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Outreach Center Events & Information
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Update on Cost–of–Living Adjustment for Veterans Compensation and Pension Benefits in 2011

The Social Security Administration has announced that no cost–of–living adjustments will be made to Social Security benefits in 2011 because the consumer price index has not risen since 2008 when the last Social Security increase occurred.   

 

more information...

 
 

 

VA Secretary Lauds GI Bill Improvements

“Expanding eligibility of the Post–9/11 GI Bill will provide significant opportunities to many Service members, Veterans and family members who will join the more than 300,000 students pursuing higher education on the Post–9/11 GI Bill today.” 

Read more from VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki

 

Montgomery GI Bill - The Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) is available for those who enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces. MGIB encompasses both the Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty (Chapter 30) and The Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606). Under Chapter 30, Active Duty members enroll and pay $100 per month for 12 months; and are then entitled to receive a monthly education benefit once they have completed a minimum service obligation. Under Chapter 1606, a reservist must be actively drilling and have a 6-year obligation in the Selected Reserve to be eligible.

 

The Post-9/11 GI-Bill - The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

As of August 1, 2009, the Post-9/11 GI Bill is effective for training. Approved training under the Post-9/11 GI Bill includes graduate and undergraduate degrees, and vocational/technical training. All training programs must be offered by an institution of higher learning (IHL) and approved for GI Bill benefits. Additionally, tutorial assistance, and li censing and certification test reimbursement are approved under the Post- 9/11 GI Bill.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill will pay your tuition based upon the highest in-state tuition charged by a public educational institution in the state where the school is located. The amount of support that an individual may qualify for depends on where they live and what type of degree they are pursuing. For a summary of Compare the Benefits .  For

more info

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PTSD has effected veterans from All wars:

 

WWII Veteran Machine Gunner Louis L. Castner

 SGT. Louis L Castner served in WW11 with the 19th Regiment, Company C 24th Division Battalion 1 as a 50 cal. machine gun platoon leader.  As a Sgt. he trained at scolfield barracks with both the 87th airborne and the 11th airborne 97th division. Louis never talked about his service days until right before his death. His son James struggled to understand his father's nightmares as a child. Today after getting his father to talk he does. James woke his father  one night at 3 am and said "Dad, don't let the truth not be told". Louis began to speak freely. Louis Castner spoke of medals earned but never received, all of the campaigns he was involved in, in the south pacific from New Guinea to Mindanao.  On New Guinea he found 3700 POW's torched beyond belief in Japanese POW camps, he also witnessed Japanese soldiers jumping off cliffs and committing "Hari Kari".  Sgt. Castner lost sight in his right eye but continued  to fight anyways while being led through the  jungles by Moro natives.     

The 24th Division was a unique outfit of mostly volunteers from California having a very high respect for the company commander Thomas Clifford who was killed in action on Mindanao.  Living with the fear of being charged with murder for telling people about his experiences and what he was ordered to do, Sgt. lived with these memories his whole life. Sgt. Louis L. Castner told his son that with all things considered, he would volunteer again. Mr. James Castner is currently writing a book about his father called "Beyond Belief" the 24th first to fight last to leave Victory division.  For more information on this amazing veteran you can contact Mr. James N Castner email s

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 Women & The Other PTSD (The dirty secret)

 

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Post traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) involves a pattern of symptoms that some individuals develop after experiencing a traumatic event such as sexual assault. Symptoms of PTSD include repeated thoughts of the assault; memories and nightmares; avoidance of thoughts, feelings, and situations related to the assault; and increased arousal (e.g., difficulty sleeping and concentrating, jumpiness, irritability). One study that examined PTSD symptoms among women who were raped found that 94% of women experienced these symptoms during the two weeks immediately following the rape. Nine months later, about 30% of the women were still reporting this pattern of symptoms. The National Women's Study reported that almost 1/3 of all rape victims develop PTSD sometime during their lives and 11% of rape victims currently suffer from the disorder.

For more information on The Other PTSD 

 

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VA’s Homeless Intervention Program On Track

 

A homeless–prevention program by VA, which seeks to help Veterans and families who are on the verge of becoming homeless, has moved closer to implementation. The program is designed to target at–risk Vets before they turn to the streets.  Learn more

 

 

 

 

Secretary Shinseki Announces $41.9 Million to Help the Homeless (From va.gov)

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki has announced that 40 states will share more than $41.9 million in grants to community groups to provide 2,568 beds for homeless Veterans this year. More information

 

 
 

VA Backs 19 Million Home Loans

With mortgage rates at historic lows, Veterans and military personnel continue to use the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) home loan program in record numbers to purchase a home or refinance their existing loans. More information

 

  

Important News From The VA

Clinicians can learn about caring for Veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI) from the Traumatic Brain Injury Veterans Health Initiative (VHI) online course and study guide.

The online course and study guide provide an overview of the varied symptoms, treatment interventionism and long-term care needs of Veteran patients with TBI.

·         Online Course for VA Employees – VHI Traumatic Brain Injury Web Course Log into VA’s Learning Management System to access the course.

·         Study Guide – Traumatic Brain Injury (2.39 MB, PDF)

 

VA Begins Paying Benefits for New Agent Orange Claims

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has begun distributing disability benefits to Vietnam Veterans who qualify for compensation under recently liberalized rules for Agent Orange exposure. More information

First Agent Orange Presumptive Claims Processed

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has decided more than 28,000 claims in the first six weeks of processing disability compensation applications from Vietnam Veterans with diseases related to exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange. 
 Learn more

 

Marine Veterans Stationed at Camp Lejeune: Register for Drinking Water Notifications

If you were stationed or worked at Camp Lejeune before 1987, you may have been exposed to dangerous contaminants in the drinking water supply. To register for water testing notifications, read about previous studies and receive more information, visit the Camp Lejeune Historic Drinking Water website.

 

Presumptions of Service Connection for Southwest Asia and Afghanistan Service: Q & A

On September 28, Secretary Shinseki announced the publication of a final regulation in the Federal Register that makes it easier for Vets to obtain VA health care and disability compensation for certain diseases associated with service in Southwest Asia (including Iraq) or Afghanistan. To find out how this could affect you or a loved one, read our Q & A document. Additionally you can view the Gulf War Illness Task Force Report online.

Special Programs (From va.gov)

 

 

VA Announces Expansion of VetSuccess on Campus Pilots: Two community colleges and three other four–year colleges and universities are being added to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) VetSuccess on Campus pilot program.
More information

 

What is Combat-Related Special Compensation? (va.gov)

Subject: Simply put, Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) provides military retirees a monthly compensation that is intended to replace some or all of their retired pay that is withheld due to receipt of VA compensation. CRSC is payable for disabilities that are found to be related to combat. This includes disabilities that were incurred in actual combat, while engaged in hazardous service, in the performance of duty simulating was, and as a result of an instrumentality of war. The amount of CRSC payable is directly related to the evaluation(s) assigned to combat-related disability(ies), but cannot exceed the amount of withheld retired pay. Am I Eligible for CRSC? To qualify for CRSC you must: Be a Military Retiree with 20 or more years of service. This includes Chapter 61 Medical Retirees and National Guard and Reserve with 20 or more good years. Have a Combat Related VA disability rating of 10% or higher, or a disability directed related to a Purple Heart. How Do I Apply for CRSC? Please understand that CRSC is not a VA program. To receive CRSC, you must submit your application (DD form 2860) through your parent military service branch. Each service branch has the authority to determine your eligibility. For more information on how to apply, contact your parent military branch: DoD Defense link http://www.defenselink.mil/prhome/mppcrsc.html ARMY U.S. Total Army Personnel Command http://www.crsc.army.mil/ 1-866-281-3254 toll free NAVY AND MARINE CORPS Naval Council of Personnel Boards http://www.hq.navy.mil/ncpb/CRSCB/combatrelated.htm 1-877-366-2772 toll free AIR FORCE United States Air Force Personnel Center http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/disability/CRSC/CRSCnew.htm 1-866-229-7074 Toll Free COAST GUARD Commanding Officer (RAS) U.S. Coast Guard Personnel Service Center http://www.uscg.mil/hq/psc/customerconnection/crsc.htm 1-866-772-8724 or Call our office at 413-731-0194.

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Veterans Outreach Pilot Launched


The U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service has launched a pilot program in Washington state that will provide veterans in rural areas with better access to employment programs and services. More

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