President Says Possibly No VA Checks

President Obama today warned that Social Security, Disability and Veterans Pension checks might
not be sent out on August 3rd.

Democrats and Republicans are still haggling on the issue of raising the national debt ceiling, and if
no agreement is reached soon there is a very large chance that the checks will not be mailed, or
sent via direct deposit.

The President said "I cannot guarantee that those checks will go out on August 3rd if we haven't
resolved this issue. Because there may simply not be the money in the coffers to do it."

The President went on to say "This is not just a matter of Social Security checks. these are
veteran's checks, these are folks on disability and their checks. There are about 70 million
checks that go out."

The administration and many economists have warned of economic disaster if an agreement to
raise the U.S. borrowing limit is not reached by August 2nd.

Tell your Senator and Representative that an agreement must be reached now, we cannot allow
the country to default on its loans.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

VA Health Care For Women Veterans

On July 7 the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that is has started a massive program
to reach out to Women Veterans.

The VA wants input from Women Veterans on how to improve healthcare services that are provided
to Women Veterans

Members of the VA's Health Resource Center (HRC) will be calling Women Veterans nationwide, asking
for their experiences with the VA; and asking for suggestions that will enhance and further the VA's
mission to provide the best care anywhere.

The VA notes that Women Veterans are the largest and growing the fastest portions of the veteran
population. There are approximately 22.7 million living veterans and women comprise more than
1.8 million of that total. They account for almost 8 percent of the total veteran population, and
6 percent of the total of all veterans currently using VA healthcare treatments.

It is estimated that by 2020 women veterans will make up 10 percent of the veteran population and
9.5 percent of those who use the VA facilities.

The HRC started making calls on June 1 to women who have enrolled, but are not yet using VA
services. The HRC also is informing Women Veterans of services the VA offers, and if the veteran
is interested in using VA health services connects the veteran with the proper department. If a veteran
has any complaints about VA healthcare they are connected with a patient advocate to help solve
the problem.

The VA includes specialists in all aspects of women's health, including general primary care,
heart disease, mental health care, menopausal services, and osteoporosis problems. The VA also
has excellent screenings for breast and cervical cancer.

Recently the Women Veterans Health Care program instituted changes to upgrade and improve
what care is offered to women. Instituting new programs to improve access and enrich services
for Women Veterans. Also instituting comprehensive primary care for Women Veterans, new
research on the effect of military service has on women's lives.

In addition new programs to improve communication and outreach to Women Veterans and providing
mental health, homelessness information and new programs to meet the needs of Women Veterans.

For more information on Women Veterans health care please go to the VA website
Veterans Affairs, Womens Health Care

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

VA Publishes Final Regualation To Aid Korean Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange

 New Regulations Will Provide Easier Path To Health Care and Benefits to those exposed to
 illnesses for those exposed to herbicides.

WASHINGTON - Veterans exposed to herbicides while serving along the

demilitarized zone (DMZ) in Korea will have an easier path to access

quality health care and benefits under a Department of Veterans Affairs

(VA) final regulation that will expand the dates when illnesses caused

by herbicide exposure can be presumed to be related to Agent Orange.

"VA's primary mission is to be an advocate for Veterans," said Secretary

of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki "With this new regulation VA has

cleared a path for more Veterans who served in the demilitarized zone in

Korea to receive access to our quality health care and disability

benefits for exposure to Agent Orange." 

Under the final regulation published today in the Federal Register, VA

will presume herbicide exposure for any Veteran who served between April

1, 1968, and Aug. 31, 1971, in a unit determined by VA and the

Department of Defense (DoD) to have operated in an area in or near the

Korean DMZ in which herbicides were applied.  

Previously, VA recognized that Agent Orange exposure could only be

conceded to Veterans who served in certain units along the Korean DMZ

between April 1968 and July 1969.  

In practical terms, eligible Veterans who have specific illnesses VA

presumes to be associated with herbicide exposure do not have to prove

an association between their illness and their military service.  This

"presumption" simplifies and speeds up the application process for

benefits and ensures that Veterans receive the benefits they deserve.

Click on these links to learn about Veterans' diseases associated with

Agent Orange exposure

<http://www.publichealth.va.gov/PUBLICHEALTH/exposures/agentorange/disea

ses.asp>  at

http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/diseases.asp and

birth defects in children of Vietnam-era Veterans

<http://www.publichealth.va.gov/PUBLICHEALTH/exposures/agentorange/birth

_defects.asp>  at

http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/birth_defects.asp.

VA encourages Veterans with covered service in Korea who have medical

conditions that may be related to Agent Orange to submit their

applications for access to VA health care and compensation as soon as

possible so the agency can begin processing their claims.

Individuals can go to website

http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/AO/claimherbicide.htm

<http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/AO/claimherbicide.htm>  to get a more

complete 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 survivors 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

<http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/> .

The regulation is available on the Office of the Federal Register

website at http://www.ofr.gov/.

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996