The Washoe County Republican Party Support our Servicemen and Women and their families. We salute all those who make a daily sacrifice for us and the United States of America.
It is the VETERAN, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the VETERAN, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the VETERAN,not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to assemble.
It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the VETERAN, not the politician, Who has given us the right to vote.
It is the VETERAN who salutes the Flag,
It is the VETERAN who serves under the Flag,
ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD, AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.
Support Our Troops -Video
Retroactive Traumatic Injury Benefits No Longer Just For OEF/OIF
Injuries
TSGLI Payments Will Be Made for Qualifying Injuries
WASHINGTON (September 16, 2011) – The Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) is extending retroactive traumatic injury benefits to
Servicemembers who suffered qualifying injuries during the period Oct.
7, 2001 to Nov. 30, 2005, regardless of the geographic location where
the injuries occurred.
“Now all of our nation’s Servicemembers who suffered severe traumatic
injuries while serving their country can receive the same traumatic
injury benefits, regardless of where their injury occurred,” said
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “We at VA appreciate the
efforts of Congress and the President to improve benefits for our
troops.”
Effective Oct. 1, the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI)
Traumatic Injury Protection benefit, known as TSGLI, will be payable for
all qualifying injuries incurred during this period. This retroactive
benefit is payable whether or not the Servicemember had SGLI coverage at the time of the injury. The Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2010, passed by Congress and
signed by President Obama in October of 2010, removes the requirement that injuries during this period be incurred in Operations Enduring or Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF). This is welcome news for the many Servicemembers who suffered serious traumatic injuries while serving stateside or in other areas outside of OEF/OIF during this time period,
but until now have not been eligible for TSGLI.
TSGLI provides a payment ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 to Servicemembers sustaining certain severe traumatic injuries resulting in a range of losses, including amputations; limb salvage; paralysis; burns; loss of sight, hearing or speech; facial reconstruction; 15-day continuous hospitalization; coma; and loss of activities of daily living due to traumatic brain injury or other traumatic injuries.
National Guard and Reserve members who were injured during the retroactive period and suffered a qualifying loss are also eligible for a TSGLI payment, even if the cause was not related to military service, such as a civilian automobile accident or severe injury which occurred while working around their home.
National Guard and Reserve members make up more than 40 percent of the total force which has been deployed since 9-11. Those who are no longer
in the National Guard or Reserves can also apply as long as their injury occurred while they were in service.
“I am extremely pleased that these total force warriors who defend our freedoms are getting the recognition and benefits they have rightfully earned in service to our nation,” added Under Secretary for Benefits Allison A. Hickey.
VA is working with the Department of Defense to publicize this change in the TSGLI law. Additionally, all of the branches of service are identifying any claims previously denied because the injury was not incurred in OEF/OIF and reaching out to those individuals.
Although applications are currently being accepted by branch of service TSGLI offices, benefits will not be paid until Oct. 1, 2011, the effective date of the law.
For more information or to apply for a TSGLI payment, Servicemembers and Veterans should go to
http://www.insurance.va.gov/sgliSite/TSGLI/TSGLI.htm or contact their
branch of service TSGLI Office (contact information available at above
link).
VA to Take Applications for New Family Caregiver Program
for Veterans and Their Caregivers
WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published
the interim final rule for implementing the Family Caregiver Program of
the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act 2010. This new
rule will provide additional support to eligible post-9/11 Veterans who
elect to receive their care in a home setting from a primary Family
Caregiver.
“We at VA know that every day is a challenge for our most seriously
injured Veterans and their Family Caregivers,” said VA Secretary Eric K.
Shinseki. “I know many Veterans and their Family Caregivers have been
waiting anxiously for this day and I urge them to get their applications
in as soon as possible so they can receive the additional support they
have earned.”
On May 9, staff in VA’s Office of Care Management and Social Work will
open the application process for eligible post-9/11 Veterans and
Servicemembers to designate their Family Caregivers.
Additional services for primary Family Caregivers of eligible post-9/11
Veterans and Servicemembers include a stipend, mental health services,
and access to health care insurance, if they are not already entitled to
care or services under a health care plan. Comprehensive Caregiver
training and medical support are other key components of this program.
The program builds on the foundation of Caregiver support now provided
at VA and reflects what families and clinicians have long known; that
Family Caregivers in a home environment can enhance the health and
well-being of Veterans under VA care.
Starting May 9th, Veterans may download a copy of the Family Caregiver
program application (VA CG 10-10) at www.caregiver.va.gov. The
application enables the Veteran to designate a primary Family Caregiver
and secondary Family Caregivers if needed. Caregiver Support
Coordinators are stationed at every VA medical center and via phone at
1-877-222 VETS (8387) to assist Veterans and their Family Caregivers
with the application process.
“Providing support to Family Caregivers who sacrifice so much to allow
Veterans to remain at home surrounded by their loved ones, is very
important to us at VA. We offer a range of Caregiver support services
including training, counseling and respite care to ensure that our
caregivers have the tools and support they need to continue in their
care giving role,” said Deborah Amdur, VA’s Chief Consultant for Care
Management and Social Work. “We appreciate the patience, support and
assistance we have received from Veterans, Veterans Service
Organizations, and the greater Caregiver community in shaping this
program and bringing this new VA program to our wounded warriors and
their dedicated Family Caregivers.”
Caregivers for Veterans of all eras are eligible for respite care,
education and training on what it means to be a caregiver, how to best
meet the Veteran’s care needs, and the importance of self-care when in a
care giving role. The full range of VA services already provided to
Caregivers will continue, and local Caregiver Support Coordinators at
each VA medical center are available to assist Family Caregivers in
identifying benefits and services they may be eligible for. The
Caregiver Support Coordinators are well versed in VA programs and also
have information about other local public, private and non-profit agency
support services that are available to support Veterans and their Family
Caregivers at home.
VA programs for Veterans and their Family Caregivers include:
o In-Home and Community Based Care: This includes skilled
home health care, homemaker home health aide services, community adult
day health care and Home Based Primary Care.
o Respite Care: Designed to relieve the Family Caregiver
from the constant challenge of caring for a chronically ill or disabled
Veteran at home, respite services can include in-home care, a short stay
in one of VA’s community living centers or an environment designed for
adult day health care.
o Caregiver education and training programs: VA currently
provides multiple training opportunities which include pre-discharge
care instruction and specialized caregiver programs in multiple severe
traumas such as Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Spinal Cord
Injury/Disorders, and Blind Rehabilitation. VA has a Family Caregiver
assistance healthy living center on My HealtheVet, www.myhealth.va.gov
<http://www.myhealth.va.gov> , as well as caregiver information on the
VA’s main Web page health site; both Websites include information on VA
and community resources and Caregiver health and wellness.
o Caregiver support groups and other services: Family
Caregiver support groups, offered in a face to face setting or on the
telephone, provide emotional and peer support, and information. Family
Caregiver services include family counseling, spiritual and pastoral
care, family leisure and recreational activities and temporary lodging
in Fisher Houses.
o Other services: VA provides durable medical equipment
and prosthetic and sensory aides to improve function, financial
assistance with home modification to improve access and mobility, and
transportation assistance for some Veterans to and from medical
appointments.
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http://www.thefoxnation.com/culture/2010/06/07/watch-marine-stuns-crowd-tea-party
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http://www.military.com/military-report/no-cola-for-retirees—again?ESRC=miltrep.nl
More Purple Hearts after Army clarifies ‘concussion’
http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2011-03-17-purpleheart17_ST_N.htm
“This nation has a solemn obligation to the men and women who have
honorably served this country and suffer from the often devastating
emotional wounds of war,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K.
Shinseki. “This final regulation goes a long way to ensure that
Veterans receive the benefits and services they need.”By publishing a final regulation in the Federal Register to simplify the
process for a Veteran to claim service connection for PTSD, VA reduces
the evidence needed if the trauma claimed by a Veteran is related to
fear of hostile military or terrorist activity and is consistent with
the places, types, and circumstances of the Veteran’s service. This science-based regulation relies on evidence that concluded that a
Veteran’s deployment to a war zone is linked to an increased risk of
PTSD. Under the new rule, VA would not require corroboration of a stressor related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity if a VA doctor confirms that the stressful experience recalled by a Veteran adequately supports a diagnosis of PTSD and the Veteran’s symptoms are related to the claimed stressor. Previously, claims adjudicators were required to corroborate that a non-combat Veteran actually experienced a stressor related to hostile military activity. This final rule simplifies the development that is required for these cases. VA expects this rulemaking to decrease the time it takes VA to decide access to care and claims falling under the revised criteria. More than 400,000 Veterans currently receiving compensation benefits are service connected for PTSD. Combined with VA’s shorter claims form, VA’s new streamlined, science-based regulation allows for faster and more accurate decisions that also expedite access to medical care and other benefits for Veterans. PTSD is a medically recognized anxiety disorder that can develop from
seeing or experiencing an event that involves actual or threatened death or serious injury to which a person responds with intense fear,
helplessness or horror, and is not uncommon among war Veterans. Disability compensation is a tax-free benefit paid to a Veteran for
disabilities that are a result of — or made worse by — injuries or
diseases associated with active service. For additional information, go to www.va.gov <http://www.va.gov/> or
call VA’s toll free benefits number at 1-800-827-1000.
The following Military Hospitals are known to have been treating wounded Troops from various battle zones. They are in need of: phone cards, disposable cameras, magazines, music and video CD’s and tapes, individually wrapped snacks, candy, microwave popcorn, bottled water, writing instruments, xBox games (new or used) paper and envelopes, etc. Lansstuhl expecially needs basic clothing since they are the intial staging point for wounded out of Iraq. Send items to:
Naval Medical Center, San Diego
ATTN: Marine Liaison Office
34800 Bob Wilson Drive
San Diego, CA 92134-5000
Walter Reed Medical Family Assistance Center (MEDFAC)
6900 Georgia Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20307-5001
(202) 782-2071 or toll free 1-866-546-1310,
BLDG. 2, Third Floor, Room 3E01.
Landstuhl Regional Medical Center
Attn: MCEUL-CH/Chaplains Office
CMR 402
APO AE 09180
Brooks Army Medical Center
ATTN: Judeth Markelz, Army Community Services
2010 Stanley Road, STE 95,
Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234-5095
National Naval Medical Center
ATTN: SSGT Jeremiah M. Holland, USMC
Marine Liaison
8901 Wisconsin Ave.
Bethesda, MD 20889
Tripler Army Medical Center PAO
ATTN.: MCHK-IO
1 Jarrett White Road
Honolulu, HI 96859
For the latest info please visit
http://www.veteranjournal.com/
§177. Conduct during hoisting, lowering or passing of flag
During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the flag or when the flag is passing in a parade or in review, all persons present except those in uniform should face the flag and stand at attention with the right hand over the heart. Those present in uniform should render the military salute. When not in uniform, men should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Aliens should stand at attention. The salute to the flag in a moving column should be rendered at the moment the flag passes.
