Up-to-date news from the VA and other Veterans related sites.

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A former Guantanamo detainee who joined al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula after graduating from a Saudi rehabilitation program has been arrested in Yemen.

Source: Headlines | 8 Sep 2010 | 6:43 am

Two suspected U.S. missile strikes hit militant targets in northwestern Pakistan on Wednesday, officials said, bringing to six the number of such attacks in the region in less than a week. At least 10 suspected members of a group attacking NATO forces in Afghanistan were killed.

Source: Headlines | 8 Sep 2010 | 6:28 am

A former Soldier accused of demanding mental treatment as he took hostages at gunpoint at a Georgia Army hospital later told investigators he planned to kill President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton, federal prosecutors said in court documents filed Tuesday.

Source: Headlines | 8 Sep 2010 | 6:22 am

An Iraqi soldier fired a barrage of bullets at U.S. troops protecting one of their commanders during a visit to an Iraqi army base Tuesday and killed two of them, the first U.S. servicemen to die since President Obama declared an end to combat operations in the country last week.

Source: Headlines | 8 Sep 2010 | 6:16 am

U.S. special operations forces are expanding their training of the Yemeni military as the Obama administration broadens its program to counter terrorism in countries reluctant to harbor a visible American military presence.

Source: Headlines | 8 Sep 2010 | 6:03 am

Falling asleep in the commons room at Brook Army Medical Center was all the evidence Jim Stanek needed that he should get a dog. Stanek, a three-tour Iraq veteran whose wounds include traumatic brain injury, was on a multitude of antidepressants and tranquilizers, couldn't sleep without meds, and was feeling "like a zombie," he recalled.

Source: Headlines | 8 Sep 2010 | 5:50 am

The leader of a Florida-based church which plans to hold a "Burn a Koran Day" on the 9th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks said Monday he wasn’t going to be dissuaded by critics who say the event will incite violence and endanger U.S. troops.

Source: Headlines | 7 Sep 2010 | 2:07 pm

The USS Hawaii's arrival at Yokosuka on Friday marks the first port visit by a Virginia-class submarine in the Western Pacific.

Source: Headlines | 7 Sep 2010 | 1:50 pm

US Predators conducted the fourth strike in Pakistan in four days in a region that is a known hub for al Qaeda's top leadership.

Source: Headlines | 7 Sep 2010 | 1:45 pm

The bombers and fighters flew across the English Channel by the hundreds, London in their sights, intent on forcing Britain out of the war, and Hitler's way.

Source: Headlines | 7 Sep 2010 | 1:43 pm

Hundreds of Iraqi artifacts looted from museums and archaeological sites across the country - including a 4,400-year-old statue of an ancient king stolen during the U.S.-led invasion - have been returned to Iraq and were displayed Tuesday.

Source: Headlines | 7 Sep 2010 | 1:40 pm

U.S.-led NATO troops in Afghanistan should be able to start handing off responsibility for security to the Kabul government sometime next year, Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Tuesday.

Source: Headlines | 7 Sep 2010 | 12:11 pm

Researchers are conducting a nationwide trial to determine whether the hormone progesterone can heal brain injuries after severe head trauma -- a therapy that, if proven effective, could be used on the battlefield.

Source: Headlines | 7 Sep 2010 | 6:16 am

Al-Qaida has increasingly turned to extortion and organized crime to fund its activities, with businesses bearing the brunt of intimidation, U.S. and Iraqi commanders in northern Iraq told AFP.

Source: Headlines | 7 Sep 2010 | 6:07 am

NATO may deploy 2,000 more troops to Afghanistan to join the 140,000-strong international force already there, an official said Monday.

Source: Headlines | 7 Sep 2010 | 5:59 am

The top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan warned Tuesday an American church's threat to burn copies of the Muslim holy book could endanger U.S. troops in the country and Americans worldwide.

Source: Headlines | 7 Sep 2010 | 5:41 am

A former Army soldier seeking help for mental problems at a Georgia military hospital took three workers hostage at gunpoint Monday before authorities persuaded him to surrender.

Source: Headlines | 6 Sep 2010 | 9:49 pm

The Department of Veterans Affairs workforce of more than 300,000 - including more than 90,000 who are Veterans - knows one of its objectives as it observes Labor Day is to help young Veterans find jobs.

Source: VA News Releases | 3 Sep 2010 | 12:00 am

An international study of clinical data led by a Department of Veterans Affairs-Harvard University cardiologist found that patients with deposits of fatty plaque in their arteries are at especially high risk for life-threatening cardiovascular events if they have diabetes, disease in multiple arteries or a history of heart attack or stroke.

Source: VA News Releases | 3 Sep 2010 | 12:00 am

Recognizing the longstanding, integrated collaboration shared by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense, VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki gave the keynote address Monday at the fourth annual Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Military Training Conference here.

Source: VA News Releases | 30 Aug 2010 | 12:00 am

Veterans exposed to herbicides while serving in Vietnam and other areas will have an easier path to access quality health care and qualify for disability compensation under a final regulation that will be published on August 31, 2010 in the Federal Register by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The new rule expands the list of health problems VA will presume to be related to Agent Orange and other herbicide exposures to add two new conditions and expand one existing category of conditions.

