1.    VFW Says President is Keeping His Promise.  Recent meeting confirms President Obama and VFW National Commander Richard Eubank share many of the same concerns. The national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. left the Oval Office yesterday knowing that President Obama shares his same concerns for properly caring for military veterans, servicemembers and their families, and for continued progress to account for 88,000 Americans still listed as missing-in-action since World War II.   "It was a very positive meeting and we're …

2.    Durham VA steps up exams to clear backlog.  News & Observer  The screening process took months even before the US Department of Veterans Affairs announced in March 2010 that it would fast-track claims of illnesses presumed to be caused by Agent Orange exposure during the Vietnam War. About 200000 Veterans 

3.    Vets secure seed money for two new Utah nursing homes.  Salt Lake Tribune  Ipsom said those issues have been resolved, and the two locations in Utah have been given the go-ahead by the US Department of Veterans Affairs. Schow said that nearly every bed in the existing homes in Ogden and Salt Lake City are currently filled.

4.    U.S. and Australian Departments of Veterans Affairs Research Impacts of Recent.  Business Wire WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will collaborate with the Australian Department of Veterans Affairs on a new research effort focused on investigating the impact of recent conflicts on the health of returning 

5.    Veteran's Court Reform Receives House Approval.  Bixby Bulletin  House Bill 1555 creates a special Veteran's Treatment Court program, which would be run through the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services working in collaboration with the US Department of Veterans Affairs. 

6.    County veterans service officer helps secure millions in benefits for area vets.  Granite Bay View  The Placer County Veteran Services Officer Rick Buckman was recently commended by the State Department of Veterans Affairs for the benefit payments he has secured for Placer County veterans. In fiscal year 2009-10, Buckman assisted veterans in

7.    Cape May County Clerk's Office offers veterans IDs for local discounts.  Press of Atlantic City  Atlantic, Ocean and Cumberland counties have similar free programs in which they ask veterans to apply for a peddler's license. The counties send the information to the state Division of Military and Veterans Affairs for confirmation.

8.    Local VA at forefront of telemedical research.  Iowa City Press Citizen  Kaboli pointed to a new mental health service for veterans who are students at Western Illinois University as one example of telehealth put into practice. The Iowa City VA identified a large veteran population at the school in Macomb, Ill., 

9.    Suit blames helicopter defects in deaths of two TN Army pilots.  The Tennessean  Billie Jean Grinder, 25, is daughter of the state Veterans Affairs chief.  One of the US Army's most advanced helicopters is unsafe and responsible for the deaths of Tennessee National Guard Army pilots from Gallatin

10.                       The State of Veteran Homelessness In Massachusetts.  By MHSA  A recent study conducted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) found that veterans account for 12% of the homeless population in Massachusetts. The men and women who have served our country so ... We have worked with our partners to align the network of state, regional, and local homeless providers; allowing a seamless transition for homeless veterans to immediate services and long-term housing.

11.                       Funding appears set for homeless vets project.  TheDay.com  By Jennifer McDermott Griswold - The US Department of Veterans Affairs plans to set aside rental vouchers for the supportive housing project for local homeless veterans. The US House of Representatives recently slashed supportive housing funding for

12.                       Senator Durbin Seeks Investigation of Westwood Campuses' Use of GI Bill Benefits.  Chronicle of Higher Education (subscription)   Dick Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, asks the US Department of Veterans Affairs to step up its efforts to identify colleges that are abusing the new GI Bill's education benefits. The letter, which comes a week after the department announced that it had

13.                       Lawmakers Seek Obama's Help For Caregivers. AP In a letter to Obama, Sens. Patty Murray and Richard Burr, "along with Reps. Jeff Miller and Bob Filner," all of whom have "oversight on veterans' issues," ask the President to ensure that the law to assist family members caring for severely disabled veterans is followed.

