InsideWhat’s

President’sReport

3

GovernmentRelations Report

4

Service OfficersReport

5

Sports & Recreation

6

PVA News9

Washington Update

12

The NewsleTTer of The New eNglaNd ChapTer paralyzed VeTeraNs of ameriCaApril 2011 Vol. LXI, #4

a member ChapTer of The paralyzed VeTeraNs of ameriCa – CharTered by The CoNgress of The uNiTed sTaTes

CORD WORDCORD WORD

The President’s budget for

FY2012 provides approximately

$61.9 billion in discretionary

funding for the VA.

Following the release of the President’s

Budget Request for the Department of

Veterans Affairs (VA) on February 14,

the House and Senate Committees on Veterans’

Affairs conducted

their annual budget

hearings to consider

the Administration’s

budget

recommendations.

The House

Committee focused

its attention on

the VA’s identification of the $953 million

contingency fund and approximately $1.1 billion

in “management improvements” to support its

overall budget recommendation. Meanwhile,

both Senate VA Committee Chairman Patty

Murray (D-WA) and Ranking Member Richard

Burr (R-NC) expressed serious disappointment

with the VA’s failure to timely and appropriately

implement the caregiver provisions of P.L. 111-

163, the “Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus

Health Services Act.”

Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) and the

other co-authors of The Independent Budget—

AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans,

Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Veterans of

Foreign Wars—offered measured support for

the President’s proposed budget which provides

HOUSE AND SENATE VA COMMITTEES CONSIDER FY2012 BUDGET

an overall increase, even though it does not

meet the recommendations of the IB. However,

we expressed real concerns with some of the

proposed decreases in spending, particularly

for Medical

and Prosthetic

Research, the

Veterans Benefits

Administration, and

Major Construction.

Additionally, the

IB co-authors fully

supported the

frustrations raised by Senators Murray and Burr

regarding the VA’s implementation plan for the

new caregiver program.

The President’s budget for FY2012 provides

approximately $61.9 billion in discretionary

funding for the VA. The Administration’s

budget includes approximately $53.9 billion for

medical care programs for FY2012, an increase

of $2.3 billion over the FY2011 appropriated

level. The Independent Budget recommended

approximately $55.0 billion for medical care

programs. More importantly, the Budget

Request also includes advance appropriations

recommendations for FY2013. The President’s

budget includes $55.8 billion for medical care

programs for FY2013.

See page 12 for more Washington Update.

Cord Word April 2011

www.nepva.org

PARALYZED VETERANS of AMERICA

NEW ENGLAND CHAPTERNEPVA ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE

1600 PROVIDENCE HIGHWAY-SUITE 143WALPOLE, MA 02081

TEL: (508) 660-1181, 1-(800) 660-1181FAX: (508) 668-9412; e-mail: info@nepva.org

web: www.nepva.orgOffice Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00am-4:30pm

NEPVA OFFICERSPresident, Craig CascellaVice President, Debra FreedSecretary, Debra FreedTreasurer, Charles SchenaNational Director, Craig Cascella

EXECUTIVE BOARD John BrakoBrad CarlsonWalter FarringtonPeter Moore Wayne RossDustin SorokaJim WallackNeal Williams

NATIONAL SERVICE OFFICEPARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA

BOSTON VA REGIONAL OFFICEJ.F.K. FEDERAL BUILDING - Room - 1575 C

BOSTON, MA 02203TEL: (617) 303-1395 & 1-800-795-3607

Fax: (617) 723-7467

Sr. Benefits Advocate, Joseph E. BadzmierowskiSenior Secretary, Ann Marie Wallace

Cord Word is published twelve times a year by the New England Chapter Paralyzed Veterans of America, 1600 Providence Hwy., Suite 143, Walpole, MA 02081 in the interest of Chapter members. Membership in NEPVA entitles you to a free subscription to Cord Word. Articles published in Cord Word do not necessarily reflect the views of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, New England Chapter. NEPVA neither endorses nor guarantees any of the products or services advertised herein. Postmaster: send changes of address to NEPVA, 1600 Providence Hwy., Suite 143, Walpole, MA 02081

Monthly meetings are held every first Wednesday of the month at the NEPVA office in Walpole, Ma. The executive board meets at 10:30 a.m. Followed by the regular membership meeting at 1:00 p.m.

