VA News of interest to Veterans.
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VA MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT: Veterans traveling to and from Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities started being reimbursed for their travel at a higher rate effective 17 NOV. The increase, from 28.5 cents per mile to 41.5 cents per mile, was mandated by law this year, and Congress provided funding for the increase. Veterans who have service-connected disabilities, receive VA pensions or have low incomes are eligible for the reimbursement. The deductible that applies to certain mileage reimbursements will stay the same for now, at $7.77 for a one-way trip and $15.54 for a round trip, with a cap of $46.62 per month. On Jan. 9, these deductibles will decrease to $3 for a one-way trip, $6 for a round trip, with a maximum of $16 per month.
VA DIABETES MELLITUS CARE : The occurrence of Type 2, or adult onset, diabetes is increasing, particularly for the Vietnam Era veteran. For veterans of Vietnam , there is a statistically higher incidence of Type 2 diabetes. Because of this, the Veterans Affairs Department declared a link between Vietnam service and the disease. This means that if you have served in Vietnam and now have Type 2 diabetes, you are eligible for service-connected disability compensation and health care connected with this condition through the VA. The term "service in Vietnam " means that at some time between 9 JAN 62 , and 7 MAY 75 , you were in Vietnam . Service in the waters offshore or in the air does not qualify you unless during that time you set foot in Vietnam and have some way to prove it. For most veterans who served in Vietnam , their service is clearly shown on their separation papers, the DD-214.
If you have qualifying service, you should obtain a statement from your treating doctor that you are currently being treated for the disease. The more detail you provide, the easier it will be for the VA to handle your claim, so try to get a copy of your treatment records for the past year. A successful claim could entitle you to monetary compensation and treatment for your diabetes. The evaluation will be assessed through a VA examination, during which a VA doctor will evaluate your current condition. The VA will then assign an evaluation through the rating process. The evaluation could be as little as zero percent disabling to 100% disabling, which would result in monthly compensation for your condition. Service connection can also be granted for secondary conditions directly related to the diabetes, for example, diabetic retinopathy. Once service connection has been established, you can reopen your claim if the condition progresses or other secondary conditions are discovered. In addition, if service connection is established, you are entitled to care for this condition at any VA medical facility. Medical care includes prescription drugs required to treat the condition. Both the medical care and prescription drugs are provided without cost for veterans service connected for the condition. If you've never filed a claim with the VA before, or you know someone who may benefit from this information, contact your local Veterans Service office.
VA BENEFIT ROLLS: Following are the numbers of veterans, children, parents, and surviving spouses on the U.S. Veterans and Dependents Benefits Rolls as of SEP 07:
CONFLICT
. VETS Kids PARENTS - SPOUSES
Civil War
.. 0 3 0 0
Indian Wars
.. 0 0 0 0
Spanish-American War ... 0 108 0 108
Mexican Border ................ 0 15 0 62
World War I
. 0 3,500 0 6,059
World War II (Note 1)
.. 396,944 15,006 167 225,908
Korean Conflict
223,499 3,278 335 60,885
Vietnam Era
.. 1,141,946 9,227 3,252 158,127
Gulf War (Note 2)
802,381 13,189 859 14,471
Nonservice-connected 322,875 19,176 0 180,664
Service-connected 2,844,354 28,176 6,133 317,385
(Note 1) Based on new population projections VA estimates the number of living World War II U.S. vets over the next 15 years will be:
SEP 08 - 2,457,000; SEP 09 - 2,143,000; SEP 10 - 1,850,000; SEP 11 -1,581,000;
SEP 12 - 1,336,000; SEP 13 - 1,117,000; SEP 14 - 921,000; SEP 15 - 750,000;
SEP 16 - 602,000; SEP 17 - 477,000; SEP 18 -371,000; SEP 19 - 285,000;
SEP 20 - 214,000; SEP 21 - 158,000; and SEP 22 115,000.
(Note 2) For compensation and pension purposes, the Persian Gulf War period has not yet been terminated and includes veterans of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.)
VA PTSD CLAIM SUPPORT: There has been some confusion concerning what is a decoration for Valor in combat to support PTSD claims filed due to combat. The decorations on the below list are the only decorations recognized for Valor in combat. If the Veteran has one of these decorations, he (or she) does not need a diagnosis of PTSD, as exposure to combat is conceded by the VA. They only need to complete VA form 21-0781 detailing stressful incidences to the best of their ability, and provide a "Stressor Statement" detailing the symptoms they're experiencing (see attached list). There can be other acceptable evidence in the form of official Unit Records, Diaries and Ship's Deck Logs on occasion.
Air Force Cross
Air Medal with "V" Device
Army Commendation Medal with "V" Device
Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device
Combat Action Badge
Combat Action Ribbon (Note: Prior to FEB 69, the Navy Achievement Medal with "V" Device was awarded.)
Combat Aircrew Insignia
Combat Infantry/Infantryman Badge
Combat Medical Badge
Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Service Cross
Joint Service Commendation Medal with "V" Device
Medal of Honor
Navy Commendation Medal with "V" Device
Navy Cross
Purple Heart, and/or
Silver Star.
VIETNAM COMMON MYTHS :
Myth: Common Belief is that most Vietnam veterans were drafted.
Fact: 2/3 of the men who served in Vietnam were volunteers. 2/3 of the men who served in WW II were drafted. Approximately 70% of those killed in Vietnam were volunteers.
Myth: The media have reported that suicides among Vietnam veterans range from 50,000 to 100,000 - 6 to 11 times the non-Vietnam veteran population.
Fact: Mortality studies show that 9,000 is a better estimate. The CDC Vietnam Experience Study Mortality Assessment showed that during the first 5 years after discharge, deaths from suicide were 1.7 times more likely among Vietnam veterans than non-Vietnam veterans. After that initial post-service period the rate of suicides is less.
Myth: Common belief is that a disproportionate number of blacks were killed in the Vietnam War.
Fact: 86% of the men who died in Vietnam were Caucasians, 12.5% were black, 1.2% were other races. Black fatality figures were proportional to the number of blacks in the U.S. population at the time and slightly lower than the proportion of blacks in the Army at the close of the war.
Myth: Common belief is that the war was fought largely by the poor and uneducated.
Fact: Servicemen who went to Vietnam from well-to-do areas had a slightly elevated risk of dying because they were more likely to be pilots or infantry officers. Vietnam Veterans were the best educated forces our nation had ever sent into combat. 79% had a high school education or better.
Myth: The Common belief in the U.S. is that the domino theory was proved false.
Fact: The domino theory was accurate. The ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries, Philippines , Indonesia , Malaysia , Singapore and Thailand stayed free of Communism because of the U.S. commitment to Vietnam . The Indonesians threw the Soviets out in 1966 because of America 's commitment in Vietnam . Without that commitment, Communism would have swept all the way to the Malacca Straits that is south of Singapore and of great strategic importance to the free world. The Vietnam War was the turning point for Communism.
Myth: The common belief is that the fighting in Vietnam was not as intense as in World War II.
Fact: The average infantryman in the South Pacific during World War II saw about 40 days of combat in four years. The average infantryman in Vietnam saw about 240 days of combat in one year thanks to the mobility of the helicopter. One out of every 10 Americans who served in Vietnam was a casualty. 58,148 were killed and 304,000 wounded out of 2.7 million who served. Although the percent that died is similar to other wars, amputations or crippling wounds were 300% higher than in World War II ....75,000 Vietnam veterans are severely disabled. MEDEVAC helicopters flew nearly 500,000 missions. Over 900,000 patients were airlifted (nearly half were American). The average time lapse between wounding to hospitalization was less than one hour. As a result, less than one percent of all Americans wounded, who survived the first 24 hours, died.
Myth: Kim Phuc, the little nine year old Vietnamese girl running naked from the napalm strike near Trang Bang on 8 June 1972 was burned by Americans bombing Trang Bang.
