All Hands [9/15/07]

This is to advise that there willl be no 15 SEP Bulletin Update. On 1 SEP (a few hours after I put out the 1 SEP Bulletin) a burgular entered our bedroom where we were sleeping via an unlatched window and stole my computer. Thus, I have been off line since then because of delays in obtaining a replacement computer and software that is compatable with my stored files in my external hard drive. I purchased a new HP state of the art computer for $2600 and found to my dismay that the VISTA operating system all new computers come with was not user friendly and totally unacceptable to use for the Bulletin. Turns out, it takes 2 to 3 times as long to use as Windows XP and would not load the majority of my Word & Excel files from my external hard drive in which I was backing files up from XP. I have lost all but a few of my 2005, 2006 & 2007 files with the excpetion of the 9000+ files I had in Outlook. At the moment the Hewart Packard local dealer is backloading the new computer with Windows XP so I can hopefully go back to work on the Bulletin. An additional problem is that I can no longer access the Internet from my home in the Philippines because the new computers use stage 3 wireless hardware and in the PI they have only reached stage 2 technology. Thus the existing PCMCIA cards available for wireless online operation do not fit the new computer's slot and adapters are unobtainable.

At the moment I have about 800 messages that I have not answered. As soon as possible I will act on these. Fortunately, my Bulletin email directory of 63,000+ subscribers is maintained by a Mailing List Provider in Europe which I access online so I can send this message to you. If you have any email addee changes continue to send them and I will eventually be able to act on them. Request you not respond to this message until I am back on line. At the moment I cannot be sure there will be a 1 OCT Bulletin Update but hopefully I will be back in operation for a 15 OCT Update.

Lessons learned are keep your windows latched, check them nighlty, and do not get involved with VISTA.

Lt. James "EMO" Tichacek
Director, RAO Bulletin

This bulletin update contains the following articles:

VA Retro Pay Project [07] (75% Processed)
NDAA 2008 [08] (Unresolved Issues)
SSA Congressional Coverage (Who Contributes?)
Military Travel Discounts & Offers (Vacation Ideas)
Agent Orange Dig in Alaska (Buried 40 Years)
Complementary & Alternative Medicine (FDA Limits)
Alzheimer's [03] (Heart Impact on Brain)
Army Retired Soldiers Pin [01] (Mailing Complete)
AER Scholarships (Retired USA Dependents)
AFRC Garmisch Partenkirchen (Specials for Retirees)
VA Homeless Vets [06] (Housing is Key)
AXPOW Hq Data Breach (Personal Info Stolen)
NMCRS Scholarships (What's Available)
VA Mileage Reimbursement [02] (H.R.760 Impact)
Medicare Fraud [01] ($2 Million Wheelchair)
Filipino Vet Inequities [06] (SMP Benefit Loss)
AO Compensation Package (ExGratia Payment)
Purple Heart Hall of Honor (Recipients Sought)
IRS Consumer Warning [01 (Identity Theft)
SBP Automatic Coverage & Options (Clarification)
TRICARE Reserve Select [07] (Revamped Program)
Military Divorce & Separation (A Private Civil Matter)
VA Facility Expansion [06] (Canandaigua Campus NY)
VA Facility Expansion [07] (Harlingen TX)
VA Facility Expansion [08] (New Orleans Medical Ctr)
VA Facility Expansion [09] (Los Angeles CA)
VDBC [21] (QoL Issues)
DoD Disability Evaluation System [05] (Bush's Proposal)
DoD Disability Evaluation System [06] (Unique)
Vet Cemetery Hawaii (Kona Expansion)
Shingles [02] (Vaccine Available at VA)
DoD Genetic Illness Policy (Genetic Discrimination)
COLA 2008 [06] (0.1% Below June's)
Tricare Step Therapy Regime (Sleep Aids Experiment)
Retirement Tax Considerations [01] (SS & Pensions)
Referral Bonus [03] (Funds Run Dry)
Tricare Prime Networks (Too Costly To Keep)
AF JROTC Needs Retirees [01] (Active Duty Pay Level)
Presidential Dollar Coins (New Dollar Series)
Merchant Marine WWII Comp ($1000 Mo Pension)
VA Clinic Openings [07] (Cape Coral FL)
Retiree Seminars 2007 (Where to Go)
Veteran Legislation Status 30 AUG 07 (Where We Stand)

This bulletin update contains the following articles:

Tricare Hospice Care (Coverage)
Military Spouse Monument (Proposed)
VA Claims Assistance [03] (Triple Compensation)
Fisher House Expansion [01] (Tampa Opens)
Tricare Uniform Formulary [21] (Changes Announced)
Publix Prescription Offer (No Cost Antibiotics)
Filipino Vet Inequities [05] (Republicans Protest)
VDBC [20] (CRDP Recommendation Reversed)
Minnesota Veterans Homes (Commission Appointed)
Acid Reflux Disease (Cancer Impact)
Minnesota LinkVet (First in Nation)
VA Clinic Openings [06] (Non hospital Dental Care)
Tricare Prime Travel Reimbursement (100 miles +)
Tricare Provider Tax Credit (Oregon)
Oregon Taxes (Military Retirees)
Depleted Uranium [04] (Report Due OCT 07)
VA North Texas SITREP (Array of Problems)
VA Care Vet Backlash (Claim Acceptance)
Puerto Rico Medical Fraud (AZ-FL-NY-TX-VA Impact)
Saluting the Flag (Veterans)
VA Facility Expansion [05] (Ft. Bragg)
VA Local Access (Where to Go)
VA Clinic Openings [05] (Guam Summer 2009)
SBP Basics [01] (Program Explanation)
Retiree Annual COLAs [01] (Tracking Inflation)
VA Fraud [01] ($120,000 Embezzled)
Vet Home Tennessee (Fined $200,000)
HVAC [02] (Support for 7 Bills)
Commissary Construction (Program Impacted)
SBP Paid Up Provision [03] (30 Year Payers)
Agent Orange Diseases [01] (Associated)
Agent Orange Diseases [02] (Non Associated)
Agent Orange & Hypertension (Possible Association)
Retirement Tax Considerations (Sales & Income)
Veteran Legislation Status 13 AUG 07 (Where We Stand)

