invite each and every one of you to express your constitutional rights. Let’s unite in this great debate and work towards being the pillars of support to this Great Nation. Whether it’s accepted or rejected, you have an option. Let’s talk!

Dr Bash found service records showing flutuating vision and a specific type of hearing loss that indicates MS. This was in my records and both listed as a defect on separation examination which the DVA has ignored to this day. Records? What Records? How they've processed my claim from the begining, is how I imagine every Vet with Brain Injury, and MS getting their claim worked. In 1994 or 95', filed for hearing loss due to occpational exposures to marine boilers and the VARO called me a lier saying I never worked around boilers. They claimed I was a truck driver & denied the claim. That was my first experience and one I havn't forgotten. I hope it goes to court and not settled by a RO remand. I want these lying, cheating bastards exposed for what & who they are. It's not about $$$$$$$ anymore. I want their ass in jail where they belong, with the thieves and child molesters.

So do I stretch. I hope Obama puts an end to some of these injustices.

bio-toxins? what bio-toxins? I beleave much of our enviromental exposures start right in basic training with expermental vaccines and adjuvents. By the time you throw in dioxins, fuels, bioweapons, asbestos, and radiation, it's no wonder we are so sick and pass it on to our children.

They are just going to try and wait you out? You know it John. If Dr Bash's opinion came back as nothing is service connected or wrong with me, well I would have had to say, yes I am crazy. But it confirmed DVA's care provider and my private Dr's opinions. This diagnosis backed with records pissed the DVA off real bad. They ain't over it yet I guess. Not getting any notification of actions from the BVA or PVA sure does bug me, but theres little I can do about it but wait right now. IF It goes to COVA, it's going to cost them allot more then settling the claim now. I don't have what it takes to work it, and the PVA does what it can. But a sharp experienced attorney would love my claim. The Deception on the part of the DVA to defraud a disabled veteran with mental disorders is very obvious. They've used every trick in the book on me over all these years. Even a vet with problems like I have can see it, so I'll just wait them out. Thanks for all the replies..........

PTSD War Veteran Who Claimed Benefits in Prison Jailed Wisconsin Veteran Awaits Court Decision, in Fed Prison for Claiming PTSD Benefits by Mal Contends Madison, Wisconsin - Keith Roberts awaits the decision of his appeal before a three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit as he sits in a federal prison in Minnesota because the United States government said he did not tell the truth about his service in the Navy. Veterans are assumed under the Veterans Judicial Review Act of 1989 to be (as they often are) in an diminished capacity to tell the full truth of the circumstances they encountered that contributed to their suffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The many stressors that would lead to the granting of disability benefit payments need to be rigorously documented to the U.S. Dept of Veterans Affairs' (VA) satisfaction, thus the VA claims process propagated under administrative rules is non-adversarial and paternalistic for the veterans. And that’s why obtaining VA benefits is a claimant-friendly system. It’s more paternalistic than the Social Security benefits adjudication system (per the Veterans Judicial Review Act). But ask any veteran and he/she will tell you it does not work out that way... Read Full Story http://www.veteranstoday.com/

We fought long & hard for this....we will keep after them until full concurrent receipt is obtained for all.. https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/crsc/index.html Chapter 61 Updates: The 2008 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was signed into law on January 28, 2008. It expanded the eligibility of CRSC to include anyone recieving military retired pay. This includes: Medical Chapter 61, Temporary Early Retirement Act (TERA) and Temporary Disabled Retirement List (TDRL) retirees. These new eligible components for CRSC went into effect January 1, 2008. Medical and TERA retirees must still provide documentation that shows a causal link between a current VA disability and a combat related event ********** What is a TERA retiree? TERA retirees include anyone who retired under the Temporary Early Retirement Act. This retirement authority was used from 1993 - 2001 to offer early retirement to service-members with at least 15 to 19 years of service. What is a Chapter 61 retiree? A Chapter 61 retiree is anyone who was medically retired from military service with a 30% or greater rated disability. This includes those on Temporary Disabled Retirement List, which falls under Chapter 61. The term “Chapter 61” comes from the corresponding chapter in Title 10 US Code defining the different categories medical separation and retirement. For example; if you were retired under 10 USC Sec. 1201, that means Title 10, US Code, Chapter 61, Section 1201. Chapter 61 claimants that opt for a severance package are not eligible since they are not receiving retired pay, therefore there is nothing to offset. Review this web site for "some" examples https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/crsc/document...ceConnected.pdf Tips for preparing a claim: https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/crsc/tips.html From: USDR Action Alerts [mailto:Legislative@USDR.ORG] Sent: Monday, June 09, 2008 6:14 PM To: DANIEL K. CEDUSKY Subject: CANCEL CALL ALERT - CRSC GUIDANCE HAS BEEN RECEIVED "Keep on, Keepin' on" Dan Cedusky, Champaign IL "Colonel Dan" See my web site at: http://www.angelfire.com/il2/VeteranIssues/

fwd from Tom Trefts DSNurse@aol.com wrote: From: DSNurse@aol.com Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2008 06:15:45 EDT Subject: CIRCULATE TO ALL To: tomcat6169@yahoo.com Dear Gulf War veterans, Family members, Supporters and Medical Personnel, There are several meetings coming up of critical importance and we need people to come! There is also a website that all should know about and utlize. WE have been trying to collect all the obituaries we can find to honor the gulf war veterans that came home in 90-91 and are ill and to draw attention to the problems of health that we face. By keeping an eye on data from obits we can also examine problems that have not been addressed by the RAC and researchers, it serves as clues to be brought forward to be investigated. We want this information out and fully available not only to look at for clues, to alert medical professionals of other areas to be monitoring the gulf war vets(90-91) actively, and to provide knowledge to our veterans and their families and to the survivors. YOU ARE NOT ALONE! You can help by sending in obits you find in your papers in your area. You can help by getting the website known to other veterans, medical personnel, and Researchers. I believe this is showing what many of us have known that this is real! The gulf war veterans are very physically ill and are dying too early in life. WE need our nation's attention. WE need our Doctors and medical professionals attention. We need our researchers full efforts to find answers to help. We need medical professionals both military, VA and civilians to be fully aware of all facts and statistics. WE need them to think outside the box and reach out to help us. WE need them to consider other diagnostic steps to take and what coud help us. WE need the medical professionals also educate and informed more openly than has been occurring. WE need to look at alternatives which includes vitamin and nutritional supplements that could be helpful. WE need help now! WE need your input and communications! WE need the veterans to speak up what has happenned to you in clinical care what would have helped from your perspective. We need to know also about any benefit problems. WE need the families and survivors of those that are ill or have died to send in info. I will gladly help to be sure the info gets there. You may want to send in info as soon as we have details on how the committee wants that done. But I would encourage sending a copy to me because I am looking to present suggestions for how things can be made better by using everyone experience and I will be sure that the committee does pay attention and not just loose the input in a black box that we all wonder what happens to that flow of information that is never made public. I can be reached at DSNurse1@yahoo.com or by phone 303-422-2962(H) and always available by 303-726-0738(cell). Here is the other specific information: Review honorthenames.com for list of gulf war obits that we are collecting we have 2,500 MY NEW EMAIL is DSNurse1@yahoo.com I am going to ask veterans to help in a very specific request. The gulf war veterans have pushed and gotten a Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War illness and the work they are doing is helping. Their next meeting is Sept 15-16 in Washington DC. Their next big report will be released in DC at the VA headquarters on September 16th! We need all veterans notified! WE need a huge attendance inside and outside of the meeting! Inside you will hear the details of the work that has been ongoing since 2002. The first report was in November 2004 and this report coming will truly be significant! We need all veterans to be notified this will be OPEN MEETING. WE Need veterans on the outside to carry posters like GULF WAR VETERANS NEED HELP NOW! GULF WAR VETERANS DO NOT HAVE STRESS BUT EXPOSURES AFFECTING THEIR HEALTH. WE truly need everyone's help NOW. Their website is http://www1.va.gov/rac-gwvi/ Email me if you need more info DSNurse1@yahoo.com WE need our vietnam veterans help! Can you make it happen? WE need our gulf war veterans to get out of their bunkers! We also have a new committee under the VA that will meet in DC on June 17-19. See the federal registry notice at end of posting for details!!!!! WE NEED GULF WAR VETERANS TO BE THERE--------WE need family members----------WE need Vietnam Veterans........WE need all supporters SO WE need all to be aware of these two meeting DATES and help us get the information to all veterans. Both meeting are in WASHINGTON DC ! If you are coming please let us know...email me DSNurse1@yahoo.com or call me(303-422-2962 0r 303-726-0738)! WE can share room costs, look out for each other, get there together etc..... VA Names Members of Gulf War Veterans Advisory CommitteeMay 13, 2008 ( Printable Version) Secretary Peake to Hear Their Concerns, Issues WASHINGTON -- Veterans who served in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during 1990â€"1991 will have their own special advocates before Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake, thanks to a new advisory committee Peake established to respond to issues unique to them. The 14-member, independent panel will advise the Secretary and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on the full range of health care and benefits needs of those who served in the conflict. “Gulf War veterans made an invaluable contribution to national security and peace in a volatile region,†Peake said. “This new panel will ensure that VA benefits and programs adapt to the needs of these veterans, just as our services have adapted for veterans of other conflicts.