U.S. Department of Veterans...

US Department of Veterans Affairs

Independence Day 2015

Congressional Information Packet

Table of Contents

I Independence Day 2015

II VASummerofService

III VArsquos Complete Access to Care

IV Veteranrsquos Choice Program

V Reaching Milestones

VI VA Innovation Creation Series

VII MyVA

VIII VA Adaptive Sports

IX Making Progress

X Important Phone Numbers - Quick Reference Card

XI Veterans Health Administration - Snapshot

XII Veterans Benefits Administration - Snapshot

XIII National Cemetery Administration - Snapshot

On this day in 1776 the Continental Congress approved the Declaration

of Independence setting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a

sovereign nation As always this most American of holidays will be

marked with red white and blue flags fireworks parades and backyard

barbecues across the country

FLAG LAWS AND REGULATIONS

The laws relating to the flag of the United States of America are found in detail in the United

States Code Title 4 Chapter 1 pertains to the flag and seal seat of Government and the

States Title 18 Chapter 33 pertains to crimes and criminal procedures Title 36 Chapter 10

pertains to patriotic customs and observances These laws were supplemented by Executive

Orders and Presidential Proclamations

Title 36 Chapter 10 PATRIOTIC CUSTOMS

sect171 National anthem Star-Spangled Banner conduct during playing

During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed all present except those

in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart Men

not in uniform should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left

shoulder the hand being over the heart Persons in uniform should render the military

salute at the first note of the anthem and retain this position until the last note When the

flag is not displayed those present should face toward the music and act in the same

manner they would if the flag were displayed there

Note As of 2008 Veterans and active-duty military not in uniform are authorized to

render the military-style hand salute during the playing of the national anthem


I Source httpwwwusagov

This summer VA is renewing our

commitment to Americarsquos Veterans and

wersquore asking for everyonersquos help in

honoring that commitmentmdashwersquore calling

it the VA Summer of Service

VA is critical to the Nationrsquos Veterans and

to American medicine We have over

1000 clinics and 300 Vet Centers and

mobile clinics all networked to one of

our 152 VA Medical Centers that are

affiliated with some of the best medical

schools in the nation We are rebuilding trust with Veterans and other Stakeholders improving service

delivery focusing on Veteran outcomes and setting the course for longer-term excellence and reform

There is more work to do to serve Veterans and we need your help VA cannot fulfill this commitment

without our dedicated volunteers and community partners from the public and private sector We invite

you to partner with us during this summer of servicemdashto give back to those who have given

so much to our nation Community by community state by state we will work together to better serve

Veterans in a surge of action on their behalf

WHAT WILL YOU DO

PLEDGE THE GIFT OF TIME TO SERVE VETERANS

Visit wwwvolunteervagov to find out what your local VA facility needs from volunteers

Reach out to your local VA medical facility or National Cemetery to find out what you can do to help

Get the word out by sharing our latest video httpsyoutubeid-6kHR-fHs

Check out VASummerOfService on Vantage Point Twitter Facebook and Instagram and

join VA in caring for Americarsquos Veterans

Find even more information here httpwwwblogsvagovVAntage20215va-summer-

of-service-renewing-our-commitment-to-americas-veterans

II

COME JOIN US IN

SERVING VETERANS

III

IV

Reaching Milestones

V

VA REACHES MAJOR MILESTONES TOWARD ELIMINATING THE BACKLOG

The VA Innovation Creation Series aims to accelerate the development of personalized technologies to

improve care and quality of life for Veterans Through the launch of VArsquos Innovation Creation Series for

Prosthetics and Assistive Technologies VA invites all designers engineers and problem solvers alike to

help us find creative ways to solve these challenges

GOALS

1 Improve patient care and quality of life for our Veterans and their supporters

2 Create an open ecosystem of designs of prosthetics + assistive technologies

3 Demonstrate the value of rapid prototyping and co-creation to develop personalized

technologies for Veterans and infuse practices into everyday healthcare processes

