DoD Announces Expansion of the Disability Evaluation System Pilot

The Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) announced last week the expansion of the Disability Evaluation System (DES) pilot program to include 19 additional military installations across the country. The program, which began at the three major military treatment facilities in the national capital region in November 2007, now includes Fort Meade, Md., and Fort Belvoir, Va.  The remaining 17 installations will be added upon completion of site preparations and personnel orientation and training, which will occur through May 2009. 
 
The DES program is a test of a new process eliminating the duplicative, time-consuming, and often confusing elements of the two current disability processes of the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs (DoD and VA). Key features of the DES pilot include one medical examination and a single-sourced disability rating. These reforms to ensure a "seamless transition" between the departments are strongly supported by FRA.

Over the next seven months, the program will be expanded to include:

• Army: Fort Carson, Colo., Fort Drum, N.Y.; Fort Stewart, Ga.; Fort Richardson, Alaska; Fort Wainwright, Alaska; Brooke Army Medical Center, Texas; and Fort Polk, La.
• Navy: Naval Medical Center (NMC) San Diego and Camp Pendleton, Calif.; NMC Bremerton, Wash.; NMC Jacksonville, Fla.; and Camp Lejeune, N.C.
• Air Force: Vance Air Force Base, Okla.; Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.; MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.; Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska; and Travis Air Force Base, Calif. 

Officer who investigated illness: "This is real, and it has devastated families"

One in four Gulf War veterans suffer from Gulf War illness, report says

Pesticides, drug used to thwart effects of nerve gas called most likely to blame

Illness termed "a real condition with real causes and serious consequences"

By Alan Silverleib

WASHINGTON -- An extensive federal report released Monday concludes that roughly one in four of the 697,000 U.S. veterans of the 1990-91 Gulf War suffer from Gulf War illness.

That illness is a condition now identified as the likely consequence of exposure to toxic chemicals, including pesticides and a drug administered to protect troops against nerve gas.  The 452-page report states that "scientific evidence leaves no question that Gulf War illness is a real condition with real causes and serious consequences for affected veterans."

The report, compiled by a panel of scientific experts and veterans serving on the congressionally mandated Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses, fails to identify any cure for the malady.  It also notes that few veterans afflicted with Gulf War illness have recovered over time.

VA Expands Protections for Veterans with Missing Paperwork

Peake: Benefit of Doubt for Vets, Accountability for VA Staff

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announced special procedures for processing claims from veterans, family members, and survivors whose applications for financial benefits from VA may have been mishandled by VA personnel.

These special procedures come after an audit by VA’s Inspector General found documents waiting to be shredded at some of VA’s regional offices that, if disposed of, could have affected the financial benefits awarded to veterans and survivors.

“I am deeply concerned that improper actions by a few VA employees could have caused any veterans to receive less than their full entitlement to benefits earned by their service to our nation,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake.

“In rectifying this unacceptable lapse, VA will be guided by two principles – full accountability for VA staff and ensuring veterans receive the benefit of the doubt if receipt of a document by VA is in question,” he added.

Washington Crossing National Cemetery Dedicated

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) dedicated its newest national cemetery in Bucks County, Pa., on Sunday.

“A new national shrine that will honor the veterans of Pennsylvania becomes a reality today with the dedication of this cemetery site,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake.  “VA holds sacred our mission to provide veterans a beautiful final resting place and lasting tribute to the men and women who have defended our nation.”

VA’s Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs, William F. Tuerk, gave the keynote address and was joined by local officials as the dedication plaque was unveiled and ground was ceremonially broken.

The new 205-acre national cemetery will serve veterans for decades.  More than 580,000 veterans live in the region.  Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, the nearest open national cemetery in Pennsylvania, is 120 miles from the new site.

The first phase of construction, including an early burial area, is planned to begin early next year.  Burials are expected to begin in the fall of 2009.  When completed, the 64-acre first-phase development will provide 15,500 full-casket gravesites, including 15,100 pre-placed crypts, 6,500 in-ground cremation sites and 4,100 columbarium niches.

Missing Marine Found 2 Years After Disappearance

Lance Hering Accused Of Desertion

BOULDER, Colo. -- A Marine accused of faking his own disappearance to avoid returning to his unit has been arrested in the state of Washington, along with his father, who has been arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting.

Boulder County sheriff's officials say 23-year-old Lance Hering was arrested Sunday afternoon at the Port Angeles Airport. He was in a rented airplane with his father when he was arrested moments before taking off, Port Angeles police said.

The Peninsula Daily News reported Monday that Hering's father, Lloyd Hering, had flown there in a rented Cessna. Port Angeles police Detective Jesse Winfield said the father had just fueled up and the two were preparing to depart but wouldn't say where they were headed, citing an investigation.

Lance Hering is being held on a warrant for contempt of court on a burglary charge from 2004, and a U.S. Marine Corps warrant for desertion. He will face a military court and could face more serious penalties for deserting during wartime.

Reimbursement Rate Increase Gives TRICARE Mental Health Benefit Users Peace of Mind
 
FALLS CHURCH, Va. – TRICARE has increased mental health reimbursement rates by 5 percent for 24 mental health services. The psychiatric therapeutic procedures impacted by this change range from Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes 90804-90829 which include:

• Individual psychotherapy, insight oriented, behavior modifying and/or supportive, using verbal techniques provided in an office or other outpatient facility, an inpatient hospital, partial hospital or residential care facility.
• Individual psychotherapy, interactive using non-verbal techniques in an office or other outpatient facility, an inpatient hospital, partial hospital or residential care facility.