PROGRAM DIRECTORSDevelopment Director, Craig CascellaMembership Officer, Craig CascellaMS Liaison, John BrakoCommunity Outreach, Mike GuilbaultNEPVA Peer Mentor Rep., Mike GuilbaultScholarship Chairman, Craig CascellaSports Director, Brad CarlsonAssistant Sports Director, Mike GuilbaultBass Trail Liaison, Jim WallackWeb Master, Thomas DoddWomen Veterans’ Liaison, Debra FreedVolunteer Chairman, Judy Goldstein

Hospital Liaisons Brockton, MA VAMC, Craig CascellaWest Roxbury, MA VAMC, Craig CascellaNorthampton, MA VAMC, Tim KellyProvidence, RI VAMC, Craig CascellaManchester, NH VAMC, Walter Farrington West Haven, CT VAMC, Richard FranoWhite River Jct, VT VAMC, Al FentonTogus, ME VAMC, Neal Williams

STAFFCord Word Editor, Judy GoldsteinGovernment Relations Director, Debra FreedAdministrative Assistant, Judy GoldsteinBookkeeper, Jeri FarinellaCord Word Design, Harley Freedman

2

OUR

POPULAR

NINE MONTH

DRAWING

WILL BE HELD FROM

APRIL

TO

DECEMBER 2011

PVA NATIONAL SERVICE OFFICETOGUS, VARO, 1 VA CENTER

BLDG 248, ROOM 112AUGUSTA, ME 04330

Serving maine, new HampSHire and vermont

TEL:(207) 621-7394, FAX: (207) 621-4829TOLL FREE: 866-795-1911

National Service Officer II, John StansburySecretary, Wendy Glidden

IN REMEMBRANCE

We deeply regret the passing of our Chapter Member:

and extend our heartfelt sympathyto family and friends.

J.C. Burger

Cord Word

www.nepva.org

April 2011

3

by Craig C. Cascella

NEPVA PresidentPresident’s Report

continued on page �

Spring is here yet while typing this

report; I understand there was

once again more snow in Rhode

Island and the Northeast. Thankfully,

I am not there to be frustrated with the

additional snow. As I mentioned in last

month’s newsletter, I am in our Nation’s

Capital attending PVA’s Government

Relations Seminar and also PVA’s Mid-

Winter BOD Meeting. Also attending

the Seminar and assisting with meeting

our New England Congressional leaders’

aides are Government Relations Director

Debra Freed and BOD Members Neal

Williams and Dustin Soroka. I will have

a report regarding the Mid-Winter BOD

Meeting in our newsletter following com-

pletion of the said meeting. While Debra

will have a report regarding the Govern-

ment Relations Seminar, I will briefly

note some of the important discussion

topics we will be advocating.

PROTECTION OF THE DEPART-

MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

The Department of Veterans Affairs

(VA) is the best health care provider for

veterans. Providing primary care and

specialized health services is an integral

component of VA’s core mission and

responsibility to veterans. Across the na-

tion, VA is a model health care provider

that has led the way in various areas of

medical research, specialized services,

and health care technology.

Over the years, VA has earned a reputa-

tion as a leader in the medical field for

its quality of care and innovation in both

the health care and medical research

fields. However, even with VA’s advances

as a health care provider, political leaders

and policy makers continue to advocate

for VA enrollment restrictions, use of

vouchers, or increased fee basis care. Such

changes to the Veterans Health Admin-

istration (VHA) would result in moving

veterans from “veteran-specific” care

within VA and into the private health

care industry. Ultimately, these proposals

would lead to diminution of VA health

care services, and increased health care

costs in the federal budget. Despite these

recent calls for providing veterans with

vouchers for private care or the expansion

of fee basis care, PVA strongly believes

that VA remains the best option available

for veterans seeking health care services.

The Veteran’s Health Administration

(VHA) serves more than 8 million veter-

ans, and provides specialized health care

services that include program specific

centers for care in the areas of spinal cord

injury/disease, blind rehabilitation, trau-

matic brain injury, prosthetic services,

mental health, and war-related polytrau-

matic injuries. Such quality and expertise

on veterans’ health care cannot be ad-

equately duplicated in the private sector.

For decades, VA has provided services

and benefits to ensure that the unique

health care needs of veterans are ad-

equately provided for and that the quality

of those services is of the highest caliber

possible. Providing primary care and spe-

cialized health services is an integral com-

ponent of the Department of Veterans

Affairs’ core mission and responsibility to

veterans.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is

the best provider for veterans seeking

health care services because it provides a

broad continuum of quality specialized

services unique to

the needs of veter-

ans. The Depart-

ment of Veterans

Affairs and Con-

gress must reject

any proposals advo-

cating vouchers for

private care or the

expansion of fee basis care as such actions

will increase the costs of veterans’ health

care, weaken VA health care services, and

dilute the quality of “veteran-specific”

care.