4 Spread awareness of VAs prosthetics + assistive technologies capabilities

TIMELINE

radic May 15 2015 Innovation Creation series launched at Palo Alto VA Medical Center

MaymdashJuly 2015 Online open innovation challenge -

httpwwwinnovationvagovchallenge

July 28-29 2015 Make-a-Thon Finale at the Richmond VA Medical Center

EXAMPLES OF CHALLENGES

Create a medication pill box that allows the flexibility to hold medications that need to be taken

up to 8 times a day with a reminder system for each time medication needs to be taken

Design a device to remotely change the speed and grip strength of a prosthetic device for our

Veterans with upper extremity injuries

The VA Innovation Creation Series will culminate in a 2-day make-a-thon event at the Richmond VA

Medical Center where the online designs will be built and tested to showcase how they meet the needs of

Veterans

For more information httpwwwinnovationvagovchallenge

VA Innovation Creation Series

VI

VII

MyVA is about

Improving the Veterans Experience

Improving the Employee Experience by focusing on people amp culture

Achieving Support Service Excellence

Establishing a culture of continuous Performance Improvement

Enhancing Strategic Partnerships

A brief update on our progress

MyVA Advisory Committee a group of 14 experts in business medicine and Veteran advocacy

met in Washington DC to discuss the Departmentrsquos Veteran-centric initiatives

First MyVA Community - MyVA Connecticut - held its inaugural community board meeting on May

28 2015

Hired Chief Veterans Experience Officer Tom Allin

Launched the Veterans Economic Communities Initiative (VECI) in May 2015 Through VECI

VA will increase community partnership opportunities to improve education and employment for

Veterans and their families

Partnered with the Rolling Thunder Run over Memorial Day in Washington DC to promote VA services

to Veterans Servicemembers and their families A VA Mobile Vet Center was on site at the race to

provide information to attendees

Created a partnership with NASCAR to bring greater access and awareness to Veterans directly in

their communities

Initiated VArsquos Mental Health partnership with Give an Hour trade to proactively share training

materials with community mental health providers

VA Adaptive Sports

National Disabled Veterans

Winter Sport Clinic

Snowmass Colorado

March 29-April 3

Valor GamesmdashSoutheast

Durham North Carolina

May 18-21

Valor GamesmdashFar West

San Francisco California

May 29-June1

National Wheelchair Games

Dallas Texas

June 21-26

Warrior Games

Quantico Virginia

June 19-29

National Veterans Golden Age Games

Omaha Nebraska

August 8-12

Valor GamesmdashMid West

Chicago Illinois

August 18-20

National Veterans Tee Tournament

Iowa City Iowa

September 7-10

National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic

San Diego California

September 13-18

Valor GamesmdashSouthwest

San Antonio Texas

September 21-23

National Veterans Creative Arts Festival


October 12-18

2015 NATIONAL EVENTS SCHEDULE

VArsquos Office of National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Eventsrsquo (NVSPampSE) provides opportunities

for disabled Veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces to participate in rehabilitative sport and art

therapy programs Veterans may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injuries others have

lost limb(s) or mobility or have become blind or visually impaired while some deal with a combination of injuries or

conditions

As the therapeutic and competitive sport needs of disabled Veterans and wounded Servicemembers become more

defined there is an equally increasing need to promote and highlight the benefits of participating or competing in

adaptive sports and the importance of providing those opportunities VA supports the wellness of Veterans and

Servicemembers with disabilities and promotes their participation in adaptive sports as a means toward living

healthier happier and more productive lives

Veterans of all ages can participate in NVSPampSE events ndash from those returning from the battlefields of Iraq and

Afghanistan to those who served in World War II Korea and Vietnam

For more information go to wwwvagovadaptivesports

VIII

VA Making Progress

IX

Caring for our Nationrsquos Veterans their Survivors and dependents continues to be the guiding mission of