“TRICARE providers should be encouraged about this positive change,” said Maj. Gen. Elder Granger, deputy director, TRICARE Management Activity. “The mental health reimbursement increase will enhance service in an area of increased focus and benefit wounded warriors and their families.”

With the exception of mental health services as listed above, other TRICARE payment rates for providers will continue to stay the same until February 2009. Rates are reviewed semi-annually.

1. Report Calls For Increased Gulf War Syndrome Research.  
2. New Ad Campaign Aims To Connect Veterans With Help, Other Vets.  
3. Rehbein: Legion Must Work To Address Mental Healthcare Budget Shortfalls.  
4. Meeting Of Progressives On Veterans Issues Marks Generational Change.  
5. Local Group Organizes Veterans Support Group.  
6. Amputees At Medical Center Raising Funds For Transportation.  
7. Homeless Shelter In Massachusetts Tries To Help Veterans.  
8. More Information Technology Seen As Key To Better US Healthcare. 
9. Alabama VA Receives Property Deed For Veterans Home.  
10. VA Is Government's Second Largest User Of Recruitment Incentives.

Lawsuit filed in defense of Marine vet’s anti-Islam decals

A Marine veteran whose anti-terrorist and anti-Islam vehicle decals hindered him in visiting the grave of his fallen son at Arlington National Cemetery has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the military order which rebuked his display of the decals.

Jesse Nieto, a 25-year Marine veteran, served two combat tours in Vietnam. His youngest son, Marc, was one of the seventeen sailors killed in the terrorist bombing of the U.S.S. Cole in October of 2000.

Since 1994 Nieto has been a civilian employee at the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. In 2001 he began displaying various decals on his vehicle expressing sentiments such as “Remember the Cole,
12 Oct 2000,” “Islam=Terrorism” and “We Died, They Rejoiced.” 

On July 31, 2008, two military police officers ticketed Nieto for displaying “offensive material.”

After Nieto refused to remove all allegedly offending decals from his vehicle, the Base Magistrate issued a written order ordering Nieto to remove his vehicle from the base until all decals were removed. The order banned his vehicle from all other federal installations, and reportedly prevented him from driving onto the grounds of Arlington National Cemetery.

Marines Ban Father of Serviceman Killed on USS Cole from Expressing Opposition to Islamic Terrorism

From the Thomas More Law Center

Jesse Nieto is a 25-year Marine veteran whose honorable service to our nation included two combat tours in Vietnam.  His youngest son, Marc, and 16 of Marc’s shipmates were killed on October 12, 2000, by Islamic terrorists who bombed the USS Cole.  Nieto has worked as a civilian employee at the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina since 1994. 

Since 2001, Nieto has displayed various decals on his vehicle expressing anti-terrorist sentiments, such as “Remember the Cole, 12 Oct 2000,” “Islam=Terrorism,” and “We Died, They Rejoiced.”  On July 31, 2008, two military police officers (MPs) issued Nieto a ticket for displaying “offensive material.” 

In mid-August, after Nieto refused to remove all “offending” decals from his vehicle, the Base Magistrate issued Nieto a written order, ordering him to remove his vehicle from the base until all decals were removed and banning his vehicle from all other federal installations.  The order in effect prevented Nieto from driving his vehicle to Arlington National Cemetery (a federal installation) to visit the grave of his fallen son.

CONSPIRACY THEORIES MAY BE THE ONLY REAL TRUTH OUT THERE

AS THE VEIL COMES OFF OUR 8 YEAR 'DARK AGE' UNIMAGINED HORRORS AWAIT

By Gordon Duff STAFF WRITER

The biggest legal question facing America today is being researched by hundreds of lawyers.  President Bush wants to know if he can issue himself a Presidential pardon.  No, this is not a rumor.  So many people have been hired that it is the biggest "unsecret"in American history.  What are the crimes being faced?  I can't even imagine.  The list can and will include much more than the 35 impeachment issues introduced by Congressman Dennis Kucinich that would now pass congress, too late to save America from ruin.

Two things stand out as most damaging to the US.  If you don't know, some of the mercenary firms we used in Iraq are owned by Republican Party officials and have offshore companies that do "special operations."  Among those operations, the biggest rumor is the rigging of the last presidential election.  These companies employ wanted criminals from Chile, Argentina and other countries who have murdered thousands of innocent civilians.  Now companies like Blackwater are found to be shipping assassination weapons around the world, hidden in dog food bags and given to these murderers.  I am not comfortable having people with 400 SAT scores decide who lives or dies.  Stupid is one thing.  Evil is quite another.  These folks are both.

Security companies are believed to be launding money for the Afghan warlords, hundreds of billions in opium, heron, and are thought to be moving drugs into the US as "returned military equipment."  Those who remember stories of heroin filled coffins coming back from Vietnam or the plane loads of cocaine used to finance our war in Central America won't be surprised.  News of American "special ops" active duty troops carrying huge amounts of money or drugs are not unusual in foreign papers.  Many of our 'anti-drug' soldiers in Columbia are turning out to be employees of drug rings with "high connections."

Expect to see the entire Justice Department cleaned out.  We will find unqualified lawyers have commited serious crimes during illegal prosecutions of Whitehouse political enemies.  The illegal prosecution of Governor Don Siegelman of Alabama is, perhaps, one of the most serious abuses of law in American history.  Bush himself could see prison time for this one.

Add things like this to the massive financial mess, all caused by criminal activity tied directly to the Bush Administration (unlike the idiotic stories Rush sends around the internet...please!) and the 9/11 coverup the government never tires of "spinning" to death and we have a pattern of criminal conduct unseen since Hitler and Stalin.