Welcome to Post 4643... the Friendly Post
Donald E. Holmes

Service Officer Notes

Service Officer: Post 4643 and District 8


Paul H. Niemeyer
phna2@cfl.rr.com
(321)305-2149

Service Officer Notes May 2012

DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN NOW CHECK YOUR APPOINTMENTS BOTH PAST AND PRESENT ON "MYHEALTHEVET.COM" If you have been in person verified your past and future appointments are now available for you. After four years or so, it’s a welcome addition. Now for this months info on just what has to be wrong for Disability Benefits to be paid to a deserving Veteran.

If you have been in person verified your past and future appointments are now available for you. After four years or so, it’s a welcome addition. Now for this months info on just what has to be wrong for Disability Benefits to be paid to a deserving Veteran.

 

Disability Benefits Questionnaires - List By Symptom

The chart below matches the Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs) to medical conditions or symptoms symptoms to the corresponding Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQs). Examples are italicized.

Tip: To do a quick search, hold down the "Ctrl" key and click on the "F" key. Enter your search in the text box and click next.

Cardiovasular

Conditions - Symptoms

Form Name

 

Evaluation of varicose veins, arterial diseases, producing swelling, claudication of legs, or pain on walking, skin/nail changes Artery and Vein Conditions (Vascular Diseases including varicose veins)

Evaluation of high blood pressure (BP): how to determine significance of BP readings or BP reading abnormalities. Hypertension Conditions including: heart attack (MI), irregular rhythm, heart murmurs and heart surgery. Heart Conditions (Including IHD, Non-IHD, Arrhythmias Valvular Disease and Cardiac Surgery)

Dental and Oral

Conditions - Symptoms

Form Name

 

Evaluation of all dental and oral conditions, except TMJ Conditions. Dental and Oral Conditions

Evaluation of conditions affecting the TMJ joint with pain in the jaw when biting and clicks and sounds in the jaw. Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Conditions

Dermatological

Conditions - Symptoms

Form Name

 

Evaluation for infectious and non-infectious diseases of the skin: how to evaluate rashes, spots, athlete's foot, sweating, and acne skin lesions. Skin Diseases

Evaluation of palpable or disfiguring scars, producing distortion or asymmetry. Scars and Disfigurement

Ear, Nose, and Throat

Conditions - Symptoms

Form Name

 

Evaluation of various conditions of the ear including: infections, dizziness, vertigo, acoustic tumors and other conditions with ringing in the ears (tinnitus). Ear Condition (including: Vestibular and Infectious Conditions)

Evaluation of Anosmia (inability to detect any odor), Hyposmia (reduced ability to detect odors), Ageusia (complete lack of taste), Hypogeusia (decrease in sense of taste) and other conditions affecting the sense of smell and taste. Loss of Sense of Smell and/or Taste

Evaluation of conditions affecting, the sinuses, nose, throat, larynx, and pharynx, including, but not limited to deviated nasal septum and organic aphonia, vocal chord problems. Sinusitis, Rhinitis, and other Conditions of the Nose, Throat, Larynx, and Pharynx

 

Endocrinological

Conditions - Symptoms

Form Name

 

Evaluation of DM Type I or II, with alteration of blood sugar regulation, abnormal Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT), requiring medication or hospitalization or complications. Diabetes Mellitus (DM)

Evaluation of conditions affecting the hormone glands, including, but not limited to Cushing's syndrome, Acromegaly, and Addison's Disease. Endocrine Diseases (other than Thyroid and Parathyroid, or Diabetes Mellitus)

Evaluation of conditions affecting the functions regulated by the thyroid and parathyroid glands, including, but not limited to growth and metabolism. Thyroid and Parathyroid Conditions

Gastrointestinal

Conditions - Symptoms

Form Name

 

Evaluation of conditions affecting the esophagus such as stricture, spasm, or other conditions with lump in throat or chest, pain on swallowing, or regurgitation. Esophageal Conditions (including GERD, Hiatal Hernia, and Other Esophageal Disorders)

Evaluation of gallbladder disease, with inflammation, gallstones, pain after eating fatty food, or pancreatic conditions including pancreatitis that manifests as severe recurrent abdominal pain. Gallbladder and Pancreas Conditions

Evaluation of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) (chronic recurrent diarrhea or constipation). Ulcerative colitis (chronic inflammatory bowel condition leading to erosions and bleeding) and other conditions with Bloody stools, fistulas, and/or abscess. Intestinal Conditions (other than surgical or infectious) including Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, and Diverticulits

Evaluation of hepatitis (which refers to a variety of inflammatory and infectious conditions) and Cirrhosis (chronic liver disease resulting from liver injury leading to degeneration of the liver)and other conditions characterized by jaundice, ascitis, fluid retention. Hepatitis, Cirrhosis and Other Liver Conditions

Evaluation of peritoneal adhesions, which are scars of the visceral lining of the abdominal structures that produces episodes of partial or complete bowel obstruction. Peritoneal Adhesions

Evaluation of stomach and duodenum conditions such as peptic ulcer disease, recurrent pain relieved by antacids, bloody stools, nausea or vomiting, indigestion. Stomach and Duodenum Conditions (not including GERD or Esophageal Disorders)

Evaluation of Amebiasis, dysentery, and various types of intestinal parasites with recurrent diarrhea, alteration in stool consistency or foul smell. Infectious Intestinal Disorders, including Bacterial and Parasitic Infections

