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Feb-24-2010 Torpedoing the Blue Water NavyJohn Paul Rossie for Salem-News.comIs This the Final Insult or the Last Gasp of Stupidity? Courtesy: bluewaternavy.org (LITTLETON, Co.) - Vietnam War veterans are a fine lot: they suffered through the War; they suffered the abuse of an ungrateful nation upon their return; they continue to suffer the indignity of an incompetent and antagonistic Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA); and they are the fastest dying group of veterans of any war we've fought. By the end of 2009, only about 30% of all Vietnam War veterans were still alive. At that rate, the last of...

UPDATE: FEDERAL JUDGE FINES VA FOR SHREDDING CRITICAL DOCUMENTS ... IN 1987VA's decades-long history of document destruction and falsified performance reports comes back to hauntby Larry Scott(research by Eric)The story in The New York Times was headlined:  V.A. Is Fined For Purging Files In Radiation Case.  The date was January 11, 1987.  Article is here... http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE6DD1039F932A25752C0A961948260&scp=4&sq=Shredder%20Veterans%20records&st=cseIn part, the article explains the ruling:  The Veterans Administration must pay an estimated $115,000 in penalties for trying to purge its files of potentially embarrassing documents, a Federal judge in San Francisco ruled last week. The agency had been ordered to supply the documents...

UPDATE: VA'S SHREDDER PROBLEMS JUST A "SNAPSHOT IN TIME," NOT THE WHOLE STORYVA spokesperson: "We're still trying to get a handle on how widespread the problem is and I can't say with certainly that this has never happened before."by Larry ScottThe Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) continues to struggle with revelations that documents critical to filing a claim with the Veterans' Benefits Administration (VBA) were found in shredder bins at VA Regional Offices (VAROs).While our original story dealt only with the Detroit VARO, it is now acknowledged that VAROs in St. Louis, Waco and St. Petersburg have had similar problems.But,...

UPDATE: VA'S REGIONAL OFFICES IN TURMOIL AS MANAGERS SEARCH FOR "MISHANDLED" PAPERWORKVARO management teams to spend weekend "dumpster diving" -- VAOIG looks to expand investigation -- Congress briefed, may investigate possible criminal intent.by Larry ScottThe shredder story from the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) continues to grow.The VA's Office of Inspector General (VAOIG) found documents pertinent to veterans' claims in shredder bins at the Detroit Regional Office (VARO).  And, the VAOIG has been investigating a number of VAROs for "timeliness" issues regarding paperwork.Yesterday, VACO (VA Central Office) and VBA (Veterans' Benefits Administration) put out a press release admitting problems and...

UPDATE: SHREDDER SCANDAL SPURS VETS' OUTRAGE AND CHANGES IN VA PROCEDURESVFW chief: "The question that begs to be asked and answered is how many veterans had their disability and compensation claims disappear down a paper shredder."by Larry ScottMany veterans who have written me in the few days since we broke the story about Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) claims found in shredder bins at the Detroit Regional Office (VARO) have said this incident should be called "shreddergate."  That's really kind of humorous.But, there is absolutely nothing funny about this situation.Original story and follow-ups...http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101308-1.htmhttp://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101408-3.htmhttp://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101508-1.htmThe VA has finally issued a statement about...

UPDATE: WHO GOT DELAYED? WHO GOT DENIED? WHO DIED?The Detroit VARO "shredder" fiasco poses some very important questions to which veterans may never have answers.by Larry ScottFor the past two days we've been reporting about the disability claims and other critical documents found in shredding bins at the Detroit Regional Office (VARO) of the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA).Original story here...http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101308-1.htmFirst follow-up story here...http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101408-3.htmThe response to these two stories in our "comments" area (at the bottom of the page) has been overwhelming.Anger, indignation and frustration are just a few of the words to describe our readers' comments.But, through all of...

UPDATE: WILL VA'S WALL OF SILENCE QUASH "SHREDDER" INVESTIGATION? (Not Only Blue Water Navy)VA Secretary Peake's obligation to veterans is clear cut. But, will he "do the right thing" as he promised?by Larry ScottYesterday we reported on documents found in shredder bins at the Detroit Regional Office (VARO) of the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA).  The documents included claims for disability benefits and other paperwork critical to the claim process.  Story here...http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101308-1.htmWhile this may seem shocking to some, it isn't so shocking given the history of that office.  Veterans, Service Officers and attorneys will tell horror stories of "lost" documents...

SHREDDING OUR TRUST IN THE VA VA investigators find entire claims and other critical documents in shredding bins at Detroit Regional Office. VA official will only say, "I can't talk about that."Thanks to the current and former VA employees, and just plain old friends, who helped make the following story possible.  You know who you are.by Larry ScottMany veterans who have filed disability claims with the Veterans’ Benefits Administration (VBA) of the Department of Veterans’ Affair (VA) will relate horror stories of misdated, misfiled or lost documents all leading to delays in processing or an outright denial of the claim....

Lost At Sea: The Vietnam “Blue Water Navy” Vets Case By Mark Weitz For ten years, between 1965 and 1975, three million young Americans, many of them still boys, answered their country’s call and served as soldiers, sailors, airman, and marines in Vietnam. Some were drafted, but many volunteered, and at the time the cause seemed clear: stop the spread of communism. By the late 1960’s the goal became obscure. The war fell out of favor as Americans began to question our involvement in a conflict that drained both human and financial resources and seemed to bring few tangible results....

Department of Veterans Affairs Prepares to Strip John McCain of Vietnam Veteran Title News Release Date: 26 June, 2008 From: website, www.BlueWaterNavy.org  Note: This article refers to proposed changes to the rules defining 'Service in Vietnam' set forth by the Department of Veterans Affairs in response to the 'Haas vs. Peake' decision in the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals. By the implementation of changes as set forth in the Federal Register, April 16, 2008, regarding "Definition of Service in the Republic of Vietnam," for the purpose of clarifying eligibility for presumption of exposure to herbicides status, the DVA very clearly...

