Veteran News Update!
                                                                   July 2000
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COMMITTEE PASSES MEASURE MANDATING VA ASSISTANCE TO VETERANS FILING CLAIMS

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs approved
legislation Thursday providing a cost of living adjustment, enhanced
compensation and benefits programs, and improved claims process.

VA Committee Chairman Bob Stump (R-AZ) said both bills, along with a
third measure designating the name of a Rome, NY outpatient clinic, hopefully
would go to the full House floor for a vote Tuesday, July 25th.

The Veterans Benefits Act of 2000, H.R. 4850, would increase, effective
December 1, 2000, the rates of disability compensation for veterans
with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity
compensation for survivors of certain disabled veterans. The measure would
consider a stroke or heart attack suffered or aggravated by a reservist
during inactive duty training as service-connected. H.R. 4850 would also
provide a special monthly compensation for the service-connected loss of one
or both breasts due to a radical mastectomy, at the same rate as that for a
service-connected "loss or loss of use of one or more creative organs."

Finally, H.R. 4850 will permit certain members of the Individual Ready
Reserve to participate in the Servicemembers Group Life Insurance program.

The Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000, H.R. 4864, would eliminate
the requirement that a claimant first submit a "well-grounded claim" before
receiving assistance from the VA Secretary.   A well-grounded claim for
service-connected disability benefits would be one that included
supporting medical opinion and evidence "Our action on this legislation
demonstrates the VA Committee's bipartisan dedication to fair treatment of
veterans," Chairman Stump said. "There is a long history of assisting
veterans to obtain government and other records which may substantiate their
claim for benefits, and this bill reaffirms the government's obligation to
continue that practice."

"It has been a classic Catch-22," said Congressman Lane Evans (D-IL),
the VA Committee's Ranking Democrat. "If you can prove you've got a good
case, the VA will help you prove you've got a good case. If you need help,
they can't help you. We've added some additional useful ideas to the
legislation I introduced last year, we've got wide-spread bipartisan support,
and the House Veterans' Affairs Committee has adopted it. We're an important
step closer to eliminating this obstacle for America's disabled veterans."

The measure would require the VA Secretary to make a reasonable effort
to obtain relevant records identified and authorized by the claimant.   The
VA Secretary would also have to provide a medical examination if warranted.

H.R. 4864 would permit veterans who had claims denied or dismissed by
the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims to request a review of those claims
within two years of enactment.

Finally, H.R. 4864 would require other federal agencies to furnish relevant
records to the VA at no cost to the claimant.

CONTACT: Dan Amon
(202) 225-3664
http://veterans.house.gov
<A HREF="http://veterans.house.gov/">CLICK> House Committee on Veterans
Affairs...</A>
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From:   jgregory@awod.com (James Gregory)

        "POW/MIA Poster En Route to Troops Worldwide"

By Rudi Williams
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 18, 2000 -- Military units and ships at seas around the
world are receiving copies of the POW/MIA Recognition Day 2000 poster,
according to Larry Greer of DoD's POW-Missing Personnel Office.

Greer said the poster's somber black tones symbolize the darkness in the
lives of those who suffer through the agony of having a loved one missing in
action. Family members of missing personnel and veterans served as a "focus
group" that helped decide design ideas appropriate for all conflicts and all
the services, he said. This is the POW-Missing Personnel Office's second
annual poster.

The POW/MIA Recognition Day poster is en route to troops and veterans and
family organizations worldwide. The poster is available on the Internet at
www.dtic.mil/dpmo > <A
HREF="http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/powday/pow_rec_day_00_poster.htm">National
POW/MIA Recognition Day, 2000 Poster</A> . (Click photo for screen-resolution
image; high-resolution image available
</news/Jul2000/20007174a_hr.jpg>.)

The office polled the services and veterans and family organizations and
printed 116,000 copies of the poster for their use, Greer said. Family
members of missing personnel who would like to have a poster may contact
their respective family organizations, or Greer's office at (703) 602-2102
> <A
HREF="http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/powday/pow_rec_day_00_poster.htm">National
POW/MIA Recognition Day, 2000 Poster</A>

He said his office will periodically post information on the Web site about
POW/MIA Recognition Day -- the third Friday of September -- to help
installations plan local observances.," Greer noted. The day falls on Sept.
15 this year. People visiting the Web site also will find a lot of
information about what the government is doing concerning servicemen missing
in action, Greer said.

"Two years ago, we were only getting about 2,000 weekly requests for
information on our Internet Web site. Now we're getting as many as 62,000
weekly requests for files of different documents -- posters, newsletters and
other information."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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"Operation Recognition"
WWII Veterans Living or Deceased

Many WWII Veterans left High School to serve their country's call to arms and
upon their return from war, were unable to continue/receive their high school
diplomas for a variety of reasons.

A program known as OPERATION RECOGNITION now makes it possible for those
veteransother than dishonorable discharged, to obtain an honorary high school
diploma.

To obtain the diploma, the veteran or the veterans family should send for an
application from the:

Commission of Veterans Affairs
7700 Beaver Drive, Camp Dodge Building A6A,
Johnston, Iowa 50131

Applications may also be obtained by calling the Commission at their
toll free number 800-838-4692.

To receive the diploma the veteran must have been a resident or former
resident of Iowa who served between September 16, 1940 and December 31, 1946.

Deceased veterans are also eligible should that veterans family apply and,
are awarded posthumously.

                Dave Fleming, Local 893 Veterans Committee
                          Rec. Sec., Iowa Veterans Council

(SOURCE)
YNCS Don Harribine, USN(Ret)
NCPOA
NAVetsUSA

Ronald B. Abrams, the deputy director of the National
Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP), Scolds VA Claims Processors
=========================================================================

"We have discovered that full and fair adjudication of claims for VA
benefits is still not a reality," the deputy director of the National
Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP), which recently completed an audit
and evaluation of VA claims processing, recently told lawmakers on Capitol
Hill.

Veterans seeking service-connection, an increase in service-connected
benefits or service-connected death benefits have "a greater than 50 percent
chance of having [their claims] improperly adjudicated by a VA regional
office," Ronald B. Abrams testified at a hearing of the House Veterans
Affairs oversight and investigations subcommittee.

"There are far too many premature VA adjudications resulting in adverse
decisions," Abrams said. "Many VA managers were promoted to their current
position during an era when timeliness and production were emphasized over
quality. VA regional offices are eager to adjudicate claims and thereby
obtain credit.... As a result, many VA regional offices prematurely deny
claims before all necessary evidence has been obtained. Some claims are
adjudicated and denied even before the service medical records are
received."

Abrams said that some VA managers say they feel pressured to make premature
judgments on claims. He said that too many regional offices look for
negative evidence, which would allow them to refuse good claims, even when
there is good, reasonable evidence on file to support a claim.

"For example," he continued, "veterans seeking service-connection for mental
conditions, entitlement to individual unemployability benefits, back
benefits or compensation based upon secondary service-connection have to
jump over a higher bar than other veterans."

"VA notifications often fail to provide an adequate explanation of the
reasons and bases for the adverse VA determination. It is a matter of VA
policy not to inform veterans what diagnostic code has been assigned to a
service-connected disability for rating purposes."

In further testimony, Abrams, who is an attorney, outlined other problems
cited in the NVLSP audit including:

Assignment of erroneously low disability ratings for service-connected
mental conditions;
Erroneous denial of claims for service-connection for mental conditions;
Inadequate requests for medical opinions;
Non-responsive VA examination reports;
Lack of coordinated regional office quality control and a subsequent failure
to act on recognized patterns of errors.
Among recommendations offered by Abrams:

RO quality reviews should always be validated by an independent quality
review.
VA employees who do a good job should be paid a reasonable salary and
receive bonuses and promotions.
VA management should more clearly communicate with its employees what it
wants from them. If management focuses on quality as well as efficient work,
veterans will be better off.

-CITE-

    18 USC Sec. 2071                                             01/05/99

-EXPCITE-

    TITLE 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

    PART I - CRIMES

    CHAPTER 101 - RECORDS AND REPORTS

-HEAD-

    Sec. 2071. Concealment, removal, or mutilation generally

-STATUTE-

      (a) Whoever willfully and unlawfully conceals, removes,

    mutilates, obliterates, or destroys, or attempts to do so, or, with

    intent to do so takes and carries away any record, proceeding, map,

    book, paper, document, or other thing, filed or deposited with any

    clerk or officer of any court of the United States, or in any

    public office, or with any judicial or public officer of the United

    States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than

    three years, or both.

      (b) Whoever, having the custody of any such record, proceeding,

    map, book, document, paper, or other thing, willfully and

    unlawfully conceals, removes, mutilates, obliterates, falsifies, or

    destroys the same, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned

    not more than three years, or both; and shall forfeit his office

    and be disqualified from holding any office under the United

    States. As used in this subsection, the term ''office'' does not

    include the office held by any person as a retired officer of the

    Armed Forces of the United States. ----end of citation----
>##### START #####
>The VONAPP (Veterans On Line Applications) website is an official
Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA) website designed so U.S. military veterans and
some
servicemembers within six months of separation or retirement can apply for
compensation, pension, and vocational rehabilitation benefits through the
Internet. This is a first step towards an electronic VA. VONAPP will allow
veterans, and in the future, dependents and other VA claimants, electronic
access to file applications with us on-line.
How is Using this site different from visiting a VA office?
When you use this site to complete and send an application to VA, your
application will be sent directly to your local VA office. Processing will
begin right away, and you will receive a response from the VA office
letting
you know the status of your application.
>
If you use the VA Form 21-526, you will be using a special form with a
design based on the results of research in readability and the use of plain
English. VA has a major initiative to rewrite letters and redesign forms
based on plain English. It is called Reader-Focused Writing.
What VA Forms (now and future)
You have available:
VA Form 21-526, Veteran's Application for Compensation and/or Pension, and
VA Form 28-1900, Disabled Veterans Application for Vocational
Rehabilitation.
More forms will be added later.

FAQ:
A. Questions about VONAPP
1. What does the name "VONAPP" mean?
VONAPP is an acronym for Veterans On Line Applications.

2. What can I do on this web site?
You can apply for VA compensation, pension, and vocational rehabilitation
benefits.

3. Who should use VONAPP?
Veterans and some servicemembers may use VONAPP. Servicemembers will enter
their estimated release from active duty date or retirement date.

4. When will other application forms be available?
The next form we plan to add will be an education application form later in
2000. We plan to add more forms as fast as we can starting in 2001.

5. What can I do to help get my application processed faster?
The more complete your application is when you send it, the faster we can
process it. Filling in accurately and completely as many questions as you
can on the application is a big help. To ensure that your application is
complete and well grounded, you should have evidence for the claims that
you
are making. "Evidence" is information that confirms that what you are
telling us is correct. For instance, if you are claiming service
connection
for a certain disability, you should send us medical records that tell us
more about that disability. Your records should also show how that
disability is related to your military service and that disability still
exists.

6. How does this "well grounded" requirement affect my application?
"Well Grounded" is a legal requirement which we must follow. In short, it
means that before we can work on your claim, we must have certain evidence
from you or available in our records. The VA Regional Office which
processes your application will include well grounded requirements in its
review and let you know exactly what you must do, if anything, to well
ground your claim.

7. Do I have to complete every question?
No. There may be questions that do not pertain to you. However, there are
some questions that will require an entry, like your name, mailing address,
Social Security number, etc.

8. The printed VONAPP form, Veteran's Application for Compensation and/or
Pension, VA Form 21-526, looks different from one I saw recently-why is
that?
This is a new form rewritten to be more easily understood. It still
requires the same information as older forms but should be easier to fill
out. Its use in VONAPP when received by a VA Regional Office will be the
same as the older form.

9. Will I see this new form on the screen as I fill it out?
No. You will see certain questions from the form. VONAPP will lead you
through the form requiring you to fill in answers based on your answers to
earlier questions. Therefore, the question numbers you see on the screens
may not be in strict numerical order and some numbers may be skipped.

10. Will using VONAPP make the application process easier?
Yes and no. There is still a lot of information needed on the compensation
and pension application. It will take a lot of time to fill it out whether
you use the paper form or use VONAPP. But VONAPP will help guide you
through the form and supply you with help topics. It also edits certain
items so that there will be fewer typing errors.

11. How do I sign a VONAPP form?
You cannot sign these forms electronically. However, we still need your
signature. If you fill out the application for compensation or pension,
VONAPP will give you a special signature page for you to sign and mail to
us.

12. Should I use this "special signature page" if I don't submit the
application electronically?
No. You should only sign and send VA the special signature page by itself
if you submitted your application through VONAPP. Only then will the
identifying information be at the bottom of the special signature page so
we
can link it to the electronically submitted form.

13. What if I filled out the application and just printed it out without
submitting it electronically? Can I use the special signature page?
If you filled out and printed the form but chose not to submit it
electronically, we suggest you only sign the 21-526 application where
indicated on the form and send it to VA. You may also sign and send in the
special signature page with the application but be sure to sign the
requested places within the 21-526 application, too, and mail them in all
together.

14. Can I fax my signature to the VA Regional Office?
Yes. For your submitted claim, you can fax the RO the Special Signature
Page or the signature pages from your printed form. Be sure that they
contain the confirmation information at the bottom of the pages-your name,
date, and confirmation number. Contact the RO to get their fax number.

15. Do I still have to sign and mail in the 21-4142 Authorization and
Consent to Release Information to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
which are attached to the 21-526 benefits application?
Yes. You should read the authorization and consent forms, sign each in the
appropriate block, and mail them to the VA Regional Office you see on your
confirmation notice. Medical providers require original signatures and
many
require that you fill out their consent forms.

16. After I submit my application using VONAPP, how do I know which VA
Regional Office will process it?
After you submit the application through VONAPP, you will receive a
"Confirmation Notice" which will show the VA Regional Office which received
your claim. This notice will also show your name, date you submitted the
form, and your unique VONAPP "Confirmation Number."

17. Is this Confirmation Number the same number VA will use to process my
application?
No. This will be used to track your application in VONAPP. When the VA
Regional Office starts processing your application, you will be assigned a
VA file number. This may be your Social Security number or a VA claim
number. Once you learn what your VA file number is, you should always use
that when dealing with VA. Up to that time, your application will be
tracked using the VONAPP Confirmation Number. But if you already have a VA
file number, be sure to put that on your form where asked.

18. What if I'm filling out a form in VONAPP and something happens such as
a power outage, computer crash, etc.,--will I lose everything I put in?
No. As you begin filling out an application in VONAPP, the information is
saved as you move from screen to screen. So the most you will lose is the
information on the screen you were on at the time of the problem. You will
be able to reenter VONAPP, select the application you were on, and start
work on it again.

19. You said that there is a lot of information needed on the compensation
and pension application-what if I can't complete it at one time?
You can suspend working on the form and come back to it up to 30 calendar
days from the time you suspend it. This will give you a chance to
find/verify information, seek help, etc.

20. If I return to the form and just look at it, will the 30 day suspension
start over again?
No. You must make an entry or change on the form. Just looking at it will
not restart the 30 day clock.

21. If I'm working on a form in VONAPP but I want to take a break, can I
leave it running?
Yes, but only up to 20 minutes. VONAPP will automatically shut down if it
sees no input from you for 20 minutes. Input means that you make or change
an entry then move on to another screen.

22. Will I get a warning before VONAPP shuts down?
Yes. After 15 minutes of no activity, VONAPP will give you a message
warning you of the impending shutdown.

23. If VONAPP automatically shuts down, will I lose everything I typed in?
No. You will only lose the information on the last screen you were on
unless you had saved that information.

24. If I need help to fill out any forms, who is available?
Help is available from many sources. You can call a VA Regional Office
toll-free at 1-800-827-1000. You can seek help from a National, County, or
local service organization, an agent or an attorney. From the VONAPP Home
Page, click on the "VA Partners" button or "State and County Organizations
and Other Help" for detailed information.

25. Will VONAPP check information I put in the application?
Yes. VONAPP checks some information on the page you are on. In addition,
after you have filled in all required information and other information as
best you can, VONAPP will check it all again before you can submit it to us
electronically. This presubmission check will allow you to change any
information you entered.

26. What if I submit the form but forgot to print it for my records?
While you cannot alter the form after you submit it to us, you can still
print it. Do this by going back to the form selection screen and request
the "Create a new claim based on prior claim" option. Note that this will
not give you the confirmation number of the application you previously
submitted.

27. While I was using VONAPP to fill out a form, I saw that sometimes
everything I typed showed only capital letters and sometimes both lower and
upper case-why is that?
Answers for some of the questions on the forms always show as capital
letters no matter what you do. Others, such as your name, allow all
characters and cases. Entries with all capital letters are the easier way
to capture information in VONAPP and make no difference in processing your
application.

28. Can VONAPP be used worldwide?
No. There are a very few countries which do not have a sufficient level of
Internet security to allow VONAPP use. The security requirement is called
128 bit encryption. If this is not available to you for any reason, then
you will not be able to use VONAPP.

29. My foreign mailing address looks difference than U.S. addresses, how do
I input in VONAPP?
VONAPP mailing addresses usually have three different selections: Domestic
(United States), Foreign (other than U.S.), and Military Overseas (U.S.
military addresses outside of the United States). Use the "Foreign"
selection if you live in a country outside of the U.S.

30. Can I give VA feedback about my experience using VONAPP?
Yes. After you submit the completed application, you may fill out the
questionnaire which you will receive. Your comments are valuable to us so
please use the form.