Evaluation of removal of portions of the intestine and reconstruction and diversion of the intestinal tract: bowel diversion that requires use of external bags to collect stool. Intestinal Surgery (Bowel Resection, Colostomy, and Ileostomy)

Genitourinary

Conditions - Symptoms

Form Name

 

Evaluation of renal diseases including Nephritis, renal insufficiency, and other diseases of the kidney: kidney failure, abnormal kidney function tests, protein in the urine, edema, kidney stones. Kidney Conditions (Nephrology)

Evaluation of diseases of the urethra, penis, testes, and scrotum, producing pain on urination, swelling, blood in urine or incontinence. Male Reproductive Organ Conditions

Evaluation of malignant lesions of the prostate gland with frequent diurnal or nocturnal urination. Prostate Cancer

Evaluation of conditions affecting the bladder and urethra, including, but not limited to voiding dysfunctions and infections. Urinary Tract (Bladder and Urethra)

 

Gynecological

Conditions - Symptoms

Form Name

 

Evaluation of inflammatory neoplastic and cystic lesions of the breast: Breast mass or lumps. Breast Conditions and Disorders

Evaluation of diseases of the female genital tract including: uterus, vagina, cervix, ovaries, endometriosis, complications of pregnancy, and other conditions. Gynecological Conditions

Hematologic and Lymphatic

Conditions - Symptoms

Form Name

 

Evaluation of conditions of red and white blood cells, producing anemias, leukemias on tumors such as lymphomas. Hematologic and Lymphatic Conditions

Infectious Diseases

Conditions - Symptoms

Form Name

 

Evaluation of conditions associated with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and its treatment. HIV-Related Illnesses

Evaluation of infectious diseases not specifically-associated with either HIV or military service in a tropical area, the Persian Gulf, or Afghanistan. Infectious Diseases

Evaluation of infectious diseases associated with military service in tropical areas with exposure to salmonella, shigella, etc. producing symptoms such as chronic diarrhea. Persian Gulf and Afghanistan Infectious Diseases

Evaluation of conditions in which the immune system begins attacking healthy body tissues, including, but not limited to, Goodpasture's syndrome and Guillain-Barre syndrome. Systemic Lupus Erthematosus (SLE) and Other Autoimmune Diseases

Evaluation of pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis symptoms. Tuberculosis (TB)

For use in evaluation of vitamin deficiencies (Beriberi, Pellagra, syndromes of dermatitis, diarrhea dementia in POW, post-GI surgery, bypass procedures, undernutrition and malabsorption.) Nutritional Deficiencies

Musculoskeletal

Conditions - Symptoms

Form Name

 

Evaluation of extremity, limb or digit (complete or partial amputation), and complications. Evaluation of stumps. Amputations

Evaluation of ankle pain, persistent deformity (ankylosis), ankle injuries, reduction of movement, and use of assistive device. Ankle Conditions

Evaluation for non-degenerative arthritic conditions such as Gout and Rheumatoid Arthritis: recurrent painful and swollen joints. Non-degenerative Arthritis (including Inflammatory, Autoimmune, Crystalline, and Infectious Arthritis) and Dysbaric Osteonecrosis

Evaluation of injuries, deformities, loss of elbow and forearm producing motion limitation. Elbow and Forearm Conditions

Evaluation of flatfoot, and acquired deformity of the foot. Flatfoot (Pes Planus)

Evaluation of reduction or loss of toe function and motion, and alteration in mobility. Foot Miscellaneous (other than Flatfoot)

Evaluation of alteration in motion of the wrists or digits due to tendon or muscle injuries, and alteration in motion and function of the hand including ankylosis, trigger finger, loss of finger movement. Hand and Finger Conditions

Evaluation of alteration in extension and flexion, poor postural and body support, and alteration of rotation of the hip. Hip and Thigh Conditions

Evaluation of ankylosis of the knee, subluxation of the knee, knee instability, meniscus lesions, and functional limitations knee cartilage problems, locked knee. Knee and Lower Leg Conditions

Evaluation of traumatic and other injuries resulting in loss or alteration of function, location, type, tears, and weakness: torn scarred muscles. Muscle Injuries

Evaluation of bone infections producing fever, local alteration of function, residuals from a bone infection with persistent drainage or bone alteration. Osteomyelitis

Evaluation of arm limitation of function, dislocation, alteration in joint function, incomplete movements, deformity, dislocation, nonunion, and fracture complications : frozen shoulder. Shoulder and Arm Conditions

Evaluation of arthritis and neck deformities. Neck (Cervical Spine) Conditions

Evaluation of unfavorable or incomplete wrist motion due to ankylosis (limitation in range), painful or other alteration in function, resulting from traumatic or other injury complications, joint replacement. Wrist Conditions

Evaluation of chronic low back pain, arthritis and back injuries, spinal conditions or disc disease: low back pain with sciatica. Back (Thoracolumbar Spine) Conditions

Neurological

Conditions - Symptoms

Form Name

 

Evaluation of progressive degenerative disease of the brain and spinal cord with progressive muscle weakness and wasting, speech, swallowing and breathing problems. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's Disease)

Evaluation of alteration of the function of the nerves (motor and sensory), related to Diabetes Mellitus: weakness, numbness, tingling of legs and arms related to diabetes. Diabetic Sensory-Motor Peripheral Neuropathy

Evaluation of numerous other neurologic conditions such as: meningitis, HIV, brain abscess, Lyme Disease, encephalitis, stroke, brain tumor, and spinal cord injury. Central Nervous System and Neuromuscular Diseases (except TBI, ALS, Parkinson's Disease, MS, Headaches, TMJ, Epilepsy, Narcolepsy, Peripheral Nerves, Sleep Apnea, Cranial Nerves, Fibromyalgia, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)

