Author Archives: Team VCS

Official VA e-mail from February 13, 2008, where top VA official concealed the enormous and growing suicide epidemic from CBS Evening News. http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/VA_email_021308.pdf  The e-mail was obtained by attorneys representing veterans in the lawsuit Veterans for Common Sense and Veterans United … Continue reading →

May 1, 2008 – Veterans are suffering and dying because of a broken-down mental health system at the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the only remedy is a court-ordered overhaul, a lawyer for advocacy groups told a federal judge Wednesday … Continue reading →

Witness List for Hearing, “The Truth about Veteran Suicides” Where: 334 Cannon House Office Building When: May 6, 2008, 10:00 a.m. Witness Panel 1: The Honorable James B. Peake, M.D., Secretary, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Accompanied by Gerald Cross, … Continue reading →

Paul Sullivan, Executive director of Veterans for Common Sense, urged Congress to enact legislation to immediately to overhaul the VA.  “Congress should legislate a presumption of service connection for veterans diagnosed [with] PTSD who deployed to a war zone after … Continue reading →

April 30, 2008, Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member of the Committee, held a press conference today to call for improved mental health … Continue reading →

April 30, 2008, Washington, DC – Today, the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee led by Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA), approved fourteen bills to improve services and benefits provided for America’s veterans at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.  “Caring for veterans is … Continue reading →

April 30, 2008, Washington, DC – U.S. troops won’t have to reveal all their mental health counseling when applying for security clearances under a change the Pentagon hopes will ease the stigma of seeking help for combat stress, The Associated … Continue reading →

April 30, 2008 – At least half-a-dozen active-duty military officials have been working closely with a task force headed by the far-right fundamentalist Christians planning religious events at military installations around the country to commemorate Thursday’s National Day of Prayer. … Continue reading →

Lawyers for the veterans fought to get testimony from Dr. Michael J. Kussman, the under secretary for health at the V.A. Asked on the stand whether he was playing down the traumatic stress issue, Dr. Kussman said, “It is unfair … Continue reading →

May 1, 2008, San Francisco, CA – A federal court judge in San Francisco today heard closing arguments from lawyers disputing whether the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is providing adequate care for veterans with stress disorders, and whether the … Continue reading →