STATE SERVICE OFFICER AND VA INFORMATION

State Service Officer, Dept of NC, VFW

Posted at 03:17 PM on Saturday, October 4, 2008 by State Service Officer

Donald W. Priem, Jr. is the Department of North Carolina State Service Officer. He can be contacted at 336-631-5457 or e-mail at  donald.priem@va.gov

He is located at Department of Veterans Affairs, 251 N. Mail Street, Winston-Salem, NC  27155.

VA: Changes to TBI, Burn Scars and ALS Programs

Posted at 06:11 AM on Sunday, September 28, 2008 by State Service Officer in VA News

Traumatic Brain Injuries and Burn Scars

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announced changes in the way VA will evaluate traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and burn scars for purposes of determining the appropriate level of compensation veterans receive for these injuries.

“These important regulatory changes will allow VA decision makers to better assess the consequences of these injuries and ensure veterans are properly compensated for their residual effects,” stated Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake.

VA has revised the Disability Rating Schedule in light of current scientific and medical knowledge in order to provide VA employees with more detailed and up-to-date criteria for evaluating and compensating veterans with these injuries.

Read more

New VA Rules for ALS Victims

New VA Rules for ALS Victims Veterans with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may receive badly-needed support for themselves and
their families after the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today that ALS will become a presumptively compensable illness for all veterans with 90 days or more of continuously active service in the military.

"Veterans are developing ALS in rates higher than the general population, and it was appropriate to take action," Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake said.

Secretary Peake based his decision primarily on a November 2006 report by the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine (IOM) on the association between active-duty service and ALS.

Read more

VA Announces $36 Million in Grants for Homeless Programs

Posted at 06:09 AM on Sunday, September 28, 2008 by State Service Officer in VA News

Homeless veterans in 35 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico will get more assistance, thanks to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) grants providing $36.7 million to community groups to create 1,526 beds for homeless veterans this year.

“These grants provide a helping hand to veterans who have served our nation in uniform,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake. "Our partnerships with community-based organizations provide safe, temporary housing while these veterans return to productive lives.”

VA has identified public and community non-profit groups eligible to receive payments for housing and supportive services to homeless veterans, including 49 grants for vans that will transport homeless veterans to health care and training programs.

Click here to read more and find grant recipients

VA News - Week of September 22, 2008

Posted at 06:06 AM on Sunday, September 28, 2008 by State Service Officer in VA News Weeks

VA Clinics, Hospitals, and Vet Centers in NC

Posted at 05:38 PM on Thursday, September 25, 2008 by State Service Officer in Hospital and Clinic Info

The VFW Department of North Carolina Veteran's Service Officer (VSO) is Donald W. Priem. Telephone Number:  336-631-5457.

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North Carolina    (View Addresses)
Veterans Health Administration
VA Medical Center
Asheville:	Asheville VA Medical Center
Durham:	Durham VA Medical Center
Fayetteville:	Fayetteville VA Medical Center
Salisbury:	Salisbury - W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center
Outpatient Clinic
Charlotte:	Charlotte Clinic
Winston-Salem:	Winston-Salem Satellite Outpatient Clinic
Community Based Outpatient Clinic
Durham:	Durham Clinic
Greenville:	Greenville Clinic
Jacksonville:	Jacksonville CBOC
Morehead City:	Morehead City Clinic
Raleigh:	Raleigh Clinic
Wilmington:	Wilmington CBOC
Vet Center
Charlotte:	Charlotte Vet Center
Fayetteville:	Fayetteville Vet Center
Greensboro:	Greensboro Vet Center
Greenville:	Greenville, NC Vet Center
Raleigh:	Raleigh Vet Center
VISN
Durham:	VISN 6: VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network
Veterans Benefits Administration
Regional Office
Winston-Salem:	Winston-Salem Regional Office
National Cemetery Administration
National Cemetery
New Bern:	New Bern National Cemetery
Raleigh:	Raleigh National Cemetery
Salisbury:	Salisbury National Cemetery
Wilmington:	Wilmington National Cemetery

VA: Changes to TBI, Burn Scars and ALS Programs

Posted at 07:53 AM on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 by State Service Officer in VA News

Traumatic Brain Injuries and Burn Scars

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announced changes in the way VA will evaluate traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and burn scars for purposes of determining the appropriate level of compensation veterans receive for these injuries.

“These important regulatory changes will allow VA decision makers to better assess the consequences of these injuries and ensure veterans are properly compensated for their residual effects,” stated Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake.

VA has revised the Disability Rating Schedule in light of current scientific and medical knowledge in order to provide VA employees with more detailed and up-to-date criteria for evaluating and compensating veterans with these injuries.

Read more

New VA Rules for ALS Victims

New VA Rules for ALS Victims Veterans with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may receive badly-needed support for themselves and
their families after the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today that ALS will become a presumptively compensable illness for all veterans with 90 days or more of continuously active service in the military.

"Veterans are developing ALS in rates higher than the general population, and it was appropriate to take action," Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake said.

Secretary Peake based his decision primarily on a November 2006 report by the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine (IOM) on the association between active-duty service and ALS.

Read more

VA News - Week of September 15, 2008

Posted at 07:55 AM on Monday, September 15, 2008 by State Service Officer in VA News Weeks

VA Clarifies Voter Registration Regulations

Posted at 08:13 AM on Thursday, September 11, 2008 by State Service Officer in VA News

WASHINGTON (Sept. 8, 2008) - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today it has clarified its policy on assisting veterans' voter registration activities, with particular focus on inpatients and residents of VA community living centers, domiciliaries and patients with limited access to community voter registration resources.

The Department will welcome state and local election officials and non-partisan groups to its hospitals and outpatient clinics to assist VA officials in registering voters at VA facilities. Such assistance, however, must be coordinated by those facilities in order to avoid disruptions to patient care.

"VA has always been committed to helping veterans exercise their constitutional right to vote, which they defended for all Americans while serving their nation," said Dr. James B. Peake, Secretary of Veterans Affairs. "We've now established a uniform approach to helping those of our patients who need assistance to register and to vote."

Read more on Clarification of Voter Registration Regulations

VA's Suicide Prevention Program

Posted at 09:49 AM on Tuesday, September 9, 2008 by State Service Officer

 Suicide Prevention is everyone's business, and VA is enhancing its efforts in this vital area of veteran health.

Know the Signs

 Watch for these key suicide warning signs, and provide the Lifeline number to anyone exhibiting them. Talking about wanting to hurt or kill oneself Trying to get pills, guns, or other ways to harm oneself Talking or writing about death, dying or suicide Hopelessness Rage, uncontrolled anger, seeking revenge Acting in a reckless or risky way Feeling trapped, like there is no way out Saying or feeling there's no reason for living.

Outreach

During National Suicide Prevention Week Sept. 7-13, 2008 VA will release a nationwide Public Service Announcement featuring actor Gary Sinise, who portrayed a suicidal veteran that is saved in the movie Forrest Gump. Another announcement featuring newswoman Deborah Norville is being developed to reach the family members of veterans. VA Under Secretary for Health Dr. Michael J. Kussman sent a personalized letter to all veterans, asking them to call VA for help if they are undergoing an emotional crisis. VA will also expand on a recently released pilot project for a display advertising campaign that debuted in the metropolitan Washington , D.C. , area. The ads are designed to make veterans and their family members aware of the VA Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK/8255), which is available around-the-clock, seven days a week. VA has sponsored two Suicide Prevention Days and placed announcements about suicide prevention and the VA Lifeline on the main VA website as well as on the web pages of medical facilities. VA also has been distributing brochures, wallet cards, bumper magnets, key chains and stress balls to veterans, their families and VA employees to promote awareness of the Lifeline number and educate its employees, the community and veterans about how to identify and help those who may be at risk.

Toll-Free Suicide Prevention Lifeline

 An around-the-clock Suicide Prevention Lifeline — 1-800-273-TALK — is staffed by trained professionals 24 hours a day to help in an immediate crisis. After one year of operation, 62,000 veterans, family members, and friends of veterans have called the Lifeline. Of those there have been 1,400 rescues to prevent possible tragedies. Current VA Initiatives Each VA Medical Center has a suicide prevention coordinator to make sure veterans receive needed counseling and services. Calls from the Lifeline are referred to those coordinators. VA has hired more than 3,900 new mental health employees since 2005 – bringing our total number to more than 17,000. Of these, 400 are devoted to preventing suicide among veterans. VA is adding 61 new Vet Centers (bringing the total number of Vet Centers to 268) throughout the nation to provide more individual, group and family counseling to veterans of all wars by the end of fiscal year 2009. VA educates veterans and family members, and trains employees about suicide risk factors and warning signs of suicide. All new patients at VA centers and all new veterans from Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom are screened to determine if they are at risk for suicide. Veterans currently in mental health and substance abuse programs who miss appointments are contacted to make sure they are not lost or in need of follow up care. VA has opened a Mental Health Center of Excellence in Canandaigua , NY , which focuses on developing and testing clinical and public health intervention standards for suicide prevention. A new VA Research center in Denver focuses on the clinical and neurobiological conditions that can lead to increased suicide risk.

Kevin Secor

Veterans Service Organizations Liaison

Office of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs

 Washington, DC

202-273-4836

VA Co-Pay At A Glance

Posted at 03:24 PM on Friday, August 15, 2008 by State Service Officer in Hospital and Clinic Info

 Fact Sheet 164-8 (2008 Copay Requirements) at a Glance

To view the VA Hospital Co-Pay Schedule, click: 2008 Co-Pay Schedule

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