Evaluation of conditions affecting the following nerves in the Cranium: V (trigeminal, VII (facial), IX (glossopharyngeal), X (vagus), XI (spinal accessory), and XII (hypoglossal). (Conditions affecting cranial nerves I (olfactory), II (optic), III (oculomotor), IV (trochlear), VI(abducens), and VIII (vestibulocochlear (auditory)) are addressed in other DBQs.) Cranial Nerve Conditions

Evaluation of recurrent episodes of head pain producing work limitation or incapacitation: with other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, tearing etc. Headaches (including Migraine Headaches)

Evaluation of fibromyalgia components, including, but not limited to sleep problems, muscle and joint pain, and altered affect. Fibromyalgia

Evaluation of disorders of the myelin sheath of the central nervous systems producing recurrent alterations of neurological function: such as weakness, numbness, urine incontinence, visual symptoms. Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Evaluation of symptoms that may include tremors, or trembling in hands, arms, legs, jaw, and face; rigidity, or stiffness of the limbs and trunk; bradykinesia, or slowness of movement; and postural instability, or impaired balance and coordination. Other symptoms may include depression and other emotional changes; difficulty in swallowing, chewing, and speaking; urinary problems or constipation; skin problems; and sleep disruptions.

Parkinson's Disease

Evaluation of narcolepsy components, including, but not limited to, sleep attacks, sleepiness, paralysis, and cataplexy.

Narcolepsy

Evaluation of alteration of the function of Nerves associated with metabolic disorders, exposure to toxins, infections, immunological disorders, or inflammation and other conditions. Peripheral Nerve Conditions (not including Diabetes Sensory-Motor peripheral Neuropathy)

Evaluation of seizure conditions including epilepsy. Seizure Disorders

Ophthalmological

Conditions - Symptoms

Form Name

 

Evaluation of various diseases of the eye, such as inflammation, infection, glaucoma, deformities, alteration of tear ducts, cataracts, retina disease, and other conditions. Eye Conditions

Psychological

Conditions - Symptoms

Form Name

 

Evaluation for anorexia, bulimia, and other eating disorders. Eating Disorders

Evaluation of symptoms, history, and impact related to mental disorders: depression, mood and affective disorders, psychosis, etc. Mental Disorders (other than PTSD)

Evaluation of beginning and extent of symptoms (acute - length of symptoms is usually less than 3 months, chronic - symptoms usually last 3 months or more, with delayed onset - usually at least 6 months have passed between the traumatic experience and the beginning of symptoms). Symptoms may include: recurrent experiences of a traumatic event, avoiding an excitant or irritant associated with the trauma, deadening of general responsiveness, increased arousal, including insomnia, recurrent nightmares, and extreme caution; exhibiting an inflated frightened response; and experiencing changes in hostility.. Review Evaluation of PTSD

Respiratory

Conditions - Symptoms

Form Name

 

Evaluation of the respiratory system except Sleep Apnea and Tuberculosis. Respiratory Conditions (other than TB and Sleep Apnea)

Evaluation of disorder characterized by cessation of breathing during sleep and provides information necessary to determine functional impact (sleep apnea, snoring) daytime complications. Sleep Apnea

Rheumatological Diseases

Conditions - Symptoms

Form Name

 

Evaluation of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Components including but not limited to tiredness, loss of memory or concentration and enlarged lymph nodes. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

General Surgical

Conditions - Symptoms

Form Name

 

Evaluation of conditions involving internal organs bulging through the muscle, except hiatal hernia. Hernias (including Abdominal, Inguinal, and Femoral Hernias)

Evaluation of rectum and anus conditions causing alteration of sphincter control, stricture of prolapse, fistula, and other symptoms. Bowel incontinence or severe constipation blood in stools. Rectum and Anus Conditions (including Hemorrhoids)



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Service Officer Notes April 2012

The deadline for eligible servicemembers, veterans and their beneficiaries to apply for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay (RSLSP) has been extended to Oct. 21, 2012.

 

RSLSP was established to compensate for the hardships military members encountered when their service was involuntarily extended under Stop Loss authority between Sept. 11, 2001, and Sept. 30, 2009.  Eligible members or their beneficiaries may submit a claim to their respective military service in order to receive the benefit of $500 for each full or partial month served in a Stop Loss status.

 

When RSLSP began on Oct. 21, 2009, the services estimated 145,000 servicemembers, veterans and beneficiaries were eligible for this benefit.  Because the majority of those eligible had separated from the military, the services have engaged in extensive and persistent outreach efforts, to include multiple direct mailings, public service announcements, and continuous engagements with military and veteran service organizations, social networks and media outlets.

 

To apply for the pay, or for more information on RSLSP, including submission requirements and service-specific please see below:

 

 

Service members and veterans whose military service was involuntarily extended under the “Stop Loss” program between the 9/11 terrorist attacks and Sept. 30, 2009, are eligible for special retroactive pay, and they now have more time to apply for it.

 

Eligible service members, veterans and their beneficiaries now have until Oct. 21 to apply for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay, Pentagon officials announced today.

 

“Even with extensive outreach efforts and tremendous support from the president, Congress, the [Veterans Affairs Department], veteran and military service organizations, and friends and family around the world, some qualified individuals have not yet applied,” said Juliet Beyler, the Defense Department’s acting director of officer and enlisted personnel management. “We highly encourage anyone who may be eligible to apply for this pay. You have earned it.”

