Veterans Articles & News - Veterans For Common Sense

Veterans for Common Sense (VCS) was formed in August 2002 as a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization by war veterans who believe that we, the people of the United States of America, are most secure when our country is free, strong, and responsibly engaged with the world. Our mission, based on the pragmatic ideals of the American patriot Thomas Paine, is to raise the unique and powerful voices of veterans so that our military, veterans, freedom, and national security are protected and enhanced, for ourselves and for future generations.

"We owe a debt to all who served and when we repay that debt to those bravest Americans among us, then we are investing in our future."
~ Barack Obama, August 3, 2009

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Television News Coverage of VCS Advocacy

VCS now posts links to television news broadcasts featuring Veterans for Common Sense and our highly successful advocacy efforts on issues you care about.

Disabled Iraq War Veteran with Service Dog Beaten by McDonalds Employee

October 30, 2009, Brooklyn, New York (Courthouse News Service) - A disabled Army captain who was wounded in Iraq claims McDonald's employees beat him with garbage can lids after he brought his service dog to the restaurant. Luis Montalvan says the attack came as he was photographing the restaurant after he repeatedly complained about the treatment he received there.

Deployment at All Costs: Military Arrests Mom, Sends Child to Protective Serivces

Soldier mom refuses deployment to care for baby

November 16, 2009, Savannah, Georgia (Associated Press) – An Army cook and single mom may face criminal charges after she skipped her deployment flight to Afghanistan because, she said, no one was available to care for her infant son while she was overseas.

Fort Hood Fallout: Camp Lejeune Whistle-Blower Fired

A psychiatrist who tried to prevent Fort Hood-style violence among Marines about to "lose it" instead loses his job

November 16, 2009 (Salon) - Last April, two Marines at Camp Lejeune predicted to a psychiatrist that some Marine back from war was going to "lose it." Concerned, the psychiatrist asked what that meant. One of the Marines responded, "One of these guys is liable to come back with a loaded weapon and open fire."

New York Times Profiles VA and Secretary Shinseki

No Longer a Soldier, Shinseki Has a New Mission

November 11, 2009 (New York Times) - It was a sad homecoming of sorts. On Tuesday, Eric Shinseki, the secretary of veterans affairs, returned to Fort Hood, Tex., where he was a division commander in the mid-1990s, to pay tribute to two veterans affairs employees who died in the shootings there last week.

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Veterans Articles & News

Veterans Healthcare and Disability Veterans for Common Sense posts articles, news and other related items about the readjustment needs and concerns of our veterans, with a special emphasis on access to prompt healthcare and disability benefits provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Op-Ed: Severe Mental Health Crisis Among Families of Deployed Service Members

Written by Stacy Bannerman

Sunday, 18 October 2009 06:11

October 17, 2009 (TruthOut) - A seven-year-old second-grader attempted suicide while his father was serving yet another tour in Iraq. Seven years old. Seven. His mother was one of half a dozen military spouses I have spoken with about soldiers' kids who have attempted suicide during their fathers' deployments.

VA Funding Reform Bill Clears Congress

Written by Michael Victorian

Sunday, 18 October 2009 05:38

Congress Passes Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009

October 15, 2009, Washington, DC (PRNewswire - USNewswire) - The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), today, lauded the efforts of Congress in passing historic legislation to reform the way it funds health care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. For more than 20 years, AFGE has advocated for substantial reform in the VA funding process. AFGE applauds these members of Congress for their commitment to the VA, its patients, and its employees.

Written by House Veterans Affairs Committee

Wednesday, 14 October 2009 12:48

Hall Leads Discussion on Proposed Regulation Change Regarding PTSD Determinations for Veterans

Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, October 7, 2009, Representative John Hall (D-NY), Chair of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, led a roundtable discussion regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) proposed rule change for stressor determinations for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The revision would liberalize the evidentiary standard regarding stressor determinations for PTSD. Veteran service organizations assert that many veterans with war zone service are being denied service connection for PTSD because they cannot first prove that they were combat veterans before they can benefit from the provision outlined in the statute.

Written by VCS

Wednesday, 14 October 2009 12:10

On January 26, 2009, Veterans for Common Sense (VCS) wrote the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and requested new regulations, based on new scientific findings, to streamline the processing of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) claims. On August 24, 2009, VA published proposed new regulations in the Federal Register. On October 14, 2009, VCS sent our comments to VA. The official comment period ends on October 23, 2009.

Written by Claire Osborn

Saturday, 10 October 2009 22:35

Taylor residents oppose proposed veterans center in their neighborhood

October 11, 2009, Taylor, Texas (Austin American-Statesman) — A California company wants to convert an empty facility formerly used as nursing home into a trauma assistance center for as many as 88 female veterans, including those who have been sexually assaulted by fellow soldiers.

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