The Department of Veterans Affairs Friday announced the appointment of Russell Lloyd as the new director of the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center, whose network services our area. He will succeed the Interim Director, Mirza Ali, and is expected to arrive within the next 60 days. Source: New Director Designated for Read more…
Editors Note: We thought we would bring this ongoing survey to your attention for the purpose of encouraging your participation. Over time and among its other efforts, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) has produced useful studies which have provided fresh insights to the issues of the current war generation of veterans and has undoubtedly influenced both public agency and private corporate policies consequently. (more…)
In talking about veterans preference points of state and local civil service positions, here’s a little nugget of information below on a special state agency job fair where many of the state’s agencies are gathering together and which is not too far from us. Perhaps CareerLink Lehigh Valley will have one in the future, though individual state agencies do appear there from time to time. (more…)
The Commownwealth’s Veterans Preference statute might not be the greatest thing since sliced butter and we have heard that there have been problems of fairness in hiring veterans in by state government. It is what drove a state law which now requires a veteran to be appointed to the state’s Civil Service Commission. However, that does not mean you should be ignorant of the benefit when applying. It has helped many. (more…)
Source: Information for Veterans As of 18 July, the Internal Revenue Service has launched a new site titled “Information for Veterans.” “The page is designed to provide timely, federal tax-related information to veterans about tax credits and benefits, free tax preparation, financial education, and asset-building opportunities available to veterans,” according Read more…
On 18 July the VA issued a final ruling which expanded eligibility for those who may have been affected by drinking contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune. The window of eligibility has been expanded by about two and a half years. Previously, you must have been there from 1 January 1957 to 31 December 1987.
You may now be eligible for VA health benefits if you served on active duty or resided (family members) at Camp Lejeune for 30 days or more between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987. (more…)
As in the past, you can call a VA clinic or hospital (see the preceding section for the local facilities) and they will send you a VA Form 1010EZ (Application for Health Benefits) package to complete; or you could go down to the facility and pick up the package. Click Read more…
Majority of Veteran Suicides Are 50 and Older – We Still Don’t Know Why | Vietnam Veterans of America VA Updates Its Suicide Report – Majority of Veteran Suicides Are 50 and Older – We Still Don’t Know Why | Vietnam Veterans of America — “Healthcare in Our Community” News Read more…
On July 29, 2016, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that District Court has no jurisdiction to review actions of the Secretary of the VA. This case was on appeal from an earlier ruling by the Federal District Court on the matter. The Read more…
Last Veterans Day 2015, the Department of Veterans Affairs launched with little fanfare a new website, www.vets.gov, though it is still under development and not anticipated to be finally complete for a year. It is part of the ostensibly transformative MyVA initiative and is being done in response to the federal government’s acknowledgment that there is are far too many “helpful” websites, call centers and 1-800 numbers out there. The end result is “the VA customer experience is fragmented, frustrating and confusing.” The VA is attempting to develop a simplified website “which provides useful information that’s clearly written and presented and tools that are easy to find and use” in all one place. This is no easy task.
One of its better efforts on this website seems to be the The Veterans Employment Center™ (VEC). Its intention is to connect veterans and their families with meaningful employment and career-development opportunities. (more…)