 

The special pay is compensation for the hardships the involuntary extensions caused, officials said. Eligible members or their beneficiaries may submit a claim to their respective military service to receive $500 for each full or partial month served in a Stop Loss status.

 

When the special pay began on Oct. 21, 2009, the services estimated 145,000 service members, veterans and beneficiaries were eligible for this benefit. Because the majority of those eligible had separated from the military, officials said, the services have engaged in extensive and persistent outreach efforts, such as multiple direct mailings, public service announcements and continuous engagements with military and veteran service organizations, social networks and media outlets.

 

To apply for the pay, or for more information on submission requirements and service-specific links, go to  http://www.defense.gov/stoploss

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Service Officer Notes March 2012

Vets urged to seek rating upgrades

About 75,000 veterans medically separated between Sept. 11, 2001, and Dec. 31, 2009, with service disability ratings below 30 percent will receive letters from a special board inviting them to have their ratings reviewed for a possible upgrade - an invitation they should accept.

 

But these veterans don't have to wait for the letters. They can apply to the Physical Disability Board of Review online at www.health.mil/pdbrn to have their ratings reviewed. The application is only a page long, and there is no chance of a rating downgrade.

 

The special mailing is an acknowledgment by the Department of Defense that too few qualified veterans even know that the PDBR exists, or understand what a ratings upgrade would mean in lifetime compensation and benefits. It's a  particularly important opportunity for veterans injured in Iraq and Afghanistan who believe they were low-balled on their original ratings by their review boards.

 

At stake, if ratings are upgraded to 30 percent or higher, is eligibility for a disability annuity back-loaded to the date of the original decision. Pay­ments would have to be reduced for a while, to recoup whatever separation pay was provided at discharge. But also at stake for eligible applicants is access to lifetime military health care for veterans and spouses, discount shopping on base, and any other privileges tied to retiree status.

 

Congress realized years ago that the services had been medically discharging thousands of veterans using internal rules that underrated disabilities. They rated only a single "unfitting" condition, leaving other conditions for VA review, or used modified rating tables that were more stringent on certain key conditions than tables used by VA.

 

As part of a legislative reform package for wounded warriors, Congress ordered the services to rate every unfitting medical condition without exception, using the Veterans Administration Schedule for Ratings Disabilities (VASRD).

 

Congress also ordered retroactive relief. DoD had to establish the PDBR to reconsider ratings below 30 percent given to vets medically separated back to 9/11. PDBR review isn't automatic, however. Veterans need to apply for reconsideration.

 

The PDBR began accepting applications in June 2009. A full review once took 18 months on average. That is now down to 13 months. But 45 percent of completed cases result in recommendations that ratings be raised to 30 percent or higher, the threshold to gain retiree status. To date, the secretary of the Air Force has accepted 100 percent of PDBR recom­mendations, the Army 98 per­cent and the Navy 93. 

 

But PDBR President Mi­chael LoGrande says the overall number of applica­tions to date is only 2,700, or 3.5 percent of potentially eligible veterans.  Coordinated jointly by VA and DoD, the mailing is expected to be so effective that the PDBR wants it done in phases, to avoid swamping the board and frustrating applicants. LoGrande first sought permission for a direct mailing two years ago. Because of budget constraints and other priorities, it didn't happen.

 

Last summer, Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., became concerned that too few eligible veterans were seeking rating reviews. He urged VA Secretary Eric Shinseki to conduct a direct mailing. The first batch of letters was to be mailed at the end of January to 15,000 qualified veterans discharged in 2001, 2002 and 2003. Another 20,000 letters will be mailed at the end of April to qualified veterans discharged in 2004 and 2005, 16,500 at the end of July to veterans discharged in 2006 and 2007, and 13,200 at the end of October to veterans discharged in 2008 and 2009. Thus, those who waited the longest will be notified soonest.

 
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Service Officer Notes for February 2012
 
The VA has posted an updated list of U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships confirmed to have operated on Vietnam’s inland waterways, docked on shore, or had crewmembers sent ashore, at this website <http://naus.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0xNzYyMzEwJnA9MSZ1PTEwMDEyMjY2ODUmbGk9ODA4MTI5OQ/index.html>  to assist Vietnam veterans in determining potential eligibility for compensation benefits.  This list is constantly being updated and new ships added as the files are reviewed and updated.  It is very important to note that some ships were only in VN waters less than 24 hours and others allowed their crew to go ashore for less than 8 hours.  Check back here every month and I’ll keep you advised of any changes/and/or additions.

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Service Officer Notes December 2011

Seven Essentials to a Voc Rehab Win - Part TwoBen Krause | November 11, 2009Essential 2: Tap into your purpose."A man who is good enough to shed his blood for his country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards. More than that no man is entitled, and less than that no man shall have."  Theodore Roosevelt, 1903You are in a seven-week preparation for your first meeting with Voc Rehab. In week one you focused on the first Essential: Decide to win. Now we look at tapping into your purpose or choosing your direction. The purpose of your first Voc Rehab meeting is to secure the funding you need for the life you want to build. The happiest lives are centered in one’s purpose and flow out from there. We’ll get to that, but first here is a simple rundown of some of what Voc Rehab can offer you:
 
