VFW Washington Weekly
February 29, 2008

In This Issue:

1. House VA Committee Hearings
2. Five Years of VA Care for New Combat Vets

1. House VA Committee Hearings

The Subcommittee on Disability & Memorial Affairs held a hearing on Revising VA's Disability Rating Schedule. VFW testified in support of the Institute of Medicine and the Veterans Disability Benefits Commissions recommendations that VA should create a permanent disability advisory committee staffed with experts who would meet regularly to offer direction and insight in reviewing and updating the rating schedule. We believe the rating schedule structure is sound but changes to meet current science and medical technological advances must be made. We also offered our opinion on quality of life payments, Individual Unemployablity, Traumatic Brain Injury evaluation criteria and improving the presumptive disability decision making process. The hearing had 5 expert panels ranging from VA, VSO's and medical and psychiatric experts- all of which have done extensive research and studies on disability ratings. The Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on VA Construction Authorization. VFW testified on behalf of the Independent Budget on draft legislation aimed at funding VA's major and minor construction projects. We believe that VA construction and infrastructure maintenance projects must be planned an implemented under the Capitol Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services Process (CARES). VA developed CARES to estimate current and future demand for health care and although it is a complex model it adjusts for demographic shifts, changing needs for health care as the veteran population ages, projections for health care innovation and many other factors. We also voiced our support for the construction, renovation and maintenance projects covered in the draft-bill and the additional funding added to complete the projects.

On Thursday, the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee discussed the Subprime Mortgage Crisis and America's Veterans -The hearing is the first of its kind to assess how the current housing market affects veterans and if VA's home loan program has a role to play in the closures affecting communities. RealtyTrac, an online retailer released its January 2008 foreclosure report which estimates that the foreclosure rate has increased 57 percent when compared to the same month in 2007. According to some panelists data specific to veterans does not exist, or is limited in scope, which makes it harder to know how the current mortgage crisis is affecting veterans.

Also on Thursday, the Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on Mental Health Treatment for Families of Veterans. Witnesses testified that VA needs to offer more programs and increase staffing for screening mental health issues - especially TBI, suicide and PTSD cases. The impact of mental illness on veterans and their families is significant. The critical need to expand VA mental health services to include families is growing as the impact of mental health disorders, including domestic violence has increased among OIF-OEF veterans. Current law directs VA to provide counseling and mental health services to family members of service-connected veterans only, it does not include other veterans or guard and reserve members who are among the large numbers reported of those suffering stress upon return from military service.

For more on any of the hearings held this week and out testimony visit the house VA website at: http://veterans.house.gov/

2. Five Years of VA Care for New Combat Vets

Military veterans who served in combat since Nov. 11, 1998, including veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, are now eligible for five years of free medical care for most conditions from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This measure increases a two-year limit that has been in effect nearly a decade. The five-year deadline has no effect upon veterans with medical conditions related to their military service. Veterans may apply at any time after their discharge from the military -- even decades later -- for medical care for service-connected health problems. The new provision applies to care in a VA hospital, outpatient clinic or nursing home. It also extends VA dental benefits -- previously limited to 90 days after discharge for most veterans -- to 180 days. Combat veterans who were discharged between Nov. 11, 1998 and Jan. 16, 2003, and who never took advantage of VA's health care system, have until Jan. 27, 2011 to qualify for free VA health care.

The five-year window is also open to activated Reservists and members of the National Guard, if they served in a theater of combat operations after Nov. 11, 1998 and were discharged under other than dishonorable conditions. Veterans who take advantage of this five-year window to receive VA health care can continue to receive care after five years, although they may have to pay co-payments for medical problems unrelated to their military service. Co-payments range from $8 for a 30-day supply of prescription medicine to $1,024 for the first 90 days of inpatient care each year.