VA Under the leadership of Secretary Bob McDonald and Deputy Secretary Sloan Gibson VA has charted

a path forward and made significant progress to enhance our health care system improve service delivery

and set the course for long-term reform

ENDING THE CLAIMS BACKLOG

The claims backlog has been reduced from a peak of 611000 in March 2013 to 132360 as of

June 22 2015 a 78 reduction in 27 months

Claim-level accuracy increased from 83 in 2011 to 91 - issue-level accuracy is 96

VA completed a record-breaking 132 million claims in fiscal year 2014

Veterans are waiting on average 162 days less for a claim decision compared to March 2013

peak

LEADING THE WAY IN REDUCING DRUG-RESISTANT HEALTH CARE-ASSOCIATED

INFECTIONS

Health care-associated infections or HAIs pose a major risk to patient safety and hospital

systems across the country are striving to prevent them

A recent article in The New York Times noted that in comparison to other hospital systems

VA is making great strides in reducing one of the most significant causes of HAIsmdashmethicillin-

resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA

Within five years health-care associated MRSA infections declined 69 percent in VA acute care

facilities 81 percent in Spinal Cord Injury units and 36 percent in Community Living Centers

The VA MRSA Prevention Initiative has been expanded to focus on other multiple drug-

resistant organisms that threaten our Veterans

EXPANDING ACCESS TO CARE

Nationally VA completed more than 518 million appointments between June 1 2014 and

April 30 2015 This represents an increase of 27 million more appointments than were

completed during the same time period in 20132014

In April 2015 VA completed 97 percent of appointments within 30 days of the clinically indicated or Veteranrsquos preferred date 93 within 14 days 88 within 7 days and 22 are completed on the same day

VA has completed 12 million same-day appointments which is 20 percent of VArsquos total

appointments per year

PROVIDING MORE CARE IN THE COMMUNITY

VA made over 26 million authorizations for Veterans to receive care in the private sector from May 1 2014 through March 31 2015 This represents a 44 percent increase in authorizations when compared to the same period in the previous year

Over 1 million appointments are completed per month through doctors and clinics in the community which represents nearly 20 percent of total appointments

VA established the Patient Centered Community Program (PC3) to increase access to health care in the community

VA extended the Project Access Received Closer to Home (Project ARCH) pilot program to continue to expand access to health care for eligible Veterans in rural areas

RECRUITING AND HIRING HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

VA has increased salaries for physicians and dentists to close the pay gap with the private sector

and to make VA an employer of choice

VA has increased recruiting and hiring of health professionals bringing on more than

38000 new employees over the last 10 months with a net increase of over 11000 medical

professionals

Of the 11000 net new employees VA hired 1000 physicians 3000 nurses and 2000

medical assistants

IMPACTING MILLIONS THROUGH VA RESEARCH

VA Research and Development plays a pivotal role in improving the health status of

Veterans The advances in health care developed by VA research not only benefit Veterans but

millions of other Americans and patients worldwide

During fiscal year 2015 nearly 3400 VA researchers will work on more than 2200 projects with

funding of more than $18 billion

REDUCING THE NUMBER OF HOMELESS VETERANS

VA together with federal state and local partners reduced the estimated number of

homeless Veterans by 33 percent as noted in the Department of Housing and Urban

Development (HUD) 2014 Point-in-Time (PIT) Estimate of Homelessness

Through the homeless Veterans initiative VA committed more than $1 billion in 2014 to

strengthen programs that prevent and end homelessness among Veterans

In FY 2014 alone VA provided services to more than 260000 homeless or at-risk Veterans in

VHArsquos homeless programs Not all Veterans required an intensive homeless program

intervention but for those that did over 72500 Veterans were either placed in permanent

housing or prevented from becoming homeless

VA Making Progress (Continued)

IMPROVING HEALTHCARE SERVICES FOR WOMEN VETERANS

VA has enhanced provision of care to women Veterans by focusing on the goal of developing

Designated Womenrsquos Health Providers (DWHP) VA has trained over 2000 providers in

womenrsquos health and is in the process of training additional providers to ensure that women