Restart your career. Voc Rehab is a unique opportunity for veterans to restart their careers without incurring out- of-pocket expense. This is especially true for older veterans recently receiving Comp & Pension increases. Additionally, it is a way for disabled veterans to extend their GI Bill benefits to cover professional schooling beyond a bachelor’s, should they meet the necessary criteria. Attend College or Graduate School. For a college track, Voc Rehab Counselors (VRC) can approve up to $25,000 per year for tuition without needing additional approvals. Northwestern tuition was $33,000 per year when I attended, so attending a “high cost” university is possible in certain situations. The goal is to complete your education within 48 months, unless additional schooling is approved.  Receive vocational training. For vocational training, like HVAC or electrician, Voc Rehab will pay for the training, both classroom and on-the-job, assuming the program is through a reputable and/or accredited facility. Start your own business. For self-employment, Voc Rehab can spend up to $25,000 per year on your training, inventory, equipment and other items without additional approvals. This number can be much higher, depending on the approvals. If you can imagine any industrial or service sector need that can be proven with documentation, the VA will pay for you to develop your business and provide you with training necessary for success. I have heard of VR&E paying contractors $5,000 to develop business plans for vets. This track is shorter than a strictly educational track with the goal being turning a profit in 18 months. An example. You met Bill in Essential 1. Bill used to work as a Systems Administrator until his position was eliminated. His disabilities prevented him from continuing to work within that field so he developed some ideas of where an education might benefit his career. The three areas he began to look into were management, computer programming and social work. The first two training fields built on Bill’s prior expertise, but the last field was his passion. He really wanted to help other veterans improve their lives. The VRC liked his passion and approved the track.Bill went into his first meeting knowing what he wanted. His wanted to complete a Masters Degree in Social Work (MSW), which takes 4 years for an undergrad and 2-3 years of graduate coursework, or 72-84 months. He received what he wanted. In my case, I was approved to complete a Juris Doctorate, which takes three years, after already using 46 months of benefits to complete my bachelor’s degree. In week four, I will tell you about a woman pursuing a Master’s Degree in Theology and the court ruling that partially supported it. How to tap into your purpose. So if you don’t know what career direction to take, how do you figure it out? I suggest you start by tapping into your purpose and your passion first, then get specific about a career.I asked Jan Black of Quiddity, Inc. (jan@quiddityonline.com) to offer you some suggestions. Jan helps people define what they’re all about (their purpose) and what they want to make of it (their passion brought to the marketplace). She helped me focus and develop The Vet Set concept and writings. As a favor to our veteran community, Jan agreed to run veterans through an online version of this process. Let me know if you’re interested in joining us.  She will send out a link to the free webcast to all who email her with an interest.Here are Jan’s suggestions: Ask yourself:
  1. What am I all about? Justice, education, making engines work, planning, surfing, selling, entertaining/performing, empowering, teaching, creating, inventing, guiding, analyzing, organizing, keeping numbers straight, leading, competing, writing, telling stories, healing, negotiating, rescuing, adventuring, nurturing? Something else?
  2. What do three people who inspire me see in me?
  3. What achievements, or moments, in my life most thrilled me and why? What role did I play?
  4. What direction does my heart seem to want me to go?
  5. What dream did I once have for myself? Or what dream is forming for me now?
Remember, at this point you just need a strong sense of who you are and what you might want to make of it; you don’t need specific details about career choices. That will come next. There are many resources out there and online that can help you know your purpose and your strengths. Books like Now, Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton (also available as an audio book) can be helpful. And of course there are groups, courses, and private consultation and coaching that can help you know your purpose.I asked myself this question, “How much is happiness and fulfillment worth for the rest of my life?” Average lifetime earnings are estimated to be over $1.5 million. Is it worth $10, $150, $1,000 or more to get this right and be fulfilled while earning your $1.5 million? To me, yes. What’s your answer?So dig in and sort out what you’re all about so you are ready for the next step and the ultimate win with Voc Rehab that you are after. Next Essential: Choose three career options. You will learn how to research careers in a way that will help the VRC approve your plan the first time around.You can review all Seven Essentials at:


Service Officer Notes for November 2011

Just a quick note for those of you on Social Security and VA Disability.  Congress has seen fit to provide us with a cost of living increase this year of 3.6%.  The long and short of it all is that your Social Security and VA Disability Payments will both go up by 3.6% effective with your December 2011 entitlement.  Since we haven’t received a cost of living increase for the last two years, this is very welcome news for me and many of my friends in the VFW.  All I can say is ENJOY IT AND LIVE LONG AND PROSPER, it really makes some folks mad. You should find the new pay tables under the tab labeled “OTHER” on this website.
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Service Officer Notes for September 2011
 
