Forward Observer

Forward Observer — Regulation on Camp Lejeune’s Contaminated Drinking Water Presumptive Conditions Under Review.

LVMAC Poster Art 2005Finally on 9 September, after waiting nine months since the announcement it would do so and after announcing in August it was extending the period of consideration, the VA announced it has published proposed regulations to establish presumptions for the service connection of eight diseases affecting military members [and others] exposed to contaminants in the water supply at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

Forward Observer — Honoring POW/MIA Day Locally

LVMAC Poster Art 2005POW/MIA Day fast approaches and will likely be buried under a blitz of other days and month of this and that announcements, to include Suicide Prevention Month.  Yet for some, this day is not forgotten and it is deeply felt, for the loss is still deeply felt.

While also it is to deny history to believe that we as a nation have always supported our troops or have been actively concerned about the missing, Governor Wolf nevertheless properly expresses the sentiment of the day in his proclamation below.  It would be appropriate that we, as individuals, pause and reflect some time during that day on his words. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

Forward Observer — Lehigh Valley VA Homelessness Summit Needs More Community Involvement

LVMAC Poster Art 2005On 28 September, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center (VAMC) is holding a Community Homelessness Assessment, Local Education and Networking Groups (CHALENG) Meeting and Summit at the Charles Chrin Community Center of Palmer Township (Gym II).

While there has been a long history of annual CHALENG meetings, holding one in the Lehigh Valley has been a rarity.  Considering the recent efforts of the Lehigh Valley Regional Homelessness Advisory Board (LVRHAB), the time has come to encourage such meetings locally if the VA is to be a true partner in this region’s homeless efforts – and not off to the side.

Because a summit implies the meeting of leaders, LVMAC is reaching out to various organizations (police departments, school districts, public housing authorities, special social work agencies, county and city governments, for example) to have a key officer or “mover and shaker” attend. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

Forward Observer — Let’s Get the Toxic Exposure Research Act Passed

LVMAC Poster Art 2005The subject of the effect of hazardous, toxic exposures of military veterans has milled around in the houses of Congress for far too many years.  Involved is our our obligation to our veterans to find the root causes of birth defects, learning disabilities, and cancers afflicting too many of their children and grandchildren.  Therefore, “mill around mill” is not a Congressional virtue on such a topic.

Unfortunately, for years certain public officials have insisted and held sway on the issue without sufficient research to back their claim.  Their claim seems to revolve around the assertion that male veterans exposed to Agent Orange can not transmit genetic defects to their children.  While the VA has made provision for the children of Vietnam War Vietnam women veterans for certain diagnoses (without acknowledging the effects of Agent Orange, we might add), it has made absolutely none for the children of its male veterans.  In our opinion that is an awkwardly strange position and a discriminatory one. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

Forward Observer — Veterans Giving Back

LVMAC Poster Art 2005In this blog site, we often write of entitlements and benefits veterans can receive.  However, as a population category, veterans contribute far more through their labors than they take from their communities.  Indeed, many veterans have the wisdom to understand the benefits of giving of themselves to improve their communities and those of others.

Below is one fine example of local, Lehigh Valley veterans trying to do far-reaching good — in this case, for the poor —  while attending to the spiritual/psychic well-being of fellow veterans.  As it happens, an effort such as this also shows the world the better side of the American people and our way of life.  Therefore, they gain for us in another way.  Thought you might be interested and, perhaps, in helping them. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

Forward Observer — Vietnam War Commemorative Lapel Pins Available

But Who is Going to Distribute Them?

LVMAC Poster Art 2005Are you aware that as part of the 50th Anniversary Commemoration Program,  living veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces at any time during the period of November 1, 1955 to May 15, 1975, regardless of the location at which they served, are eligible to receive a lapel pin?  The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) wants you to know.

The hitch is these lapel pins must be presented during public events held in their communities by Commemorative Partners (those organizations which signed up to conduct at least two commemorative events a year till 2018.  In the rare instance when an honoree cannot attend a public event, the pin may be presented during a private ceremony. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

Forward Observer — The Veterans Choice Program Drama Continues: Getting Bugged by the Private Healthcare’s Debt Collectors?

VA Announces Community Care Call Center to Help Veterans with Choice Program Billing Issues

LVMAC Poster Art 2005The joy of encountering the American private medical systems’  debt collectors has been taken on by the Department of Veterans Affairs in effort to make right with their veterans.  On 14 March 2016, the VA announced the opening of yet another call center – this time to resolve debt collection issues resulting from problems created by the Veterans Choice [Card] program.  Veterans have been experiencing adverse credit reporting or debt collection resulting from inappropriately billed Choice Program claims.  The VA is now acknowledging that delayed payments and inappropriately billed claims are unacceptable and have caused stress for veterans and providers alike. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

Forward Observer — Out of Bad Comes Good In A Strange Way

New Heptatitis-C Drugs Now Available to All Veterans Who Need It

LVMAC Poster Art 2005In a past articles we have written about the current abortion of a program known as Veterans Choice  which Congress itself helped to create in trying to make the VA’s healthcare system more responsive to veterans living in the current era  (In the coming year we should expect to see major improvement.)   Ironically, an immediate good has resulted from this failure because funds were transferred from the program to overcome a critical budgetary crisis, partially caused by the cost of a certain breakthrough, hepatitis drug.  Furthermore, the issue of hepatitis care was not then forgotten.   This is important news to those among the estimated 200,000 veterans who heretofore have been awaiting the lifesaving medicine now available – sofosbuvir, sold as Sovaldi and Harvoni. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

Forward Observer — Getting the Right Treatment

Newly Formed Department Steps In

LVMAC Poster Art 2005Earlier this year, the relatively new Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) stepped in and righted a wrong over a matter of significance to those veterans who struggle with alcohol or drug use. Its action should not go unnoticed, for it has a deep impact on the way business has been done in the past. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago