DAV to Bring Defense Medical Research Program to Appleton

Aims include bringing more federal military medical research to Wisconsin

(Green Bay, Wis.) - The Disabled American Veterans Department of Wisconsin (DAV-WI) will kick off its Fall Conference in Appleton, Wis. with a bang. The first presentation, which is open to the public, will be by James Phillips, Ph.D., grant award manager for the U.S. Department of Defense’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP: cdmrp.army.mil). The CDMRP focuses on finding and funding the best medical research for program areas determined by Congress each year that include physical and mental injuries and diseases.

“We hope that bringing this key Defense medical research program to Appleton will help our veterans and our state, including bringing more federal military medical research and funding to Wisconsin,” said DAV State Commander John Hoeft of Omro, Wis.

Wisconsin has approximately 427,000 veterans, including more than 53,500 service-disabled veterans,[i] who are served by 18 community based VA outpatient clinics, four Vet Centers, and three VA medical centers and hospitals in Wisconsin[ii] and more in neighboring states. VA-Madison and VA-Milwaukee both have strong medical research partnerships with nearby research institutions. Wisconsin ranks 42^nd out of 50 states in bringing in federal dollars.[iii]

Dr. Phillips’ presentation, which is expected to be attended by a panel including the directors of all three Wisconsin VA medical centers and hospitals, will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, October 15, 2010 in Appleton, Wis., in the Empire Room at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel on 333 W. College Ave. Dr. Phillips will give an overview and background of CDMRP, including unique features and partnerships.

As an example of one of the funded CDMRP programs, which also include psychological health (including post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury, ALS, and numerous cancers, Dr. Phillips will discuss the CDMRP’s Gulf War Illness Research Program funding history, project highlights, and key strategies.

Immediately following the presentation until about noon, Dr. Phillips will be further available in a breakout room for a Q&A with scientists, clinicians, potentially interested medical researchers, and potentially interested consumer reviewers about any of the CDMRP’s programs.

Over the last 18 years, the CDMRP has managed approximately over $5.4 billion – including $626.4 million in FY09 alone – in targeted Congressional appropriations for nearly 9,000 medical research grant awards aimed to prevent, control, and cure targeted diseases.[iv]

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CDMRP relies on scientists, clinicians, and other medical researchers from public and private institutions to submit research proposals for possible funding. Researchers also participate in the peer review process.

Scientists and Consumers are fully integrated in the CDMRP, and Consumer patients, survivors, family members and advocates play a pivotal role in all aspects of the review process. The nearly 1,200 Consumers[v] who have participated with CDMRP add perspective, passion, and a sense of urgency that ensures the human dimension is incorporated in all program aspects. Interested consumers are also invited to attend the Appleton presentation, and do not have to be current or former military service members.

Congress has not yet determined next year’s CDMRP funding. This year, CDMRP’s medical research programs include the following:

1. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
2. Autism
3. Bone Marrow Failure
4. Breast Cancer
5. Genetic Studies of Food Allergies
6. Gulf War Illness
7. Lung Cancer (Funding Opportunities currently available)
8. Multiple Sclerosis
9. Neurofibromatosis
10. Ovarian Cancer
11. Peer Reviewed Cancer (Funding Opportunities currently available)
12. Peer Reviewed Medical
13. Peer Reviewed Orthopaedic (Funding Opportunities currently available)
14. Prostate Cancer
15. Psychological Health/Traumatic Brain Injury
16. Spinal Cord Injury (Funding Opportunities currently available)
17. Tuberous Sclerosis Complex

WHO: DAV’s Appleton presentation is open to the public and will be valuable to medical researchers with an interest in researching – and military veterans and other potential Consumer reviewers affected by – the health conditions funded for research through the CDMRP. Current and prospective public officials may also be interested in attending to learn more about this key federal defense medical research powerhouse and how it can help current and former military servicemembers and Wisconsin-based researchers and research organizations and entities.

 

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DATA SOURCES:

[i] State of Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs: www.WisVets.com/data

[ii] U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/fac_list_by_state.cfm?State=WI&dnum=All&isflash=0

[iii] U.S. Census Bureau, "Federal Aid to States for Fiscal Year 2007,” published September 2008; Table 422, Statistical Abstract of the United States 2010. http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/rankings.html

[iv]^{, v} Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program, U.S. Medical & Materiel Command, U.S. Department of Defense, “Annual Report: September 30, 2009.” http://cdmrp.army.mil/pubs/annreports/annual_reports.shtml

VA Releases Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses Task Force Report

In August 2009, VA Secretary Eric Shinseki directed a comprehensive review of the Department’s approach and practices in meeting the needs of Veterans of the 1990 – 1991 Gulf War.

The September 29, 2010 final report on that review is now available.

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DAV News Release - DAV Says No to Privatizing VA Health Care

WASHINGTON – Veterans health care has become a popular target for politicians and pundits alike who say veterans could receive better service in the private sector if hospitals operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (www.VA.gov) were closed.

“The realities are that the private sector would not want to enroll the typical VA patient, who is often elderly, has multiple disabilities or is chronically ill,” said Wallace Tyson, the National Commander of the 1.2 million-member Disabled American Veterans (www.DAV.org).

“Unquestionably, the VA does much better at providing those kinds of veteran-specific services than anyone in the private sector,” Commander Tyson said. “Instead of clamoring to dismantle the VA medical system and expel this nation’s defenders, the wiser policy would be to strengthen this invaluable national resource.

Veterans’ injuries and illnesses are the direct result of their service in this nation’s armed forces. Many simply cannot afford to pay for medical care. For them, the VA is their only health care safety net. Health care in the private, for-profit sector would cost the tax payers substantially more for VA health care, the DAV estimates.

“Moreover, VA health care is clearly the best anywhere and has been so deemed by numerous private entities,” said Commander Tyson, a service-connected disabled veteran.

The VA provides a wide range of specialized care tailored to meet the unique needs of veterans. Spinal cord injury medicine, blind rehabilitation, amputee programs, advanced rehabilitation, prosthetics, post-traumatic stress disorder treatment, mental health services and long-term care are at the very heart of the VA health care system.

  “Let us protect and improve the veterans health care system,” Commander Tyson said. “This country could not afford to lose the hospitals and scores of clinics, nursing homes and other facilities that care for America’s proud veterans. In purely material terms, we can ill afford the lose the more than 200,000 dedicated health care professionals and support staff providing high-quality care and contributing to the economic stability of communities across the country.”

The 1.2 million-member Disabled American Veterans, a non-profit organization founded in 1920 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932, represents this nation’s disabled veterans. It is dedicated to a single purpose: building better lives for our nation’s disabled veterans and their families. For more information, visit the organization online at dav.org or facebook.com/TheDAV.

DAV National: Home Adaptation Grants Eligibility Expanded

Veterans like Jason Pepper, who lost his eyes in combat in Iraq, and his wife Heather, could benefit from special home adaptation grants.

The VA adopted a final rule effective Oct. 25 that will expand eligibility for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grants for permanently and totally disabled veterans and armed service members.

The new rule makes both types of grants available to those who suffered extensive burns limiting movement of two or more limbs or at least one limb and the trunk. It also makes special home adaptation grants available to permanently and totally disabled veterans and service members who lose or lose use of both hands, those with severe burns and those with inhalation injuries.

“The new regulations will allow our most severely disabled veterans and service members to obtain the adaptive house and home adaptations necessary for them to continue to live normal lives in their own homes,” said Washington Headquarters Executive Director David W. Gorman. “The rules are mostly the result of congressional changes in the law over the past few years, but it will mean our veterans will be able to live better lives in homes adapted for their disabilities.”

The rule would allow special adapted house grants of as much as 50 percent of the cost of a new home up to approximately $64,000 for permanently and totally disabled veterans with burns that limit their range of motion in two or more limbs or one limb and the trunk of the body.
It also adds members of the armed services on active duty to be eligible for both types of grants.

Special home adaptation grants of as much as approximately $13,000 would be available to permanently and totally disabled veterans with the loss or loss of use of both hands, deep burns that limit motion and residuals of an inhalation injury including, but not limited to, pulmonary fibrosis, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

“The regulation allowing active duty service members to obtain the grants shows the wisdom of allowing these permanently and totally disabled service members to proceed to build or modify homes while they are still in the service,” Gorman said. “It means that when they are released from military care they can move immediately into their specially adapted home.”

“The inclusion of inhalation injuries that are permanent and total disabilities could open the door for veterans suffering from respiratory injuries associated with events during the Gulf War and those suffering permanent and total disability caused by injuries from burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan,” he said.

“We feel the changes in this final rule are good for this special class of veterans who have sacrificed for our nation,” said Gorman. “We cannot ask our veterans to make the sacrifices that leave them unable to function in their own home. The VA has made some very wise decisions on behalf of our veterans.”

Source:  http://www.dav.org/news/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=323

DAV National: Compensation Rate Increase Hoax

Many DAV members have been contacting National Service Officers across the country regarding rumored legislation that would significantly increase disability compensation.

Please be advised that no legislation has been introduced that would double compensation for 100 percent service-connected disabled veterans or would quadruple compensation for veterans rated 10 percent or significantly increase the other ratings.

H.R. 4667, the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2010, was introduced to increase, effective as of December 1, 2010, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, and for other purposes. The increase is based on the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), if any, that would be provided to Social Security recipients.

Please advise oher DAV members that the rumored increase is a hoax and that the COLA increase, if any, will be announced as soon as it is known. As always, thank you for your hard work and dedication to America’s service-connected disabled veterans and their families.

Source:  http://www.dav.org/news/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=324

President Obama's Message to Post 9/11 “Stop loss” Veterans on Retroactive Pay

The White House

Let’s get the word out!  Tens of thousands veterans whose service in Iraq or Afghanistan was involuntarily extended or retirement was suspended due to ‘stop loss’ are not applying for retroactive pay to which they are entitled, and the deadline is October 21! Under legislation President Obama signed into law last year, servicemen and women whose service was extended due to ‘stop loss’ are eligible for $500 per month in retroactive pay for each month their service was extended. 

Download Video: mp4 (26MB) | mp3 (3MB)

If you were affected by stop-loss during your time serving our Nation in the Military or if you know someone that may have, please get them to www.defense.gov/stoploss for more information, or to submit a claim.  Over the past several months, the Department of Defense has been reaching out to service members, veterans and beneficiaries through direct mail, veteran service organizations, and the media.   The deadline is fast approaching and no one should be missed.  President Obama, the Defense Department, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and Congress know you have earned this pay but the initiative to claim what amounts to an average of $3,700 starts with you.

As a team committed to improving the lives of veterans, military families, the wounded, and families of the fallen, we are intensifying our efforts to remind all who meet eligibility requirements to submit a claim for the benefit available to them.  Today, President Obama’s video address will be distributed across America to leave no stone unturned and no service member or their family unaware. 

This back pay is just one way this administration is keeping its promise to our service members, veterans and their families:

• President Obama has provided one of the largest funding increases in decades to help create a 21st century VA that provides our veterans better health care, better services, and better support, including in rural communities.  
• We’ve eliminated inpatient, outpatient and prescription co-pays for the catastrophically disabled, which today account for historically large percentage of our veterans coming home from war. 
• We’re breaking the back of benefit claims backlog so vets don’t have to wait years for the benefits they need, and are continuing to work to improve and modernize VA’s delivery of services.  
• We’re helping our veterans transition back to civilian life by helping them get jobs and sending our veterans to college through the post-9/11 GI Bill, which has already helped more than 300,000 veterans or a member of their family pursue their dream of a college education. 
• And, we’re providing unprecedented resources to treat the wounds of today’s wars -- traumatic brain injury and post traumatic stress disorder – and to provide additional resources to help family members and caregivers who put their own lives on hold to care for their loved one. 
• Finally, the Administration is making it easier for those suffering from PTSD  to qualify for VA benefits.  A veteran can now establish a claim based on his or her own testimony of events that caused PTSD without the requirement of corroborating evidence -- no matter what war you served in.

As you read this blog or watch the President’s video, realize that you are part of the solution, you can help ensure our All Volunteer Force understands they are a national treasure, you can tell a veteran thank you for their service, and now you may even help them find an unexpected treasure of retroactive stop-loss special pay.

Michael Harasimowicz, Director for Personnel and Readiness, National Security Staff

DAV Applauds Service Connection for New Illnesses Linked to Agent Orange

WASHINGTON—The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) commends Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki for his leadership in pursuing a final regulation granting presumptive service connection for three new diseases resulting from exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.