FY 2012 VA

HEALTH CARE BUDGETLast year, the Administration recom-

mended an advance appropriation for

FY 2012 of approximately $50.6 billion

in discretionary funding for VA medi-

cal care. The House of Representatives

recently supported this recommendation

in H.R. 1, the “Continuing Resolution

for FY 2011.” When combined with the

$3.7 billion Administration projection

for medical care collections, the Congress

must ensure that sufficient funding is

provided to the Department of Veterans

Affairs health care system for FY 2012.

Congress must support advance appro-

priations funding recommendations that

will ensure sufficient, timely, and predict-

able funding for FY 2013. Congress must

appropriate $620 million for medical and

prosthetic research, $111 million more

than the Administration’s request.

INAPPROPRIATE BILLINGIn recent years, PVA has seen significant

increases in medical care collections

estimates as well as the actual dollars col-

Cord Word April 2011

www.nepva.org4

by Debra Freed

Government Relations Director

continued on page 8

Having used both VA

Healthcare and private

insurance, I’ll keep the

VA system and help

keep the Code Greens

out of the picture!

Government Relations

Code Green

There are four color codes cur-

rently used throughout the

Veterans Affairs Heathcare

System (VAHS). The most familiar is

of course Code Red meaning smoke

and/or fire and Code Blue meaning

someone is in cardiac distress. Yellow

means a patient is missing. And Green,

well Green means a patient has become

unruly, possibly combative, or even

dangerous to him/herself or others.

On February 24, I was almost a Code

Green. The previous three months held

exams, discussions of what to do, and

an offsite biopsy. After all was said and

done, it was determined the best avenue

was surgical intervention. Now a sur-

gery I had back in July went as smooth

as clockwork. What was supposed to

take three hours took nearly six so that

meant the person after me had to either

wait, or come again another time. I’m

not sharing to garner sympathy, it’s in

the dictionary. I am sharing because

the circumstances require it. The idea

here is to get people to tell others about

their experiences. It doesn’t matter if

the experience is really good, really bad,

or in between. People need to speak up

about issues such as these. However,

people also need to do it in a timely

manner, in a civil manner whether ver-

bally or in writing, and as detailed as

possible – mine was in writing and five

pages long.

I had been told during pre-op I was first

and should arrive by 6:30a. Not quite!

I also knew that I was scheduled for a

Nuclear Medicine test but I hadn’t real-

ized it was separate from the surgery. A

sidebar comment if I may, when asked

to do any type of monthly physical

exam on yourself, don’t blow it off like

I used to. There are valid reasons to

do the exam. As the Nike slogan says:

“Just Do it!” Do it! Do it right! If you

aren’t sure how, ask! The second item:

although I wasn’t thrilled with getting

injected with radioactive material, it was

worth it. This

type of exam can

save a patient

from losing more

of their anatomy

than is truly

necessary. One

reason Congress

wants to close

the Health-

care section is

because of the costs. By finding prob-

lems early, more than money or time

can be spared.

One of the primary sources for my near

Code Green was the lack of or perceived

lack of communication. Upon arrival

on the 24th, I learned my surgery was

after the Nuclear Medicine test. I would

go in around 1:30p. After the test, we

would learn it would be delayed due to

a longer running surgery or something

to that effect. By 4pm, the surgeon

scheduled to perform my surgery came

in and explained the current delay and

said maybe by 6. Mind you, no food or

water since midnight the night before!

Ok! Long story short, it was after 8pm

when a surgical team would fetch me.

The surgery lasted

till after 1 a.m. the

next morning. If

it were not for my

sister and partner,

you best believe

I would prob-

ably have screwed myself out of having

surgery that day or any day in the

near future because of a Code Green.

Plus that awful,

awful Nuclear

Medicine test

would have to be

repeated.

Until it happens

to you, it’s easy

to ignore delays

for other people.

It didn’t dawn on

me after my July surgery that this was

a problem let alone a chronic one. I was

the lucky one then! When I was writing

to the Associate Medical Center Direc-

tor, Dr. Susan MacKenzie of the Boston

VA Healthcare System, I made sure

I added the July surgery not because

it was bad, not for me, but it was bad

for someone else. Why not go through

Patient Advocacy? Patient Advocacy is

very good and perhaps I would have if I

didn’t believe timing was and is every-

thing. Dr. MacKenzie called when she

got the letter and we agreed to speak

before I went to D.C. Dr. MacKenzie

called me back on March 16th. We

spent 40 minutes on the telephone

discussing the letter and two other

Cord Word

www.nepva.org

April 2011

5

Service Officer’s Report By Thomas Ricks, Senior National Service Officer, Newark, NJ

The Department of Veterans

Affairs Individual Unem-

ployability (IU) program is a

tremendous benefit to many veterans

who are not able to work due to their

severe or chronic service connected dis-

abilities. For example, let’s say a veteran

came to the office and informed us he

was 60% service connected for PTSD.

