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VA's Proposed 2014 Budget
Week of April 15, 2013
The President has proposed a $152.7 billion budget, a 10.2 percent increase over Fiscal Year 2013, that will support the Department of Veterans' Affairs' (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. Highlights from the President's 2014 budget request for VA are available on the VA website.
http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?release
IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 241-13 April 15, 2013
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Statement by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel on the Distinguished Warfare Medal
The Department of Defense announced on Feb. 13 the establishment of the Distinguished Warfare Medal to recognize the achievements of a small number of service men and women who have an especially direct and immediate impact on combat operations through the use of remotely piloted aircraft and cyber operations. I agree with my predecessor Leon Panetta that such recognition is justly warranted for these men and women and thank him for raising the level of awareness of their hard work and critical contributions.
When I came into office, concerns were raised to me about the Distinguished Warfare Medal’s order of precedence by veterans’ organizations, members of Congress, and other stakeholders whose views are valued by this department’s leadership.
After consulting with the service secretaries, along with Gen. Dempsey and the other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, I directed them to review the Distinguished Warfare Medal. The medal was originally conceived to be awarded only to those men and women who, while serving off the battlefield, have an extraordinary impact on combat operations. While the review confirmed the need to ensure such recognition, it found that misconceptions regarding the precedence of the award were distracting from its original purpose.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff, with the concurrence of the service secretaries, have recommended the creation of a new distinguishing device that can be affixed to existing medals to recognize the extraordinary actions of this small number of men and women. I agree with the Joint Chiefs’ findings, and have directed the creation of a distinguishing device instead of a separate medal.
The Joint Chiefs also recommend further consultation with the service secretaries, the service senior enlisted leaders, and veterans’ organizations regarding the nature of the device as well as clear definition of the eligibility criteria for award of the device. I have directed that within 90 days final award criteria and the other specifics of the distinguishing device be developed and presented to me for final approval.
The service men and women, who operate and support our remotely piloted aircraft, operate in cyber, and others are critical to our military’s mission of safeguarding the nation. I again want to thank my predecessor, Leon Panetta, for raising the need to ensure that these men and women are recognized for their contributions.
A copy of the signed memo is available at: P&R and CJC Memo DWM . http://www.defense.gov/pubs/PR%20and%20CJCS%20Memo%20DWM.pdf
Same-sex Family Benefits Available by October 1
From Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Department of Defense announced the extension of benefits to same-sex partners to ensure fairness and equal treatment to the extent allowable under law on Feb. 11.
NAVADMIN 024/13 provides information on Navy's implementation of the Department of Defense's extension of family benefits to same-sex partners.
"These benefits will be available no later than October 1," said Rear Adm. Tony Kurta, director military plans and policy. "To qualify, Sailors and their same-sex domestic partner will be required to sign a Declaration of Domestic Partnership attesting to the existence of their committed relationship."
The declaration is similar to that in use by other federal agencies. Service members will file the declaration at their PSD, where a DD Form 1173 ("dependent" ID card) will then be issued allowing access to benefits. Children of same-sex domestic partners will also qualify for the ID card and benefits.
Benefits that will be extended to same-sex domestic partners and families include: * Dependent ID cards (DD Form 1173) which will be renewed in accordance with existing policies * Commissary and Exchange * Access to Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) * Access to child and youth programs. This includes child care, youth programs and youth sponsorship. * Space-Available Travel on DoD Aircraft * Joint duty assignment for dual military partners * Access to Legal Assistance * Access to most Family Center Programs * Emergency leave and emergency leave of absence for the military member to attend to partner emergencies. * Access to sexual assault counseling program. Emergency care provided; additional care determined by medical eligibility. * Exemption from hostile-fire areas for dual military if partner is killed in a combat zone. * Transportation to and from certain places of employment and on military installations * Transportation to and from Primary and Secondary school for minor dependents * Disability and death compensation: dependents of members held as captives * Payments to missing person * Authorization to participate in surveys of military families, including the quadrennial quality of life review. * Ability to participate in the quadrennial quality of life review * Authority of Service Secretary to transport remains of a dependent
These benefits are in addition to the 20 educational, survivor, and travel and transportation benefits now available, without constraints, to same-sex domestic partners by designation of the service member. These member-designated benefits are available to all Service members and a beneficiary of their choosing.
Much like the process for the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell law, Navy will review and modify all necessary instructions, notices, and MILSPERMAN articles, develop and deploy training for command triads, installation commanders, chaplains, care and benefit providers to include all Personnel Support Detachments (PSD) to ensure a clear understanding of the documentation requirements for, and the benefits associated with, these ID cards.
Certain benefits currently provided to military families cannot be extended to same-sex domestic partners at this time because they are restricted by law. Those benefits include Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) at the 'with dependent rate, and medical care to include eligibility for TRICARE.