†Serving on the committee are Gulf War and other veterans, veterans service organizations’ representatives, medical experts, and the survivors of Gulf War veterans. Members were selected to provide a variety of perspectives, experiences and expertise. The committee will be chaired by Charles Cragin, a retired Navy captain, who has had several senior level positions within the federal government, including Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and Chairman of VA’s Board of Veterans’ Appeals. In January 2002, the Department created an advisory committee to assist VA’s secretary on research into the medical problems of Gulf War veterans. That older committee will retain responsibility for research involving veterans of the 1990-1991 conflict in the Middle East . This committee’s first meeting will be held in mid-June in Washington , D.C. It is expected to complete its work within 18 months. Committee meetings will be open to the public. A list of the members of VA’s Gulf War Advisory Committee is attached. Membership VA Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans Charles Cragin, (Chair) of Raymond , Maine . Currently serves a senior counselor for Maine Street Solutions, LLC. Martha Douthit of Ashburn , Va. Surviving spouse of Gulf War Army veteran, member of the Gold Star Wives of America, currently an international trade analyst with the U.S. Department of Commerce. Dr. Henry Falk of Atlanta . Retired rear admiral and former Assistant U.S. Surgeon General. Currently director for the Coordinating Center for Environmental Health and Injury Prevention with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Mark Garner of Lorton , Va. A retired Marine Corps chief warrant officer-three and Gulf War veteran who served as a Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Defense Officer. Dr. Lynn Goldman of Chevy Chase , Md. Vice chair of the Institute of Medicine Gulf War and Health Study; currently professor of environmental health sciences at Johns Hopkins University . Dr. John Hart of Plano , Texas . Past president of the Society for Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology, currently professor of neurology and psychiatry at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. William (Rusty) Jones of South Riding, Va. Retired Marine Corps colonel, and veteran of Gulf War and Vietnam War. Kirt Love of Crawford , Texas . An Army veteran of the Gulf War, currently serving as director of the Desert Storm Battle Registry. Daniel Ortiz of Whittier , Calif. An Army veteran of the Gulf War, currently serving as department service director with the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Daniel Pinedo of Oceanside , Calif. Marine Corps colonel currently serving as the comptroller for First Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton , Calif. Thomas Plewes of Annandale , Va. A retired Army lieutenant general and former chief of the Army Reserve. Currently a senior program officer with National Academy of Sciences. Valerie Randall of Savage, Md. A retired Army sergeant first class; currently with the Department of Homeland Security. Edward (Randy) Reese of Washington , D.C. An Army veteran of the Gulf War; currently national service director for the Disabled American Veterans. Steve Robertson of Fredericksburg , Va. A Gulf War veteran who served both in the Air Force and Army National Guard. Currently director of the national legislative commission for The American Legion. # # # http://www1.va.gov/advisory/docs/CharterGu...ns4-24-2008.pdf URGENT NEW COMMITTEE STARTS MEETING:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans; Notice of Meeting The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) gives notice under Public Law 92-463 (Federal Advisory Committee Act) that the Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans will hold its first meeting on June 17-19, 2008 at The Hamilton Crowne Plaza, 1001 14th Street, NW., Washington, DC. The session on June 17 will begin at 1 p.m. and end at 4 p.m. On June 18 and 19, the sessions will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. The meeting is open to the public. The purpose of the Committee is to provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on issues that are unique to veterans who served in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the 1990-1991 period of the Gulf War. At the meeting, there will be presentations and discussion from the Veterans Benefits Administration, Veterans Health Administration, National Cemetery Administration, and the Board of Veterans' Appeals. There will also be discussion of upcoming Committee activities. The meeting will include time reserved for public comments. Individuals wishing to speak must register not later than June 10, 2008, by contacting Lelia Jackson at (202) 461-5758 or by e-mail at lelia.jackson@..., and by submitting 1-2 page summaries of their comments for inclusion in the official record. Public comments will be limited to five minutes each. Members of the public may also submit written statements for the Committee's review to the Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420. Public comments will be received on June 18 at 2:15 p.m.-2:45 p.m. and on June 19 at 3:30 p.m.-4 p.m. A sign-in sheet will be available each day. Any member of the public seeking additional information should contact Laura O'Shea, Designated Federal Officer, at (202) 461-5765. Dated: May 27, 2008. By Direction of the Secretary. E. Philip Riggin, Committee Management Officer. [FR Doc. E8-12238 Filed 6-2-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8320-01-M Thomas W. Trefts Director of The Unified Veterans Coalition http://xsorbit27.com/users5/unifiedveteranscoalition/index.php