The veteran stated he recently received

the rating based on a current medi-

cal examination. The veteran wanted

to know if there was a way to receive

more than 60% compensation for the

unfortunate disability the veteran has,

furthermore; due to the condition, the

veteran is unable to work and is having

trouble paying bills, getting groceries or

even traveling to make appointments.

He is in a very bad financial state.

The veteran could appeal the rating

but there is another way. If he meets

the criteria, he could file for Individual

Unemployability (IU), a benefit that

can be provided and help to relieve the

financial burden the veteran may have

in making ends meet. IU is authorized

by federal regulation 38 CFR 3.340,

and IU allows VA to grant a total dis-

ability rating (100%) even though a

veteran’s rating percentage is less than

100%. The regulation (“Total disabil-

ity will be considered to exist when

there is present any impairment of

mind or body that is sufficient to

render it impossible for the average

person to follow a substantially gain-

ful occupation”).

To qualify the veteran must have a

single disability of 60% or higher or

two or more disabilities, one of which

must be 40% or more which results in a

combined rating of 70% or more. There

is also the

official

policy

of the

Depart-

ment of

Veterans

Affairs that

all veter-

ans who

are unable

to secure

and follow

gainful

occupa-

tion by

reason of

service connected disabilities shall be

rated totally disabled under federal

regulation 38 CFR 4.16(b). This rating

awards compensation at the 100% rate;

this is the same amount that would

be received for an actual 100% rating.

The main point here is that the service

connected disability must prevent the

veteran from obtaining and sustaining

gainful employment. The veteran must

be unable to work other than prescribed

therapeutic and or incentive therapy

provided by the Department of Veter-

ans Affairs.

If the veteran is in the IU program

he would become ineligible if he par-

ticipated in any form of employment,

however; in receipt of IU if the veteran

returned to

work he may

continue to

receive ben-

efits under

IU for 12

months after

employ-

ment begins

under federal

regulation

38 CFR

3.343(c)(2).

The IU

rating also

can be over-

turned if

fraud is proven, working under the table

while receiving IU benefits would be

considered fraudulent and illegal.

If there is a question about a VA ben-

efit or potential benefit you may be

entitled to, the best source of infor-

mation is your PVA National Service

Officer. Contact Thomas Ricks, Senior

National Service Officer, State of New

Jersey at (973) 297-3228 or the PVA

Veterans Benefits Department, 800-

424-8200/ www.pva.org.

INDIVIDUAL UNEMPLOYABILITY (IU)

There is also the official

policy of the Department

of Veterans Affairs that all

veterans who are unable

to secure and follow gain-

ful occupation by reason of

service connected disabilities

shall be rated totally disabled

under federal regulation 38…

Cord Word April 2011

www.nepva.org6

Sports & Recreation by Brad Carlson Sports Director

Attention NEPVA Life MembersNEPVA Policy

Regarding Funding for Sports Events

Limited funds are available for partial spon-

sorship of life members when they attend

certain sports events. You must notify

NEPVA of your desire to attend an event before

the event. Reimbursement may be given for only

half of your hotel room cost after you attend the

event. When you return from the event, your

receipts must be presented to the NEPVA office

within 30 days from the last day of the event- no

exceptions. *Original or faxed copies of receipts

are acceptable.

The following events may be funded (upon

approval by NEPVA):

• New England Winter Sports

Clinic at Mt. Sunapee

• New England Summer Sports

Clinic at Mt. Sunapee

• National Veterans Wheelchair

Games

• Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass,

Colorado

• Bowling tournaments - one

regional and one national only

You may be eligible to receive funding for either

the National Veterans Wheelchair Games or the

Winter Sports Clinic in Colorado, not both.

The above may be a slight alteration from past

NEPVA policy, but it affords the possibility of

maximum participation.

*This policy may be changed by NEPVA at any

time without prior notice.

Attention Anglers & Fishing Tackle Retailers

2012 is Time to Get the Lead Out!

As of January 1, 2012, it will be illegal to use lead sinkers

and lead jigs weighing less than 1 ounce in Massachusetts’

freshwater lakes, ponds, rivers and streams. Ingestion of

lead sinkers or jigs has killed loons in New England.

What You Can Do: Anglers: Use non-lead sinkers and jigs. It will be the law

in 2012.

Sporting goods stores: Stock non-lead fishing tackle

alternatives.

Spread the word about the new law. Tell other anglers and

retailers about the problem with lead and loons.

