Blue Water Navy

Stimulus Payments in May: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act signed into law in February will begin providing a one-time economic recovery payment of $250 to people who receive Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, Railroad Retirement, and veterans benefits. If you were eligible for one of these benefits at any time during the months of November 2008, December 2008 or January 2009, you should automatically receive your one-time payment by the end of May 2009. To receive the payment, your address of record must be within one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, or the Northern Mariana Islands. For more information, read the Social Security Administration pamphlet at: http://socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10519.pdf

House Hearing on PTSD Legislation: The House Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs held a hearing on legislation that would revise the claims process for PTSD diagnosis. H.R. 952, The Combat PTSD Act, would clarify and expand the definition of "combat with the enemy," to include a theater of combat operations during a period of war, or in combat against a hostile force during a period of hostilities. The subcommittee members reviewed the original intent of the law and found VA is placing an unnecessary burden on veterans diagnosed with PTSD and other conditions to prove their combat stressors. If passed, the bill would ease the claims process for veterans who served in non-combat roles in war zones - but who are suffering from post traumatic stress disorder - to receive benefits and treatment from VA. For more on the hearing and the testimony of witnesses, visit the House VA website at: http://veterans.house.gov/.

VA Continues Precautionary Screenings: The VA is continuing to notify and provide free medical screenings to thousands of veterans across the South who had colonoscopies and other procedures with equipment that was not properly sterilized. The precaution applies to:
• 6,400 veterans who received colonoscopies at the Alvin C. York Campus in Murfreesboro, TN, between April 23, 2003, and Dec. 1, 2008. These veterans should call 1-877-345-8555. More information is available at: http://www.tennesseevalley.va.gov/news/ ... stions.asp.
• 3,260 veterans who had colonoscopies at the Miami VA Healthcare System Special Care Clinic between May 2004 and March 12, 2009. These veterans should call 1-877-575-7256. A press release is at: http://www.miami.va.gov/pressreleases/M ... ate001.asp.
• And to 1,800 veterans who had Ear, Nose & Throat Clinic procedures at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center in Augusta, GA, from January through November 2008. These veterans should call 1-888-483-9674. A press release is at: http://www1.va.gov/augustaga/page.cfm?pg=16