I wrote a long reply to this, but it wouldn't post and got lost. So let me try again. Last DEC the AMC denied the claim stating the records Dr bash used to support his opinion could not be found and if they could find them, they couldn't verify them as being authentic. They also added, we don't have anything showing you ever requesting your records. Mind you, they claim this after Dr Bash viewed the entire C-file twice. Anything Dr Bash found in my records to support his opinions, they can't find, service records, health records, c-file records, voc rehab records etc so his opinions are moot. Any IMO I would seek now, no matter who I recieved it from would likely get the same. This is how it is when you do bussiness with crooks. According to my SO, the PVA submitted a statement to the AMC in DC back in April. When I called the BVA yesterday, they said an opinion was ordered on May 27, but they don't have it back yet. The only complete C&P the VA ordered was back in 1997 and that came back favorable. They imediatly set it asside, claimed they never recieved it from the C&P dept, had one of their contractors provide an IMO and denied it 3 days later. They've been doctor shopping ever since. Whats to stop them from Dr shopping anytime? The NSO's? Codes, court cases? They do as they damn well please. I believe the real problem they have is the diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis and the opinion of Dr Bash that stated it started in service, with service records to back it up.

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Claim has been on appeal with the BVA since 1998 and at the AMC since it opined in 2005. My claim set idle for a couple yrs after the AMC recieved several IMO's from Dr Bash. Last Dec it was denied stating they don't have the opinions or the c-file records I claim Dr Bash made the med opin from(service records). They also said they didn't have any records of me ever requesting a c-file or service records and can not verify thye "authinticity" of the ones I sent them. In March, I wrote them back and sent a copy of every ignored request for a copy of my file from 1975 until 1997 when they sent me what little I have. Now they've ordered another IMO. For what I don't know nor could I find out. I've recieved no notice from the AMC or the PVA regarding this.

“For too many, the initials VA stand for ‘Veterans’ Adversary,’” small portion reprinted below Extensive article and links at: http://www.aarpmagazine.org/family/when_wo..._come_home.htmlAs of April 29 the Pentagon counted 31,848 wounded service members in the current conflicts. Independent experts say that is a conservative figure. They estimate the number of brain injuries alone might total 320,000, or 20 percent of the 1.64 million who have served so far—a number that S. Ward Casscells, the assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, calls “plausible.” In addition to the physical injuries, there are thousands of cases of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Last year military screeners detected psychological symptoms in 31 percent of Marines, 38 percent of soldiers, and 49 percent of National Guardsmen returning from war. For many of the newly injured, most in their late teens and 20s, the logical direction to turn for care is toward Mom and Dad. Many of the wounded are still single. Others are married to partners who can’t or don’t want to care for gravely injured spouses. As a result, across the nation, parents end up scrubbing burn wounds, suctioning tracheostomy tubes, and bathing their adult children. They assist with physical and occupational therapy. They fight for benefits. They deal with mental health crises and help children who have brain injuries to relearn skills. They drive back and forth to Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals for outpatient appointments. In short, they put their own lives on hold. ******** Equally challenging was Cynthia’s belief that the Army was trying to rush Rory’s discharge before he was ready. If he officially left active duty, Rory would be transferred from Walter Reed, which the military runs, to the VA medical system, which falls under a different branch of government. He would, therefore, be under the jurisdiction of a different health system. Cynthia was convinced her son still needed the care of Reed’s top-notch surgeons, but the Army wanted him to sign a form initiating the discharge process. “Within days of his coming out of his coma, the colonel at Walter Reed was at Rory’s bedside, putting a pen in Rory’s hand,” she says. “Rory had no forehead. No eyesight. No hearing. Couldn’t walk. He was doped on fentanyl.” Cynthia walked over and took the pen out of the soldier’s hand. “Rory’s not signing anything today,” she recalls saying.************** The Price of War Troops returning with PTSD: 13.8 percent, or 226,000 Troops returning with major depression: 13.7 percent, or 225,000 Two-year cost of treating PTSD and major depression: $4 billion to $6.2 billion The Facts of War Percentage of active-duty forces between 17 and 24 years of age: 47 Percentage of military personnel who are unmarried: 48 Percentage of returning troops reporting the death or serious injury of a friend: 49 Source: “Invisible Wounds of War,” Rand Center for Military Health Policy Research, 2008 "Keep on, Keepin' on" Dan Cedusky, Champaign IL "Colonel Dan" See my web site at: http://www.angelfire.com/il2/VeteranIssues/