Veterans have the opportunity to receive primary care from a DWHP

VA now operates a Women Veterans Call Center (WVCC) to let women Veterans know about

the services for which they may be eligible As of March 2015 WVCC received over 20000

incoming calls and made over 162000 successful outbound calls

VA accomplished its goal of expanding eligibility for Veterans in need of mental health care

due to military sexual trauma (MST) experiences of sexual assault or sexual harassment that

occurred during military service All MST-related health care is provided free with no need for the

Veteran to file a disability claim

INCREASING PATIENT SAFETY amp REDUCING PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE

VA strives to address the challenge of managing patientsrsquo chronic pain and has a comprehensive

program focused on identifying and expanding the use of best practices across VA that include the

safe well-managed use of opioids and complementary and integrative medicine

The Opioid Therapy Risk Report (OTRR) is fully deployed and in use and this state-of-the-art

tool helps protect Veteran patients from high doses of opioids In FY15 6948 individuals accessed

the OTTR reports with 48905 webhits

VA also implemented the Opioid Safety Initiative (OSI) system-wide in August 2013 to enhance

safe and effective pain care for Veterans and reduce opioid use

OPIOID SAFETY INITIATIVE (OSI) From Quarter 4 Fiscal Year 2012 (beginning in July 2012) to

Quarter 2 Fiscal Year 2015 (ending in March 2015) there are

109862 fewer patients receiving opioids

33871 fewer patients receiving opioids and benzodiazepines together

74995 more patients on opioids that have had a urine drug screen to help guide

treatment decisions

91760 fewer patients on long-term opioid therapy

The overall dosage of opioids is decreasing in the VA system as 12278 fewer

patients are receiving greater than or equal to 100 Morphine Equivalent Daily Dosing

The desired results of the OSI have been achieved during a time that VA has seen an

overall quarterly pharmacy user growth of 90488 patients


IMPROVING DELIVERY OF BENEFITS THROUGH DIGITAL INNOVATION

Under VArsquos technology initiatives a major achievement has been the transition from an

outmoded paper-intensive process to a fully electronic processing systemmdashthe Veterans Benefits

Management System (VBMS)

Previously VA processed 5000 tons of paper per year now it is processing 95 percent of the

disability claims inventory electronically

VA completed 31 million rating decisions and 17 million claims using VBMS

VA continues to exceed goals with regard to Fully Developed Claims Fiscal Year to date 2015

42 percent of claims received were submitted as Fully Developed Claims up from 3 percent when

the initiative started in 2012

Over 48 million Servicemembers Veterans and family members are now in eBenefits

EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE

For the fifth consecutive year VArsquos Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacy received the highest

customer satisfaction score among the nationrsquos public and private mail-order pharmacies

according to a JD Power study

VA employee Kenneth Siehr winner of the Presidentrsquos 2013 Securing Americans Value and

Efficiency (SAVE) Award conceived of VArsquos online prescription tracker that gives Veterans

247 access to prescriptions mailed from the VA Mail Order Pharmacy Siehrrsquos idea focused on

the use of technology as a way to save money and improve services

In 2014 Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery was listed as one of the most beautiful cemeteries in

the world in an article appearing in both Smithsonian Magazine and Travel and Leisure

For the fifth consecutive time VArsquos National Cemetery Administration achieved a customer

satisfaction index of 96 and attained the highest score of any participating entity public or

private on the American Customer Satisfaction Indexrsquos (ACSI) independent survey of customer

satisfaction

ENDING VETERAN HOMELESSNESS IN LOS ANGELES

On January 28 2015 Secretary McDonald and attorneys representing homeless Veterans in Los

Angeles announced a historic agreement that dedicates the West Los Angeles VA campus to

serving Veterans in need

VA published a written Veteran homelessness strategy and action plan for Greater Los

Angeles on February 13 2015 with the goal of ending Veteran homelessness in Greater Los

Angeles by the end of the year A new Master Plan for VArsquos West Los Angeles campus will be

completed by October 16 2015



Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Our Nationrsquos largest integrated health care system - Operates more than 1600 sites of care (Medical Centers Outpatient Clinics Vet Centers Mobile Vet Centers and more) 89 million enrollees (as of end of FY 13) 283000 employees (as of September 30 2014) 3 Nobel Prizes

Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Backlog Progress Continues - The number of claims pending over 125 days and considered part of the claims backlog has decreased by 78 percent from a peak of 611000 claims in March 2013 to 132360 claims (as of June 22 2015)

National Cemetery Administration (NCA) VA manages over 20000 acres of land including maintaining 8800 developed acres with 34 million gravesites in 131 national cemeteries and 33 other sites

Veterans Crisis Line 1-800-273-8255 (Press 1) Vet Center Combat Veteran Call Center 1-877-WAR-VETS (927-8387) National Call Center for Homeless Veterans 1-877-424-3838 VA Caregiver Support Line 1-855-260-3274 Women Veterans Call Center 1-855-VA-WOMEN (829-6636) VA Healthcare Enrollment MonndashFri 8AM-8PM (EST) 1-877-222-VETS (8387) VHA Client Relations Office Helpline 202-461-7252 VHA Compliance and Business Integrity (CBI) Helpline 1-866-842-4357

The CBI Helpline is a way for Veterans their families and VHA employees to report potential instances of noncompliance within VHA business operations

Veteran Employment Resources (VA for Vets) 1-855-824-8387 VA Gulf War Information Helpline 1-800-749-8387 Veterans Benefits Administration National Call Center 1-800-827-1000

Education (GI Bill) 1-888-442-4551 Pension Benefits 1-877-294-6380 Life Insurance 1-800-419-1473 Home Loans 1-877-827-3702

VA National Cemetery Burial Request Daily 7AM-630 PM (CST) 1-800-535-1117 Memorialization Applicant Assistance Mon-Fri 8AM-5PM (EST) 1-800-697-6947 Presidential Memorial Certificate Request Fax VA Form 40-0247 to 1-800-455-7143 Bereavement Counseling 202-461-6530 Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs

Policy Questions 202-461-6490 Casework ndash House 202-225-2280 Casework ndash Senate 202-224-5351

X

Important VA Phone Numbers

Quick Reference Card (For use when assisting constituents)

Print cut-out fold down the middle and carry in your pocket for everyday use

Veterans Health Administration Snapshot

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) one of three administrations within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is responsible for providing a continuum of comprehensive care that includes primary care specialized care and related medical and social support services VA strives to ensure that Veterans have access to all needed services wherever they receive their VA health care This may be on-site during inpatient hospitalization at one of our primary or specialty care clinics at a community-based outpatient clinic (CBOC) in a Community Living Center (formerly known as a VA nursing home) or in a residential care facility However all services may not be available at every location

Eligibility Requirements

Most Veterans who enlisted after September 7 1980 or entered active duty after October 16 1981 must have served 24 continuous months or the full period for which they were called to active duty in order to be eligible This minimum duty requirement may not apply to Veterans who were discharged for a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty for a hardship or ldquoearly outrdquo or those who served prior to September 7 1980 Since there are a number of other exceptions to the minimum duty requirements VA encourages all Veterans to apply so that we may determine their enrollment eligibility

Veterans have four easy ways to apply by completing an online VA Form 10-10EZ Application for Health

Benefits by printing and mailing the form to the Health Eligibility Center located at 2957 Clairmont Rd NE

30329 by visiting their local VA medical center or by calling VA at 1 877-222-VETS (8387)

