Veterans Report - Week of March 17, 2014

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Veterans Report - Week of March 17, 2014

Legion Releases Claims Backlog Report
The March 2014 (http://bit.ly/1idO19I) report of the VA (Department of Veterans Affairs) Claims Backlog Working Group was recently released. The working group's report focused on three areas of improvement: (1) veterans must be given every tool to understand the claims process and what they can do to provide information that the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) needs; (2) VBA and VA's regional offices (VAROs) must make structural changes to ensure that claims are being processed accurately and efficiently; and (3) Federal agencies need to transfer requested information more rapidly and to process that information in a timely fashion. The report is available on the (http://www.legion.org/documents/pdf/VA_ ... FINAL).pdf) American Legion website.
For more on the claims and appeals process, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits/milita ... ls-process) Military.com Claims and Appeals section.


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Legion Post Museum Educates All
Throughout its history, the home for South Carolina American Legion Post 3 in Greenville, S.C. has been used as a bomb shelter, USO club and a place for square dances. But in 2002, the building transformed into a museum. The post museum now averages 12,000 visitors a year from all 50 states and several foreign countries. Museum artifacts include vintage uniforms representing all the branches of service and a large library containing about the U.S. military, wars, weapons and veterans. The museum is located at Post 3, 430 N. Main St. in Greenville, S.C. Admission is free. Call (864) 271-2000 or visit the American Legion Post 3 Cecil B. Buchanan War Museum website at (http://www.americanlegionmuseum.weebly.com/) www.americanlegionmuseum.weebly.com for more information.


Women Veterans in History
The Department of Defense (DoD) is observing March as Women's History Month. The names of these women may not be immediately recognizable but these are women who opened the way for millions of women in the American military who followed their lead. Read more about them on the Department of Veterans Affairs (http://www.va.gov/health/NewsFeatures/2 ... istory.asp) Remarkable Women Veterans in American History webpage.


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New TRICARE: Higher Fees, More Freedom
If adopted by Congress, the proposed changes to TRICARE would mean that (http://www.military.com/benefits/tricar ... rview.html) TRICARE Prime would cease to exist. Under the "Consolidated TRICARE" plan proposed in the fiscal 2015 defense budget, patients and providers would see the (http://www.military.com/benefits/tricare) TRICARE program transformed into a preferred provider network with higher fees and more choice. (http://www.military.com/benefits/2014/0 ... eedom.html) Read Tom Philpott's Military Update on Military.com for all the details.


PCSing this Year? Your $0 Down VA Loan is Ready to Use
Is your family PCSing this year? Now is the time to use your VA Loan. Get the facts from lenders ready to help. This summer/PCS season could you could be in your dream home. (https://secure.military.com/leads/VALoa ... rvr0317.nl) Use your VA Loan Benefit today.
(http://www.military.com/money/va-loans?ESRC=mrvr0317.nl) Want more info on your VA Loan Benefit?


Virtual Town Hall on DoD Budget Cuts
Experts from MOAA, Military.com, IAVA, #KeepYourPromise and Coalition to Save Our Military Benefits recently held a virtual town hall event to help answer questions and address concerns about the proposed defense budget. In case you didn't get a chance to participate, you can see what happened (http://www.moaa.org/MRBudgetBattle/) on MOAA's website.


Dealing with Headaches
Most of us get headaches from time to time. Some are mild. Others cause throbbing pain. They can last for minutes or days. How you treat a headache depends on which kind you have. Learn more on the (http://newsinhealth.nih.gov/issue/mar2014/Feature2) National Institutes of Health (NIH) website.


New Complaint System for Veterans
Whether you are a veteran or a family member using GI Bill benefits or the Department of Defense Military Tuition Assistance Program, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has launched a new online complaint system. Veterans can report negative experiences with a school. The reporting program can be reached on the GI Bill and DoD websites. Once a complaint is received, the agencies will contact the school and work at a resolution. Visit VA's GI Bill website at (http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill) www.benefits.va.gov/gibill and click on GI Bill Feedback System. For DoD, visit Military One Source at (http://www.militaryonesource.mil/) www.militaryonesource.mil and type in "school complaints" in the search box to reach the Postsecondary Education Complaint System.
For more on military education benefits, visit the (http://www.military.com/education) Military.com Education Center.


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What Benefits Does Congress Get
This week, Tom Philpott's Forum addresses the myths about Congressional Benefits. Philpott helps to set the record straight on what members of the U.S. Congress receive in the way of health benefits and retirement. Many false rumors routinely are spread, particularly on line. (http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2 ... the-myths/) Read the Military Advantage Blog for the full story.