http://www.defenselink.mil/actuary/statbook07.pdf statistics on mil retiree's including number by state To find voting records for your congressman and senator go to this web site and type in your zip code http://capwiz.com/dav/keyvotes.xc/?lvl=C to find voting record for McCain type in any AZ zip such as 85710 or Obama any IL zip such as 61821 and compare the two.. Obama has a stronger Veteran's issue voting record than McCain according to DAV's key issues. From: Pentagonmaverick@aol.com [mailto:Pentagonmaverick@aol.com] Sent: Monday, June 09, 2008 8:14 AM To: Pentagonmaverick@aol.com Subject: US Military Retirees - Ignored by Obama and McCain? US Military Retirees - Ignored by Obama and McCain? Robert F. Sawallesh 09 June 2008 http://www.pentagonmaverick.com/ Look for Sen.Obama and Sen. McCain to ignore the Military Retiree community during their presidential campaigning. When is the last time that you heard them use the term "military retiree?" If you calculate the number of US military retirees that live in the US and overseas the answer is about 2,023, 024. Guess that is not enough potential voters to catch the attention of Obama and McCain. Some of Obama's and McCain's campaign staffers may have no idea of the difference between a Military Retiree and a Veteran who did not retire from the military. When President Bush gave a campaign speech at the Florida State Fair Grounds he used the term "retired veterans" but did not mention "retired military." Is your local Congressman afraid to use the term " Military Retiree?" Why? Guess which state has the highest number of military retirees? Go to page 25 of the "FY 2007 DOD Statistical Report on the Military Retirement System" which is now on the web site at http://www.defenselink.mil/actuary/. How many military retirees in your state? ***** "Keep on, Keepin' on" Dan Cedusky, Champaign IL "Colonel Dan" See my web site at: http://www.angelfire.com/il2/VeteranIssues/

Australian government denies Agent Orange test claims « on: Today at 03:34:01am »http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080609/hl_afp/australiavietnammilitaryhealthagentorange Back to Story - Help Australian government denies Agent Orange test claims Mon Jun 9, 12:27 AM ET The Australian defence department on Monday denied testing the powerful defoliant Agent Orange in rainforest near a town in the country's far northeast during the Vietnam War. Defence officials were asked to investigate whether the toxic chemical had been tested near the Queensland town of Innisfail following media reports that it had been trialled there in 1966. The media reports said that foliage in the area, which is about 100 metres (yards) from the town's water supply, had never properly regrown after the testing. But the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) said Agent Orange had never been used in or near Innisfail. "DSTO's search of archived reports shows that no trials have been carried out by defence scientists in the Innisfail area using Agent Orange," a defence spokesman said in a statement. The military conducted "one small-scale defoliation trial" in an area near Innisfail in 1966 to test the performance of herbicides in regular use in the farming and forestry industries, he said. "Small quantities of commercially available chemicals, Diquat, Tordon and Dimethyl sulfoxide were used," the spokesman said. "Contrary to media reports, the herbicide 2,4-D -- a component of Agent Orange -- was not used in this trial." Agent Orange, widely used by US forces in Vietnam to clear jungle cover, contains the extremely toxic chemical dioxin. Copyright © 2008 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AFP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of Agence France Presse. Copyright © 2008 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved. Questions or Comments Privacy Policy -Terms of Service - Copyright/IP Policy Logged Thomas W. Trefts Disabled USAF Gulf War Era Veteran A-10 Jet Engine Mechanic, Flight Line Refueling 10th Component Repair Squadron : RAF Alconbury, 1989-1991 Director of The Unified Veterans Coalition http://xsorbit27.com/users5/unifiedveteran...ition/index.php

My apologies to all who served in Nam that find this offensive. Would it be better if I deleted it?