Galloway: Disgraceful treatment of veterans stains America's honor Joseph Galloway  12 / 14 / 07   As you do your holiday shopping this year and think about a big turkey dinner and piles of gifts and the good life that most Americans enjoy, please spare a thought for those who made it all possible: those who serve in our military and the veterans who've worn the uniform.There are some new statistics that give us reason to be ashamed for the way that our country has treated those who've served and sacrificed for us. Those statistics damn the politicians who start every...

UPDATE: SIX GOOD REASONS NOT TO CONFIRM DR. JAMESPEAKE AS VA SECRETARY -- Twice-burned by incompetenceand cronyism, why should veterans trust the thirdnominee from this administration? Dr. James Peake— By Larry ScottOn November 1 of this year, I wrote about five reasons Dr. James Peake should not be confirmed as Secretary of Veterans' Affairs.  That article here...http://www.vawatchdog.org/07/nf07/nfNOV07/nf110107-1.htmDr. Peake's nomination will get a hearing before the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs this Wednesday, December 5, 2007 at 9:30AM Eastern (Dirksen, Room G-50).So, let's add a sixth good reason Dr. Peake should NOT be confirmed as VA Secretary.6.  This administration has a...

COL. DAVID HUNT: AMERICA HAS FAILED OUR VETERANS --Fox News Commentator: "For my disconnected, disinterested uncaring friends, it's not about the damn money, We have the damn money, it's us, we suck, we do not care...We are all collectively allowing out government to perpetuate this crime, the crime of not taking care of soldiers."For more from Col. David Hunt, use the VA Watchdog search engine...click here... http://www.yourvabenefits.org/sessearch.php?q=col.+david+hunt&op=phStory here... http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,312370,00.htmlAmerica Has Failed Our Veterans By Col. David Hunt  We — that’s you and me — just had a Veterans Day. You might have missed it? Did you notice that we had...

p>Thursday, November 15, 2007NVLSP Testimony Before the Senate VA Committee On November 7th, 2007, while most of our Blue Water Navy world was focused on the Haas vs. the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the oral arguments of the DVA's appeal, other relevant action was occuring nearby at the Capitol. The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee had called a hearing at the same time as the oral arguments were to be heard in the Haas case. The hearing was to take testimony from representatives of relevant organizations. One was the very group that was arguing the Haas case at the United...

For Veteran's Day, I was going to post a number of these stories, which are gathered in a compendium of news from across the nation by Larry Scott and posted on his webpage; www.VAWatchdog.org . The motto of his website is "Keeping an Eye on the VA Because Somebody Has To!" I believe it would be worth your while to drop in and check the site out every once and a while. These stories are all just the ones he's gathered from various News organizations over the Veteran's Day weekend, but they will give you an idea of the problems...

Veteran's wife: 'I think (VA is) waiting for him to die' Marjorie Bowzer has a drawer full of documents relating to her husband’s illness. At 88 and suffering dementia, he now lives at the state veterans’ nursing home on Ramsey Street. (staff photo by David Smith) By Laura Arenschield, Staff writer Once, he was Maj. Charles Bowzer, leader of soldiers in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.After retiring from the Army in 1967, he taught Boy Scouts how to camp. He judged cribbage games and baked brownies for his grandchildren. Everyone called him Uncle Charlie.No one thought to worry...

VA NEWS FLASH from Larry Scott at VA Watchdog dot Org -- 09-13-2007 #3UPDATE: SEN. AKAKA EXPLAINS (SORT OF) SUBMITTING ANTI-VETERAN LEGISLATION -- Akaka offers grade-school civics lesson as excuse for submitting President's bill that would prevent "Blue Water Navy" VA claims. Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Senate Vets' Chair On September 6, 2007, Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, submitted "by request" legislation that would prevent "Blue Water Navy" veterans from receiving benefits for Agent Orange exposure.  This is an attempt to overturn the Haas decision.  The bill, S.2026, would also overturn the Nehmer decision.  (see...

COMMENTARY: WHEN YOU CAN'T WIN IN THE COURTS, BUY A SENATOR -- Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Senate Vets' Chair, submits bill for White House that would overturn two key Court rulings favoring veterans' benefits. Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Senate Vets' Chair Commentary below: Please note that the original version of this commentary did not mention that Sen. Akaka submitted this bill "by request" from the White House.  That omission has been corrected.-------------------------Who bought Sen. Daniel Akaka?  The White House.Sen. Akaka (D-HI) is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs.Last Thursday (September 6, 2007), Akaka introduced S. 2026 "by request"...that is,...

'They're stalling me until I die' John Atkins, who has late-stage leukemia, fights his last battle -- paperwork Wednesday, September 05, 2007 MARK LARABEE The Oregonian Staff As he shifts his weight over his cluttered desk and hoists himself on his feet, John D. Atkins lets out a wail.The pain in his back is so great that tears well up in his eyes and his hands shake. Breathing hard, he turns and stumbles, reaching for a cane that lies across his double bed.Eventually, from the dresser he grabs a miniature bottle of Cutty Sark scotch from among a dozen pill...

CHALLENGING THE DVA AND THE IOM Part II - THE REPORT     This Part II - The Report lays out more details regarding questionable connections between the Institute of Medicine (IOM) release of the Veterans and Ageng Orange: Update 2006 and the Haas vs. Nicholson Court Case now in front of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The premise is there is no coincidence that the legal arguments of the DVA in Haas vs. Nicholson (which are extremely weak) and the release of the Veterans and Agent Orange: Update 2006 (which excludes important data available...