Florida Veterans for Common Sense

10/20 Meeting

Gene Jones — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 20:07:01 +0000

MONTHLY MEETING

WHEN: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2011 AT 7:00 PM
WHERE: WALDEMERE FIRE HOUSE COMMUNITY ROOM 2070 WALDEMERE St. SARASOTA (NEAR SARASOTA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL EAST OF US 41 ON WALDEMERE ST. CLICK HERE FOR MAP AND DIRECTIONS)
TOPIC: DISCUSSION: POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

PRESENTERS: Dr. Frank Papandrea, PhD, MDiv, LPC and Dr. Eddy Regnier Ph.D.
Dr. Papandrea is a professional Counselor and retired minister.

Dr. Eddy Regnier received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 1986, an MA in Clinical Psychology in 1981 from Boston University Clinical Psychology program and a MSW in Social Work in 1979 also from Boston University, Boston Massachusetts. Dr. Regnier’s received his Baccalaureate in Psychology from University of Massachusetts.

Both practice in Sarasota.

Consequences of Iraq and Afghanistan Wars

Gene Jones — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 00:00:53 +0000

As of January 5, 2011

593,634: U.S. Veteran Patients Treated at VA

537,550: U.S. Veteran Disability Claims Filed Against VA

Chart #1, U.S. Troops Deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan War Zones [1]

Deployed to War Zones	Service Members Still in Military	Percent in Military	Veterans Now Eligible for VA	Percent Veterans
2,158,015	973,766	45%	1,311,124	61%

Chart #2, Iraq and Afghanistan Veteran Patients Treated by VA [2] [3]

Category	Number of Veterans	Percent
Veteran Patients	593,634	45% of Veterans
Mental Health Patients	294,536	50% of Patients
PTSD Patients	171,423	29% of Patients

Chart #3, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans’ Claims Against VA [4]

Category	Number of Veterans	Percent
Disability Claims Filed	537,550	41% of Veterans
Claims Pending	88,374	16% of Claims Filed
Approved PTSD Claim	84,005	49% of PTSD Patients

Prepared by Veterans for Common Sense (VCS) using documents obtained from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). If you use this information, then please cite VCS and our use of FOIA.

[1] VA, “VA Benefits Activity: Veterans Deployed to the Global War on Terror,” Through Jun. 2010,” Oct. 2010.

2 VA, “Analysis of VA Health Care Utilization Among US Global War on Terrorism Veterans, 3rd Quarter, Fiscal Year 2010,” Oct. 2010.

3 VA, “VA Facility Specific OIF/OEF Veterans Coded with Potential PTSD Through 4^th Quarter FY 2010,” Oct. 2010.

4 VA, “VA Benefits Activity: Veterans Deployed to the Global War on Terror, Through Jun. 2010,” Aug. 6, 2010.

[1] VA, “VA Benefits Activity: Veterans Deployed to the Global War on Terror,” Through Jun. 2010,” Oct. 2010.

[2] VA, “Analysis of VA Health Care Utilization Among US Global War on Terrorism Veterans, 3rd Quarter, Fiscal Year 2010,” Oct. 2010.

[3] VA, “VA Facility Specific OIF/OEF Veterans Coded with Potential PTSD Through 4^th Quarter FY 2010,” Oct. 2010.

[4] VA, “VA Benefits Activity: Veterans Deployed to the Global War on Terror, Through Jun. 2010,” Aug. 6, 2010.

Guest Column in HT

Gene Jones — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:30:21 +0000

War a primary cause of debt crisis

Sarasota Herald Tribune FLVCS Column

Approximately twenty-five percent of our national debt results from money borrowed to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Another twenty five percent is due to the Bush tax cuts. Some economists calculate that as much as ninety percent of the interest payable on the debt is due to war and “defense” spending. In short, we have a debt problem due to poor policy decisions made by politicians. They compound the problem by keeping troops in Iraq and Afghanistan which costs in excess of ten billion dollars per month.

The Sarasota Herald Tribune was kind enough to publish a Guest Column on Tuesday, August 2, 2011 by our FLVCS president on the relationship between the national debt and wars: Wars of choice are a cause of national debt problem.