 
Regulation provides easier path for Vietnam veterans

 WASHINGTON (AFRNS) – Veterans exposed to herbicides while serving in Vietnam and other areas will have an easier path to access quality health care and qualify for disability compensation under a final regulation that will be published Aug. 31in the Federal Register by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The new rule expands the list of health problems VA will presume to be related to Agent Orange and other herbicide exposures to add two new conditions and expand one existing category of conditions. "Last October, based on the requirements of the Agent Orange Act of 1991 and the Institute of Medicine’s 2008 Update on Agent Orange, I determined that the evidence provided was sufficient to award presumptions of service connection for these three additional diseases," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki.  "It was the right decision, and the president and I are proud to finally provide this group of veterans the care and benefits they have long deserved." The final regulation follows Secretary Shinseki's determination to expand the list of conditions for which service connection for Vietnam veterans is presumed.  VA is adding Parkinson's disease and ischemic heart disease and expanding chronic lymphocytic leukemia to include all chronic B cell leukemias, such as hairy cell leukemia.  In practical terms, veterans who served in Vietnam during the war and who have a "presumed" illness do not have to prove an association between their medical problems and their military service. By helping veterans overcome evidentiary requirements that might otherwise present significant challenges, this "presumption" simplifies and speeds up the application process and ensure that Veterans receive the benefits they deserve.  The secretary's decision to add these presumptives is based on the latest evidence provided in a 2008 independent study by the Institute of Medicine concerning health problems caused by herbicides like Agent Orange. Veterans who served in Vietnam anytime during the period beginning January 9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 1975, are presumed to have been exposed to herbicides. More than 150,000 veterans are expected to submit Agent Orange claims in the next 12 to 18 months, many of whom are potentially eligible for retroactive disability payments based on past claims.  Additionally, VA will review approximately 90,000 previously denied claims by Vietnam veterans for service connection for these conditions.  All those awarded service-connection who are not currently eligible for enrollment into the VA healthcare system will become eligible. This historic regulation is subject to provisions of the Congressional Review Act that require a 60-day Congressional review period before implementation.  After the review period, VA can begin paying benefits for new claims and may award benefits retroactively for earlier periods. For new claims, VA may pay benefits retroactive to the effective date of the regulation or to one year before the date VA receives the application, whichever is later.  For pending claims and claims that were previously denied, VA may pay benefits retroactive to the date it received the claim.   VA encourages Vietnam veterans with these three diseases to submit their applications for access to VA health care and compensation now so the agency can begin development of their claims.  Individuals can go to a website at www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/AO/claimherbicide.htm to get an understanding of how to file a claim for presumptive conditions related to herbicide exposure, as well as what evidence is needed by VA to make a decision about disability compensation or survivor’s benefits. Additional information about Agent Orange and VA's services for veterans exposed to the chemical is available at www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange.  The regulation is available on the Office of the Federal Register website at www.ofr.gov/. (Courtesy of VA) 

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Service Officer Notes for August 2011

 Every once and awhile I run across a link to a program that I have to share with everyone I know.  This months is Benefits.gov, a US Govt. site just for you and your family.  Without further ado, let’s get right to it.Benefits.govBenefits.gov is dedicated to keeping citizens updated on all government benefit and assistance programs. If you want the latest in benefit information or are interested in helping your community or website visitors find us, check out the many ways you can stay connected and share our site with others.Subscribe to Benefits.gov Email Updates!
Visitors to Benefits.gov can ensure they receive the latest information on specific programs of interest. Enter your email address in the box provided under "Subscribe to Benefits.gov Email Updates" on our homepage and select the Benefits.gov pages of your interest. You can also click on "Subscribe to email updates" on any page on the site to receive emails about changes to that specific program or page. Connect with Benefits.gov's eNewsletter!
Over 60,000 citizens are reading the Benefits.gov Compass along with you! Our increasing readership confirms that more and more Americans are finding valuable benefit information through the Benefits.gov website and want to stay informed. Share the Benefits.gov Compass with your friends and family so they can take advantage of all that Benefits.gov has to offer. Follow Us on Twitter, “Like” Us on Facebook!
Do you Tweet? Do you “Like” your favorite pages on Facebook? So do we! Follow Benefits.gov on Twitter and “Like” us on Facebook to receive our benefit-related updates, news and information that may benefit you or someone you know.

Share Benefits.gov!
Want to tell others about the site, a program you came across, or an informative article you read? Use our "Share" button on the top right corner of our site to post any Benefits.gov page through any of your email or social media tools. Share the wealth of benefit information!

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Service Officer Notes for July 2011One of the many, many somewhat unknown benefits available to Veterans and their families is Hospice Care (sometime known as End of Life Care).  In Brevard County we are blessed to have an organization called VITAS Hospice Care.  VITAS has requested and been granted the opportunity to prepare a short briefing to the Post.  This briefing will take place on August 18, 2011 at 1830, just prior to our regular monthly meeting.  I urge all of you to take advantage of this information for you, your spouse, or other loved ones in your family.

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Service Officer Notes for June 2011


VA Processing Applications for New Family Caregiver Benefits

Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

WASHINGTON -- In the first week for open applications, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has assisted more than 625 veterans, service members and their family caregivers in applying for new services under the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act 2010.

New services for primary family caregivers of eligible post-9/11 veterans include a stipend, mental health services and access to health care insurance, if they are not already entitled to care or services under a health plan.

The stipend portion of this service will be backdated to the date of the application.

Comprehensive caregiver training and medical support are other key components of this program.

Applications can be processed by telephone through the Caregiver Support Line at (855) 260-3274, in person at a VA Medical Center with a Caregiver Support Coordinator, by mail or online at www.caregiver.va.gov with the new Caregiver Application (VA Form 1010-CG).

The website application also features a chat option that provides the family caregiver with a live representative to assist in completing the application form. 


**************************************************************************************By Jay LaPrete for TODAY

 COLUMBUS, Ohio — Vietnam War veteran Steve Miller is helped through a doorway, past the sign that says "NO profanity allowed" and to a corner stool of the Veterans of Foreign Wars bar. Other vets in the canteen surge forward to slap him on the back or shake his hand.

  

Miller, who lost his eyesight and his left hand to a mine in 1969, is a minor celebrity in these parts for his veterans work. But the bartender, Charlena "Charley" Wolfe, 49 — a blur of motion behind the bar preparing drinks on this busy day — treats Miller like everyone else, although she does have his favorite drink, a Bud Light, waiting.

