1.      Study Suggests Obesity Makes Brain Damage From Heavy Drinking Worse.  HealthDay (9/9, Preidt) reports that a study online and in the December print issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research found that "obesity caused by heavy drinking can add to brain damage caused by drinking itself." In a news release, principal investigator Dieter J. Meyerhoff, a professor of radiology at the University of California, San Francisco and San Francisco VA Medical Center, said, "This new study suggests that a high BMI, independent of drinking and smoking, is also associated with brain injury." In release, Susan F. Tapert, a professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego, and director of substance abuse/mental illness in the VA San Diego Healthcare System, said, "In other words, weight also is related to brain health among those with alcoholism."

2.      Judge To Head San Diego Veterans Court Is Vietnam Vet. The North County Times (CA) (9/10, Rogers, 71K) reports, "Vietnam veteran and longtime San Diego Superior Court Judge Roger W. Krauel will preside over San Diego County's first veterans court," a pilot program that "will handle cases involving military veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury or substance abuse who are arrested in San Diego County." Kruael and other key county staff will visit Buffalo, New York, "to see firsthand how the veterans court there works."

3.      Missouri State Veterans Cemetery To Be Dedicated. The Rolla (MO) Daily News (9/9, 5K) reports, "The Dedication Ceremony for the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery - Fort Leonard Wood will be held Monday September 13." Its construction "was funded by a $ 7.5 million federal grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs."

4.      More Possible Locations For Minnesota Veterans Cemetery Allowed. The Redwood Falls (MN) Gazette (9/9) reports, "According to Marty Caraway, Redwood County veterans service officer, a change in the way the bill approved by the state legislature read opens up the options for the" location of the veterans cemetery. "The language requiring the cemetery be set up in Redwood County is no longer part of the requirement," and Caraway says this was primarily due to cost. "Caraway said the change allows for the use of state-owned land. He said with the funding tight the use of land already owned by the state is the best option."

5.      UK Delegation Examining State Programs For Vet Prisoners.  WJZ-TV Baltimore (9/9, Fujii) reports that Maryland prisons sent vet prisoners to "a veterans group organized by the Veterans Administration and the Maryland Department of Correction." Additionally, "some work at veteran state cemeteries." These programs "have sparked interest from an UK delegation," and MP Elfyn Llwyd traveled to Maryland to learn "how to best treat incarcerated veterans." He said, "It seems to me that this set up is also very good in terms of trying to accommodate the special needs that many veterans have, because heaven knows they've seen things that you and I can't even imagine." Llwyd and his "delegation also visited a Washington, D.C. and Buffalo, N.Y. prisons with similar programs."

6.      Massachusetts Working With Organizations For Federal Grants To Help Homeless Veterans. The Quincy (MA) Patriot Ledger (9/10, 43K) reports, "One of the biggest challenges for many military veterans is readjusting to civilian life-including finding a place to live and securing a job" – which is why the Massachusetts Department of Veterans' Services worked with Father Bill's Place, Veterans Inc, and the Veterans Northeast Outreach Center "to apply for a federal grant supporting vets' job-training and housing programs" from the Department of Labor's Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program. The article focuses on Father Bill's Place, which "has put the money toward helping homeless veterans by training them for and placing them in jobs that hopefully help them become self sufficient."

7.      Wisconsin Nursing Home Administrations Say New Veterans Home Unneeded. The Eau Claire (WI) Leader-Telegram (9/10, Dowd, 0) reports, "Local nursing home administrators say a new government-funded veterans home slated for Chippewa Falls is unnecessary because there already are enough beds available in existing private centers." Dove Healthcare CEO Jim Deignan has both spoken to the state Veterans Affairs Board "and sent his analysis of the local nursing home market to Ken Black, state Department of Veterans Affairs secretary."

8.      Soldiers Not Getting Purple Hearts For TBI. On its website, PBS's NewsHour (9/9) reported on soldiers with traumatic brain injuries suffered in combat and Purple Hearts, basing it upon the reporting of ProPublica and National Public Radio, which appeared in yesterday's briefing. "Many commanders still don't believe that TBIs are really an injury." The mindset that giving the Purple Heart for TBI "was like giving the Purple Heart for minor scrapes" was the "official policy under General Joseph Caravalho," who ran the medical system in Iraq in 2008. In a memo, he said, "In many cases, soldiers wouldn't get Purple Hearts if they only got minimal medical treatment." Additionally, "soldiers say that fine print makes it almost impossible for them to get the Purple Hearts" for TBI, and "Army doctors didn't keep many of those records" needed for the applications. US Army vice chief of staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli "says, it's true, some commanders still don't award Purple Hearts for concussion, despite the regulations," but he added that "he's trying to change that."

9.      VA To Install Wind, Solar Energy Facilities. The Washington Post (9/10, Rein, 605K) reports that agencies are seeking "to reduce the federal carbon footprint in the next decade to reach President Obama's goal of a 28 percent emissions reduction." One example given is that the Department of Veterans Affairs "will use some of its $144 million stash" from the economic stimulus "to install wind and solar energy facilities in its medical centers scattered across the country." The efforts "will be monitored for progress by the Office of Management and Budget, which will release an annual scorecard starting next year."

10.    Sarasota National Cemetery Construction Delayed. The Sarasota (FL) Observer (9/9, Roy) reported, "The construction timeline for the Sarasota National Cemetery has fallen behind schedule - a year-and-a-half behind" – after "the disqualification of four bidders, another bidder's protest and then a counter-protest by yet another bidder." Due to "all the problems, the VA decided to start the bidding process all over again," and "will hold a pre-solicitation meeting Sept. 23 at the Venice Community Center for potential bidders on a new construction contract." According to Cemetery Director Wes Jones, "after a winning contractor is selected, construction could begin by December or January and be completed 18 months later."

11.    VA, Nashville Pilot Program To Help Neediest Homeless Vets. The AP (9/9) reports, "Nashville and the Department of Veterans Affairs are starting a pilot program to get some of the city's neediest homeless veterans off the streets within a year." Fifteen veterans who have frequently been picked up by police or in the emergency room "will be given housing and a case manager that will help find services through the VA and other resources to help them become self sufficient."

12     VA Looking For Land For Tallahassee National Cemetery.  WCTV-TV Tallahassee (9/9, Montanaro) reports, "The Department of Veterans Affairs is now looking for the acreage to build" a national cemetery in Tallahassee. Florida Department of Veterans Affairs spokesman Steven Murray "says it could take years to locate, design and build a national cemetery in Tallahasse, but there are lots of veterans in the area who could take advantage of it."

13.    Boise Woman Sentenced For Defrauding VA. The Idaho Statesman (9/9, 56K) reported that, for defrauding the VA, Sharman Yvonne Jackson was sentenced by US District Judge Edward J. Lodge to a year and a half in federal prison, "three years supervised probation, and 80 hours of community service and must pay more than $207,000 in restitution." She previously pleaded guilty "to cashing monthly dependency checks issued to her by the VA after her first husband died on active duty" following her remarriage.

14.    PTSD Increasing A Concern For US Military.  Learning and Finance (9/9, Johnson) reports, "PTSD is becoming an increasing concern for the United States military as more and more soldiers are being identified with the disorder." The VA's four major benefit programs that help people with PTSD "are disability compensation, pension programs, free or low cost medical care through VA hospitals and education programs. For those seeking PTSD support, mental health evaluations and counseling can be a good place to sta"rt and VA assistance can be acquired at the National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder website.

15.    California State Legislator Calls For Casting PTSD As An Injury, Not A Disorder. The San Diego News Room (9/9, Zonta) reports that California Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher "maintains that those left behind must remember that the care and treatment of veterans' mental health is a responsibility." He says that lack of treatment for PTSD "is anything but rare; many soldiers do not seek help for a variety of reasons, including personal pride." Fletcher recommends, "The first thing we need to do is stop calling it post-traumatic stress 'disorder.' ... It's more like an injury. [Troops] are proud of their injuries," and "there is a stigma to having a disorder."

16.    VA Approves Benefits For Vet's PTSD. The Albany (NY) Times Union (9/10, Yusko) profiles Vietnam vet Roger Lefco. "The VA diagnosed Lefco with combat stress in 1983, and provided him with medication and counseling. But it consistently turned down the Army vet's claims for benefits." Then, "about two weeks ago, he learned that a VA appeals board had approved his PTSD claim under the new rules. He was retroactively rated 90 percent disabled to 2007." Peter Potter, spokesman for the Samuel Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany, said that with newly changed guidelines for applying for PTSD benefits no longer requiring vets to prove "that a specific stressor related to a hostile military act caused the illness," he expects more the VA will be treating more people for PTSD. "'We're doing a better job,' Potter said. 'We have better programs and are able to identify more veterans.'"

17.    VA Adds New Ohio Clinic. The Willoughby (OH) News-Herald (9/9, Lammers, 34K) reported that the VA "recently added another clinic to its Painesville location to keep pace with a growing need in Lake County." It "will primarily function as home-base primary care." Sean Nelson, acting associate director of the Cleveland VA Medical Center, said that the clinic "will be able to treat veterans in their home as opposed to (veterans) coming out to the clinic." He added, "It's more than a home health visit than some people are used to in the private care. It's really taking care of the veteran's entire needs in their home."

18.    Air Force Crew Visits Chicago VA Medical Center. The Chicago Daily Herald (9/9, Lissau, 107K) reports that Air Force maintenance workers for the A-10 Thunderbolt II, in the area for this weekend's Waukegan Air Show, "visited with veterans at the North Chicago VA Medical Center," where they "talked about their formidable plane's capabilities, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and other military topics." Master Sgt. Jason Lynch, the leader of the visiting group, said, "We're trying to make a difference for the veterans, and trying to bring some light to their day."

19.    VA Clinic To Open In McComb, Mississippi. The Brookhaven (MS) Daily Leader (9/9, Mortham, 6K) reports that a new Veterans Affairs clinic in McComb "is expected to open on or before Dec. 15." Charles Robbins, Jr., senior executive vice president of CR Associates, Inc., said, "This is a fast-track project, not a slow-moving machine. The VA gave us 90 days to get this going." He added that "the new clinic would be staffed with two doctors and a support staff and will be stocked with the latest medical equipment." According to Mario Rossilli, a public affairs officer with the VA hospital in Jackson, "veterans will be able to immediately transfer to the McComb clinic as soon as it opens."

20.    Radio Caller Says She Was Denied Care At Big Spring VAMC. On its website, KOSA-TV Odessa, Texas, (9/9, Sherman) reports that "angry radio" said "she was denied care at the" Big Spring VAMC "Urgent Care Center and that it was closing but VA Officials are saying that is completely untrue." According to officials, "the national VA Care System is making some changes to how patients are seen in the urgent care center including putting in what is known as a Patient Align Care Center Team to evaluate whether or not a patient needs to visit the emergency room." Brian Phemester, Acting Chief of Staff for the Big Spring VAMC, said, "I just want the veterans, the patients to know that we're here for them and that if they need urgent care that it's here for them but to contact the urgent care nurses and they will re-align you with the doctors on where you need to go."

21.    Cheyenne VA Holding Homeless Stand Down.  KGWN-TV Cheyenne (9/9, Keiter) reported on its website, "The Cheyenne VA Medical Center is conducting the community's annual 'Homeless Stand Down' event tomorrow." The homeless and those at-risk of homelessness can "learn about and receive local services and programs."

22.    VA Dismisses Volunteer Who Posed As General. The North County (CA) Times (9/10, Walker, 71K) reports, "The Veterans Administration in La Jolla has terminated the services of" David Weber, "who was working there to fulfill part of his community service requirement after pleading guilty to posing as a US Marine Corps general." VA spokeswoman Cindy Butler said that agency officials made the decision "after an Oceanside-based military counseling group complained that his presence was an affront to veterans." The American Combat Veterans of War said that Weber's actions were "too egregious to allow him to work around injured and sick veterans." Bill Rider, president of the group, said, "They made a mistake letting him in and expected us to live with it."

23.    Veteran Says Georgia VC Center's Nurse Shortage Lead To Poor Care.  WAGT-TV Augusta, Georgia, (9/9, 11:39 p.m. EDT) broadcast, "A local veteran says he witnessed first hand a shortage of nurses at Augusta's VA Medical Center. ... The veteran says he walked out of the hospital after surgery because there were too few nurses to care for him adequately." WAGT (Terry) added, Marino Blocker "says the promise of adequate medical treatment is not being fulfilled at Augusta's VA. He says he was left unattended and in pain in a hallway following surgery to put a shunt in his arm. Blocker's complaint comes a day after VA nurses marched down the streets of Augusta in an informational picket, complaining about what they call a severe nursing shortage. ... Blocker filed a complaint against Augusta's VA a few years ago, claiming they gave him too much of the wrong medication, creating several medical problems. However, he says he continues to go back, because he is a disabled veteran with no other place to go." At least one other station aired this segment.

24.    Vet Center's Mobile Information Van Visits Rochester. New Hampshire's Foster's Daily Democrat (9/10, Cresta) reports, "On Thursday, the Department of Veterans Affairs Vet Center's mobile information van rolled into" Rochester. "Throughout the day, more than 20 veterans received advice, mental health counseling and treatments that otherwise may not have been afforded to them." Jerry Greenwood, a readjustment counseling technician with the Department of Veterans Affairs, said the van "travels around to help veterans 'get the benefits they deserve.'"

25.    Sioux Falls VA Medical Center To Hold Patriot Day Program. The Sioux Falls Argus Leader (9/10, 39K) reports that Jenny Briest, whose husband was injured in Iraq, "will share a message of patriotism during the Sioux Falls VA Medical Center's annual community Patriot Day program." The ceremony will honor "veterans, active duty military personnel, firefighters, law enforcement officers and emergency medical personnel. Tokens of appreciation will be presented to these individuals during the program."

26.    Knit Items To Be Given To Vets At New York Veterans Center. The Herkimer (NY) Telegram (9/9, Sorrell-White, 7K) reported that the Knitting Ministry of the Christian Service Committee at Saints Anthony and Joseph Church is helping veterans. "This is the third year the church has made lap robes and slippers for" veterans at the Syracuse Veterans Administration Medical Center.

27.    Historic Homes To Be Moved To Make Way For New Orleans VA Hospital. The AP (9/9) reported, "New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu says about 100 historic homes will be moved to make way for a new Veterans Affairs hospital in the city." He "plans to highlight the move on Friday." The hospital's construction "has been bitterly opposed by residents, activists and preservationists." Now, with "$3.2 million in federal disaster recovery aid and with the help of nonprofit groups," those homes will be moved.

28.    Wounded Warrior Transition Brigades Praised, But Still Can Improve. On the blog of PBS's NewsHour (9/9) Ray Suarez writes, "The systems for providing family services and post-deployment care are stretched," just as the military is. "I saw at Fort Hood was a smart, caring response to wounded men and women that provides what they need, when they need it for most soldiers. The Wounded Warrior Transition Brigades get high marks from the people who get what they need, and a failing grade from those whose particular problems don't fit neatly into the planning." Civilian psychiatrist Dr. David Stahl, who "was brought to Fort Hood by the Army to train caregivers working with the Warriors in Transition units," in a report "praised the work of mental health professionals from several different disciplines, struggling to meet the massive demand for service." However, he also "said the wait for one-on-one counseling was too long," that "the medical officials on base were relying too heavily on drugs, and said he observed too many cases of people who were on separate drug regimens for pain management and mental health problems who were ending up overmedicated."

29.    Duty Comes First For Wounded Vet. A column in the Boston Herald (9/10, 123K) by Peter Gelzinis.

30.    Entitlements, Not Benefits...A Veteran's Right. A column on the Veterans Today Network (9/9) by Joe "Ragman" Tarnovsky.