Source: VA News Releases | 30 Aug 2010 | 12:00 am

The Department of Veterans Affairs is partnering with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to award $6 million in grants for research examining the link between substance abuse and military deployments and combat-related trauma.

Source: VA News Releases | 26 Aug 2010 | 12:00 am

The National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic is an event like no other, uniquely designed to teach recently-injured Veterans how to surf, kayak, sail, cycle and enjoy other sports. The 3rd National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic, sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), will be held September 19 - 25 in San Diego.

Source: VA News Releases | 26 Aug 2010 | 12:00 am

Nearly 200 military Veterans are registered to tee-off in a unique golf tournament in Riverside, Iowa, September 6 - 9, 2010, proving that having a visual impairment or other disability does not mean they cannot lead a full and rewarding life.

Source: VA News Releases | 25 Aug 2010 | 12:00 am

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announced a new pilot in the Indianapolis region that will improve the delivery of Veterans health information. The Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis will partner with the Indiana Health Information Exchange (IHIE), the largest health information exchange organization in the United States, to securely exchange electronic health record (EHR) information using the Nationwide Health Information Network.

Source: VA News Releases | 24 Aug 2010 | 12:00 am

Veterans in the Gulf States impacted by the recent oil spill may qualify for delayed mortgage payments if their mortgages are already guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Source: VA News Releases | 20 Aug 2010 | 12:00 am

Mortgage loans guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) continue to have the lowest rate for serious delinquency and foreclosures in the industry.

Source: VA News Releases | 19 Aug 2010 | 12:00 am

Researchers with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy (CSTE) at Boston University School of Medicine have provided the first pathological evidence of a link between repeated head injuries-such as those experienced by athletes in contact sports such as boxing, football, and hockey-and a disease (chronic traumatic Encephalomyopathy) that resembles amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The results will appear in the September issue of the Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology.

Source: VA News Releases | 19 Aug 2010 | 12:00 am

The new Active Duty GI Bill rates are now posted online! For more information click the above link.

Source: Active Duty GI Bill RSS Feeds - (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) | 12 Aug 2008 | 10:30 am

Effective November 1, 2007 the Army has made changes to its GI Bill transferability program. Eligible soldiers may now transfer up to 18 months of their GI Bill to spouses or children.

Source: Active Duty GI Bill RSS Feeds - (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) | 24 Jan 2008 | 10:40 am

Some servicemembers can be eligible for increased GI Bill benefits! For more information contact your local VA office or your education services officer.

Source: Active Duty GI Bill RSS Feeds - (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) | 10 Jul 2007 | 10:08 am

Just like a regular dose, the high-dose vaccine will fight three strains of the flu, including H1N1.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

Other problems include lack of control over date stamping documents and processing competency determinations.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

Alan Simpson - "The irony is that the veterans who saved this country are now, in a way, not helping us to save the country in this fiscal mess."

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

The first payments will be made immediately after October 30, when a required 60-day review period for Congress will expire.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

A federal judge ruled that a lawsuit by Oregon Army National Guard veterans against war contractor Kellogg Brown and Root can proceed.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

Some buildings are home to rats, septic rainwater, exposed asbestos, lead paint, mold, radon and barrels of unidentified chemicals.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

"There needs to be a discussion about the costs, about how to avoid false positives while also trying to be sure the system bends over backwards to be fair to the veterans."

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

A complete, one-page look at VA and veterans' news for the week ending September 4, 2010.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

Latest Partnership for Public Service report shows the VA dropped from 12th among large agencies to 21st.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

FLITE program managers did not adequately monitor the contractor's performance and did not ensure elements considered necessary for success were included in the FLITE program.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

Problems include veterans' auditory privacy and protection of veterans' personally identifiable information.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

"We tried to identify those populations that we could have almost an assured likelihood that they would have a concussive episode."

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

VA Secretary Eric Shinseki - "We intend to break the back of the backlog this year."

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

VA does not have the framework in place to ensure that appeals of denied nonformulary drug requests are resolved in a timely fashion.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

Age and Agent Orange are closing in on Vietnam veterans, a legacy of hurt for those who served -- and a very big bill for American taxpayers.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

Fed up with what they say are forced 16-hour shifts and inadequate staffing, some RNs are planning an informational picket.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

The VA often dispenses Seroquel to treat PTSD symptoms and sleeplessness, a common practice known as "off-label" prescribing.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

We have an easy-to-read text version and a PDF version available for viewing or download.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland looks at the VA's My HealtheVet program, another good idea that is dying a painful death.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

Prudential says - "The notion that we're taking something away from the beneficiaries is completely wrong and one of the worst, most misleading facts that has come out."

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

The "Refresh and Rebalance Event" included aromatherapy, beach bingo, hula hoop contests, golf putting, massages and playing Wii.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |

The final regulation follows VA Secretary Shinseki's determination to expand the list of conditions for which service connection for Vietnam Veterans is presumed.

Source: VETERANS NEWS from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG |