Daily VA Newsflashes
The latest news affecting veterans and their families.
Updated: 5 min 7 sec ago
THE WEEK IN REVIEW from VA WATCHDOG DOT ORG -- 09-04-2010
A complete, one-page look at VA and veterans' news for the week ending September 4, 2010.
VA GETS READY TO PAY FOR NEW AGENT ORANGE PRESUMPTIVES -- 09-04-2010
The first payments will be made immediately after October 30, when a required 60-day review period for Congress will expire.
THE VA IS NOT THE PLACE TO WORK THAT IT USED TO BE -- 09-03-2010
Latest Partnership for Public Service report shows the VA dropped from 12th among large agencies to 21st.
VAOIG - VA'S JACKSON REGIONAL OFFICE HAS 24 PERCENT CLAIMS ERROR RATE -- 09-03-2010
Other problems include lack of control over date stamping documents and processing competency determinations.
VAOIG FINDS MORE VA CLINICS NOT MEETING HEALTH CARE STANDARDS -- 09-02-2010
Problems include veterans' auditory privacy and protection of veterans' personally identifiable information.
VETERANS Q and A with JIM STRICKLAND - VOLUME 52 for 2010 -- 09-02-2010
Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers.
SHINSEKI SAYS VA CLAIMS BACKLOG WILL BE BROKEN THIS YEAR -- 09-01-2010
VA Secretary Eric Shinseki - "We intend to break the back of the backlog this year."
AGING VETERANS' COSTS CONCERN OBAMA'S DEFICIT CO-CHAIRMAN -- 09-01-2010
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."
GAO - VA'S NONFORMULARY DRUG REQUESTS NOT HANDLED IN A TIMELY MANNER -- 09-01-2010
VA does not have the framework in place to ensure that appeals of denied nonformulary drug requests are resolved in a timely fashion.
FEDERAL JUDGE SAYS HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM LAWSUIT CAN GO FORWARD -- 09-01-2010
A federal judge ruled that a lawsuit by Oregon Army National Guard veterans against war contractor Kellogg Brown and Root can proceed.
NURSES AT AUGUSTA VA TO PROTEST WORKING CONDITIONS -- 09-01-2010
Fed up with what they say are forced 16-hour shifts and inadequate staffing, some RNs are planning an informational picket.
VA SPENDS MILLIONS TO MAINTAIN VACANT AND HAZARDOUS BUILDINGS -- 09-01-2010
Some buildings are home to rats, septic rainwater, exposed asbestos, lead paint, mold, radon and barrels of unidentified chemicals.
VA FINALLY PUBLISHES NEW AGENT ORANGE PRESUMPTIVES RULE -- 08-31-2010
We have an easy-to-read text version and a PDF version available for viewing or download.
DIABETES NOW THE MOST COMMON VA CLAIM FOR VIETNAM VETERANS -- 08-31-2010
"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."
VETERANS Q and A with JIM STRICKLAND - VOLUME 51 for 2010 -- 08-31-2010
Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers.
A LOOK AT WHO'S FOR AND WHO'S AGAINST NEW AGENT ORANGE PRESUMPTIVES RULE -- 08-31-2010
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.
FAMILIES SUE PRUDENTIAL OVER HANDLING OF SURVIVORS' BENEFITS -- 08-31-2010
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."
IS THE VA USING THE SCHIZOPHRENIA DRUG SEROQUEL PROPERLY -- 08-31-2010
The VA often dispenses Seroquel to treat PTSD symptoms and sleeplessness, a common practice known as "off-label" prescribing.
VA TO PUBLISH NEW AGENT ORANGE PRESUMPTIVES RULE ON AUGUST 31, 2010 -- 08-30-2010
The final regulation follows VA Secretary Shinseki's determination to expand the list of conditions for which service connection for Vietnam Veterans is presumed.
WALCOFF - VA'S NEW AGENT ORANGE PRESUMPTIVES RULE TO BE PUBLISHED SOON -- 08-30-2010
VBA chief - "... We still can't do anything about it for another 60 days because ... Congress gets 60 days to review it and make a determination of whether they want to stop it or not."