Application Process httpwwwvagovHEALTHBENEFITSapplyapplication_processasp

Returning Service Members httpwwwvagovHEALTHBENEFITSapply

returning_servicemembersasp

Family Members of Veterans httpwwwvagovHEALTHBENEFITSapplyfamily_membersasp

Women Veterans httpwwwvagovHEALTHBENEFITSapplywomen_veteransasp

Patient Access Data httpwwwvagovhealthaccess-auditasp

VA Hospital Performance httpwwwhospitalcomparevagov

VHA Locations httpwwwvagovdirectoryguidedivision_flshaspdnum=1

Prescriptions httpwwwvagovHEALTHBENEFITSaccessprescriptionsasp

Veterans Health Identification Card httpwwwvagovHEALTHBENEFITSvhicindexasp

Patient-Centered Community Care (PC3) httpwwwvagovPURCHASEDCAREprograms

veteransnonvacarepcccindexasp

Veterans Crisis Line httpwwwveteranscrisislinenet

Mental Health httpwwwmentalhealthvagovVAMentalHealthGroupasp

Vet Centers httpwwwvetcentervagov

XI

Veterans Benefits Administration Snapshot

The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) provides a variety of benefits and services to Servicemembers Veterans and their families VBA has been undergoing a major transformation that is people-centric results-oriented and a forward-looking integration of solutions that will ensure total lifelong engagement with Servicemembers Veterans and their families Below are some of the major program offices of VBA To learn more please go to httpwwwbenefitsvagovbenefitsmedia-publicationsasp

OFFICE OF DISABILITY ASSISTANCE Compensation Service Oversees the delivery of disability compensation a tax-free monetary benefit paid to

Veterans with disabilities that are the result of a disease or injury incurred or aggravated during active military service

Pension and Fiduciary Service Provides program oversight that helps wartime Veterans their families and survivors with financial challenges by providing supplemental income through Veterans Pension Death Pension and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Protects the benefits paid to our most vulnerable beneficiaries who because of disease injury or infirmities of advanced age are unable to manage their VA benefits

Insurance Service Maintains life insurance programs that give financial security and peace of mind to Servicemembers Veterans and their families

Benefits Assistance Service Facilitates client services and outreach web communications and ensures quality and training for VBA employees who engage Servicemembers Veterans and their families through client services such as the National Call Center

OFFICE OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY Education Service Administers VAs education programs that provide education and training benefits to

eligible Active Duty National Guard and Reserve Servicemembers Veterans and dependents Loan Guaranty Service Provides oversight of the VA Home Loan Guaranty Program that makes it easier for

Servicemembers and Veterans to obtain home loans by helping to protect lenders from loss Ensures Veteransrsquo rights are protected when purchasing a home under this program Oversees administration of grants to certain severely disabled Servicemembers and Veterans so they can adapt or acquire suitable housing to meet their special needs

Vocational Rehabilitation amp Employment (VRampE) Service Assists Servicemembers and Veterans with service-connected disabilities to prepare for obtain and maintain suitable employment start their own business or receive independent-living services Oversees their education and provides career counseling to help guide career paths and ensure the most effective use of VA benefits

Office of Transition Employment amp Economic Impact (OTEEI) OTEEI integrates benefits and services for transitioning Servicemembers and Veterans allowing for a unified structure to capture the entire Veteran transition and employment portfolio

OFFICE OF FIELD OPERATIONS Five district offices North Atlantic District (Philadelphia PA) Southeast District (Nashville TN) Midwest

District (St Louis MO) Pacific District (Phoenix AZ) Continental District (Denver CO) Regional offices (ROs) Under the district offices 56 ROs within the United States Puerto Rico and the

Philippines administer benefits to Servicemembers Veterans and their families Records Management Center Houses most service treatment records forwarded by the Department of

Defense (DoD) to VA Appeals Management Center Processes most appeals that have been returned to VBA by the Board of

Veteransrsquo Appeals

OFFICE OF STRATEGIC PLANNING Office of Business Process Integration Ensures VBAs strategic needs and requirements for business and

data systems are properly documented integrated and communicated Veterans Benefits Management System Program Office Developing an end-to-end paperless claims

processing system that incorporates improved business processes with technology Veterans Relationship Management Program Office Engages empowers and serves Veterans and other

clients with seamless secure and on-demand access to benefits information and services

