Veterans bulletin [Jan. 2010]

Sonny Perdue Governor

Georgia Department of Veterans Service
Veterans Bulletin

Pete Wheeler Commissioner

2 1 Serving OurVeterans and Their Families This Year and Beyond

Georgia Veterans ... guardians of liberty January 2010
IN this issue: customer service survey

Georgia Department of Veterans Service
Veterans Bulletin January 2010
Cover Story: Serving Our Veterans In 2010 And Beyond
Commissioner's Message Pages 3-4 2009 Highlights Pages 5-9 Ready To Assist Page 10 2009 Statistical Report Pages 11-12 Facilities Overview Page 13-16
SDVS News Page 17
Headlines Of Interest To Georgia Veterans Pages 17-18
Customer Service Survey Page 19

Welcome to the digital edition of the Georgia Veterans Bulletin.
By bringing the Bulletin to you online, the Georgia Department of Veterans Service is saving valuable budget dollars, a necessary choice given our state's current fiscal status.
Remember, every hypertext link in this document is clickable. Wherever you see a website address, such as www.va.gov, you can click on the link and be taken to that site.
We would like to encourage you to subscribe to our news feed via RSS. You may do so here:
http://sdvs.georgia.gov/rss/sdvs_press_releases.xml
Whenever a new Bulletin is published, whenever the Department issues any news release, you will be among the first to know.
Please take a moment to complete a brief survey that measures your views about our quality of service. Your feedback is important and will help us continue to improve and provide the highest customer service standards our veterans deserve:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/287DY2S
As always, thank you for your service to our country and do not hesitate to call upon us.

Georgia Veterans Bulletin
The Georgia Veterans Bulletin is published by the Georgia Department
of Veterans Service, Public Information Division, Floyd Veterans Memorial
Building, Room E-970, Atlanta, GA 30334-4800.

Ray Hendrix

Chairman, Veterans Service Board

Pete Wheeler

Commissioner

Tom Cook

Assistant Commissioner, Field Operations & Claims

Dan Holtz Assistant Commissioner, Administration, Health & Memorials

Heldon (Bill) Jung

Director, Veterans Education & Training

Brian Zeringue

Public Information Manager

Jon Suggs

Editor, Veterans Bulletin

Georgia Veterans...guardians of liberty

Georgia Department of Veterans Service
Floyd Veterans Memorial Building Suite E-970
Atlanta, Georgia 30334-4800 (404) 656-2300
gavetsvc@vs.state.ga.us www.sdvs.georgia.gov


Commissioner's Message

January 19, 2010

Greetings:

The year 2009 was a very busy one for the Georgia Department of Veterans Service. Working with the five percent budget withhold during the first six months of Fiscal Year 2010 presented challenges for us to ensure our primary mission of service to Georgia's 770,000 veterans was continued to the maximum extent possible. Our nation is fighting two wars on the other side of the world, and more service members are returning home to their families and civilian occupations with serious service connected disabilities that will confront them for many years to come. We are working intensely to make sure these veterans, along with all other veterans, receive all the benefits from the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the State of Georgia to which they are entitled. In 2008, the last year for which the VA has data, over $2.65 Billion in tax free VA benefits came to Georgia's veterans and into the economy of our great state. Historically, the amount of benefits coming into Georgia's economy is larger than for many states that have more veterans than reside in Georgia.

Along with complying with the direction of Governor's Office of Planning and Budget to furlough department employees for three days and to withhold five percent of our Fiscal Year 2010 funding, we have continued to maintain full operation of our 48 field offices and our claims division to prepare, process and assist in the appeals of veterans claims for VA benefits. However, there has been a price to do this, which has come in veteran patient census reductions at our two state veterans homes in Augusta and Milledgeville. The reduced censuses at these homes has delayed or denied admissions to these homes of Georgia's veterans who need the medical services provided by these skilled nursing institutions. The budgeted census of both of these homes is now at 459 (off from 530) for fiscal year 2010 and will remain at that level, unless our department's budget is reduced for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2010 to a level in excess of eight percent. We are able to do this because of a one time recoupment of federal funds for medical services provided to 70% service connected disabled veterans in our state veterans homes from March 2007 June 2009. Any budget reduction for Fiscal Year 2011 will generate further reductions in the censuses of these homes from the 459 level to possibly as low as 395, which will be a significant loss to these homes' capacity and severely weaken their ability to provide quality medical services to our veteran patients for which they have both been repeatedly recognized by state, federal and civilian certifying agencies.

