On October 23rd, the Army and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) entered into a partnership to determine the root of why soldiers commit suicide. This partnership begins a five-year, $50 million, research project to determine the factors behind soldier suicides and how to prevent them.
Secretary of the Army Pete Geren said the new partnership would be building on work that is already underway in order to conduct the most far-reaching and comprehensive research project ever undertaken on suicide and its prevention. "It's a five-year study to examine the mental and behavioral health of soldiers with particular focus on the multiple determinants of suicidal behavior and resiliency across all phases of Army service," Geren said. "Family members and family relationships, including parents and siblings, will also be included in the study where it's appropriate." The National Guard and Army Reserve will also be included in the study.
An Army Science Board study would follow to identify correlated risk factors with recommendations for actionable mitigation strategies and practices to prevent the suicides. The implementation of the mitigation strategies would not wait for the end of the study but will be put into practice as they reveal themselves.
Not only will the study help the soldier population but it will give NIMH a bigger picture on the suicide risk factors of the nation's population, according to NIMH Director Dr. Thomas R. Insel. "There are more than 30,000 suicides in the U.S. each year, actually 32,000 in 2006, the most recent year for which we have numbers," he said. "That's almost twice the number of homicides in the country. Suicide is really a significant public health problem. If we can reduce the rate in the Army, it will ultimately reduce the rate in the nation - those are really the goals for this collaborative effort."
Dr. S. Ward Casscells, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, said that "suicide rates aren't exactly plummeting." "Half the suicides we can't figure out what happened, so that's why we need the NIMH help," he said.
Geren said in 2007 the Army confirmed 115 suicides, 36 of 115 were deployed at time of death, 50 had been deployed prior to their deaths and 29 of the 115 had never been deployed. The Secretary expects suicide rates for 2008 will be up compared with 2007 rates.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Cost of Living Allowance for VA Compensation - 2009
President Bush signed the veterans' cost of living allowance (COLA) for 2009 on September 25th. The veterans' COLA will be 5.8%, marking the largest COLA increase since 1982. When the Social Security COLA of 5.8% for 2009 was announced, the veterans' COLA went largely unannounced. However, traditionally the veterans' benefit increases at the same rate as Social Security. The new rate will take effect on December 1, 2008
The increase was determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics based on the corresponding increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Last year's COLA was merely 2.3%.
The increase was determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics based on the corresponding increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Last year's COLA was merely 2.3%.
Social Security Disability Benefits & VA Compensation
Many veterans and spouses do not know that a veteran can get both Social Security disability and VA compensation benefits. The veteran can get your entire benefit under VA Compensation and their entire benefit under Social Security Disability at the same time because there is no offset between the two programs.
When you get into VA pension, things become a little more complex. VA pension is a needs-based program for disabled veterans of wartime service. Veterans under the pension program can receive money up to the total pension amount. The VA will look at a veteran’s assets and countable income and if this is below the pension amount they will receive money to bring them up to the pension total amount. Income that does not count against the pension is welfare and other needs-based payments. These include supplemental security income (SSI), state welfare, general systems and home relief. The VA does count all family members income which can reduce or eliminate the veteran's pension. Social Security disability payments will count to reduce or eliminate pension amounts. This is because Social Security Disability unlike SSI is not a needs-based program. Workers compensation benefits paid either to the veteran or their spouse will count as income in calculating VA pension. It is also important to note here that even though VA pension is not offset by SSI payments, welfare or Medicaid these programs can count VA pension in determining eligibility for these programs. So unlike Social Security disability and VA compensation benefits, your amounts you get for SSI, Medicaid or welfare can be reduced or eliminated due to the income you receive from VA pension. So as you can see even though VA pensions are not offset by SSI payments, SSI payments are offset by VA pension benefits. This is done on the dollar for dollar basis.
Service-connected VA compensation benefits are usually not affected by employment. However, if the veteran has what they consider substantial gainful employment it may prevent benefits based on employability or individual unemployability. VA pension benefits will be eliminated if the veteran is engaged in substantial gainful activity. This is because in order to get VA pension one must be totally disabled.
Thus, ensure that you consider all of your options, including Social Security Disability benefits, which the veteran likely contributed substantially during their military service.
When you get into VA pension, things become a little more complex. VA pension is a needs-based program for disabled veterans of wartime service. Veterans under the pension program can receive money up to the total pension amount. The VA will look at a veteran’s assets and countable income and if this is below the pension amount they will receive money to bring them up to the pension total amount. Income that does not count against the pension is welfare and other needs-based payments. These include supplemental security income (SSI), state welfare, general systems and home relief. The VA does count all family members income which can reduce or eliminate the veteran's pension. Social Security disability payments will count to reduce or eliminate pension amounts. This is because Social Security Disability unlike SSI is not a needs-based program. Workers compensation benefits paid either to the veteran or their spouse will count as income in calculating VA pension. It is also important to note here that even though VA pension is not offset by SSI payments, welfare or Medicaid these programs can count VA pension in determining eligibility for these programs. So unlike Social Security disability and VA compensation benefits, your amounts you get for SSI, Medicaid or welfare can be reduced or eliminated due to the income you receive from VA pension. So as you can see even though VA pensions are not offset by SSI payments, SSI payments are offset by VA pension benefits. This is done on the dollar for dollar basis.
Service-connected VA compensation benefits are usually not affected by employment. However, if the veteran has what they consider substantial gainful employment it may prevent benefits based on employability or individual unemployability. VA pension benefits will be eliminated if the veteran is engaged in substantial gainful activity. This is because in order to get VA pension one must be totally disabled.
Thus, ensure that you consider all of your options, including Social Security Disability benefits, which the veteran likely contributed substantially during their military service.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Just Creepy: VA is to Deploy 'Mobile Counseling Centers'
In an alleged effort to bring mental health services closer to veterans, the VA has deployed 50 new "mobile counseling centers" which will be administered through the Vet Centers.
“Our widespread distribution of this fleet from coast to coast marks a new chapter in VA's innovation to reach rural and under served veterans with high-quality readjustment counseling,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake.
I don't consider this "new" effort to be innovation but just creepy. Think about this, the mobile counseling center will reach each veteran how often? This convoluted effort smells like a pork barrel project to benefit the "mobile center" manufacturer.
An existing Vet Center will be assigned a vehicle and will travel around to access the rural resident veterans. The Vet Center counselors and outreach workers will travel for events and activities to reach a more broad geographic area.
This mobile counseling center seems ridiculous. It would seem more appropriate for the VA to pay for private counseling on a set rate scale, similar to facilities which provide services for Medicare and Medicaid patients. Therefore, the rural resident veterans could receive more regular counseling by a professional of their choosing without the veteran having to worry about when they will next have the short bus come to their rural neck of the woods.
Vet Centers were established to provide non-medical readjustment counseling in easily accessible, consumer-oriented facilities, addressing the social and economic dimensions of post-war needs. This includes psychological counseling for traumatic military-related experiences and family counseling when needed for the veteran’s readjustment.
As many of you know, the counseling provided by the VA and Vet Centers is not provided often enough. Thus, how will random trips to obscure parts of the country benefit the veterans who may need more regular therapy?
These vehicles will be used to provide outreach and direct readjustment counseling at active-duty, reserve and National Guard activities, including post-deployment health reassessments for returning combat service members. This seems like a very arduous task for the already overworked VA and Vet Center mental health facilities.
The vehicles will also be used to visit events typically staffed by local Vet Center staff, including homeless "stand downs," veteran community events, county fairs, and unit reunions at sites ranging from Native American reservations to colleges.
While most of their use will be in Vet Centers' delivery of readjustment counseling services, the local manager may arrange with VA hospitals or clinics in the region to provide occasional support for health promotion activities such as health screenings.
The 50 vehicles are being manufactured for VA by Farber Specialty Vehicles of Columbus, Ohio.
This "plan" seems like a complete waste of taxpayer money which could be spent towards individual counseling in a veteran's local neighborhood.
“Our widespread distribution of this fleet from coast to coast marks a new chapter in VA's innovation to reach rural and under served veterans with high-quality readjustment counseling,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake.
I don't consider this "new" effort to be innovation but just creepy. Think about this, the mobile counseling center will reach each veteran how often? This convoluted effort smells like a pork barrel project to benefit the "mobile center" manufacturer.
An existing Vet Center will be assigned a vehicle and will travel around to access the rural resident veterans. The Vet Center counselors and outreach workers will travel for events and activities to reach a more broad geographic area.
This mobile counseling center seems ridiculous. It would seem more appropriate for the VA to pay for private counseling on a set rate scale, similar to facilities which provide services for Medicare and Medicaid patients. Therefore, the rural resident veterans could receive more regular counseling by a professional of their choosing without the veteran having to worry about when they will next have the short bus come to their rural neck of the woods.
Vet Centers were established to provide non-medical readjustment counseling in easily accessible, consumer-oriented facilities, addressing the social and economic dimensions of post-war needs. This includes psychological counseling for traumatic military-related experiences and family counseling when needed for the veteran’s readjustment.
As many of you know, the counseling provided by the VA and Vet Centers is not provided often enough. Thus, how will random trips to obscure parts of the country benefit the veterans who may need more regular therapy?
These vehicles will be used to provide outreach and direct readjustment counseling at active-duty, reserve and National Guard activities, including post-deployment health reassessments for returning combat service members. This seems like a very arduous task for the already overworked VA and Vet Center mental health facilities.
The vehicles will also be used to visit events typically staffed by local Vet Center staff, including homeless "stand downs," veteran community events, county fairs, and unit reunions at sites ranging from Native American reservations to colleges.
While most of their use will be in Vet Centers' delivery of readjustment counseling services, the local manager may arrange with VA hospitals or clinics in the region to provide occasional support for health promotion activities such as health screenings.
The 50 vehicles are being manufactured for VA by Farber Specialty Vehicles of Columbus, Ohio.
This "plan" seems like a complete waste of taxpayer money which could be spent towards individual counseling in a veteran's local neighborhood.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Some Veterans' Paperwork May Be Destroyed: VA Tightens Protections for Veterans Paperwork
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake promised to take quick action after documents relating to veterans' compensation applications were found in documents to be shredded. The documents had not been copied and could have affected some veterans' eligibility for compensation.
Peake said,“I insist on the highest possible standards for processing and safeguarding information in VA’s custody....It is unacceptable that documents important to a veteran’s claim for benefits should be misplaced or destroyed.”
The Inspector General's office is investigating, and anyone who violated Department policy on protecting documents will be held accountable. The documents were found during an audit at three of VA’s 56 regional benefits offices, which process applications for disability pay, VA pensions, educational assistance, home loans and similar financial benefits. The documents were returned to the proper offices for processing.
All document shredding by all of the VA regional offices has been suspended by Patrick W. Dunne, VA’s Under Secretary for Benefits. The IG and VA officials are trying to determine whether the problem is greater than just the regional offices.
The originals of veterans' important paperwork are returned to the veterans or families after the paperwork is no longer needed. Duplicate copies of paperwork no longer needed are appropriately destroyed to protect the privacy of veterans and their families.
This could mean that many veterans who recently applied for benefits should seek an appeal of a denial of compensation or a partial denial. Veterans seeking compensation should also maintain a copy of any paperwork sent in connection with their claim for compensation. For extra assurance, send the paperwork by certified mail, return-receipt requested. A veteran may also contact the regional office to request a copy of your claim file. Again, it is clear that any veteran who believes that an examiner failed to consider some important paperwork submitted should check to determine that the paperwork is even located in their claim file.
The location of the affected regional office has not been disclosed.
Peake said,“I insist on the highest possible standards for processing and safeguarding information in VA’s custody....It is unacceptable that documents important to a veteran’s claim for benefits should be misplaced or destroyed.”
The Inspector General's office is investigating, and anyone who violated Department policy on protecting documents will be held accountable. The documents were found during an audit at three of VA’s 56 regional benefits offices, which process applications for disability pay, VA pensions, educational assistance, home loans and similar financial benefits. The documents were returned to the proper offices for processing.
All document shredding by all of the VA regional offices has been suspended by Patrick W. Dunne, VA’s Under Secretary for Benefits. The IG and VA officials are trying to determine whether the problem is greater than just the regional offices.
The originals of veterans' important paperwork are returned to the veterans or families after the paperwork is no longer needed. Duplicate copies of paperwork no longer needed are appropriately destroyed to protect the privacy of veterans and their families.
This could mean that many veterans who recently applied for benefits should seek an appeal of a denial of compensation or a partial denial. Veterans seeking compensation should also maintain a copy of any paperwork sent in connection with their claim for compensation. For extra assurance, send the paperwork by certified mail, return-receipt requested. A veteran may also contact the regional office to request a copy of your claim file. Again, it is clear that any veteran who believes that an examiner failed to consider some important paperwork submitted should check to determine that the paperwork is even located in their claim file.