B. Questions about VA Benefits
1. Where can I learn more about what compensation, pension, and vocational
rehabilitation benefits are?
On the VONAPP Home Page, click on the "Who Should use VONAPP" Button. You
will get more detailed information about what these benefits are. You can
also look at the benefits section available on the VA Home Page.

2. Where can I find information about all VA benefits?
This is an Internet link to VA's booklet, Federal Benefits for Veterans and
Dependents:
      http://www.va.gov/pubaff/fedben/00Fedben.pdf
You can also call 1-800-827-1000 and a VA Regional Office representative
can
answer your questions or refer to another contact.

3. I'm already receiving VA compensation (or pension) benefits-should I use
VONAPP to ask for an increase in compensation (or pension)?
No. If you want to have your current compensation (or pension) benefit
increased, you should contact the VA Regional Office nearest you, or the
one
you usually contact, and ask them how to seek an increase.

4. Even though I'm getting VA compensation now, I want to apply for
vocational rehabilitation benefits-can I use VONAPP?
Yes. Fill out only the Disabled Veterans Application for Vocational
Rehabilitation,VA Form 28-1900.

C. Computer Requirements and Issues
1. Where can I get more information about what I need to run VONAPP?
Click on the "What do I need to run VONAPP on my computer" button on the
VONAPP Home Page.

2. Does VONAPP use cookies?
Yes. Like almost all Internet web sites, VONAPP uses cookies. But we only
use them while you are working in VONAPP to make its use easier. Do not
disable cookies or you may not be able to run VONAPP.

3. Are there certain settings my Internet browser should have to best use
VONAPP?
Yes. There are optional settings which will make VONAPP easier to use and
make the information you put in more secure. For Internet Explorer version
4, under View on your browser menu bar; then Internet Options; then in the
"General" tab, Temporary Internet files, then "Settings". There choose the
radio button "Every visit to the page", then click on "OK" and a second
"OK"
.
Under Security:
            enable File download
            enable Submit non-encrypted form data
            enable Active scripting
Under Advanced:
            always accept cookies
            do not save encrypted data to disk
            delete saved page when browser closed
For Internet Explorer version 5, under Security:
            enable Allow per-session cookies (not stored)
            enable File download

         enable Submit non-encrypted form data
enable Active scripting
Under Advanced:
            do not save encrypted data to disk
empty temporary Internet files folder when browser is closed
For Netscape Navigator, under Edit/Preferences/Advanced:
           enable Javascript
            enable style sheets
            accept all cookies

4. Is there anything special I should do to close out VONAPP once I'm done?
Yes. This is very important if the computer you are on is used by other
people and especially if it is in a public location such as a library. You
should close all VONAPP screens by clicking on the "x" in the upper right
hand corner of all pop up screens you opened as well as the VONAPP screen
you were last on and the VONAPP Home Page. And before you leave the
computer
once you are done working in the Internet, close the Internet browser
completely. This will help ensure that no one can see information you put
in
VONAPP.
>
D. Questions about VA and other related issues
1. How can I contact VA if I have questions about this form, how to fill it
out, or about benefits?
You can contact VA in the following ways:
      By Internet: http://www.vba.va.gov/benefits/address.htm
      By mail: You can locate the address of the closest VA Regional
Office
in your telephone book blue pages under "United States Government,
Veterans." Also, our addresses can be found at
http://www.vba.va.gov/benefits/address.htm .
By telephone: 1-800-827-1000; 1-800-829-4833 (Hearing Impaired TDD
line)

2. Can I visit a VA office for help?
Yes. After you find out its location, you can visit your nearest VA
Regional Office during business hours. You should call the office at
1-800-827-1000 to confirm its hours and location. If you visit a regional
office, you should gather the necessary materials and complete as much of
the form as you can before you visit.

3. I've noticed that VA Regional Offices sometimes have two addresses, why
is that?
Some VA Regional Offices have both a mailing address and a street address.
Use the mailing address to send in anything but if you want to visit an
office, use its street address. If you are unsure of the address, call
1-800-827-1000 for information and to make an appointment.

4. Where can I go on the Internet if I have questions about my military
records and how to get them?
There are links from the VA Home Page which will include these:
National Personnel Records Center (NPRC):
      http://www.nara.gov/regional/mpr.html
Link to SF 180 form to request records:
      http://www.nara.gov/regional/mprsf180.html
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) link:
      http://www.nara.gov

#### END #####

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