Veterans issues page 9
This section has many hidden benefits for veterans(it is from the VFW page).
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The National
Veterans Services Fund, Inc. |
Founded in 1978, the National Veterans Services Fund, Inc. (formerly Vietnam Veterans Agent Orange Victims, Inc.) is a not-for-profit organization located in Darien, Connecticut that provides case-managed social services and limited medical assistance to Vietnam- and Persian Gulf War- veterans and their families, with a focus on families with disabled children. All donations are tax-deductible. Entire veteran families have been adversely affected by the experience of combat and by other war-related factors. War does not end on the battlefield. These families continue to suffer a high incidence of chronic health conditions and problems that affect the family's physical, psychological, social and economic well-being and productivity. In response to a steadily growing number of inquiries from Persian Gulf veterans, as well as veterans of other wars, we changed our name to better reflect the fact that our services are provided for all veteran families. The families served by NVSF, Inc. have been unable to obtain the social and health services they so critically need from other sources. They have fallen between the social service system's "cracks" mainly because of a misconception that they and their families are taken care of by the VA. In fact, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) does not provide services to families, except in rare instances. Before NVSF, Inc., no health or social system existed for veterans that focused on the whole family and their struggle with a multiplicity of problems. Existing systems were exclusionary and uncoordinated, often geographically distant from the family needing service. The traditional veterans' system provides services to the veteran but not the family. There has remained no coordination between veterans' and human services systems. NVSF, Inc. uniquely combines family-guided case management (service coordination) and advocacy assistance while strengthening business, social and community support. Services provided by NVSF, Inc. are carefully designed to empower families so that they can successfully navigate different health and social systems. NVSF, Inc. provides an integrated program of services managed by veterans that include the following: a national hotline for veterans and their families that responds to hundreds of inquiries each month from throughout the country; an extensive repository of free information on topics ranging from the history of the Agent Orange lawsuit to the most recent Gulf War legislation; a special fund that offers limited emergency economic assistance and relief for families in crisis; business partnerships that make it possible to secure services and equipment at reduced rates or at no cost for families in need; peer counselors work with veterans who are isolated from traditional social services support and enable family members to work together to determine their own course of action to resolve their problems. NVSF, Inc. must continue to support and provide services to veteran families, particularly those whose children, and now grandchildren, have been born with disabilities. We gratefully appreciate your support. There is still so much to accomplish to strengthen veterans' families, particularly those with children who are disabled. WE RELY ENTIRELY ON YOUR TAX-DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS. Our survival is critical because these families have few alternative options. PLEASE HELP US IF YOU CAN. Feel free to call me on our toll-free number, (800)521-0198 with any questions. Thank you, Phil Kraft Family Health Counselor PUBLICATION LIST Please call us at (800)521-0198 to obtain anything on this list Agent Orange and Related Topics: A-1. Agent Orange Anxiety: The Human Response to Possible Oncogenicity and Mutagenicity of Dioxin Poisoning in Vietnam Veterans Erwin R. Parson, Ph.D. (e-mailable) A-2. Case Control Study: Soft-Tissue Sarcomas and Exposure to Phenoxyacetic Acids or Chlorophenols L. Hardell and A. Sandstrom from the Center of Oncology, University Hospital, Umea Sweden A-3. Relation of Soft-Tissue Sarcoma, Malignant Lymphoma and Colon Cancer to Phenoxy Acids, Chlorophenols and Other Agents Lennart Hardell, MD Center of Oncology, University Hospital, Umea Sweden A-4. Environmental Chloracne James S. Taylor, Dept. of Dermatology, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation A-5. Dioxin, A Case In Point Luke G. Tedeschi, M.D. Boston University School of Medicine A-6. Agent Orange and Birth Defects (Letter to the Editor, New England Journal of Medicine) F. LaVecchio Ph.D., H. Pashayan, M.D. & W. Singer, M.D., New England Medical Center A-7. The Children of Vietnam Veterans: Complex Concerns and Innovative Solutions Phillip R. Kraft, Family Health Counselor, National Veterans Services Fund, Inc. (e-mailable) A-8. Health Effects in Vietnam Veterans of Exposure to Herbicides National Academy of Sciences (e-mailable) A-9. *NEW* Agent Orange-Related Monetary Benefits from the VA for Vietnam Veterans (replaces List of Diseases . . .) (e-mailable) A-10. Monetary Allowance, Health Care and Vocational Training and Rehabilitation for Vietnam Veterans' Children with Spina Bifida National Veterans Services Fund, Inc. A-11. Agent Orange Fact Sheet: An Historical Perspective National Veterans Services Fund, Inc. (e-mailable) A-12. Agent Orange: It is Part of your Life Dr. Arthur Galston, Professor of Biology, Yale University. (e-mailable) A-13. A Brief History of the Agent Orange Lawsuit National Veterans Services Fund, Inc. (e-mailable) A-14 thru A-23 are from Dept. of Veterans Affairs: A-14. Agent Orange and Multiple Myeloma A-15. Agent Orange and Porphyria Cutanea Tarda A-16. Agent Orange and Hodgkin's Disease A-17. Agent Orange and Spina Bifida A-18. Agent Orange and Respiratory Cancers A-19. Agent Orange and Prostate Cancer A-20. Agent Orange and Soft Tissue Sarcomas A-21. Agent Orange and Peripheral Neuropathy A-22. Agent Orange and Chloracne A-23. Agent Orange and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma PTSD and Related Topics: P-1. PTSD and the Family: Secondary Traumatization Lisa Cosgrove, Ph.D., Mary E. Brady, Ph.D., and Patricia Peck, M.A., M.Ed. Shriver Center, Waltham, MA P-2. Mental Health Problems of Vietnam Veterans Marcia Resing, RN, MSN P-3. Psychotherapy with Traumatized Vietnam Combatants Douglas J. Scaturo, Ph.D. and William J. Hardoby, MD P-4. Helping Families Understand P.T.S.D. Lisa Cosgrove, Ph.D., William L. Holcomb, and Patricia Peck, M.A., M.Ed. Gulf War and Related Topics: G-1. Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses: VA, DOD Continue to Resist Strong Evidence Linking Toxic Causes to Chronic Health Effects Subcommittee on Human Resources of the House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight G-2. Personal Data Questionnaire for Gulf War Veterans National Veterans Services Fund, Inc. (e-mailable) G-3. Depleted Uranium Fact Sheet National Gulf War Resource Center G-4. Gulf War Syndrome Self-Help Guide National Gulf War Resource Center G-5. Depleted Uranium: Objective Research and Analysis Required Dan Fahey, Swords to Plowshares G-6. Model of Exposures and Health Consequences for Veterans of the Persian Gulf War Erika Lundholm, National Gulf War Resource Center G-7. Dangerous Chemical Combination Presents Possible Scenario for Gulf War Illnesses Mohamed Bahie Abou-Donia, Ph.D. Duke University Medical Center G-8. Is There a Gulf War Syndrome? Searching for Syndromes by Factor Analysis of Symptoms R. Haley, M.D., T. Kurt, M.D., MPH, & J. Hom Ph.D., University of Texas Medical Center G-9. Persian Gulf Research The Research Working Group of the Persian Gulf Veterans Coordinating Board Also available: Why Vietnam Still Matters: The War and the Wall Jan Scruggs, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund ***** We are constantly working on making as many of these documents available through e-mail. We have indicated which ones are available at this time. ***** Please call us at (800)521-0198 to obtain anything on this list. Donations may be mailed to our mailing address: National Veterans Services Fund, Inc. P.O. Box 2465 Darien, CT 06820-0465 Description: NON-PROFIT, 501(c)(3) CHARITY. MISSION: To educate and inform the public on the needs of veterans and their families; primarily concerning the Agent Orange issue and Gulf War illnesses; to identify and assess the needs of, and to provide limited medical assistance for, disabled children of veterans on a nationwide basis, and to provide assistance and/or relief to families of veterans through programs that combine family-guided case management (service coordination) and advocacy assistance while building social and community support
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REQUESTING MILITARY MEDALS AND AWARDS
Requests for the issuance or replacement of military service medals, decorations, and awards should be directed to the specific branch of the military in which the veteran served. However, for Air Force (including Army Air Corps) and Army personnel, the National Personnel Records Center will verify the awards to which a veteran is entitled and forward the request with the verification to the appropriate service department for issuance of the medals.
The Standard Form (SF 180), Request Pertaining to Military Records, is recommended for requesting medals and awards. Provide as much information as possible and send the form to the appropriate address from the following table:
AR-PERSCOM estimates a backlog of 98,000 routine requests for Army medals,
going back two years; and at least 4,300 Congressional requests for Army
awards and decorations which may also be up to two years old. We understand
the desire to obtain the medals as quickly as possible; however, multiple
requests for the same awards will further complicate the process. Once the
transfer is complete, we will begin responding to both the backlog of requests
and all new inquiries in an expeditious manner. If you are now requesting
medals, or you previously wrote to NPRC or AR-PERSCOM requesting medals, we
ask that you do not write again. If you wish to submit a medals request for
the first time, please do so after March 1, 1999. We appreciate your patience
in this matter.
Service
BranchWhere to write for
medalsWhere medals are
mailed fromWhere to write in case of
a problem or an appeal
Army
National Personnel
Records Center
Medals Section (NRPMA-M)
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100
See NOTE belowU.S. Army Soldier &
Biological Chemical Command, IMMC
Soldier Systems Directorate
700 Robbins Avenue
P.O. Box 57997
Philadelphia, PA 19111-7997Commander
PERSCOM
Attn: TAPC-PDO-PA
200 Stovall Street
Alexandria, VA 22332-0471
See NOTE below
Air Force
(including
Army Air
Corps &
Army Air
Forces)National Personnel
Records Center
Air Force Reference
Branch (NRPMF)
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100Headquarters
Air Force Personnel Ctr
AFPC/DPPPR
550 C Street West, Suite 12
Randolph AFB, TX 78150-4714Headquarters
Air Force Personnel Ctr
AFPC/DPPPR
550 C Street West, Suite 12
Randolph AFB, TX 78150-4714
Navy
Bureau of Naval Personnel
Liaison Office
Room 5409
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100Bureau of Naval Personnel
Liaison Office
Room 5409
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100Chief of Naval Operations
(OPNAV 09B33)
Awards & Special Projects
Washington, DC 20350-2000
Marine
CorpsBureau of Naval Personnel
Liaison Office
Room 5409
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100Bureau of Naval Personnel
Liaison Office
Room 5409
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100Commandant
Headquarters
United States Marine Corps
Awards Branch (MHM)
Washington, DC 20380-0001
Coast
GuardBureau of Naval Personnel
Liaison Office
Room 5409
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100Bureau of Naval Personnel
Liaison Office
Room 5409
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100Commandant
U.S. Coast Guard
Medals and Awards Branch
(PMP-4)
Washington, DC 20593-0001
NOTE: Recently, the Department of the Army and
the National Archives and Records Administration entered into an agreement
which gives the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) authority to verify
entitlement to replacement awards and decorations for discharged, retired
or deceased Army veterans. This was previously the responsibility of the
Army Reserve Personnel Command (AR-PERSCOM). Army medals requests submitted
within the last two years are currently in the process of being transferred
from AR-PERSCOM to NPRC. The transfer of this work will take a number of
months to complete. Once the transfer has been completed, requests pertaining
to these specific Army medals will be answered as quickly as possible.
Generally, there is no charge for medal or award replacements. The length of
time to receive a response or your medals and awards varies depending upon the
branch of service sending the medals.
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