VA Budget Proposed
The President has proposed a $163.9 billion budget that will support the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA's) goals to expand access to health care and other benefits, eliminate the disability claims backlog, and end homelessness among veterans. The budget includes $68.4 billion in discretionary spending, largely for healthcare, and $95.6 billion for mandatory programs -- mostly disability compensation and pensions for veterans. Highlights from the President's 2015 budget request for VA are available on the VA website at (http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2528) www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2528. More information on the proposed budget is available on the VA's Annual Budget Submission webpage at (http://www4.va.gov/budget/products.asp) www4.va.gov/budget/products.asp.
For more veterans benefits info and updates, visit the (http://militaryadvantage.military.com) Military Advantage blog.


Colorectal Cancer Month
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Colorectal cancer is the nation's second leading cancer killer of men and women in the United States and a cause of considerable suffering among the 137,000 adults diagnosed with colorectal cancer each year. In 2010, over 52,000 Americans died from this cancer; however, when colorectal cancer is detected early, illness and death can be prevented. For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website at (http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/CRCCP/) www.cdc.gov/cancer/CRCCP, the Mayo Clinic website at (http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-cond ... n-20031877) http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-cond ... n-20031877, the National Cancer Institute website at (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/ ... fessional/) http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/ ... ofessional, and the Medline Plus website at (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/colo ... ancer.html) www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/colorectalcancer.html.


Women's History Month
The Department of Defense (DoD) is observing March as Women's History Month. This year is the 34th anniversary of the National Women's History Project (NWHP). NWHP has established a nationwide presence as the number one resource for information and material about the unfolding roles of women in American history. The overarching theme for this year's observance is "celebrating women of character, courage and commitment." For more information, visit the National Women's History Project website at (http://www.nwhp.org/) www.nwhp.org and the (http://womenshistorymonth.gov/) Women's History Month website.


USMC Sleeve Rolling Tradition Returns
After a two-year break in rolling sleeves, the Commandant of the Marine Corps recently reinstated the tradition. All Marines returned to rolling sleeves, March 9, 2014. However, with sleeves going up some problems may arise with Marines having out-of-regulation tattoos. Marines and men and women enlisting in the Marine Corps are not allowed to get or have tattoos or brands on their neck, head, mouth, hands, fingers or wrists. Tattoos that are sexist, racist, eccentric or offensive or express an association with illegal substances are prohibited. Enlisted Marines with grandfathered sleeve tattoos are not eligible for any Marine Corps commissioning or warrant officer programs. However, they are still eligible for promotion and re-enlistment, but only as an enlisted Marine. Anyone with questions or concerns can speak with their chain of command.
For more Marine Corps news, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


Small Business Course for Women Veterans
On March 22-23, The American Legion will host a two-day For HEROES (Her Entrepreneurship -- Resources, Opportunities, Experiences & Support) Women's Entrepreneurship Course in conjunction with The American Legion's 54th Washington Conference in Washington DC. After completing the free course, participants will have the tools and knowledge they need to identify a business opportunity, draft a business plan and launch their enterprise. Women veterans interested in attending the For HEROES Women's Entrepreneurship Course can register on the American Legion website at (http://www.legion.org/careers/conference) www.legion.org/careers/conference or contact Jasmine Davis at (202) 263-5771 or (mailto:jdavis@legion.org) jdavis@legion.org.
For more information, see (http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/ca ... neurs.html) this article.


Retiree Benefits: The Latest Update
What retiree benefits will change or might change in the DoD's proposed budget for 2015? In the latest edition of the Military.com Benefits Podcast, we sit down with benefits expert Terry Howell to get the latest word on COLA, a TRICARE shake-up, retirement compensation, and other benefits that may affect retirees. If you're a retiree who wants to keep track of your benefits, you won't want to miss this. Listen to the podcast on the (http://podcasts.military.com/2014/03/mi ... dates.html) Military.com Podcast Center.


VA Home Loans and New Mortgage Regulations
Lately, all eyes are on the new mortgage regulations. How will these affect VA loan benefits? (http://www.military.com/money/va-loans/ ... rvr0317.nl) Read More.


Sailors to See Boost in Sea Pay
The U.S. Navy has announced an increase in Career Sea Pay (CSP) and Career Sea Pay Premium (CSP-P) for eligible Sailors and Marines serving aboard ships whose primary mission is conducted at sea. All pay grades with at least three years of cumulative sea duty will receive a 25 percent increase in regular CSP, while servicemembers who exceed 36 months of consecutive sea duty will receive an increase in CSP-P from $100 to $200 per month. The new CSP Table is available (http://www.navy.mil/navydata/people/cnp ... Tables.pdf) online. Pending final coordination with the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, it is expected that the new CSP and CSP-P rates will take effect early this summer. An announcement on the exact date is forthcoming. (http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014 ... ecade.html) Read the full story on Military.com.