1.      Too Late For TERA?  The last item in the "Sgt. Shaft" column for the Washington Times (12/15, Fales, 77K) praises the Department of Veterans Affairs for "amending its adjudication regulations concerning presumptive service connection for medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses associated with service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations for which there is no record during service:" According to the column, the "amendment is necessary to implement a decision of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that there is a positive association between service in Southwest Asia during certain periods and the subsequent development of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), and to clarify that FGIDs fall within the scope of the existing presumption of service connection for medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses."

2.      Highlights From Monday's "Capital Insider."  The "Capital Insider" blog on the TBD-TV Washington, DC (12/14, Kenigsberg) website posted video of an interview the station conducted with Brandon Friedman, the US Department of Veterans Affairs' director of new media, who talked about reaching out to veterans though social media, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr. When Friedman, who also pointed out that VA "just launched a new blog called VAntage Point," was asked how long this form of outreach has "been in the works," he said, "When Secretary Shinseki...and Assistant Secretary Duckworth came in, they both decided that this was going to be one of the ways to reach veterans."
     VA Using Billboards, Bus Stops In Chicago To Try To Help Troubled Vets. The WLS-TV Chicago, IL (12/14, Baca) website said US service members returning home to Chicago "this holiday season -- especially from Iraq and Afghanistan -- may notice messages on billboards and bus stops," because VA is "reaching out to try to prevent suicide and help those" with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

3.      Senate OKs GI Bill Improvements.  In continuing coverage, the Army Times (12/15, Maze, 104K) reports, "In an unexpected drive toward the goal line, the Senate approved a long-delayed package of improvements in the Post-9/11 GI Bill, raising the possibility this legislation, once thought dead, would become law by the end of the year." Current year passage of the bill, which "now goes to the House for consideration," has "been a high priority for veterans' groups, especially Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, which has been complaining about congressional inaction on veteran-related bills."

4.      Omnibus Includes Construction Projects In Afghanistan.  CQ (12/15, Mulero) reports, "The fiscal 2011 omnibus package includes $141.1 billion to fund the Department of Veterans Affairs and military construction projects." The levels in the bill, which "would provide Veterans Affairs $57 billion in fiscal 2011 discretionary funding," are "nearly identical to those in a related spending bill (S 3615) appropriators reported out of committee in July," when US Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD), "chairman of the Appropriations panel's Military Construction-VA Subcommittee, said the funding levels 'give our veterans the resources they need.'"

5.      Senate Passes Vets Jobs Bill.  Politico (12/14, Lovley, 25K) said Congress "might finally start playing by its own rules on hiring veterans," because on Friday, the Senate "passed the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act regulations that help vets land government jobs, applying the law to itself 12 years" after it "first passed. The House is expected to pass companion legislation after the House Administration Committee considers it on Wednesday, according to an aide." Politico noted that this past summer, veterans groups "denounced the lack of enforcement" of the law.

6.      Help For Area Veterans Returning To Civilian Life. A Lafayette (IN) Journal And Courier (12/15, 30K) column says the veterans service office for Tippecanoe County has "been in contact...with Amy Blue," a licensed clinical social worker at the "Gary Area Vet Center." Blue has informed the office "that the Lafayette area falls under their vet center's catchment area and that she would like to provide service to our veterans in this area."

7.      Fraud Leads To Prison Sentence For Former VA Employee, One Other. The Somerset (NJ) Reporter & Messenger-Gazette (12/15) says United States Attorney Paul J. Fishman has announced that 59-year-old Lawrence Brotzen and 57-year-old Sally Wright, a former employee of the US Department of Veterans Affairs, have been sentenced to prison for healthcare fraud. Fishman "credited special agents with the FBI," the US VA, and the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs for their work on the case.

8.      VA Halts Medical Procedures.  The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (12/15, Walker, 206K) reports, "Administrators at the Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center have ordered a halt to medical procedures because of concerns raised by an employee about sterilization procedures." Hospital spokesman Gary Kunich "said hospital officials" are reviewing the procedures and he is not sure when his facility will resume normal operations. However, the website for WUWM-FM (12/15, Toner) notes, "Officials at the VA hospital in Milwaukee say medical procedures will resume there on a limited basis within the next week."

9.      Phillies Holidays And "A Merry Cliff-Mas" At Coatesville VA.  The West Chester (PA) Daily Local News (12/15, Dix, 23K) reports, "A holiday visit by Phillies manager Charlie Manuel to the Coatesville Veterans Affairs Medical Center was made even sweeter for 'phans' by the news that pitcher Cliff Lee" will "return to the team. The Tuesday morning visit was planned about two weeks ago as part of the Phillies' 'Holiday Week of Giving.' Manuel, former player Marty Bystrom, the Philly Phanatic and Phillies Ballgirls came out to help veterans and staff 'deck the halls' in several residential buildings on the campus." The WPVI-TV Philadelphia, PA (12/14) website published a similar story.
     Volunteers Wrap Gifts At Canandaigua VAMC. The Greece (NY) Messenger Post (12/15, Sherwood) reports, "A jolly band of volunteers, some 100 strong, socialized and got creative last week wrapping gifts that will be

distributed to veterans at the Canandaigua VA Medical Center on Dec. 19." The gifts were "bought with donated funds."
     Holiday Event To Be Held At Hines VA Hospital. In her column for the Naperville (IL) Daily Sun (12/15), Angela Bender says veterans "spending the holidays" at Edward Hines Jr. Veterans Affairs Hospital "will be treated to some Christmas cheer again this year. Supporters of Operation Welcome You Home, students and teachers from Washington Junior High School, The Heart of a Marine Foundation and the Firefighters Highland Guard of Naperville bagpipers will visit the hospital Thursday to host Veterans Christmas Cheer."

10.    Man Found In Vacant Building At VA Hospital.  In a story carried by at least 60 publications, the AP (12/15) notes that Grant County coroner Stephen Dorsey says workers at a Veterans Affairs hospital in central Indiana have found the body of 50-year-old Charles Reno in a vacant building on the facility's grounds. Dorsey "said he found three fentanyl patches for pain relief inside Reno's pocket and another in his mouth. The patches can cause immediate overdose if put into the mouth."

11.    New VA Clinic To Open In McComb.  In a story run by at least 10 publications, the AP (12/15) says an extension of the G.V. 'Sonny' Montgomery Veterans Affairs Medical Center will open in McComb on Wednesday, "giving area veterans a closer facility to take care of medical needs." Hospital spokeswoman Mario Rossilli "tells The Daily Leader in Brookhaven that patients can receive flu shots, lab work, annual checkups, some mental health care, among other services at the clinic. He says specialty care will be referred to the Jackson facility."

12.    VA Program Empowers Veterans With Home Health Care Options.  The Cherry Hill (NJ) Courier News (12/15, Deak) reports, "Township resident Evelyn Marrinan did not know much about health care so when her husband John became debilitated with diabetes, she found herself lost in a labyrinth of options and not sure of what to do," which is when the "Veterans Administration's Veterans Directed Home and Community-Based Services Program came to the rescue. 'I am so grateful,' Marrinan said Wednesday morning at the VA New Jersey Health Care System during a presentation celebrating the program's success." The program, "scheduled to be implemented nationwide in 2011, was designed to give veterans more input into their long-term care so they could avoid institutionalization."

13.    VA Rolls Out 'Smart Home' Project To Rehabilitate Brain Injury Patients.  NextGov (12/15, Brewin) reports, "The Tampa, Fla., Veterans Affairs hospital has kicked off" Smart Home, a "$3 million project that uses advanced technology to help patients" with traumatic brain injury (TBI) "independently plan, organize and complete everyday activities such as doing laundry or emptying the trash." Smart Home helps TBI patients relearn such "skills by following their movements around" five technologically equipped apartments, "sending them text or video prompts when they get off track."

14.    Roseburg VA Health Care Options Debated.  The KEZI-TV Eugene, OR (12/14, Ko) website noted that proposed changes to Roseburg's Veterans Affairs "health care system riled up many veterans Tuesday," including Douglas County Veterans Forum President Jim Little, who during a public meeting said the "problem is veterans...who need urgent care have nowhere to go or less-than-desirable conditions to go out on the outside." Also at the meeting was "Dr. Susan Pendergrass, VA Health Care Network Director," who said that she is "very committed" to providing services to veterans in Roseburg. According to KEZI, VA representatives say a study of the matter will be finished early next year. The KDRV-TV Medford, OR (12/14) website published a similar story.
     The KMTR-TV Eugene, OR (12/14, McKee) website reported, "After nearly 6 months of service review of the Roseburg VA HealthCare System, an independent consulting firm has proposed several changes that could drastically impact services offered on the Roseburg VA hospital campus. The proposals were put together by a Maryland-based consulting firm called "Booz/Allen/Hamilton" and presented to the public Tuesday, December 14th, 2010, at the Roseburg VA Hospital." Amongst the "majority of the audience, veterans cheered together for 'option 6'" in Booz's yet-to-be completed report, "which would turn the Roseburg VA hospital into a full service level II medical center."

15.    Fishing Helps Wounded Warriors Heal. On its website, WAVY-TV Norfolk, VA (12/14) reported, "More than a dozen injured soldiers and veterans," including some being treated at the McGuire Veterans Affairs Hospital in Richmond, "braved Tuesday's frigid temperatures to cast their lines in the Elizabeth River, not only to learn how to fish, but also to help return to a normal life." The outing was "part of Project Healing Waters, a nationwide program designed to provide physical and recreational therapy by helping wounded service members overcome their injuries through learning the skills of fly fishing and fly tying."

16.    Veterans Home Gets A Holiday Surprise. The WTHI-TV Terre Haute, IN (12/14, Jarrett) website says the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility has "delivered a van full of presents to the Heritage House," a home in Illinois for disabled veterans. The "gifts and handmade goodies are from the P.L.US Unit (Purposeful Living Units Serve) at the Wabash Correctional Facility, a group of men helping others while serving time." WTHI adds that on Friday, the Friday, the prison will take gifts to a "veterans hospital in Lafayette, Indiana."

17.    Man's Military Story Turns Out To Be Untrue. The Charleston (SC) Post And Courier (12/15, Kropf).