| BULLETIN BOARD Chance Bazzano, DSO/CSO Service Officer |
SPECIAL NOTICE TO ALL VETERANS AND MEMBERS OF THE DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS STONEWALL JACKSON CHAPTER #9 WINCHESTER VIRGINIA ; As your DSO/CSO Service Officer for our Chapter, I would like to extend to all Veterans and Members our willingness to assist you with any military related needs, questions or concerns, but not limited to them exclusively.. There are countless Veterans who have served their country honorably who are not receiving their ENTITLEMENTS they have earned wearing the uniforms of this country. It is with the utmost concern that we make our Chapter of the DAV a viable resource for your needs . We have all experienced the difficulties in understanding the many rules and regulations governing your ENTITLEMENTS to receive the ongoing help you may need. This includes Service Connected Claims, Non-Service Connected Claims and all issues concerns and questions for CHAMPVA, TRI-CARE, special handicapped home needs, your children's educational entitlements and many others . We, at the DAV Chapter #9, sincerely extend our gratitude for your service, and in keeping with the tradition and total commitment of upholding Veterans rights invite you to call or email us at any time, so we may promptly and effectively assist you. Please be welcomed to visit our web site at www.dav9.org . You will find a mail box at the bottom front page to email us. In trust God Bless America Chance Bazzano, DSO/CSO-Service Officer DAV-Chapter # 9 Stonewall Jackson Winchester Va |
| Disabled American Veterans, Stonewall Jackson, Chapter 9, Winchester, Virginia |
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| VA COLA 2007 UPDATE VA COLA 2007 UPDATE 03: Military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation will increase by 3.3% on 1DEC, marking an annual cost-of-living adjustment that is both less than expected and smaller than last year's 4.1% increase. The 3.3% increase will first appear in January checks. For the second straight year, it is larger than ` JAN increase in military basic pay, which will be just 2.2%. The main reason the retirement COLA is below 4% is that energy prices and transportation costs have dropped in the last three months, according to statistics provided by the U.S. Labor's Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics, which compiles consumer prices. In the past year, some consumer costs have risen by more than 4%. Health care costs increased an average of 4.2% and housing costs jumped by 4.1%, according to the BLS. Food price, on the other hand, rose by just 2.5%. At the same time, transportation costs have dropped by 3.2% from a year ago and overall energy costs have declined by 4.3%. Annual increases in military and federal civilian retired pay and military survivor benefits are automatic, linked by law to the increase in Social Security benefits. All the benefits are tied to a comparison of consumer prices from the last three months of each fiscal year, which ends on 30 SEP, to the same period of the previous fiscal year. Veterans' disability benefits, veterans' dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors and veterans' pensions do not automatically increase. But Congress passed and President Bush signed a bill guaranteeing they would get the same 1 DEC increase. Military pay raises also are approved only by an act of Congress, but that is not the reason why the 1 JAN basic pay increase will be less than the retirement adjustment. Military and federal civilian pay raises are computed by law to keep pace with private-sector wage growth, not with inflation. Often, such as in 2002 through 2005, this results in military raises that are larger than retirement increases. But the 1 JAN 06 military raise and now the coming 1 JAN 07 military increase will be lower because private-sector wage growth has been lower than inflation. [Source: NavyTimes Rick Maze article 18 Oct 06] |
Resolution in support of the 25th Anniversary of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial passes Houses Whereas the Vietnam Veterans Memorial marks the 25th anniversary of its dedication in 2007; (Engrossed as Agreed to or Passed by House) HRES 326 EH H. Res. 326 In the House of Representatives, U. S., September 18, 2007. Whereas the Vietnam Veterans Memorial marks the 25th Anniversary of its dedication in 2007; Whereas the Memorial commemorates the sacrifice of more than 58,000 men and women who lost their lives during the Vietnam War; Whereas the Memorial honors the sacrifice of the 153,303 men and women who were wounded during the conflict; Whereas the Memorial honors the more than 3,000,000 men and women who served in the United States Armed Forces in Southeast Asia; Whereas the Memorial has served as a powerful force for national healing; Whereas over four million people visit the Memorial each year to pay tribute to lost loved ones and remember the sacrifice of those who served the United States during the Vietnam War; and Whereas the Memorial is a testament to the dedication of the private individuals and corporations that raised $8,400,000 to build the Memorial: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives-- (1) honors the sacrifice of the men and women who lost their lives in service of the United States during the Vietnam War; (2) recognizes the service of the men and women who were members of the United States Armed Forces during the Vietnam War; and (3) commemorates the 25th anniversary of the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Attest: Clerk. |
President Plans to Release VA Emergency Funding An Administration spokesman announced today that the $3.7 billion dollars in emergency funding will be released upon the President's return from the Middle East. Thanks for all your letters and phone calls on this most important issue. This demonstrates that by working together as advocates we can make a difference on behalf of all veterans. Know that with your help the additional funding will allow VA to: *Hire additional claims processors and train staff to reduce the ever-growing disability claims backlog *Treat our returning service members who put their lives on the line in Iraq and Afghanistan, by providing them with all the health care they need, including full mental health coverage and treatment for traumatic brain injuries and other war-related illnesses and disabilities. *Care for the hundreds of thousands of sick and disabled veterans from other conflicts, particularly as many of them grow older We also would like to thank the President and the Congress for keeping their promise to properly care for America's veterans. |