Benefit information and updates to policy on benefits for same-sex partners and families will be posted as the become available on Navy's Don't Ask Don't Tell Post Repeal website on Navy Personnel Command's web page under Support and Services
Semper
Fi
Betsy E "Gypsy" Lister
Essex County Detachment #127 http://
Adjutant
Web Sergeant
Betsy E "Gypsy" Lister
Essex County Detachment #127 http://
Adjutant
Web Sergeant
Thank you to all who share information with me so that I may share it with others! Please feel free to pass along to others you feel might be interested in the POW/MIA Veterans Newsletter, thank you!
Gypsy
-
Have you thanked a Veteran for the Freedoms you enjoy Today?Thank you to all of you for your service to our country, for signing that check that devoted life, limb, well being....***************************************************************
04/19/2013 01:00 AM EDT
The Department of Veterans Affairs announced today it is implementing an initiative to expedite compensation claims decisions for Veterans who have waited one year or longer. Effective today, VA claims raters will make provisional decisions on the oldest claims in inventory, which will allow Veterans to begin collecting compensation benefits more quickly, if eligible. Veterans will be able to submit additional evidence for consideration a full year after the provisional rating, before VA issues a final decision.
_______________Our latest YouTube video is posted. We focus on the VA's refusal to release, by pretending the materials don't exist, all the documents dealing with their development of a conclusion veteran weren't exposed to Agent Orange aboard the C-123. They can't even find the materials they themselves have posted on the Internet...at least, they deny they exist. What confusion.
And we're paying the price for it! Their position has been challenged by other federal agencies and outside scientists and VA won't explain the holes in their opposition to us.
Tell your congressmen and senators to please contact Mr. Brooks Tucker of Senator Burr's staff to join forces with the Senate Veterans Committee and push the VA towards something more reasonable...such as permitting our claims for Agent Orange exposure to be honored!!
Week of April 15, 2013
The President has proposed a $152.7 billion budget, a 10.2 percent increase over Fiscal Year 2013, that will support the Department of Veterans' Affairs' (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. Highlights from the President's 2014 budget request for VA are available on the VA website.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 19, 2013VA to Expedite Claims Decisions for Veterans Who Have Waited a Year or MoreWASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs announced today it is implementing an initiative to expedite compensation claims decisions for Veterans who have waited one year or longer. Effective today, VA claims raters will make provisional decisions on the oldest claims in inventory, which will allow Veterans to begin collecting compensation benefits more quickly, if eligible. Veterans will be able to submit additional evidence for consideration a full year after the provisional rating, before VA issues a final decision.“Too many Veterans wait too long for a decision, and this has never been acceptable,” said VA Secretary Eric Shinseki. “That is why we are implementing an aggressive plan to eliminate the backlog in 2015. This initiative is the right thing to do now for Veterans who have waited the longest.”Provisional decisions will be based on all evidence provided to date by the Veteran or obtained on their behalf by VA. If a VA medical examination is needed to decide the claim, it will be ordered and expedited.“Issuing provisional decisions not only provides Veterans with applicable benefits much more quickly, but also gives them an additional one-year safety net to submit further evidence should it become available. Our door will remain open and if a Veteran has additional evidence, their case will be fast tracked,” said Allison Hickey, Undersecretary for Benefits.If any increase is determined to be warranted based on the additional evidence received, benefits will be retroactive to the date the claim was initially filed. The initiative protects the Veteran’s right to appeal the decision. If no further evidence is received within that year, VBA will inform the Veteran that their rating is final and provide information on the standard appeals process, which can be found at http://www.bva.va.gov/Throughout this initiative, VA will continue to prioritize claims for homelessVeterans and those claiming financial hardship, the terminally ill, former Prisoners of War, Medal of Honor recipients, and Veterans filing Fully Developed Claims. More information about filing Fully Developed Claims is available at: http://www.benefits.va.gov/transformation/fastclaims/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). Wounded Warriors separating through IDES currently receive VA compensation benefits in an average of 61 days following their separation from service.As a result of this initiative, metrics used to track benefits claims will experience significant fluctuations. The focus on processing the oldest claims will cause the overall measure of the average length of time to complete a claim - currently 286 days - to skew, rising significantly in the near term because of the number of old claims that will be completed. Over time, as the backlog of oldest claims is cleared and more of the incoming claims are processed electronically through VA’s new paperless processing system, VA’s average time to complete claims will significantly improve. In addition, the average days pending metric - or the average age of a claim in the inventory - will decrease, since the oldest claims will no longer be part of the inventory.While compensation claims are pending, eligible Veterans are able to receive healthcare and other benefits from VA. Veterans who have served in recent conflicts are eligible for 5 years of free healthcare from VA. Currently, ove r 55% of returning Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans are using VA health care, a rate of utilization greater than previous generations of Veterans.Veterans can learn more about disability benefits on the joint Department of Defense—VA web portal eBenefits at: https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits-portal/ebenefits.portal# # #
http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?release
IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 241-13 April 15, 2013
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statement by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel on the Distinguished Warfare Medal
The Department of Defense announced on Feb. 13 the establishment of the Distinguished Warfare Medal to recognize the achievements of a small number of service men and women who have an especially direct and immediate impact on combat operations through the use of remotely piloted aircraft and cyber operations. I agree with my predecessor Leon Panetta that such recognition is justly warranted for these men and women and thank him for raising the level of awareness of their hard work and critical contributions.
