Memorial Day Services for May 30th

 

The Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs and La Societe 40&8 will host Memorial Day Service on THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2013 beginning at 10:30 A.M.  The Service will be conducted at the Memorial Bridge Plaza, Delaware Memorial Bridge, New Castle, Delaware.

Following the Bridge Ceremony, the Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs and The Air Force Sergeants Association will conduct a service at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery at 2:00 P.M. The service will be held on the Parade Field of the Cemetery, 2465 Chesapeake City Road, Bear, Delaware.

If you have any questions please contact the Commission office at (302) 739-2792.


VA Mandates Overtime to Increase Production of Compensation Claims Decisions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 15, 2013

VA Mandates Overtime to Increase Production of Compensation Claims Decisions

Latest Initiative aimed at reducing the backlog

WASHINGTON – As part of its ongoing effort to accelerate the elimination of the disability compensation claims backlog, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is announcing today that it is mandating overtime for claims processors in its 56 regional benefits offices. This surge, which will be implemented through the end of fiscal year 2013, will be used to help eliminate the backlog with continued emphasis on high-priority claims for homeless Veterans and those claiming financial hardship, the terminally ill, former Prisoners of War, Medal of Honor recipients, and Veterans filing Fully Developed Claims.

“VA is dedicated to providing Veterans with the care and benefits they have earned and deserve,” said VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki. “This increased overtime initiative will provide more Veterans with decisions on their claims and will help us achieve our goal of eliminating the claims backlog.”

This is the latest effort in support of the Secretary’s plan to reduce the backlog. Last month, VA announced an initiative to expedite compensation claims decisions for Veterans who have waited one year or longer.   On April 19, VA began prioritizing claims decisions for Veterans who have been waiting the longest, by providing provisional decisions that allow eligible Veterans to begin collecting compensation benefits quickly.  With a provisional decision, a Veteran has a year to submit additional information to support a claim before the decision becomes final.  More information can be found here.

“We’re committed to getting Veterans decisions on their claims as quickly and accurately as possible,” said Undersecretary for Benefits Allison A. Hickey. “We need to surge our resources now to help those who have waited the longest and end the backlog.”

Claims for Wounded Warriors separating from the military for medical reasons will continue to be handled separately and on a priority basis with the Department of Defense through the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES). On average, Wounded Warriors separating through IDES currently receive VA compensation benefits in 2 months following their separation from service.

Veterans can learn more about disability benefits on the joint Department of Defense—VA web portal eBenefits at http://www.ebenefits.va.gov.

More information about filing Fully Developed Claims is available at: http://www.benefits.va.gov/transformation/fastclaims/.

 


Draft Gulf War Task Force Report Released

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   – VA Public Affairs

May 13, 2013

Draft Gulf War Task Force Report Released

Report Redefines How Care and Services Are Provided to Gulf War Veterans

WASHINGTON –
Today, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced that the Department’s Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses Task Force will publish a comprehensive draft report in the Federal Register for public feedback and comment.  The report describes how the Department of Veterans Affairs has been, and will continue to address the concerns of Veterans who deployed during the Gulf War in 1990 and 1991.

“We know Gulf War Veterans are experiencing critical long-term medical issues that are complex and difficult to label,” said Shinseki.  “VA has learned a great deal over the past 20 years about identifying, diagnosing and treating Gulf War Veterans, and we will continue to evaluate our research and clinical findings to ensure we keep providing world-class health care and benefits for Gulf War Veterans.”

Over the past several years, the Task Force has refined an integrated roadmap to better synchronize efforts and improve care and services to Gulf War veterans. VA is working towards these efforts becoming a part of the culture and operations.

This year’s report continues to focus on efforts to improve health care for Gulf War Veterans including innovative enhancements to clinical care.  The draft report identifies seven specific areas where VA will strive to improve services for Gulf War Veterans.

The seven areas focus on important components of health care, such as Veteran-centric approaches to specialty and primary care, delivering Veteran benefits, and improving open communications with Gulf War Veterans.  The Task Force also developed plans to improve linkages between specialty knowledge and services at the basic point of care to address treatment for chronic multi-symptom illness, an ongoing concern of Gulf War Veterans, their families and their providers.

VA continues to support ongoing efforts by providing clinical research and development, which is outlined in the recent, first-ever released Research Strategic Plan on Gulf War Illnesses.  This plan will be used to help refine clinical practice and clinical education throughout VA. VA continues to strengthen partnerships to enhance medical surveillance related to potential health impacts on Veterans from the environmental exposures on today’s battlefields.

VA and the Department of Defense recently approved a research project to develop a long-term exposure record to collect and share deployment and exposure data between the two Departments, a model informed by lessons learned in earlier Gulf War studies.  “This decades-long research and continuing partnership has not only transformed the care and services to Gulf War Veterans, but has also made us smarter about how we care for Veterans of all eras.” said Shinseki.Today, VA is seeking public comments on the draft Task Force report before final publication. The public notice and instructions for how to submit electronic and comments via postal mail will be posted at www.regulations.gov, and the draft written report will be open for comment for 30 days. In addition, VA recognizes that a great number of Gulf War Veterans use the Internet on a daily basis to share their ideas and concerns, so VA has also created a public discussion board on the seven focus areas at: http://vagulfwartaskforce.uservoice.com/. To view the report without making recommendations, please visit VA’s website
at: http://www.va.gov/opa/publications/Draft_2012_GWVI-TF_Report.pdf.


The Centurion Newsletter — April 2013 Edition

My Fellow Veterans,
The General Assembly is again in full session. I encourage you to keep a close eye on all bills introduced or assigned to committees that may have an impact on veterans. I regret to report that Commissioner Robert E. Wasson (Delaware Veterans) passed away while in Florida. A memorial service was held at Delaware Veterans Post 1 in February. I presented a tribute from Governor Jack Markell and Lieutenant Governor Matt Denn for distinguished service and dedication as a member of the Commission. The Blue Wing of Delaware Veterans Home is officially open. The Admissions Committee has approved several applications from the waiting list. The Veterans Cemetery in Bear is back on schedule for the realignment and cleaning of the markers. Hopefully, it will be completed this year, as long as the weather cooperates. The 198th Signal Battalion has deployed to Fort Bliss for intensive training prior to movement to Afghanistan.

Read the full story here…
Vol20-No2


Care and Benefits for Veterans Strengthened

WASHINGTON – Continuing the transformation of the Department of Veterans Affairs into a 21st century organization, the President has proposed a $152.7 billion budget, a 10.2 percent increase over Fiscal Year 2013, that will support VA’s goals to expand access to health care and other benefits, eliminate the disability claims backlog, and end homelessness among Veterans. The budget includes $66.5 billion in discretionary spending, largely for healthcare, and $86.1 billion for mandatory programs – mostly disability compensation and pensions for Veterans.

Read the full story here…
Care and Benefits for Veterans Strengthened by $153 Billion VA Budget 2014 Budget Final