At our two state veterans cemeteries in Glennville and Milledgeville, we currently have buried over 1,500 of Georgia's fallen heroes and their spouses. This perpetual care service to our veterans and their families is a low cost operation that provides immeasurable returns for our state's veterans, their families and for the communities in which they are located. We will soon put out for bids a contract from prior year capital funds and VA construction grant moneys to expand the cemetery in Milledgeville to accommodate that facility's needs for the next ten years. The work on that project should be completed by the end 2011.

We recently conducted our 44th Supermarket of Veterans Benefits at the Army National Guard Armory in Griffin. Over 3,000 veterans and family members attended this event designed to bring together 35 state and federal agencies that provide services to our veterans. Nearly 2,000 applications for state or federal benefits were initiated during

Georgia Veterans...guardians of liberty



the supermarket ranging from state veteran's driver licenses to VA disability claims.
As members of Georgia's Army and Air National Guard have deployed overseas this past year, staff from our field operations were participants in the pre deployment processing for these operations. They provided essential information to the guardsmen and their families, so necessary facts were available to them in the event of injury or death to any guardsmen while deployed. The information provided to these guardsmen was used by the families of several guardsmen who did not return. We are providing the same services to our guardsmen when they return from their deployments, so they can begin the actions necessary to apply for benefits associated with their active duty service to our nation. In recognition of these activities the members of the 48th Brigade deployed in Afghanistan flew an American Flag over their camp in recognition of our department and the services we provided to them.
Some additional details and documentation from these activities and other services provided by our department are available at the enclosures.
The Georgia Department of Veterans Service is chartered in our state's constitution to provide service to Georgia's heroes and their families. Our staff is very committed to accomplish our assigned mission to serve those who have served. Our state's veterans are a tremendous asset to our state and nation. In Georgia they deserve and receive the recognition they ought to have and we are proud to be a part of those activities and actions. We look forward to continuing our mission of service to our veterans in 2010, 2011 and for many years to come. Thank you for allowing and enabling us to make this happen.



Sincerely,



PETE WHEELER Commissioner

Postscript: The Department of Veterans Service strives to provide outstanding customer service to all veterans and their dependents by being helpful, accessible, responsive, knowledgeable, and courteous.

Whether you call, email, encounter us in your community or in our office, it's up to us to be ready to serve when and where you need us.

Please take a moment to complete a brief survey that measures your views about our quality of service. Your feedback is important and will help us continue to improve and provide the highest customer service standards our veterans deserve: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/287DY2S

Thank you for your participation.

Georgia Veterans...guardians of liberty



2009 Highlights

Sand from Normandy, France, in bridge foundation

Atlanta VARO-VAMC Bridge Ground Breaking

OIF Banner Ceremony, Twin Towers, ATL

Arbor Day at
GVMCMilledgeville

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Keynote address at State Memorial Day Observance

Official opening of Newnan CBOC
Georgia Veterans...guardians of liberty

Governor recognizes SDVS Customer Service Excellence


Governor's "Veterans Day In Georgia" Proclamation Signing

Georgia Veterans...guardians of liberty



MOPH "Play It Again Pete" Charity Event

Georgia Veterans...guardians of liberty



Supermarket of Veterans Benefits

Georgia Veterans...guardians of liberty



Supermarket of Veterans Benefits

Georgia Veterans...guardians of liberty



SDVS: Ready To Assist You

Whether a veteran's condition is the result of recent or long past military duties, the door remains open for him or her to seek help and submit a claim to the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs for disability compensation.
Each claim submitted is processed and answered with an explanation as to why it was or was not approved. Policies governing how a veteran's claim is processed and rules of law affecting a decision may not be fully understood by the veteran.
The Georgia Department of Veterans Service is the agency of state government that was established for the purpose of advising, counseling, and assisting Georgia's veterans and their families in receiving their rightful benefits under the vast, frequently changing, and complex framework of veterans' laws.
"We exist to serve those who have served," says Georgia Commissioner of Veterans Affairs Pete Wheeler.
"Our job is to explain in detail federal and state benefits and,

if entitled, assist veterans and their dependents in obtaining them," Commissioner Wheeler points out. "We have 47 field offices located throughout the state and a claims division whose mission is to do just that - assist and advise ALL veterans, their dependents, and survivors."
Veterans and their dependents can receive personal assistance in filing for VA benefits and other entitlements at any of the 47 field offices. The department's claims staff, located in the VA Regional Office Building in Decatur, monitors VA claims filed and, when needed, assist with the preparation and presentation of appeals.
Commissioner Wheeler further explains the necessity for personal assistance in pursuing, filing, and tracking claims results from the legal principle that veteran's benefits are not awarded automatically--all must be applied for.
"The VA pays a veteran exactly what he or she is entitled to by the law, and no more," Commissioner Wheeler points out. "Our ultimate goal is to ensure that a Georgia veteran or his or her

dependents receive any and all benefits to which they are entitled."
The field offices staff can also assist in certifying a veteran's eligibility for the many benefits provided by the state (for example drivers licenses, special motor vehicle license plates, honorary hunting and fishing licenses, discounts at Department of Natural Resources facilities, Certificates of Exemption from payment of certain fees and taxation).
Commissioner Wheeler encourages all Georgia veterans to visit the department's field office nearest to where they live for information concerning the possibility of being eligible for a federal or state benefit and on how to go about filing a claim for benefits.

Contact information of the nearest field office can be found here at our website:

www.sdvs.georgia.gov

Most offices are open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on state holidays.

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2009 Statistical Report
Contacts.........................................................686,563

New Case Files.................................................12,262

Hearings.........................................................434

Letters Written.................................................324,549

Compensation and Pension...................................50,265

Education........................................................2,011

Medical...........................................................15,728

Insurance.........................................................1,450

Loans.............................................................2,938

Powers of Attorney.............................................16,188

Changes of Address............................................1,945

Notices of Disagreement and Appeals Filed..............5,033

Vocational Rehabilitation....................................904

VA Claims Folders Reviewed................................31,580

Driver Licenses.................................................................7,408

