RAO BULLETIN 14 February 2016 PDF Edition THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES Pg Article Subject * DOD * . 05 == DoD Lawsuit ~ Edgewood [07] ------- (Vet Victory in Testing Appeal) 05 == DoD Lawsuit ~ Cuban Vet Pension ------------ (Reinstatement Sought) 07 == DoD 2017 Budget [01] ------------ (Pentagon Requesting $583 Billion) 08 == Commissary Funding [27] --------- (DoD $200M Budget Cut Proposal) 09 == Commissary Prices [02] -------------------------------- (Increase in 2017) 10 == DoD Fraud, Waste, and Abuse ---------- (Reported 1 thru 14 Feb 2016) 11 == POW/MIA Recoveries ------------------- (Reported 1 thru 14 Feb 2016) * VA * . 12 == VA Accountability [17] -------- (Judges Say No to Exec’s Demotions) 14 == VA Accountability [18] ------------- (New Top Exec Punishment Idea) 15 == VA Secretary [44] ------------ (Sen. Isakson Wants McDonald to Stay) 16 == VA SAH [09] -------- (Grant Processing Delays Due to Understaffing) 16 == VA Medical Foster Homes ---------------- (Nursing Home Alternative) 17 == VA Hospital Quality of Care [02] ---------- (2010-2013 Study Results) 18 == VA Appeals [19] -------------------- (Regional Office Appeals Process) 20 == VA Budget 2017 -------------------------------------- ($182.3B Proposed) 22 == VA Budget 2017 [01] ------- (Lawmakers Eye Ever-Growing Budget) 22 == VA Claim DBQ ------- (Disability Benefit Questionnaire Submission) 23 == VA Claim Denials -------------------------------- (Limpert~Emil WWII) 24 == VA Mustard Agent Claims [01] -- (VA Failure to Help Exposed Vets) 25 == VA Mustard Agent Claims [02] ------- (Missouri Vet’s Claim Denied) 25 == VA Polytrauma System of Care [01] -- (One Million TBI Screenings) 28 == VA Presumptive AO Diseases [23] -------------- (New VA Fact Sheet) 29 == Gulf War Syndrome [36] ------------- (New Analysis Pinpoints Cause) 1 29 == VA Caregiver Program [31] -------------- (Monthly Stipend Removals) 31 == VA Heart Health Month ----------------------------------- (Make A Date) 31 == VA Blood Biobank ---- (To Play Major Role in Conquering Diseases) 33 == VA Robotic Legs [01] ----------- (VAMC Denver Tests Donated Suit) 34 == VA Robotic Legs [02] --------------- (160-person, 4-year Study Slated) 34 == VA Vet Choice Program [28] ----------------- (GAO to Audit Program) 35 == VA Vet Choice Program [29] ---- (Implementation | Systemic Failure) 35 == VA Vet Choice Program [30] ------------ (Ruining Some Vet’s Credit) 37 == VA Secretary [43] ----- (Political Challenges Tougher Than Expected) 39 == VA Hepatitis C Care [08] --------- (House Hearing on Treatment Cost) 40 == VA Hepatitis C Care [09] --- (VA Reviewing Rights to Miracle Drug) 40 == PTSD [202] ------------------- (Studies Reveal Accelerated Aging Link) 42 == PTSD Drugs ---------------------------------------------- (PTSD Meds 101) 43 == VA AO Benefits -------- (Policy Reassessment Complete | No change) 45 == VA Whistleblowers [40] - (Disclosure Surge Attributed to McDonald) 45 == VA Telehealth [08] ---------------------------------- (New Pilot Program) 46 == VA Clinic Colorado Springs CO -------- (Care Delays Irk Lawmakers) 47 == VA Fraud, Waste & Abuse ------------- (Reported 1 thru 14 FEB 2016) 49 == VA HCS So. Arizona -------- (New Cardiovascular Clinic for Women) 50 == VAMC Albany NY [01] -------------- (Director Wins Removal Appeal) 51 == VAMC Omaha NE [01] ------------ (Billed $15k for VA Misdiagnosis) 52 == VAMC Martinsburg WV [02] ---------- (Call Center Abandoned Calls) 53 == VISN 16 [01] - (VA Secretary Has Absolute Confidence in New Exec) * Vets * . 54 == Navy RAO Program ---------------------------------- (Volunteers Needed) 55 == Gulf War Syndrome [37] --- (Should Focus on Treatment vice Causes) 56 == Vietnam Veterans Memorial [16] --------------- (Limit on Left Objects) 56 == PTSD Punitive Discharges [01] ---------- (Recipients Denied VA Help) 58 == Vet Deportations [05] ------------- (Banished US Vets South of Border) 61 == Vet Cemetery North Carolina [02] --------- (Have Become Bedraggled) 62 == Vet Cemetery Rhode Island --------------- (Grounds Used as Dog Park) 63 == Vet Jobs [183] ----------------------------- (Oil and Natural Gas Industry) 64 == Vet Unemployment [06] ----------------------- (JAN Rate Remains Low) 64 == Vietnam Wall of Faces Memorial ------- (Hawaii 8th State to Find All) 64 == Veterans Total Care Initiative | NJ ------- (Facilitates Timely Vet Care) 65 == WWII Vets 100 ----------------------------------------------- (Beck~Lester) 67 == WWII Vets 101 ---------------------------------------- (Thomas Norwood) 68 == Obit: Riley~Jack | Hall of Fame Army Hockey Coach --- (3 Feb 2016) 68 == Obit: Obit: Gross~Clayton K | WWII Ace ---------------- (10 Jan 2016) 69 == Retiree Appreciation Days -------------------------- (As of 11 Feb 2016) 70 == Vet Hiring Fairs ------------------------------- (15 Feb thru 31 Mar 2016) 71 == Vet State Benefits & Discounts ------------------ (North Carolina 2016) * Vet Legislation * . 71 == Veterans Omnibus Bill -- (Lawmakers May be Headed Towards One) 72 == End of Service Physicals --------------------------------------- (H.R.4251) 2 73 == GI Bill [197] ------------ (VA Provider Equity Act (H.R.3016) Impact) 74 == Selective Service System [14] ----- (Draft American’s Daughters Act) 75 == Selective Service System [15] ----------- (Elimination SSS | H.R.4523) 75 == FACT Act ------------------ (S.357 | Puts Vets at Risk of Identity Theft) 76 == FACT Act [01] ------------------- (1st Hearing Triggers Strong Debate) 77 == VA Appeals [17] ------------- (H.R.4116 | Express Appeal Option Bill) 77 == VA Appeals [18] ------------- (VA Secretary on 2017 Budget Request) 77 == Vet Suicide [09] ------------ (Female Veterans Suicide Prevention Act) 78 == VA Home Loan [42] --- (Proposed Removal of Loan Guarantee Caps) 79 == Vet Bills Submitted to 114th Congress ---------- (160201 thru 160214) * MILITARY * . 81 == Selective Service System [13] –---- (USA/USMC Want Female Draft) 82 == Uniforms [05] --- (Navy’s Will Accommodate Bigger Bulkier Sailors) 83 == Detect -------------------------------- (DARPA Photon Detection Project) 84 == F-35 Fighter Jet ------- (500+ to be Built before Combat Test is Ready) 84 == Military Retirement System [22] ----- (Big Decision for Many Troops) 87 == USMC Tuition Aid [02] ------ (College 101 Course Replaced by HEP) 88 == Arsenal Planes ---------------------- (Solution to USAF Jet Fighter Gap) 89 == Military Enlistment Standards 2015 [13] – (Miscellaneous Provisions) 91 == Medal of Honor Citations -------------------------- (Hooper~Joe R | VN) * MILITARY HISTORY * . 94 == Aviation Art ----------------------------------------------- (Lone Survivor) 94 == Military History Sites - (Airplanes-Ships-Weapons-Aces & Pioneers) 95 == Military History Anniversaries ------------------------- (15 thru 29 Feb) 95 == Military History ------------------------------------ (Make Do and Mend) 96 == D-Day ---------------------------------------- (Third Reich Atlantic Wall) 97 == WWII Ads -------------------- (Chrysler Build for the Needs of Today) 98 == WWII Prewar Events ------------- (1938 Hitler’s Personal Bodyguard) 98 == WWII PostWar Events --- (1946 Empress of Japan Orphanage Visit) 99 == Spanish American War 84 --- (Spanish Cruiser Reina Cristina Crew) 99 == WWI in Photos 137 --------- (Aerial View of Western Front ca. 1919) 100 == Battle of Okinawa ------------- (Wana Ridge Near the Town of Shuri) 100 == Ghosts of Time ------------ (Then & Now’ Photos of WWII Sites (10) * HEALTH CARE * . 101 == TRICARE Enrollment Fee ----------------- (FY 2017 Budget Proposal) 102 == TRICARE Autism Care [16] ----------------------- (ABA Rate Change) 103 == TRICARE Standard Claims [02] ------ (Submitting Your Own Claim) 104 == TRICARE Cost Share 2016 -------------------------- (Standard & Extra) 104 == Infertility | Combat-Related --------------------- (Testicle Replacement) * FINANCES * . 106 == VFW UnMet Needs Program – (Vet Emergency Financial Assistance) 3 106 == GI Bill Myths ----------------- (Don’t Miss Out Because of These Four) 107 == IRS Data Breach [04] ------------------- (101,000 e-file PINs Disclosed) 109 == Supermarket Self-Checkout ------ (Beware Scammers with Skimmers) 109 == Retirement Plan Contribution Limits -------------------- (2016 Changes) 111 == IRS Gambling Tax --------------------------- (What You Have to Report) 112 == SBP | Former Spouse [01] --------------------------- (Death Amendment) 113 == Saving Money --------------------------- (Useful Sayings about Doing It) 114 == Puppy Scam ------------------------------------------------- (How it Works) 115 == Online Sales Scam ----------------------------------------- (How it Works) 116 == Tax Burden for Minnesota Residents ------------------- (As of Jan 2016) 117 == Tax Burden for Colorado Retired Vets ---------------- (As of Feb 2016) 119 == Retiree State Taxes ----------- (What to Expect in South Dakota | 2016) 119 == Thrift Savings Plan 2016 -------------------- (Returns as of 12 Feb 2016) * GENERAL INTEREST * . 121 == Notes of Interest ------------------------------------- (1 thru 14 Feb 2016) 122 == President’s Day ----------------------------------------------- (February 15) 123 == Overseas Voters [02] -------------------- (Easy Steps to Voting in 2016) 124 == Portsmouth Confederate Monument -------------------- (Removal Issue) 126 == Elected Officials Contact Data ---------------------------- (Where to Go) 127 == Navy Digital Library Program ----------------------- (Access Procedure) 127 == Doomsday Clock ------------- (Remains at Three Minutes to Midnight)