The location of the affected regional office has not been disclosed.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Iraq could prosecute U.S. troops - msnbc.com
Draft pact: Iraq could prosecute U.S. troops - Conflict in Iraq- msnbc.com
With a new pact, which is in continued negotiations and a draft as we speak, Iraqi officials could charge and prosecute soldiers for actions which occur while not on missions or while off bases. This could have ramifications for those soldiers on covert "missions" which are later denied by the US government. Similar actions occurred during Vietnam when soldiers somehow ended up in Cambodia.
Again, this pact sends the message to soldiers that their actions have ramifications. Now that major combat has ceased, this action may offer direct consequences for soldiers acting outside of the scope of their powers. However, the problem still arises when soldiers are "told" to do certain acts and then it is later denounced by the US government. What message are we sending these soldiers? This message clearly tells soldiers to keep inside any information which burdens them. Thus, perpetuating the problem with a veteran suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Veterans cannot get better without being offered some sort of immunity for actions which are made under stressful situations or direct orders. Much of what goes on is on direct orders and later denounced. Have they considered offering a statute of limitations for prosecution of soldiers for actions that occurred during wartime? Maybe then, veterans would seek the treatment they so desperately need.
This pact is a bad idea, with good intentions.
With a new pact, which is in continued negotiations and a draft as we speak, Iraqi officials could charge and prosecute soldiers for actions which occur while not on missions or while off bases. This could have ramifications for those soldiers on covert "missions" which are later denied by the US government. Similar actions occurred during Vietnam when soldiers somehow ended up in Cambodia.
Again, this pact sends the message to soldiers that their actions have ramifications. Now that major combat has ceased, this action may offer direct consequences for soldiers acting outside of the scope of their powers. However, the problem still arises when soldiers are "told" to do certain acts and then it is later denounced by the US government. What message are we sending these soldiers? This message clearly tells soldiers to keep inside any information which burdens them. Thus, perpetuating the problem with a veteran suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Veterans cannot get better without being offered some sort of immunity for actions which are made under stressful situations or direct orders. Much of what goes on is on direct orders and later denounced. Have they considered offering a statute of limitations for prosecution of soldiers for actions that occurred during wartime? Maybe then, veterans would seek the treatment they so desperately need.
This pact is a bad idea, with good intentions.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Veteran's widow sues U.S. over his suicide - Military- msnbc.com
Veteran's widow sues U.S. over his suicide - Military- msnbc.com
This tragic story echoes throughout the United States during this time of "war". The VA mental health system needs major overhauling. Not only does the VA need to provide more regular mental health care for Iraq veterans but the VA should provide services to aid the spouses and families of the Iraq veterans.
The system is a large cavernous bureaucracy with forms and red tape abundant. As far as personal experience, there is no one out there to help the families and spouses of Iraq veterans maneuver through the red tape. Thus, the problem could be quelled by providing assistance and guidance for these spouses and family members who are charged with the care of the mentally ill veterans.
There is a large need for services to be provided to spouses and family members of disabled Iraq veterans. This blog is dedicated to provide the most information possible to aid the spouses in aiding our soldiers who have been failed by our military and VA system. If you or your family member has a question regarding services or assistance, please comment or email me below. I will do my best to aid you in any way possible. We are performing our duties as vowed to our spouses, who selflessly served a world away.
This tragic story echoes throughout the United States during this time of "war". The VA mental health system needs major overhauling. Not only does the VA need to provide more regular mental health care for Iraq veterans but the VA should provide services to aid the spouses and families of the Iraq veterans.
The system is a large cavernous bureaucracy with forms and red tape abundant. As far as personal experience, there is no one out there to help the families and spouses of Iraq veterans maneuver through the red tape. Thus, the problem could be quelled by providing assistance and guidance for these spouses and family members who are charged with the care of the mentally ill veterans.
