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"In the News"

  • Bill Would Further Research on Health Issues Among Families of Toxic-exposed Veterans

​As reported June 16 by Kent Pierce for WTNH, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) is calling for more research into genetic issues in veterans caused by exposure to toxins while they were serving in the military. In particular, Vietnam War veterans and their children say exposure to Agent Orange caused lasting genetic damage they are still dealing with five decades later. On a good day, you can’t tell Molly Loomis was born with spina bifida. “You can’t see pain on looking at someone,” Loomis, the daughter of a Vietnam War veteran, said. “You can’t see chronic infections; you can’t see the impact of surgeries.”

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  • Thousands of Medically Retired Vets Qualify for Retroactive Combat Disability Pay after Supreme Court Ruling 

As reported June 17 by Linda F. Hersey for Stars and Stripes, thousands of medically retired veterans are eligible for additional retroactive combat disability pay following a Supreme Court decision that ends a cap on compensation for individuals with less than 20 years of service. The court unanimously ruled in favor of Marine Corps veteran Simon Soto, who filed a class-action lawsuit arguing the Federal government incorrectly reduced the combat-related special compensation he received after military service. Under federal law, retired veterans waive a portion of their military retirement pay to receive disability benefits from the VA. But veterans receiving combat-related disability pay are an exception under a statute that Congress passed in 2008, according to the Supreme Court decision issued June 12.
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  • White House Taps Nominees for VA’s Top Benefits, Technology Roles

As reported June 18 by Leo Shane III for Army Times, President Donald Trump has nominated Karen Brazell to serve as the next VA Under Secretary for Benefits, putting the senior advisor in charge of processing and management for nearly $200 billion in financial aid to millions of veterans.The post is one of the top leadership roles at the department but was unveiled quietly on Monday through official nomination correspondence with lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Brazell would be the permanent replacement to Josh Jacobs, who stepped down from the role at the start of the new administration in January. Brazell was named a senior advisor to Secretary Doug Collins earlier this year. She previously worked in the department as principal executive director and chief acquisition officer for VA’s Office of Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction during the first Trump administration. White House officials also nominated Alan Boehme to serve as Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Information and Technology, the replacement for Kurt DelBene. Boehme previously worked as Chief Technology Officer for the H&M Group, a fashion and design company.

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  • VA Changes Discrimination Policy for Healthcare Staff, Denies Doctors Could Withhold Treatment

As reported June 18 by Patricia Kime for Military.com, the VA changed the bylaws on discrimination for its doctors and other healthcare staff but has denied a report that it could allow providers to deny care to some patients. An internal VA email sent to medical staff April 30 said the guidelines prohibiting discrimination against patients and staff would be changed. The Guardian newspaper reported the change in the bylaws could allow individual healthcare providers to deny care to Democrats and unmarried veterans, sparking a public denial and drawing criticism from VA Secretary Doug Collins. According to the department email, which was viewed by Military.com, the original language prohibited “discriminating on the basis of race, age, color, sex, religion, national origin, politics, marital status, or disability in any employment matter or in providing benefits under any law administered by the VA.” The portion was changed to “not discriminating on the basis of any legally protected status, including legally protected status such as race, color, religion, sex, or prior protected activity in any employment matter or in providing benefits under any law administered by the VA.” The parts that were removed included specific references to age, national origin, politics, marital status, and disability, replacing them with a prohibition on discrimination against any legally protected class. 

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  • VA PTSD Treatment Gives Vietnam Vet His Life back— It’s Never Too Late to Get Help

In a June 17 story for VA.Gov, Cybele Merrick reports U.S. Air Force Vet Dave Hanson had built a life with his wife and two daughters, but he was carrying a not-so-hidden secret: undiagnosed PTSD. The invisible wounds of his service in Vietnam—where his duties included going out in night ambush teams—had not healed. Although he lived in a peaceful, rural setting, with the woods just beyond his back door, Hanson was uneasy. 

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  • Veterans, Gold Star Families Get Free Lifetime Pass to National Parks, Wildlife Refuges, Other Public Lands

The National Park Service offers veterans lifetime passes with free entrance to 2,000 locations, spread out across more than 400 million acres of public lands, which host activities to fit any lifestyle—from serene to high octane, including hiking, fishing, paddling, biking, hunting, stargazing, camping, and much more. 

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