You can find the column at: http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110802/ARCHIVES/108021012/-1/todayspaper?Title=Wars-of-choice-are-a-cause-of-national-debt-problem

Be Proactive: Call, or email, the Herald Tribune and tell them you appreciate publication of our column. If you live outside the Sarasota area, ask your local paper to carry the column.

VCS Wins Court Battle

Gene Jones — Sat, 14 May 2011 17:18:44 +0000

VCS Statement: A Vital Constitutional Victory for Our Veterans

Written by VCS

Wednesday, 11 May 2011 11:47

Updated May 12, 2011

May 11, 2011 (VCS) – Yesterday, the Court of Appeals ruled VA’s mental health care system and disability claims system remain badly broken, and veterans face long delays to see doctors and obtain benefits.

The Court of Appeals ordered VA to fix what it descrbed “egregious problems.” VCS believes now is the time for our President, VA Secretary, and Congress to fix VA. The bureaucratic delays must end now.

New Links:

Read the May 10, 2011, Opinion by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Read the May 11, 2011, White House press briefing

Read the May 11, 2011, New York Times ariticle

Read May 12, 2011, Austin American-Statesman article

Veterans had our day in court, we won, and now we urge VA to move forward so no veteran is delayed or denied healthcare or disability benefits. Our nation can and must do better so no veteran is left behind as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan wind down.

In a blistering 104-page attack on VA’s long delays for healthcare and benefits, the Court of Appeals ruled, “We hold that the VA’s failure to provide adequate procedures for veterans facing prejudicial delays in the delivery of mental health care violates the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment [of our Constitution].”

VA’s crisis was caused by two major factors. First, VA suffers from “unchecked incompetence” over many years. And, second, VA was hit with a tidal wave of 654,000 new, first-time Iraq and Afghanistan War veteran patients since 9/11, including 332,000 mental health patients. VA reports reveal 192,000 Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder.

In addition to a sharp rise in new patients, recent war veterans filed 552,000 disability compensation claims against VA after deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan. However, only 92,000, or less than half of our Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans’ disability compensation claims for PTSD are approved by VA.

Unfortunately, starting in 2001, VA had no plan for any new patients and claims. VA still has no strategic plan to meet sharply rising demand for treatment and benefits. Tragically, the Court confirms veterans died (more than a thousand during a few month period during the 2008 trial) while waiting for VA to provide healthcare and benefits, according to yesterday’s ruling.

The Court of Appeals concluded, “VA’s unchecked incompetence has gone on long enough; no more veterans should be compelled to agonize or perish while the government fails to perform its obligations.” VA continually fails to provide timely access to healthcare and disability benefits, according to the Court of Appeals, without any due process to challenge a broken system. This harms veterans and violates veterans’ rights.

Veterans for Common Sense thanks our co-plaintiff, Veterans United for Truth, and we applaud the Court of Appeals for their wisdom in handing down this tremendous legal victory for our veterans.

In Memoriam

Gene Jones — Sat, 14 May 2011 15:48:02 +0000

FLVCS is sad to report that James McCartney has passed away after a battle with cancer. Many of our members and friends feel James was one of our top guest speakers of all time. He enlightened us with his first hand knowledge of history coupled with congressional, military and industrial complex. He spoke at our first Thomas Paine Birthday Party and also a recent monthly meeting.

More information is available in the Miami Herald’s coverage HERE

RIP James

Judge Haworth Award

Gene Jones — Fri, 13 May 2011 20:13:03 +0000

From the Sarasota Herald Tribune

Published: Sunday, February 6, 2011 at 1:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, February 4, 2011 at 11:30 p.m.

Lee Haworth served in the first Gulf War, so he knows better than most people how battle affects today’s veterans, and he has started a program to help them.

Courts Assisting Veterans diverts qualified veterans from the criminal justice system into alcohol or drug abuse treatment programs, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder programs and Traumatic Brain Injury programs.