Lawyers Bill Unwarranted, Costly to Veterans Federal legislation that would allow lawyers to charge veterans for helping them file a claim for benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs is unnecessary and would increase costs to veterans, said Disabled American Veterans National Commander Bradley S. Barton. Barton, who is himself an attorney and a veterans advocate, said veterans should not have to hire and pay a lawyer to help them with the largely administrative claims process, which is designed to be open, informal and helpful to veterans. “The so-called Veterans’ Choice of Representation Act is unnecessary, and involvement of lawyers would increase costs to veterans and to the VA without significantly improving the process,” Barton said. “The VA is required to assist veterans in completing and filing the relatively informal application for benefits and then takes the initiative to advance the claim through the appropriate steps,” Barton explained. “In addition, veterans can get free help from the DAV’s professionally trained National Service Officers or other organizations in navigating the VA claims process.” “The VA itself is opposed to the legislation, noting that attorney fees would consume significant amounts of payments under programs meant to benefit veterans,” Barton said. “The VA would have to create a substantial new bureaucracy to perform the additional accreditation and oversight responsibilities. Instead the VA should use its scarce resources to hire more claims adjudicators and provide them with the training needed to improve the quality as well as timeliness of decisions.” Congress placed the duty on the VA to ensure all alternative theories of entitlement are exhausted and all laws and regulations pertinent to the case are considered and applied. Currently, veterans may hire an attorney for advice and counseling prior to filing a claim for benefits or after the VA administrative proceedings have been completed. Besides, there is no evidence that attorneys would provide service superior to that rendered by veterans service organization (VSO) representatives. In fiscal year 2005, for example, the Board of Veterans’ Appeals granted one or more of the benefits sought in 21.3 percent of the appeals in which claimants were represented by attorneys, who have the luxury of hand picking their clients. The board granted one or more of the benefits sought in 22.3 percent of the cases in which a claimant was represented by a veterans service organization. The 1.3 million-member Disabled American Veterans, a non- profit organization founded in 1920 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932, represents this nation’s disabled veterans. It is dedicated to a single purpose: building better lives for our nation’s disabled veterans and their families. For more information, visit the organization’s Web site www.dav.org. ### |
Veterans Funding increases in FY08 Omnibus Appropriations Bill www.house.gov/edwards Chairman, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies For Immediate Release CONTACT: Josh Taylor 202-225-6105 December 17, 2007 Edwards: 2008 Omnibus Provides Historic Funding Increase for Veterans (Washington, DC)— U.S. Representative Chet Edwards (TX17) today released a statement on the final Omnibus Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2008, which includes record budget increases for veterans authored by Edwards. The bill increases the VA budget by $6.6 billion above the 2007 level, the largest single increase in the 77-year history of the Veterans Administration and is $3.7 billion above the President’s request for fiscal year 2008. The $3.7 billion increase for veterans is designated as emergency funding under the final bill, and is contingent on approval by the President before it can be released to the VA. “This bill respects the service and sacrifice of America’s veterans by providing a historic funding increase for veterans’ health care and strongly supports our military families,” said Edwards, Chairman of the House Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee. “This bill says clearly to all who have served in uniform that as you have kept your promises to our country, we will keep our promises to you.” “For the 400,000 veterans, including combat wounded vets, who are having to wait too long to have their benefits cases reviewed, this bill means over 1,800 new VA case workers to reduce the unacceptable delays in receiving earned benefits,” said Edwards. The bill provides an unprecedented $20.6 billion for military construction, family housing, and base realignment and closing process known as BRAC, which means better barracks, housing and training facilities when troops return from combat. The bill includes Edwards’ Military Families Initiative, which will fund $129 million to construct 16 new child care centers at military installations. “I am particularly proud of what we were able to do in this bill for military families because military children and spouses are the unsung heroes in our nation’s defense. They may not wear the uniform, but they make tremendous sacrifices every day for our country,” said Edwards. “My Military Families Initiative will build 16 new child care centers at bases around the country,” said Edwards. “We have put the highest priority on bases that have faced multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan." The final 2008 Omnibus Appropriations bill is expected to pass the House this evening. |
To all recently and past discharged Veterans. NOTICE 2-24-08 It is of vital importance that you make absolute sure prior to discharge that everything on your DD-214 is correct . No matter what . If you need assistance in making corrections on your issued DD-214 please email me through our website with your return phone number and I will call you back ASAP... For all Active Duty Personnel It is also very important that you pay attention to your on-going Military Jacket to insure that all entries are properly and totally correct . Always follow proper protocol and Chain of Command . It is not an un-common occurance in combat situations that not all data is able to be recorded, so it is wise to be respectfully prudent. That data will most assuredly be of great importance to you at a later date in life. Chance Bazzano DSO/CSO |
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