The rule, published Aug. 31, adds Parkinson’s disease and ischemic heart disease to the list of presumptive service-connected illnesses and expands the presumption for leukemia to include chronic B cell leukemia, such as hairy cell leukemia.

“Secretary Shinseki has portrayed determination and leadership in pursuing the final regulation based on the latest evidence from a 2008 independent study by the Institute of Medicine concerning health problems associated with exposure to herbicides, like Agent Orange,” said DAV Washington Headquarters Executive Director David W. Gorman. “We anticipate the VA will begin making decisions on claims for these conditions when the rule takes effect in 60 days.”

The DAV is urging Vietnam veterans with these three diseases to submit their claims for compensation as soon as possible. “In anticipation of the regulatory change, DAV’s highly trained professional National Service Officers began filing claims for veterans with these disabilities since last October,” Gorman said. “We encourage those who feel they may have a claim to contact their nearest DAV National Service Office to begin the claims process.”

Veterans who served in Vietnam between Jan. 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975, are presumed by VA to have been exposed to harmful herbicides. If they suffer from any of the three diseases, it is presumed that the illnesses are service connected, and they will be eligible for compensation and VA health care. The VA estimates that more than 150,000 veterans will submit claims in the next 12 to 18 months and 90,000 previously denied claims, including death claims, will be reviewed for possible entitlement to service connection.

“Vietnam veterans with these illnesses will have an easier time obtaining their earned compensation and health care thanks to the new presumptive service connection rule,” said Gorman. “Our nation’s Vietnam veterans served with honor and distinction, and have suffered significantly from their exposure to Agent Orange and other herbicides. The DAV thanks Secretary Shinseki for his dedication to ensuring that their sacrifice is remembered.”

DAV Applauds Service Connection for New Illnesses Linked to Agent Orange

Agent Orange is a defoliant used by U.S. military forces in Vietnam known to cause several chronic illnesses to servicemembers who encountered it.

WASHINGTON — The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) commends Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki for his leadership in pursuing a final regulation granting presumptive service connection for three new diseases resulting from exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.

The rule, published Aug. 31, adds Parkinson’s disease and ischemic heart disease to the list of presumptive service-connected illnesses and expands the presumption for leukemia to include chronic B cell leukemia, such as hairy cell leukemia.

“Secretary Shinseki has portrayed determination and leadership in pursuing the final regulation based on the latest evidence from a 2008 independent study by the Institute of Medicine concerning health problems associated with exposure to herbicides, like Agent Orange,” said DAV Washington Headquarters Executive Director David W. Gorman. “We anticipate the VA will begin making decisions on claims for these conditions when the rule takes effect in 60 days.”

The DAV is urging Vietnam veterans with these three diseases to submit their claims for compensation as soon as possible. “In anticipation of the regulatory change, DAV’s highly trained professional National Service Officers began filing claims for veterans with these disabilities since last October,” Gorman said. “We encourage those who feel they may have a claim to contact their nearest DAV National Service Office to begin the claims process.”

Veterans who served in Vietnam between Jan. 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975, are presumed by VA to have been exposed to harmful herbicides. If they suffer from any of the three diseases, it is presumed that the illnesses are service connected, and they will be eligible for compensation and VA health care. The VA estimates that more than 150,000 veterans will submit claims in the next 12 to 18 months and 90,000 previously denied claims, including death claims, will be reviewed for possible entitlement to service connection.

“Vietnam veterans with these illnesses will have an easier time obtaining their earned compensation and health care thanks to the new presumptive service connection rule,” said Gorman. “Our nation’s Vietnam veterans served with honor and distinction, and have suffered significantly from their exposure to Agent Orange and other herbicides. The DAV thanks Secretary Shinseki for his dedication to ensuring that their sacrifice is remembered.”

The 1.2 million-member Disabled American Veterans, a non-profit organization founded in 1920 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932, represents this nation’s disabled veterans. It is dedicated to a single purpose: building better lives for our nation’s disabled veterans and their families. For more information, visit the organization’s Web site www.dav.org.

For more information, link to: VA Publishes New Agent Orange Regulation

Source:  http://www.dav.org/news/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=317