 

"She's a friend. She's a buddy," says Miller, 60, after the fussing settles down a bit. "I talk with Charley any chance I get."

 

Researchers here in Ohio are seizing on this almost-familial link that VFW bartenders, many of them women, have with veterans.

 

In a pilot study released last year titled The Healing Tonic, Ohio State University researchers surveyed VFW bartenders about their interactions with veterans and whether they could, especially with a little training, notice signs of illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

 

"Bartenders have naturally been thought of as these de facto counselors over time. So people often tell their troubles to bartenders," says Keith Anderson, lead author and an assistant professor of social work at Ohio State. "What we found, as anticipated, was that (VFW) bartenders were very close to the veterans, often referring to them as similar to family."

 

Vietnam veteran Steve Miller talks with Iraq War veteran Denise Alexander, center, and Katie Hart at VFW Post 4044 on Feb. 10.  Although the response was limited — only 32 of 261 VFW canteens in Ohio responded to the mailed survey — the 71 bartenders who filled out surveys confirmed that veterans often pour out their hearts about personal problems. With a little training, most bartenders say, they would be willing to recommend mental health programs.

 

The Ohio researchers say they hope to approach the VFW and possibly the Department of Veterans Affairs to discuss preparing a 20-minute online training tool for bartenders. The 112-year-old VFW has 1.5 million members, including 130,000 who are Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. There are 3,500 VFW bars among all the posts.

 

"The way I look at it," Anderson says, "if we are able to help one veteran, then really it is a worthwhile program."

 

The veterans group believes the plan might be worth considering, says Joe Davis, a VFW spokesman.

 

Wolfe, for one, thinks it makes sense, especially when she remembers Robert Murdock, a 49-year-old veteran who she says confided in her during 2009 about his chronic pain, his reliance on narcotic pain relievers and his growing sense of hopelessness. "He said he was tired of living with all the pain," she remembers.

 

Murdock was found dead in his basement in October 2009.

 

"He haunts me every day," Wolfe says. "I get chills thinking about him and I could break down and cry right now."

 

When regulars don't show up for a few days, Wolfe gets worried. Chuck Voss, 64, who served in Vietnam as a Marine, fell on the ice in December and fractured his ribs while doing his commissary deliveries to state prisons. He didn't come by for a few days. Wolfe called to make sure he was OK.

 

"Sometimes you get in situations where it's kind of rough, it's kind of bad," Voss says. "You go in and she's there. She's always there to listen to you if you're upset about it. ... She talks to you, not around you."

 

At a table is Denise Alexander, 44, a retired Army captain who served with a medical team in Bosnia in 2003, and now has a master's degree in mental health counseling.

 

Bartenders such as Wolfe are accepted because they don't judge anyone, Alexander says, and this unlocks issues that are otherwise kept secret.

 

"She's not going to label them depressed or suffering from PTSD or anything like that," Alexander says. "These folks want to be known as quiet heroes.”Give me a beer. But listen.' They really can't talk about it anywhere else. Family doesn't really understand."

 

Wolfe says her secret is very simple: She just listens.

 

"They come to me and talk to me about things that they normally wouldn't talk about with their wives."

 

If the initiative by the Ohio State researchers is successful, Wolfe would be happy to offer resources and help.

 

"Absolutely," she says. "I love this post. And I love the people. And they're all family."

Late Breaking New for March 2011 

 

Background

 

This section provides background information on how contaminants were first discovered in water systems at Camp Lejeune, the sampling that has followed and the closing of effected wells. Other scientific information on the water testing and chemicals that were found, in addition to, Marine Corps actions and decisions are detailed in this section.

 

In 1979, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published interim standards for total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) (disinfection byproducts from water chlorination). Based on this ruling, Camp Lejeune began to monitor for TTHMs in November 1982 and was in full compliance with applicable requirements by November 1983. To prepare for the compliance requirements, the Atlantic Division - Naval Facilities Engineering Command (LANTDIV) contracted water quality testing with the U.S. Army Environmental Hygiene Agency and Jennings Laboratories. The sampling initiative began at Camp Lejeune in July 1980.

 

From 1980-81, TTHM sampling was performed at Camp Lejeune's Hadnot Point and New River water treatment plants. Various other points in the water distribution systems were also sampled. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were identified as interference (i.e., an influence by chemicals other than TTHMs) in the TTHM sampling from Hadnot Point. In February 1982, LANTDIV recommended Camp Lejeune to initiate contractual agreements to begin TTHM monitoring through a North Carolina-certified laboratory. Camp Lejeune initiated this TTHM sampling in spring, 1982 with Grainger Laboratories. The first sets of TTHM samples, obtained in April 1982, were collected at various points which included the water treatment plant effluent, pumping stations, and various sinks. No individual wells were sampled.

 

In May 1982, the Grainger Labs TTHM analyses revealed VOC interference. Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE) were identified in samples from Tarawa Terrace and Hadnot Point. In August 1982, Camp Lejeune received the samples’ analytical results, which quantified TCE and PCE concentrations from Grainger Labs. Further Tarawa Terrace and Hadnot Point TTHM testing resulted in sporadic interference by VOCs. Due to sampling completed in summer 1982, levels of PCE averaged approximately 90 ug/L in the Tarawa Terrace system and levels of TCE averaged 20 ug/L in the Hadnot Point system. (Camp Lejeune did obtain one sample indicating TCE at 1400 ug/L on May 27, 1982. This sample is not included in the average because the Base chemist who reviewed the analysis saw it as an anomaly.) Although no regulatory standards were established for either of these chemicals at the time, EPA published a SNARL (Suggested No-Adverse Response Level) for both TCE and PCE. Comparison of the average PCE and TCE concentrations with the respective SNARLs revealed Hadnot Point’s water below the long-term TCE SNARL and Tarawa Terrace’s water was between the 10-day and long-term PCE SNARL.