Business Licenses...............................................199

Nursing Home Applications..................................444

License Plates...................................................1,260

Natural Resources.............................................2,465

Tax Exemptions................................................1,107

Preference Points...............................................623

Welfare Assistance/Social Security.........................9,497

Miscellaneous Personal Affairs..............................215,849

Other Forms and Evidence...................................216,059

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Statistical Report Definitions
Below is an explanation of the terms described in the Statistical Report of the number of cases and types of services rendered by the Georgia Department of Veterans Service during 2009.
CONTACTS: Requests for service or information (in person, by telephone or by letter or email).
NEW CASE FILES: Cases brought to the attention of the Veterans Service Department for assistance requiring representation.
HEARINGS: Formal hearings conducted by a VA entity on the appeal of an administrative determination on a veteran's claim where an agent of the Department represents the claimant.
LETTERS WRITTEN: Outgoing correspondence originated in the Department on behalf of claimants in developing their claims.
COMPENSATION AND PENSION: Claims for monetary benefits submitted by veterans, their dependents or survivors.
EDUCATION: Applications for educational assistance for the veterans and/or spouses, widows/widowers and children of veterans.
MEDICAL: Applications for treatment of a medical or dental condition; for admission to health care facilities; and vocational rehabilitation.
INSURANCE: An application for insurance, conversion, reinstatement, waiver of premiums, total disability income and death proceeds.
HOME LOAN APPLICATIONS: Application for direct home loans from the VA and guaranteed loans from private lenders.
POWERS OF ATTORNEY: The appointment of a service organization as a claimant's representative.
NOTICES OF DISAGREEMENT AND APPEALS FILED: Written briefs and statements prepared in support of a claim where there is disagreement with the VA decision rendered.
VA CLAIMS FOLDERS REVIEWED: Claims obtained from the VA adjudication division and reviewed and rating boards conducted by claims staff personnel.
DRIVER LICENSES: Certificates issued to the veterans, their spouse, or to widows/widowers of veterans for obtaining a veteran's or honorary driver license.
BUSINESS LICENSES: Certificates issued to certain disabled veterans exempting them from the payment of business license taxes.
OTHER FORMS AND EVIDENCE: Documents completed and transmitted in support of applications filed for claims.
MISCELLANEOUS: Assisting in arrangements for military funerals, burial in national or state veterans cemeteries, obtaining flags and grave markers, ambulance service, guardianship for incompetent veterans and orphans; replacement of lost or destroyed discharges and military records; review and change of discharges and military records; employment, reemployment, civil service preference, social security, welfare and related benefits; claims from the field reviewed and released to the VA; actions pertaining to HV and DV auto tags, hunting and fishing license, tax exemptions, state park discount cards and change of addresses; vocational rehabilitation; and nursing home applications.

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GEORGIA WAR VETERANS NURSING HOME, Augusta

The Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home (GWVNH) in Augusta is a 192 bed skilled nursing care facility located adjacent to the campus of the Medical College of Georgia medical center and the Charlie Norwood Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia. It is operated under an interagency agreement between the Georgia Department of Veterans Service and the Medical College of Georgia.
Primarily a facility to provide medical services to Georgia's aged and infirm veterans, the GWVNH also serves as a teaching facility to acquaint medical and allied health students with medical conditions and diseases of the aged. This provides the students with practical experience and helps them gain expertise in treating the disabled and the elderly.
In addition the facility houses a Georgia Department of Veterans Service field office that serves veterans of Columbia and Richmond counties.
Dedicated in 1969, the facility was the first of its kind in the nation to be built with financial grant assistance from the federal government. It is one of a select group of such institutions in the nation that is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
In Fiscal Year 2009 the home provided 61,137 days of care to Georgia's veterans with an average age of 80. During the year, there were 196 admissions and 213 discharges with an average length of stay of 310 days. Services to patients included 3,392 physical therapy treatments and 3,560 individual occupational therapy procedures. Veteran patients were treated by a medical director and family medicine residents providing daily medical coverage to each veteran patient. Medical services were also provided by a certified activities therapist and staff, two facility social workers and a staff of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and certified nursing assistants.
To help provide care and treatment, the federal government provided financial assistance totaling in excess of $4.5 Million during 2009.
During the year, major renovation was undertaken to the veteran patients' care areas on the second through fifth floors and to the food service preparation and dining room areas of the first floor. These upgrades and improvements also include the individual veteran patients' bathrooms and congregate showers. The nursing stations were redesigned to protect veteran patient privacy and improve communication. Upgrades to the facility's dining room and kitchen and improvements in the heating and air conditioning systems were completed for this project.
Throughout the year, veterans service organizations, civic and fraternal organizations and religious groups demonstrated their concern for the well being of the ailing veteran patients through numerous donations and the continuing sponsorship of frequent veteran related activities.

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GEORGIA WAR VETERANS HOME, Milledgeville


The Georgia War Veterans Home, situated on approximately 17 acres in Milledgeville, is a 550-bed facility licensed and certified to provide skilled nursing care to aged and infirm Georgia war veterans. United Veteran Services of Georgia, Inc., a subsidiary of UHS-Pruitt Corporation of Norcross, Georgia, operates the home for the Department of Veterans Service under a contractual agreement.
The home operated four skilled nursing care facilities in 2009, which included the Richard B. Russell Building with 120 budgeted beds; the Carl Vinson Building with 45 budgeted beds; the Joe T Wood Building with 100 budgeted beds; and the Alzheimer's Wing of the Pete Wheeler Building with 20 budgeted beds.
The Georgia Department of Veterans Service field office serving Baldwin, Hancock, Putnam, Washington, and Wilkinson counties is housed on the first floor of the Vinson Building. This office also serves the 300 veteran patients of the home by assisting with compensation and pension claims, counseling services and family related issues.
Construction projects at the Georgia War Veterans Home for 2009 consisted of replacing the chiller/cooling tower in the Pete Wheeler Bldg. ($815,289), electrical upgrades in the Pete Wheeler Bldg. ($501,798) and roof replacement on Joe T. Wood Bldg. ($941,000).
The Office of Regulatory Services of the Georgia Department of Community Health conducted an unannounced licensure survey of each skilled nursing unit of the home in February and found no deficiencies. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs annual survey of the home was conducted in March and the home was determined to be in compliance with VA standards. They certified the home for continued operation as a state veterans home.
The veteran patients at the home received 109,511 days of skilled nursing care. The nursing home admitted 34 patients during the year and had 45 discharges in 2009. The average length of stay for current veteran patients is 1,132 days.
Federal assistance in funding a portion of the cost of providing care to veteran patients in the home amounted to $8,532,434. As in previous years, many veterans service organizations, civic and church groups, continued their sponsorship of numerous activities, such as movies, games, dance parties, bingo, picnics, and other activities and programs for the general well-being of the veteran patients at the home. Groups and individuals provided the equivalent of 1,403 individual volunteers with an excess of 4,117 hours of time valued at over $53,521.00. They presented over 396 activities during the year. The value of in-kind donations made to the home was $69,113.04. Groups and individuals also provided direct monetary donations of $32,786.76 in the year.
The Georgia Department of Veterans Service is dedicated to serving the veterans of the Georgia War Veterans Home along with all veterans throughout the state.

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GEORGIA VETERAN MEMORIAL CEMETERY at Milledgeville

The Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Milledgeville is located approximately 5 miles south of downtown Milledgeville along Georgia Highway 112. This cemetery, established on 142 acres the Department received from the Georgia Forestry Commission, includes an administration/visitor center with a state of the art information booth, a committal chapel, a carillon and 12 columbarium shelters for cremations. Cemetery grounds also include a six acre lake and a three acre, multi tier walled ceremonial area available for use by veterans' organizations on remembrance days, such as Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
Presently occupying 30 of the 142 acres, the cemetery will eventually be the final resting place for more than 100,000 eligible veterans, their spouses and eligible dependents.
There were 103 burials in 2009, making the total-to-date 1,330 veterans, spouses and dependent buried at the GVMC. The burials are composed of 807 casketed burials, 224 cremations in the columbarium, 162 in-ground cremations and 15 memorial markers.
The eighth annual Arbor Day Ceremony co-hosted by the Georgia Forestry Commission was held on April 24, 2009. Director Robert Farris of the Georgia Forestry Commission and Assistant Commissioner Len Glass of the Georgia Department of Veterans Service dedicated a tree to the memory of Georgia Veterans. Mr. Ryan Klesko, former Atlanta Braves baseball player and a Georgia tree farmer was the guest speaker. Oak seedlings were given out to attendees. Approximately 150 people attended.
Flags were placed on all burial sites and at the Front Entrance in recognition of Memorial Day, May 25, 2009. We were supported in this activity by the Sons of the American Revolution and scouts from the troop based at the Milledgeville First United Methodist Church.
The cemetery hosted the Memorial Day ceremony conducted by the Knights of Columbus and supported by the Sons of the American Revolution. Approximately 200 people attended. The cemetery placed flags at front entrance in recognition of Flag Day on June 14, 2009, for of Independence Day on July 4, 2009 and on each gravesite in recognition of Veterans Day on November 11, 2009.
The cemetery hosted the third Wreath Laying Ceremony on December 12, 2009 honoring our military (past and present). Seven wreaths were presented honoring each branch of the Armed Forces, Merchant Marines and our POW/ MIAs. The ceremony included members of the Patriot Guard Riders, an Honor Detail from Georgia Army National Guard, representatives of each branch of service, and members of the Baldwin County High School Navy JROTC program. The ceremony was conducted inside the committal chapel due to inclement weather. Approximately 125 people attended the ceremony. The Worcester Wreath Company provided the seven wreaths for the ceremony. We received approximately 500 wreaths from donations to the cemetery. These wreaths were placed on the gravesites by attendees following the ceremony.
The GVMC at Milledgeville's hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M., excluding official state holidays. The cemetery is open to families, visitors and the general public seven days each week from 8:00 A.M. to dusk.