14.                       VA Pulls GI Bill Funding For Westwood College. Houston Chronicle "The Department of Veterans Affairs has pulled GI Bill funding from all three Texas campuses" Westwood College, a "for-profit college accused of misleading advertising and enrollment practices." The "Texas Veterans Commission, which is contracted by VA to evaluate and certify Texas schools, withdrew Westwood's GI Bill eligibility in December after the Government Accountability Office reported that Westwood and 14 other for-profit colleges made questionable statements about graduation rates, failed to …  

15.                       Grants For Vets To Attend Games. Wichita Falls (TX) Times Record News "The Alcoa Foundation is offering grants to 25 veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts residing in Indiana, Iowa, Texas, Michigan, Ohio and the District of Columbia who wish to attend the 31st Annual National Veterans Wheelchair Games for the first time." Each

16.                       Finding Jobs More Difficult For Female Vets Than For Women Civilians. Fox News' Fox And Friends "Government data shows that women coming off of military service are finding it much more difficult to find a job than women who …  

17.                       Help Hard To Find For Homeless Female Veterans. Fort Worth (TX) Star-Telegram Clara Gordon, a formerly homeless female vet, recently "moved into an apartment just south of downtown Fort Worth with a voucher obtained through a program of the Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development departments. Linda Saucedo, program manager for... 

18.                       Transitional Facility For Homeless Female Vets Operating In California. KGET-TV The Great Spirit Lodge is the "first transitional home just for the homeless female veterans in our county." The "Great Spirit Lodge is working to gain non-profit status and the IRS says the home will …  

19.                       Local Veteran Denied Medical Coverage.  KFOX Vietnam Veteran Jesus Padilla "says the El Paso VA Health Care System has repeatedly denied him medical coverage, despite promises made on their behalf" regarding his heart surgery. "The El Paso VA Health Care System issued the following statement regarding Padilla's case: 'We have reached out to Mr. Padilla and are working with him on other venues for reimbursement,'" said Susan Flemming, the "public affairs officer for El Paso VA Health Care System."

20.                       VA Late On Payments For Therapy. Lexington Park (MD) Enterprise Leonardtown psychologist named Mary Vieten, "who says that the US Veterans Administration has not paid her for her psychological counseling services for the past two months," is "considering sending their account to a collections agency." Vieten "said her billing problems are only a small part of a …

21.                       VA Clinic Begins Outreach To Homeless Vets. Watertown (NY) Daily Times A "three-year pilot program" at the "Department of Veterans Affairs clinic in Watertown is now screening veterans who are at risk of becoming homeless." The facility will also "provide assistance" to such vets, "their families and veterans who already are homeless.

22.                       Iowa City VA Research Projects Have Local, National Implications. Iowa City (IA) Press-Citizen "Tighter budgets and an increasing demand for affordable, convenient health care options are driving a number of innovative research projects at the Iowa City VA Health Care System. A number of groups within" that Veterans Affairs "system are working to …

23.                       Vets, Some Blind, Learning Judo. WJLA-TV The Veterans Affairs hospital in Washington, DC, is teaching blind, and "sometimes aging, military veterans...a new way to take care of themselves –- by learning" judo.

24.                       Benefits For Older Veterans And Their Families. Queens (NY) Gazette "The Savvy Senior" tells readers about Veterans Affairs benefits for older veterans and their families.

25.                       VA Blitz Seeks To Tackle Backlog Of Exams. Salisbury (NC) Post

26.                       Texas Agency Says Funding Cuts Would Deny Help To Veterans. Fort Worth (TX) Star Telegram

27.                       Newtown Township Lawyer Donates $100,000 To Establish Veterans Fund At Bucks. Advance Of Bucks County

28.                       Veteran's Grave To Receive Patriot Marker. Mariett (GA) Daily Journal

29.                       Supervisors Support Plan For Veterans Cemetery. Eastern Arizona Courier

30.                       Bridgewell May Extend Its Services To Vets. Lynn (MA) Daily Item

31.                       Combat Soldiers Must Face More Than The Enemy. Williamsport (PA) Sun-Gazette