 

In August 1982, Camp Lejeune had reason to suspect that the appearance of PCE concentrations in the water samples could have resulted from the use of coated asbestos-cement pipe in the Tarawa Terrace raw water lines. Further discussion regarding the potential source of these compounds led to: continued sampling and analysis of the drinking water systems, additional sampling and analysis of the water supply, and the acceleration of the Naval Assessment and Control of Installation Pollutants (NACIP) Program at Camp Lejeune (established to identify areas of the Base which required cleanup).

 

Camp Lejeune continued to use Grainger Labs for TTHM sampling through 1982 and analyzed over 200 samples to ensure TTHM compliance. The analytical results from this sampling showed VOC interference in certain samples. During this time, Camp Lejeune evaluated the water treatment plants for potential sources of VOCs (e.g., paint, solvents used in equipment, and sources from other operations), performed inorganic chemical and corrosively analyses, and continued planning for various infrastructure replacements at the Tarawa Terrace and Holcomb Boulevard water treatment plants. Camp Lejeune remained in contact with North Carolina’s Water Supply Branch (Division of Health Services, Department of Human Resources), which had primacy over the Safe Drinking Water Act [SDWA] in NC, and also monitored other SDWA water quality requirements (e.g., metals, pH, etc.). Camp Lejeune’s water systems were in full compliance with SDWA requirements at this time.

 

In January 1982, the NACIP Program at Camp Lejeune began to identify potentially contaminated sites on the base. In 1983, the NACIP initial assessment study was published. This study led to the subsequent sampling of individual water supply wells in 1984. A direct association between VOCs in the Hadnot Point and Tarawa Terrace drinking water and VOCs in the wells and groundwater was established when the water supply wells were sampled (beginning in 1984). The Base confirmed the wells impacted by VOCs and shut them down in late 1984 and early 1985.

 

The Survey

 

This section illustrates the methods and procedures of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) as a result of the discovery of chemicals in Camp Lejeune base water systems. Information on the previous health assessment, study, and survey leading up to the current ATSDR study are also found in this section.

 

In 1997, a public health assessment (PHA) was completed by ATSDR at Camp Lejeune. The ATSDR was particularly interested in routine drinking water tests (conducted in the 1980s) that found volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at detectable levels in some on-base drinking water supply wells.

 

On April 28, 2009, ATSDR announced that they were removing the 1997 PHA for Camp Lejeune from their Web site. According to ATSDR, the PHA should have mentioned benzene contamination and stated that the extent of exposure to benzene was unknown. The ATSDR is currently conducting water modeling as part of an ongoing study to determine if past exposure to VOCs from contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune is associated with certain birth defects and childhood cancers. After the water modeling is completed, the ATSDR will re-analyze and update the PHA. Persons interested in reading the 1997 PHA may request a printed copy by contacting the ATSDR Records Center at (770) 488-0707, or e-mail: atsdrrecordscenter@cdc.gov.

 

(Note: The ATSDR conducted extensive literature reviews and developed Toxicological Profiles for these chemicals and many others. The Toxicological Profiles can be found on the ATSDR Web site. Other names for perchloroethylene include: tetrachloroethylene, PCE, perc, tetrachloroethene, perclene, and perchlor. The ATSDR Toxicological Profile for PCE can be found under "tetrachloroethylene.")

 

In 1998, the ATSDR completed a birth outcome study of women who conceived or gave birth to children aboard Camp Lejeune. The ATSDR concluded that drinking water contaminated with VOCs may be associated with decreased average birth weight-for-gestational-age births in infants born to mothers over the age of 35 or in women who had a history of adverse pregnancy outcomes. The ATSDR qualified the associations and warned that results must be interpreted with caution. It also concluded that any possible relationship between VOCs and adverse pregnancy outcome(s) needed additional study.

 

As a follow up action to the study of birth outcomes, the ATSDR began a survey in fall 1999. The survey’s overall goal was to identify cases of specific childhood diseases among children born to women who became pregnant while living in base housing at Camp Lejeune from 1968 to 1985. During the survey, the ATSDR administered a screening questionnaire to 12,598 former residents of Camp Lejeune to identify specific types of childhood illnesses. The telephone-screening phase of the project ended January 26, 2002. The ATSDR evaluated the self-reported cases of certain childhood illnesses and other health-related information.

In January 2003, the ATSDR released an interim report on the survey results and mailed this report to survey participants and interested parties. The survey interviews provided specific childhood cancers and birth defects. To verify the self-reported health conditions, the ATSDR reviewed medical records of selected respondents and/or interviewed physicians that provided diagnoses of health conditions. Once cases were verified, the rates for childhood cancer and birth defects of interest were compared to the rates for a comparable population. These comparison findings are published in the ATSDR’s final survey report.

 

Updated information about the survey and any follow-up study will be provided as it becomes available.

Quick References

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Paul H. Niemeyer
Service Officer
District 8 and VFW Post 4643
Satellite Beach, FL 32937
321-305-2149 or phna2@cfl.rr.com
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