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GEORGIA VETERAN MEMORIAL CEMETERY -- Glennville


The Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery Glennville is situated on the 42.6- acre site of the former Dyess Farm, just north of the Glennville, Georgia city limits. It is located along U.S. Highway 301, 25 miles west of the main post of Fort Stewart. The initial 26-acre phase of the cemetery contains 1,400 pre-placed in-ground double vaults, for eligible veterans, their spouses, and eligible dependents; 766 conventional single depth sites; 1,384 cremation internment sites which include a columbarium and in-ground sites; and 429 spaces for memorial markers. These memorial markers are placed in memory of those veterans whose remains are unavailable for burial.
A key feature of the cemetery is the co-location of the Glennville Veterans Service Office in the Administration Building and Visitor Center. This office provides assistance to veterans and their families with applications for veterans' benefits and claims. The office provides service to veterans and their families in Bryan, Liberty, Long, Tattnall, and Wayne counties.
GVMC Glennville was dedicated on November 28, 2007 and will eventually be the final resting place for more than 21,000 veterans and their spouses and eligible dependents. As of December 31, 2009 there were 176 veterans, spouses, and family members interned in the cemetery. State veterans cemeteries, such as the GVMC- Glennville, are an integral part of the VA's National Cemetery System. The requirements for burial are the same for all National Cemetery System cemeteries in Georgia.
During the past year, the Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery - Glennville hosted its annual Memorial Day ceremony to honor veterans who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service of our country. The ceremony was held in conjunction with the Glennville Industrial Development Authority, the Glennville American Legion post, and the Glennville Veterans of Foreign Wars post. Georgia State Senator Jack Hill was the guest speaker for the ceremony. In June, Brent Walker, of the Glennville Industrial Development Authority, hosted a ceremony to rename a portion of U.S. Highway 301. The portion of highway that runs through the Glennville city limits and in front of the cemetery entrance was renamed Veterans Boulevard. This was done to honor all veterans and in recognition of the cemetery's location. The Georgia Department of Veterans Service Commissioner Pete Wheeler was the guest speaker for the dedication ceremony. For Veterans Day, The Glennville Rotary Club and the Glennville Chamber of Commerce placed American Flags at the grave markers of the veterans interned in the cemetery. In December, the Bonaventure Children of the American Revolution Society sponsored a Wreaths Across America ceremony to place wreaths at all the interment sites in the cemetery. This year the Air Force JROTC of Effingham County High School took part in the ceremony and provided the color guard.
Cemetery staff members remain active in the local community by meeting frequently with business groups, veterans' organizations, and various groups.
The GVMC Glennville's hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M., excluding official state holidays. The cemetery is open to families, visitors and the general public seven days each week from 8:00 A.M. to dusk.

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Highlights of ...

SDVS At Work For Georgia Veterans

During December 2009:
Mike Hudson, Manager, and Stephen Horton, VBC, from the LaGrange VSO participated in the Pre-Mobilization Briefing for the 110th CSSN MOI at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain.
Joel Willis and Mr. Herbert Ward, Senior Claims Counselors (Claims Staff, VARO Atlanta), participated in a briefing sponsored by the Department of Labor.
Beverly Lloyd, Manager, Augusta VSO, represented the department at the Fisher House groundbreaking ceremony at the VAMC Augusta.
Dan Cravey, Senior Claim Counselor (Claims Staff, VARO Atlanta) provided an benefits/ entitlement workshop to American Legion District and Post Service

Officers. SDVS Valdosta and SDVS
Glennville continue to support the Transitional Assistance Program (TAP). Mr. Ed Kent (Manager, SDVS Valdosta) conducts TAP Briefings at Moody AFB once a month. Ms. Tonya Malpass (Manager, SDVS Glennville) conducts TAP Briefings at Fort Stewart each week.

All personnel in Field Operations and Claims completed VA General Employee Privacy Awarness and VA Information Security Awareness (FY 10) Training.
In January 2010:
Ms. Jewell Middleton, Manager and Tisa Phillips, VBC, of the Savannah VSO participated in the Pre-Deployment Activities for the 177th GA ANG unit of the 165th Wing.
Mike Noles, Senior Claims Counselor (Claims Staff, VARO Atlanta) conducted an American Legion District Post Service Officers workshop in dCalhoun, Georgia.
Dan Cravey held a benefits/ entitlements workshop in Warner Robins and Albany for American Legion District Post Service Officers.

Headlines Of Interest To GA Veterans
White House Seeks $125 Billion for Veterans in 2011
WASHINGTON To expand health care to a record-number of Veterans, reduce the number of homeless Veterans and process a dramatically increased number of new disability compensation claims, the White House has announced a proposed $125 billion budget next year for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
"Our budget proposal provides the resources necessary to continue our aggressive pursuit of President Obama's two over-arching goals for Veterans," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "First, the requested budget will help transform VA into a 21st century organization. And second, it will ensure that we approach Veterans' care as a lifetime initiative, from the day they take their oaths until the day they are laid to rest."
The $125 billion budget request, which has to be approved by Congress, includes $60.3 billion for discretionary spending (mostly health care) and $64.7 billion in mandatory funding (mostly for disability compensation and pensions).
"VA's 2011 budget request covers many areas but focuses on three central issues that are of critical importance to our Veterans easier access to benefits and services, faster disability claims decisions, and ending the downward spiral that results in Veterans' homelessness," Shinseki said.
Read the full story here: http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1848 Read graphs and other supplementary materials here: http://www4.va.gov/budget/products.asp

Gov. Perdue joins leadership team for the campaign to build the Education Center at The Wall
Washington, D.C. Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue has joined the leadership team for the campaign to build the Education Center at The Wall, announced Jan C. Scruggs, founder and president of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF), the group that is leading the drive to build the Center.
The Education Center is an underground facility being built on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. that will put faces to the more than 58,000 names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The Center will tell the stories of those who served in Vietnam and recognize the values common to all service members.
Read the full story here: http://www.vvmf.org/index.cfm?SectionID=848

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Headlines Of Interest To GA Veterans
VVMF's National Call for Photos
Momentum is growing for the campaign to build an Education Center at the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, DC. In September 2009, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund launched a National Call for Photos, to gather pictures of the more than 58,000 men and women whose names are on "The Wall." There is also a new website (www. buildthecenter.org) dedicated to the Education Center, with information about how to start a local "Call for Photos" campaign.