For More Information:

www.mass.gov/masswildlife

April 23 Congamond Lake, Southwick, Ma.

May 21 Point Sebago Resort, Sebago Lake, Maine

June 11 Charles River Boston, MA.

July 23 Slatersville Res @ the Island Club, Smithfield, RI.

August 20 Lake St. Catherine, Wells, Vermont

Sept. 10 & 11 Lake Winnipesaukee, Camp Robindel Moultonborough, NH & TOC Sept. 16–18 National PVA Bass Tournament Lake Winnipesaukee, Camp Robindel Moultonborough, NH

Any questions may be directed to:

Tiny LaFontaine(H) 781-935-2480 (C) 978-479-8147

Jim Marino (H) 978-365-3112 (C) 508-523-5668

Call Jim for Reservations if staying @ Point Sebago Resort…

Bob Soupy Campbell (H) 781-935-2266

See www.nepva.org for other bass trail info or to sign up.

2011 NEPVA Bass Trail Schedule

Cord Word

www.nepva.org

April 2011

7

President’s Reportcontinued from page 3

lected by the Department of Veterans Af-

fairs (VA). We have received an increasing

number of reports from veterans who are

being inappropriately billed by the Vet-

erans Health Administration (VHA) for

their care. Moreover, this is not a problem

being experienced by just service- con-

nected disabled veterans, but non-service

connected disabled veterans as well.

Inappropriate charges for VA medical ser-

vices places unnecessary financial stress

on individual veterans and their families.

These inaccurate charges are not easily

remedied and their occurrence places the

burden for correction directly on the vet-

eran, their families or caregivers.

PVA is asking that the VA Under Secre-

tary for Health should establish policies

and monitor compliance to prevent veter-

ans from being billed for service-connect-

ed conditions and secondary symptoms

or conditions that are related to a service-

connected disability.

Congress should enact legislation that ex-

empts veterans who are service-connected

with permanent and total disability rat-

ings from being subjected to first- or

third-party billing from treatment of any

condition.

DEFEND SOCIAL SECURITYIn December of 2010, the National Com-

mission on Fiscal Responsibility and

Reform issued a set of recommendations

for addressing the nation’s massive federal

budget deficit. Among those recommen-

dations were changes to Social Security,

including increases in the early and full

retirement ages, modifications to lower

cost-of-living-adjustments [COLAs] and

revisions in the benefit formula that

would gradually erode the link between a

worker’s wages and benefits received. As

the deficit debate takes on greater urgen-

cy, many in Congress are pointing to cuts

in Social Security such as those outlined

by this commission and other deficit re-

duction plans as a necessary component

of fiscal reform.

Often ignored in these discussions of

Social Security reform is the harmful ef-

fect many suggested changes would have

on people with disabilities who rely on

its disability insurance program. Because

retirement, disability and survivor ben-

efits are all based on the same formula,

changes to that formula or to measures

used to set COLAs will directly affect

those receiving Social Security disability

insurance [SSDI]. Additionally, increas-

ing the retirement age will put pressure

on the SSDI program.

While it is critical that order be restored

to this country’s financial circumstances,

Social Security should not be part of that

process. Social Security did not contrib-

ute to the deficit. Because Social Security

benefits are a vital source of support for

almost all our members, PVA urges Con-

gress to protect Social Security against

rash actions that will result in long-term

damage to the millions of elderly, sur-

vivors and people with disabilities who

depend on this social insurance program.

PVA calls on Congress to reject calls to

include Social Security in discussions of

deficit reduction and asks members of the

Senate to join the Defend Social Security

Caucus and support the Social Security

Protection Act.

LIFESPAN RESPITE

CARE AND FUNDINGPVA’s members are honorably discharged

veterans with spinal cord injury and/or

dysfunction. Virtually all use wheelchairs

and many need assistance with activi-

ties of daily living – generally provided

by family members. Family caregivers

in the U.S. provide almost $375 billion

in uncompensated services. They are

the backbone of the nation’s long term

care system, and cite respite care as one

of their most pressing needs. Though

the Department of Veterans Affairs pro-

vides respite services to eligible veterans

in DVA medical facilities, only 15% of

family caregivers take advantage of the

program. Many more would likely take

advantage of respite services were they

provided in the home.

The pattern of gross under-appropriation

severely limits the ability of the Lifespan

Respite program to achieve its stated goal

to “assist family caregivers in accessing af-

fordable and high-quality respite care.”

PVA asks Congress to appropriate $50

million to fund the Lifespan Respite Care

program and support its reauthoriza-

tion in 2012. With adequate funding,

states can establish programs to recruit

and train respite providers and provide

planned and emergency respite for family

caregivers. This is the most urgent need

of personal caregivers.

As always, feel free to visit NEPVA’s web

site (www.nepva.org), PVA’s web site

(www.pva.org), and the VA’s web site

(www.va.gov) for up to date and recent

news. If you have any questions, com-

ments, or concerns please contact our of-

fice or your local NSO.

Cord Word April 2011

www.nepva.org8

continued from page 4Gov. Relations

important issues that affect all patients. There are probably a

thousand more issues but for now, we discussed these three.

The second issue concerned medical records and who has

access, how they are accessed, why mental health records

cannot be kept separate, and whether VA staff are trained

on what they should and should not do. I wrote that on my

survey for Spinal Cord Injury and Ms. Pat McCallum, the

Administrative Officer assured me that Dr. Sabharwal would

remind staff, and did remind staff at the 3.17 meeting, that

although many may have full access to a patient’s records,

people were to view and/or take only the information they

needed to perform their duties.

The third and final matter concerned Mammography. There

is not a woman alive and even some men who loathe just the

idea let alone actually having a mammogram. There are many

areas around New England that don’t have in-house mam-

mography because the “numbers” don’t warrant it. The biopsy

I needed had to be done by a civilian provider. However,

the Boston area may soon lose Mammography not because

they don’t have the technologists or the physicians but again

because of the numbers. Or, if they don’t lose it altogether,

they may not be able to expand it as I had heard.

Keep in mind four Chapter members went to Washington

DC the last full week of March as part of PVA’s Annual

Advocacy/Legislative Seminar. One of the position papers

concerned Protecting the VA. Is it worth protecting? With

issues such as these, should we continue to promote the VA,

the people who work there, the services that are offered? For

my part, I would answer yes! I don’t advocate going to the

“top” all the time but I deemed it necessary for this. Is the

VA perfect? NO! But show me a healthcare system that is! By

working together on issues, small and big, we can make the

VA better than any other healthcare institution. We can get

Congress to understand why the VAHS system works and

should not be dismantled. Having used both VA Healthcare

and private insurance, I’ll keep the VA system and help keep

the Code Greens out of the picture!

2011 National Veterans Day Poster and Essay Contest

It is with great pleasure that we announce Paralyzed Vet-

erans of America’s eighth annual National Veterans Day

Poster and Essay Contest.

The theme for this year’s contest is:

America’s Veterans: Our Heroes of the

Past, Present, and Future

The contest is open and all entries must be received by Sep-

tember 30, 2011. This deadline will allow time for the entries

to be judged and winners chosen to attend Paralyzed Veterans

of America’s Veterans Day celebrations in Washington, DC.

This year the contest will consist of a poster contest for 1st

– 4th graders and an essay contest for 5th – 8th graders. The

final winner of the poster contest and the essay contest will

receive an all-expense paid trip for him/her and one family

member to Washington, DC, to participate in Paralyzed Vet-

erans of America’s Veterans Day 2011 ceremonies. The win-

ning results will also be featured in PN.

This contest is a great way for kids to learn about veterans

and the sacrifices they have made by giving them a creative

outlet to express their gratitude for the service of others.

Please spread the word about our contest to your local

schools, scouts, boys and girls clubs, church groups, families,

friends, and others whom you think would be interested in

participating.

If you have any questions, please e-mail at evelynr@pva.org.

Cord Word

www.nepva.org

April 2011

9continued on page 11

PVA News

Four of the nation’s leading vet-

erans service organizations are

urging the Administration and

Congress to invest $65.3 billion to suf-

ficiently meet veterans health-care and

veterans benefits needs. For the Depart-

ment of Veterans Affairs, the admin-

istration has proposed $61.9 billion in

discretionary spending for fiscal year

2012. The budget proposal now goes to

Congress for consideration.

The recommendation is contained in

The Independent Budget (IB) at www.

independentbudget.org — an annual

comprehensive budget and policy

document, by veterans for veterans. In

its 25th year, the IB is coauthored by

AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans

(DAV), Paralyzed Veterans of America

(Paralyzed Veterans), and Veterans of

Foreign Wars (VFW).

In light of the country’s current fiscal

circumstances, the coauthors are pleased

that the President’s proposed budget has

given veterans an overall increase—even

though it does not meet the overall

figure recommended in the IB. The

organizations, however, have concerns

regarding reductions in the key areas

of medical and prosthetic research, and

construction, as well as unspecified effi-

ciencies.

The Independent Budget recommends

$55 billion for health care, $620 mil-

lion for medical and prosthetic research,

$2.3 billion for benefits processing and

$2.8 billion for major and minor con-

struction.

“Our nation is at a crossroads, and we

have many difficult decisions ahead of

us. So now more than ever we must

continue to recognize the needs of our

returning veterans as a top national pri-

ority and

a moral

impera-

tive,” said

AMVETS

National

Com-

mander

Jerry

Hotop.

“Full

implemen-

tation of

The Inde-

pendent Budget recommendations will

ensure the sufficient and timely funding

of VA, which is crucial to delivering

the health care and benefits each of

our veterans has earned through their

sustained sacrifices. The honorable and

selfless service of our American heroes

deserves no less.”

Recommended improvements include

better use of electronic information

systems to speed up claims processing.

Given the significant difficulties facing

many veterans and their families as a

result of the current economy, rapid

approval of their benefits will provide

much-needed help to deal with the

hardships associated with unemploy-

ment and loss of health insurance.

“Our government is honor-bound to

provide the resources that will guar-

antee timely, accurate decisions on

disability compensation claims and all

funding necessary to ensure prompt

access to a

full range

of top-qual-

ity health

care for our

nation’s

veterans,”

said DAV

National

Commander

Wallace E.

Tyson. “The

recommenda-

tions in The

Independent Budget are the result of a

comprehensive, needs-based assessment

of what it will take to meet the moral

obligation to those who have served and

sacrificed for our country and ideals.”

As our nation faces a volatile economic

recovery, the IB recommends that Con-

gress appropriate sufficient funding to

address the full scope of medical care

and benefits delivery.

“We urge the Administration and

Congress to adopt all of The Indepen-

dent Budget’s recommendations. Our

nation’s veterans have served, sacrificed

Independent Budget Urges $65.3 Billion Investment in Veterans Health Care and Benefit

Our nation’s veterans have

served, sacrificed and paid

in full for their benefits and

health care. Our government

leaders must do the right

thing for those who make

our freedoms possible.’

‘

Bill Lawson, National President of Paralyzed Veterans of America.

Cord Word April 2011

www.nepva.org10

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PVA EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

PurposeThe purpose of the PVA Educational Scholarship Program is

to provide assistance to PVA members and members of their

immediate family to meet their educational goals.

The 2011-2012 scholarships will be in the amount of $1,000

for full-time students and $500.00 for part-time students for

an academic year. The scholarship awardees’ will be required

to verify their status as a full-time or part-time student in an

accredited college or university.

EligibilityThe scholarship program is open to all PVA members, their

spouses and unmarried children under age twenty-four

(24) and who are dependent (as defined by the IRS) on the

member for principal support.

Submission ProcessIndividuals who wish to apply for the program can

download the application at http://www.pva.org/site/

c.ajIRK9NJLcJ2E/b.6305559/k.FBA1/Scholarship_Program.

htm or send a request to Paralyzed Veterans of America,

Attn. Scholarship Program, 801 Eighteenth Street, NW,

Washington, D.C. 20006, Phone (800) 424-8200 Ext. 775

or 776, or via e-mail douglasb@pva.org or christih@pva.

org . An application packet will be returned to the requestor

for completion. Completed applications MUST be returned

to PVA in six copies NO LATER THAN June 17, 2011.

Accompanying documents will include an official transcript

or official completion certificate or diploma for EACH school

listed in the application.

A personal statement must be attached to the application and

may not exceed two pages. The statement should contain

intended courses of study and long and short-term goals. A

copy of the personal statement must be attached to each of

the six copies submitted.

A letter of recommendation from a faculty member or other

school official should accompany the application. Letters

should be forwarded directly to PVA for inclusion with the

application.

Cord Word

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April 2011

11

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freedom.freedom.

continued from page 9

and paid in full for their benefits and health care. Our gov-

ernment leaders must do the right thing for those who make

our freedoms possible,” said Bill Lawson, national president

of Paralyzed Veterans of America.

For the past 25 years, The Independent Budget has been a

blueprint for the resource requirements for VA. It has served

as a voice of advocacy for America’s veterans by providing

the White House and Congress with a roadmap for fund-

ing the Department of Veterans Affairs. At no time in our

history has the need of the returning veteran been so great,

the service of VA so critical and the recommendations of the

IB so relevant as they are today. Full implementation of the

IB recommendations will ensure the sufficient funding so

crucial to delivering the health care and other benefits our

veterans have earned.

“A nation that creates veterans has a sacred responsibility

to care for them when they return home wounded and dis-

abled,” said Richard L. Eubank, national commander of the

2.1 million member Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S.

and its Auxiliaries. “We look forward to working with the

Administration and Congress to keep that promise.”