This bulletin update contains the following articles:

NDAA 2008 [06] (In Limbo)
VA Suicide Call Center [01] (Help a Call Away)
Vet Cemetery Alabama (Land Purchased)
VA Data Breach [36] (53 Computers Lost)
Medicare Hospice Care (How it Works)
Veteran Federal Employment [04] (RC Vet Preference)
Wounded Warrior Assistance [03] (Senate Passes Bill)
Mobilized Reserve 25 July 07 (Net Increase 3640)
WRAMC [11] (President's Panel Report)
Military Spouse Friendly Workplaces (USAA Tops List)
VA Health Care Funding [10] (No Cure-all)
Medicine Bought Online (What to Look For)
Camp Lejeune Toxic Exposure (Notification Policy)
VA Claim Backlog [09] (H.R.3047 Automation Mandate)
VA Claim Backlog [10] (Trial Approach Endorsement)
VA Lawsuit [Religious Discrimination] (VA Denies Guilt)
VA Lawsuit [Lack of Care] (Health Care Delays)
VA Lawsuit [Wrongful Death] (Vet Turned Away)
West Virginia Veterans Homes [01] (Opening)
Prosthetic Limbs (Medical Innovations)
Florida Veterans Homes [02] (Ongoing Dispute)
Veterans Benefits Act 2007 (S. 1326 Improvements)
VDBC [19] (SBP/TERA/CRSC Recommendations)
VA Rural Access [02] (S.1147 Support)
Filipino Vet Inequities [03] (H.R.760 Funding Issue)
Filipino Vet Inequities [04] (Pensions Protested)
Common Access Card (CAC) (H.R.3046 & 3128 Impact)
Selective Service System (Draft) [05] (Not Recommended)
VA Vet Centers [02] (Ahead of Schedule)
DoD Disability Evaluation System [04] (Joint System)
USERRA [02] (Know Your rights)
Vet Cemetery Maryland (Crownsville Expansion)
Tricare Data Breach (Systemic Problems)
SDVOSB program (Disabled Vet Contracts)
Federal Student Aid [01] (Interest Suspension Bill)
SBA Vet Issues [05] (Patriot Express Loans)
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia [01] (VA Must Pay)
Medicare Advantage Plans [01] (Illegal/Unethical Tactics)
Medicare Advantage Plans [02] (Delayed Refunds)
Medicare Extra Help Program [01] (Under Utilized)
Medicare Deductibles (How They Apply)
VA Comp Payment Disparity [08] (IDA Report Results)
Horatio Alger Scholarship (Military Veterans)
House Veterans' Affairs Committee (What it is)
HVAC [01] (5 Bills Passed)
TSA Data Breach (Privacy officials meet)
Car Key Alarm (Security Tip)
VA Secretary [01] (Nicholson Resigns)
Veteran Charities Review [01] (Where Donations Go)
Veteran Legislation Status 30 JUL 07 (Where We Stand)

This bulletin update contains the following articles:

SHAD [04] (Studies Flawed)
DoD Mental Health TF [05] (Mental Health Shortfalls)
DoD Disability Evaluation System [02] (Pro Bono Effort)
DoD Disability Evaluation System [03] (NDAA Includes S.1606)
Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee (SVAC) (What it Does)
SVAC [01] (5 Bills Cleared)
NDAA 2008 [06] (Senate Debate Begins)
Wounded Warrior Assistance [02] (Hotline Call Center)
Reserve Retirement Age [11] (NDAA amendment)
VA Cemetery Iowa ($7.6 Million Grant)
VA Cemetery Wisconsin ($622,580 Grant)
BRAVE & GIVE Acts (SSA Rating Acceleration)
VA Homeless Vets [05] (Homeless Grants)
Tuition Aid for RC (Summary by State)
Florida Vet Benefits [03] (4 New Laws)
Vet Initiatives [02] (4 New Laws)
LCD Screen Cleaning (Magic Eraser)
Silver Star (3rdh Highest Valor Award)
Okinawa Agent Orange Use (BVA 1998 Ruling)
Identity Theft [08] (Prevention, Identification & Mitigation)
TSGLI [01] (Pay Out Retroactive)
CBO Military Compensation Report [01] (Pay Raise Questioned)
Concurrent Receipt Status (570,000 Not Yet Eligible)
SSA Retirement Application (Applying Online)
VA 2007 Survey (Starts 8 July)
Navy Body Modification Policy (Clarified)
Tricare Member Choice Center (New Program)
Cell Phone Payment Suspension(90+ Day Deployments)
Vet Benefits New York (New Veteran Measures)
Funeral Honors [02] (Bugler Ranks Thinning)
Psoriasis (What it Is)
Travel Immunizations (What to Get)
SSA Future Benefit Estimate (Where you stand)
Vietnam War Facts (Stats)
Veteran Legislation Status 13 JUL 07 (Where We Stand)