The nonprofit Florida Veterans for Common Sense presented Haworth, chief judge of the 12th Judicial Circuit that includes Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties, with the group’s Thomas Paine Award on Jan. 14 at Mulligans Grill at the Bobby Jones Golf Course.

Florida Veterans has an annual dinner to celebrate the birthday of Thomas Paine, the founding father who was the first to pen the name “The United States of America.”

Haworth’s award has this quote from Paine: “Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must … undergo the fatigue of supporting it.”

Some studies have found that as many as 35 percent of returning veterans may suffer from PTSD or major depression and as many as 10 percent from brain injuries. Haworth began the program two years ago with a $50,000 grant from the Gulf Cost Community Foundation and it is funded this year by the Sarasota and Manatee County Commissions.

Funding ends in December, and Haworth and the Florida Veterans group are asking Florida legislators to establish a statewide veterans diversion program.

Radio Show on PTSD

Gene Jones — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 17:39:42 +0000

Where: WSLR 96.5 News and Public Affairs show: Surreal News

When: 9 to 10 am Friday April 29, 2011

Topic: Veterans and PTSD issues featuring Cynthia MagGuire ( psychologist working with vets and writing book on PTSD), Dennis Plews, FLVCS Board Member and Scott Driscoll, FLVCS member and the coordinator for the Courts Assisting Veterans Program.

If the signal is not strong enough for your to radio to pick up, you can listen via internet.

The podcast will be made available in our “media” section when it is officially released.

PTSD Smartphone App

Gene Jones — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 17:54:46 +0000

Veterans Can Get Help With PTSD With New VA/DOD Mobile Application

Written by Alice Lipowicz

Tuesday, 26 April 2011 09:15

Free iPhone application aims to help users overcome stigma of seeking support

April 21, 2011 (Federal Computer Week) – Veterans and service members with post-traumatic stress disorder can now get support from a new iPhone application from the Veterans Affairs and Defense departments. The VA’s National Center for PTSD and DOD’s National Center for Telehealth and Technology created the new PTSD Coach application to provide remote support for veterans and service members with PTSD, whether diagnosed or pre-diagnosed, the VA has announced.

PTSD is a condition that develops months or years after a trauma and can last for decades. The most recent studies of veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars indicated that about 14 percent received the diagnosis, which includes symptoms such as disturbing memories and flashbacks.

The PTSD Coach application was developed for iPhone, iPad and iTouch to provide a self-assessment for the condition, support and treatment options, and tools for managing daily stress from the condition, according to an April 19 news release. The tools support relaxation and positive self-help strategies, and can be customized with contact phone numbers and e-mail addresses, photographs and music, the departments said. An Android version is coming soon.

Continue reading at the VCS website

Veterans’ Day 2010 Photos

Gene Jones — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 01:53:12 +0000

[Show as slideshow]

Veterans Day 2010

Gene Jones — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 16:41:09 +0000

Florida Veterans for Common Sense

10/20 Meeting

Consequences of Iraq and Afghanistan Wars

[1] VA, “VA Benefits Activity: Veterans Deployed to the Global War on Terror,” Through Jun. 2010,” Oct. 2010.

2 VA, “Analysis of VA Health Care Utilization Among US Global War on Terrorism Veterans, 3rd Quarter, Fiscal Year 2010,” Oct. 2010.

3 VA, “VA Facility Specific OIF/OEF Veterans Coded with Potential PTSD Through 4th Quarter FY 2010,” Oct. 2010.

4 VA, “VA Benefits Activity: Veterans Deployed to the Global War on Terror, Through Jun. 2010,” Aug. 6, 2010.

Guest Column in HT

War a primary cause of debt crisis

Sarasota Herald Tribune FLVCS Column

VCS Wins Court Battle

VCS Statement: A Vital Constitutional Victory for Our Veterans

Written by VCS

In Memoriam

Judge Haworth Award

Radio Show on PTSD

PTSD Smartphone App

Veterans’ Day 2010 Photos

Veterans Day 2010

3 VA, “VA Facility Specific OIF/OEF Veterans Coded with Potential PTSD Through 4^th Quarter FY 2010,” Oct. 2010.