Aid & Attendance
This Special Pension (part of the VA Improved Pension program) allows for War-time Veterans and surviving spouses who require the regular attendance of another person to assist in eating, bathing, dressing, undressing or taking care of the needs of nature to receive additional monetary benefits. It also includes individuals who are blind or a patient in a nursing home because of mental or physical incapacity. Assisted care in an assisted living facility also qualifies. This most important benefit is overlooked by many families with Veterans or surviving spouses who need additional monies to help care for ailing parents or loved ones.
Read the full story here: http://sdvs.georgia.gov/00/article/0,2086,26646926_156286867_156286365,00.html

Revisit Korea Tours
Since 1975, the Republic of Korea has been inviting Korean War Veterans, and family members, to return to Korea on a subsidized visit to thank them for their sacrifices that saved their country from Communism. Thousands of veterans, from all the Allied Countries that participated in the war, have enjoyed this sojourn to the "Land of the Morning Calm." The Korean government pays for hotel rooms and meals for 5 nights and 6 days plus in country tours.
Read the full story here: http://sdvs.georgia.gov/00/article/0,2086,26646926_156286867_156286365,00.html

SCAMS
Better Business Bureau on 6 JAN released a list of the top 10 scams and rip-offs of 2009. Not surprisingly, many scams sought to take advantage of people who were suffering under tough economic circumstances.
Read the full story here: http://sdvs.georgia.gov/00/article/0,2086,26646926_156286867_156286365,00.html

TRICARE Retired Reserve
A new program will offer "gray area" reservists the opportunity to purchase TRICARE health care coverage. While qualified members of the Selected Reserve may purchase premium-based coverage under TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS), retired National Guard and Reserve personnel did not have TRICARE health coverage options until they reached age 60. Under a provision of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2010, that's all changed. Read the full story here: http://sdvs.georgia.gov/00/article/0,2086,26646926_156286867_156286365,00.html

VA Benefits Eligibility
Eligibility for most veterans' health care benefits is based solely on active military service in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard (or Merchant Marines during WW II), and discharge under other than dishonorable conditions. Other groups may also be eligible for some health benefits.
Read the full story here: http://sdvs.georgia.gov/00/article/0,2086,26646926_156286867_156286365,00.html

Non-VA Emergency Care Claims
Occasionally veterans go to or are transported to non-VA civilian health care facilities for "emergent" treatment of their particular medical condition. To obtain VA payment for this care certain procedures must be followed to file a claim for payment for these services. Beginning with dates of service on and after 1 MAR 09 you must submit claims for VA payment consideration for emergency care not previously authorized to: Department of Veterans Affairs, Financial Services Center (FSC), Non-VA Emergency Claims, P.O. Box 149364, Austin, TX 78714-9364. All claims with dates of service before 1 MAR 09 must be mailed to your local VA Medical Center. To expedite claims processing, be sure that each claim is complete and filed within 90 days following the episode of care. Incomplete claims will be returned. Do not forget to include documentation of any communication with the VA regarding patient treatment or disposition. A call center at FSC is available to assist you with payment and claims processing inquiries.
Read the full story here: http://sdvs.georgia.gov/00/article/0,2086,26646926_156286867_156286365,00.html

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Customer Service Survey
The Department of Veterans Service strives to provide outstanding customer service to all veterans and their dependents by being helpful, accessible, responsive, knowledgeable, and courteous.
Whether you call, email, encounter us in your community or in our office, it's up to us to be ready to serve when and where you need us.
Please take a moment to complete a brief survey that measures your views about our quality of service. Your feedback is important and will help us continue to improve and provide the highest customer service standards our veterans deserve: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/287DY2S
Thank you for your participation.

Georgia Veterans...guardians of liberty

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Georgia 2nd Annual
April 10th
2 0 1 0 9 am to 3 pm
Be a part of the Second Annual Georgia Fishing for Vets Day - a program dedicated to all Georgia Veterans. This FREE event is open to all Veterans and is sponsored by Fly Fishing for Vets and your Georgia Fishing Guides and Services. So join us at Paces Mill Park on the Hooch. There will be food, drinks, fun for the family, plus lots of sh. Our volunteers and sponsors will have extra waders, rods, and reels for our veterans. All you need is your Georgia shing license with trout stamp and you're set. For more information and directions please visit our website where you can sign up as a Vet or a Volunteer:
www. y shingforvets.com

Georgia Veterans...guardians of liberty

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