When I came into office, concerns were raised to me about the Distinguished Warfare Medal’s order of precedence by veterans’ organizations, members of Congress, and other stakeholders whose views are valued by this department’s leadership.
After consulting with the service secretaries, along with Gen. Dempsey and the other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, I directed them to review the Distinguished Warfare Medal. The medal was originally conceived to be awarded only to those men and women who, while serving off the battlefield, have an extraordinary impact on combat operations. While the review confirmed the need to ensure such recognition, it found that misconceptions regarding the precedence of the award were distracting from its original purpose.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff, with the concurrence of the service secretaries, have recommended the creation of a new distinguishing device that can be affixed to existing medals to recognize the extraordinary actions of this small number of men and women. I agree with the Joint Chiefs’ findings, and have directed the creation of a distinguishing device instead of a separate medal.
The Joint Chiefs also recommend further consultation with the service secretaries, the service senior enlisted leaders, and veterans’ organizations regarding the nature of the device as well as clear definition of the eligibility criteria for award of the device. I have directed that within 90 days final award criteria and the other specifics of the distinguishing device be developed and presented to me for final approval.
The service men and women, who operate and support our remotely piloted aircraft, operate in cyber, and others are critical to our military’s mission of safeguarding the nation. I again want to thank my predecessor, Leon Panetta, for raising the need to ensure that these men and women are recognized for their contributions.
A copy of the signed memo is available at: P&R and CJC Memo DWM . http://www.defense.gov/pubs/PR%20and%20CJCS%20Memo%20DWM.pdf
From Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Department of Defense announced the extension of benefits to same-sex partners to ensure fairness and equal treatment to the extent allowable under law on Feb. 11.
NAVADMIN 024/13 provides information on Navy's implementation of the Department of Defense's extension of family benefits to same-sex partners.
"These benefits will be available no later than October 1," said Rear Adm. Tony Kurta, director military plans and policy. "To qualify, Sailors and their same-sex domestic partner will be required to sign a Declaration of Domestic Partnership attesting to the existence of their committed relationship."
The declaration is similar to that in use by other federal agencies. Service members will file the declaration at their PSD, where a DD Form 1173 ("dependent" ID card) will then be issued allowing access to benefits. Children of same-sex domestic partners will also qualify for the ID card and benefits.
Benefits that will be extended to same-sex domestic partners and families include: * Dependent ID cards (DD Form 1173) which will be renewed in accordance with existing policies * Commissary and Exchange * Access to Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) * Access to child and youth programs. This includes child care, youth programs and youth sponsorship. * Space-Available Travel on DoD Aircraft * Joint duty assignment for dual military partners * Access to Legal Assistance * Access to most Family Center Programs * Emergency leave and emergency leave of absence for the military member to attend to partner emergencies. * Access to sexual assault counseling program. Emergency care provided; additional care determined by medical eligibility. * Exemption from hostile-fire areas for dual military if partner is killed in a combat zone. * Transportation to and from certain places of employment and on military installations * Transportation to and from Primary and Secondary school for minor dependents * Disability and death compensation: dependents of members held as captives * Payments to missing person * Authorization to participate in surveys of military families, including the quadrennial quality of life review. * Ability to participate in the quadrennial quality of life review * Authority of Service Secretary to transport remains of a dependent
These benefits are in addition to the 20 educational, survivor, and travel and transportation benefits now available, without constraints, to same-sex domestic partners by designation of the service member. These member-designated benefits are available to all Service members and a beneficiary of their choosing.
Much like the process for the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell law, Navy will review and modify all necessary instructions, notices, and MILSPERMAN articles, develop and deploy training for command triads, installation commanders, chaplains, care and benefit providers to include all Personnel Support Detachments (PSD) to ensure a clear understanding of the documentation requirements for, and the benefits associated with, these ID cards.
Certain benefits currently provided to military families cannot be extended to same-sex domestic partners at this time because they are restricted by law. Those benefits include Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) at the 'with dependent rate, and medical care to include eligibility for TRICARE.
Benefit information and updates to policy on benefits for same-sex partners and families will be posted as the become available on Navy's Don't Ask Don't Tell Post Repeal website on Navy Personnel Command's web page under Support and Services
NEXT SATURDAY!! COME JOIN THOUSANDS OF
BIKERS AND NON RIDERS IN RAISING FUNDS FOR THREE LOCAL SEVERELY WOUNDED
VETERANS!!