There is a large need for services to be provided to spouses and family members of disabled Iraq veterans. This blog is dedicated to provide the most information possible to aid the spouses in aiding our soldiers who have been failed by our military and VA system. If you or your family member has a question regarding services or assistance, please comment or email me below. I will do my best to aid you in any way possible. We are performing our duties as vowed to our spouses, who selflessly served a world away.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Spouses of Disabled Veterans Can Be Chared with Criminal Abandonment in Louisiana Divorce
Under a new statute in Louisiana, District Attorneys are given the right to charge persons with "criminal abandonment" of a child under 10 years old, the aged of 60 years or older, or the disabled. The statute, LSA-R.S. 14:79.1, reads as follows:
A. Criminal abandonment is any of the following:
(1) The intentional physical abandonment of a minor child under the age of ten years by the child's parent or legal guardian by leaving the minor child unattended and to his own care when the evidence demonstrates that the child's parent or legal guardian did not intend to return to the minor child or provide for adult supervision of the minor child.
(2) The intentional physical abandonment of an aged or disabled person by a caregiver as defined in R.S. 14:93.3 who is compensated for providing care to such person. For the purpose of this Paragraph an aged person shall mean any individual who is sixty years of age or older.
B. Whoever commits the crime of criminal abandonment shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars, or be imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.
What concerns me of this new statute which was revised effective June 12, 2008, is that it could set up a situation of a criminal charge in a divorce between a disabled Veteran and their spouse.
The statute turns on the definition of "caregiver", which is any person or persons who temporarily or permanently is responsible for the care of the infirmed, physically or mentally disabled adult, or aged person, whether such care is voluntarily assumed or is assigned. "Caregiver" includes but is not limited to adult children, parents, relatives, neighbors, daycare institutions and facilities, adult congregate living facilities, and nursing homes which or who have voluntarily assumed or been assigned the care of an aged or infirmed person or disabled adult, or have assumed voluntary residence with an aged or infirmed person or disabled adult.
The caregiver must also be compensated. Normally, this would not affect most spouses in any case. However, the VA provides aid and attendance or housebound benefits to spouses charged with caring for a disabled Veteran.
Thus, a spouse who receives aid and attendance benefits for caring for her disabled Veteran spouse could be charged criminally during the process of a divorce or separation. Abandonment is not defined by the statute.
This provision for criminal abandonment of the aged or disabled is new, even though the provision for children is not, and was likely introduced due to large nursing homes abandoning their infirm patients, who died, during Hurricane Katrina.
The penalties for violation of the criminal abandonment code is a fine of no more than $1000, imprisonment for not more than one year, or both. Thus, the criminal penalties could be hefty for a spouse merely divorcing.
Please contact your Legislator to carve out a special circumstance for individuals filing for divorce.
A. Criminal abandonment is any of the following:
(1) The intentional physical abandonment of a minor child under the age of ten years by the child's parent or legal guardian by leaving the minor child unattended and to his own care when the evidence demonstrates that the child's parent or legal guardian did not intend to return to the minor child or provide for adult supervision of the minor child.
(2) The intentional physical abandonment of an aged or disabled person by a caregiver as defined in R.S. 14:93.3 who is compensated for providing care to such person. For the purpose of this Paragraph an aged person shall mean any individual who is sixty years of age or older.
B. Whoever commits the crime of criminal abandonment shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars, or be imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.
What concerns me of this new statute which was revised effective June 12, 2008, is that it could set up a situation of a criminal charge in a divorce between a disabled Veteran and their spouse.
The statute turns on the definition of "caregiver", which is any person or persons who temporarily or permanently is responsible for the care of the infirmed, physically or mentally disabled adult, or aged person, whether such care is voluntarily assumed or is assigned. "Caregiver" includes but is not limited to adult children, parents, relatives, neighbors, daycare institutions and facilities, adult congregate living facilities, and nursing homes which or who have voluntarily assumed or been assigned the care of an aged or infirmed person or disabled adult, or have assumed voluntary residence with an aged or infirmed person or disabled adult.
The caregiver must also be compensated. Normally, this would not affect most spouses in any case. However, the VA provides aid and attendance or housebound benefits to spouses charged with caring for a disabled Veteran.
Thus, a spouse who receives aid and attendance benefits for caring for her disabled Veteran spouse could be charged criminally during the process of a divorce or separation. Abandonment is not defined by the statute.
This provision for criminal abandonment of the aged or disabled is new, even though the provision for children is not, and was likely introduced due to large nursing homes abandoning their infirm patients, who died, during Hurricane Katrina.
The penalties for violation of the criminal abandonment code is a fine of no more than $1000, imprisonment for not more than one year, or both. Thus, the criminal penalties could be hefty for a spouse merely divorcing.
Please contact your Legislator to carve out a special circumstance for individuals filing for divorce.
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