Fact: No American had involvement in this incident near Trang Bang that burned Phan Thi Kim Phuc. The planes doing the bombing near the village were VNAF (Vietnam Air Force) and were being flown by Vietnamese pilots in support of South Vietnamese troops on the ground. The Vietnamese pilot who dropped the napalm in error is currently living in the United States . Even the AP photographer, Nick Ut, who took the picture, was Vietnamese. The incident in the photo took place on the second day of a three day battle between the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) who occupied the village of Trang Bang and the ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam ) who were trying to force the NVA out of the village. Reports in the news media that an American commander ordered the air strike are incorrect. There were no Americans involved in any capacity. The Commanding General of TRAC at that time said Americans had nothing to do with controlling VNAF.
Myth: The United States lost the war in Vietnam .
Fact: The American military was not defeated in Vietnam . The American military did not lose a battle of any consequence. From a military standpoint, it was almost an unprecedented performance. General Westmoreland said the war was a major military defeat for the VC and NVA. The United States did not lose the war in Vietnam , the South Vietnamese did.
More than 85,000 Serve Veterans as VA Volunteers
Secretary: Volunteer Week a Time to Salute Service to Vets
WASHINGTON As the nation prepares to mark National Volunteer Week, April 27 to May 3, officials at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) encourage more Americans to join the Department's corps of 85,000 volunteers.
Volunteers make important contributions to the operation of VA hospitals, nursing homes and national cemeteries, said Dr. James B. Peake, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. I encourage everyone to consider becoming a VA volunteer. These dedicated private citizens prove that one person can make a difference in the lives of our veterans.
The 11.6 million hours of service donated last year by VA volunteers was equivalent to 5,500 full-time employees, the Department estimated. VA officials say the donated time was worth nearly $220 million.
When VA's volunteer program began in 1946, volunteers helped primarily in VA medical centers, escorting patients to appointments, helping with administrative duties and overseeing recreational programs for patients.
In recent years, however, the role of VA volunteers has expanded. In the health care arena, the volunteers are involved in helping VA medical staff in hospices, outpatient clinics and home-based programs. Volunteers are also active at many of the 125 national cemeteries managed by the Department, where they place flags on gravesites, provide military honors and help with landscaping.
Volunteers are also important in programs reaching out to homeless veterans, especially annual stand downs held in many communities to provide health check ups, clothing, and benefits assistance to the homeless.
To become a volunteer, contact the nearest VA facility, or complete a form on the Internet at www.va.gov/volunteer .
VA Voluntary Service
VA's Voluntary Service is one of the largest volunteer programs in the federal government. Men and women from their teens to their nineties become volunteer partners on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care team. Some bring special skills and knowledge, while others have a desire to explore and learn. Many come with a gift for working directly with patients, while others bring dependability to assignments behind the scenes. Voluntary Service matches the volunteer to the assignment, provides orientation and training for volunteers and maintains an awards program to recognize volunteer service.
Over the past 60 years, VA volunteers have donated more than 689 million hours of service worth an estimated $12.9 billion. In fiscal year 2007, 85,428 active volunteers contributed a total of more than 11.6 million hours of service -- equal to 5,574 full-time employees worth $218 million. Volunteers and their organizations generated another $59 million last year in direct gifts and donations.
Volunteer Activities
VA volunteers perform a variety of duties at VA medical centers, national cemeteries, regional offices and regional counsel offices. At medical centers, their roles range from traditional ones, such as escorting patients and administrative duties, to creative activities, such as teaching arts and crafts and developing newsletters. As VA has expanded its care of patients into the community, volunteers now assist VA staff in hospice programs, outpatient clinics, home-based primary care and outreach centers.
At cemeteries, volunteers provide military honors at burial services, create memorials, plant trees and flowers, build historical trails and place flags on graves for Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
Volunteers have been particularly active in supporting community programs aimed at reaching and serving the homeless in one- to three-day events offering a variety of services. Volunteers also have become an integral part of national and local "showcase events" aimed at introducing people with disabilities back to mainstream activities. These include the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, the National Veterans Wheelchair Games (the largest wheelchair athletic meet in the world), the National Veterans Golden Age Games and the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival.
Corporate volunteers play a strong role in these events, setting the pace for the future of VA Voluntary Service, along with a strong and growing youth volunteer program that is introducing teenagers and college students to careers and community service. In VA medical centers, young volunteers work in such areas as audiology, speech pathology, dietetics and physical therapy. Scout groups assist in landscaping and decorating at VA national cemeteries.