Health Care and Benefit

Cord Word April 2011

www.nepva.org12

Washington Update Produced by PVAGovernment Relations Department

See www.nepva.org for more PVA OUTLINES LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES TO NEW MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

PVA’s Government Relations Department has been progressively meeting

with all new and returning members of Congress and their staffs to

outline and discuss PVA’s top legislative priorities. We continue to work on issues

important to our members, veterans with spinal cord injury or dysfunction, specifi-

cally, and to all veterans. Our top five priorities for the first session of the 112th

Congress are:

• Ensuring adequate funding is provided for the Department of Veterans

Affairs for FY 2012 to include ensuring that necessary funding is included

for full implementation of P.L. 111-163, the “Caregivers and Veterans Omni

bus Health Services Act of 2010.” Additionally, we will work with the

Administration, Congress, and the Government Accountability Office

(GAO) to follow through on the requirements for advance appropriations for

VA health care for FY 2013, specifically to ensure that GAO finally provides

the detailed analysis that is required of the President’s Budget Request.

• Improvements to the claims process that will ensure that veterans receive

the compensation and ancillary benefits that they have earned in a more

timely manner.

• Addressing the ongoing problems with inappropriate bill-

ing by the Veterans Health Administration, to include

eliminating all billing for veterans rated with a permanent

and total disability.

• Improve benefits for the most severely disabled veterans,

specifically addressing the needs of severely disabled veter-

` ans who are in receipt of Special Monthly Compensation

and Aid and Attendance benefits.

• Working to refine and update current VA human

resources policies and procedures, specifically in the

areas of personnel recruitment and retention programs,

employee education and training, and overall workforce

succession planning to ensure proper and timely delivery

of VA services to veterans.

Good News for Veterans

In addition to the legislative priorities,

we continue to emphasize the need

to protect the VA health-care system.

With growing pressure to allow veter-

ans to have health-care options outside

of the VA (vouchers, contracting, etc.),

we must remain vigilant to ensure

that the VA remains at the forefront of

heath-care delivery. We are also educat-

ing members of Congress about PVA’s

Vocational Rehabilitation Program and

our newly launched Mission: ABLE

Campaign. We are encouraging mem-

bers to attend PVA’s Annual Golf Open

where all proceeds will benefit our

Vocational Rehabilitation Program.

Cord Word

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April 2011

13

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On January 19-20, the Depart-

ment of Transportation

sponsored a disability forum

on the Air Carrier Access Act for air

carriers and

people with dis-

abilities. PVA

staff presented

on the opening

panel, explain-

ing ongoing problems for passengers

who use wheelchairs. The primary focus

was on appropriate seating options,

treatment of wheelchairs checked as

baggage, and lack of onboard bath-

rooms. Other panelists spoke of lack of

communication for the deaf and hard of

hearing, problems for passengers with

service animals, and major issues for

passengers with cognitive impairments,

e.g., autism or dementia.

Over 200 people attended, includ-

ing a wide variety of foreign carriers.

(Foreign carriers must comply with the

ACAA on flights to/from the United

States.) Two

airlines from

the Middle

East men-

tioned that

approximately

30-40 wheelchair users are on each

flight – meaning that number of people

use wheelchair assistance to get to the

plane. On one of those carriers, those

passengers refuse to get out of the

carrier’s wheelchairs until they board

the plane. The carrier representative

was surprised during the ACAA train-

ing to find that passengers from other

countries would rather act without staff

assistance where possible.

For the most part, most foreign carriers

found the ACAA posed few problems.

In fact, the European Union (EU)

representative stated that they have uni-

form training and complaint process-

ing for all the European carriers; they

found that the requirements of the EU

were about the same and in some cases

more stringent than the ACAA.

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Cord Word April 2011

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Cord Word

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April 2011

15

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage

PAID

Leominster, MA

Permit No. 17

New England PVA1600 Providence Highway, Suite 143Walpole, MA 02081

tel: 508 660-1181 800 660-1181fax: 508 668-9412

Email: info@nepva.org

Office Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00am-4:30pm

20th Annual Sebastian DeFrancesco NEPVA Golf Tournament

May 31, 2011(the day after Memorial Day)

Blue Hill Country Club Canton, MA

Call the NEPVA office for further information.

NEPVA Now Accepts Vehicle Donations

Please Donate that Auto, Boat, or RV that’s No Longer Needed to New England PVA.

NEPVA is currently accepting vehicle donations from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and

New Hampshire. For further information, call Toll Free: (866) 2-GIVING or (866) 244-

8464, or visit the NEPVA website: www.nepva.org

Call Toll Free: (866) 2-GIVING to Donate