XII

National Cemetery Administration Snapshot

The National Cemetery Administration (NCA) honors Veterans members of the Armed Forces and their eligible family members with final resting places in national shrines and with lasting tributes that commemorate military service and sacrifice to our Nation The Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs (USMA) is responsible for the leadership and direction of NCA The major program offices of NCA are listed below Please refer to the NCA website to learn more about the benefits NCA provides httpwwwcemvagov Office of Field Programs The Deputy Under Secretary for Field Programs supervises five Memorial Service Network (MSN) Executive Directors and the VA national cemeteries located across the United States as well as is responsible for the provision of memorialization benefits to Veterans The following program offices fall under this office MSN Offices and National CemeteriesmdashProvides dignified burials for eligible Veterans and family

members and operates and maintains VA national cemeteries as national shrines National Cemetery Scheduling OfficemdashCall center for all requests for burial eligibility

determinations and scheduling burials in VA national cemeteries Memorial Programs ServicemdashAdministers the memorialization benefit requests for upright

headstones flat markers medallions and the Presidential Memorial Certificate program First Notice of Death OfficemdashUpdates electronic files to ensure timely termination of benefits and

next-of-kin notification of possible entitlement to survivor benefits Office of Finance and Planning The Deputy Under Secretary for Finance and Planning manages the office and is NCArsquos Chief Financial Officer The following services fall under this office Budget and Finance Services Business Process Improvement ServicendashConducts the cemetery Organizational Assessment and

Improvement (OAI) program the gravesite assessment and inscription accuracy reviews Legislative and Regulatory Service - Liaison with the Office of Congressional and Legislative

Affairs and the Office of the General Counsel Policy and Planning Service - Administers NCArsquos strategic planning process and statistical analysis Office of Management Led by the Deputy Under Secretary for Management the office includes the following services Management and Communications Service - Includes public affairs and outreach activities Design and Construction Service - Provides master planning space planning construction

specifications design criteria and interment area layout support for cemetery construction projects Contracting ServicemdashProvides contract support to VA national cemeteries Information Technology Business Requirements and Administration Service Human Capital ManagementmdashOversees HR operations and ensures NCA-specific training program

encompasses key activities performed by NCA staff in locations nationwide Veterans Cemetery Grants Program The Director manages the grant program that provides direct support to State and Tribal organization applicants to establish expand improve or operate and maintain veteransrsquo cemeteries NCA FY 2014 Highlights 125188 burials in 131 VA national cemeteries 365582 headstone and marker applications processed 618750 Presidential Memorial Certificates provided $519 million in grants 93 state or tribal VA-funded Veterans cemeteries conducted 32000 burials

XIII

Table of Contents

I Independence Day 2015

II VASummerofService

III VArsquos Complete Access to Care

IV Veteranrsquos Choice Program

V Reaching Milestones

VI VA Innovation Creation Series

VII MyVA

VIII VA Adaptive Sports

IX Making Progress

X Important Phone Numbers - Quick Reference Card

XI Veterans Health Administration - Snapshot

XII Veterans Benefits Administration - Snapshot

XIII National Cemetery Administration - Snapshot











































WHAT WILL YOU DO









II

COME JOIN US IN

SERVING VETERANS

III

IV

Reaching Milestones

V






GOALS






TIMELINE












Veterans



VI

VII

MyVA is about










28 2015









their communities



VA Adaptive Sports


Winter Sport Clinic

Snowmass Colorado

March 29-April 3



May 18-21



May 29-June1


Dallas Texas

June 21-26

Warrior Games

Quantico Virginia

June 19-29


Omaha Nebraska

August 8-12


Chicago Illinois

August 18-20


Iowa City Iowa

September 7-10



September 13-18


San Antonio Texas

September 21-23



October 12-18






conditions









VIII

VA Making Progress

IX











peak


INFECTIONS



























professionals


medical assistants












































treatment decisions































satisfaction




















X


























XI






















XII











XIII











































WHAT WILL YOU DO









II

COME JOIN US IN

SERVING VETERANS

III

IV

Reaching Milestones

V






GOALS






TIMELINE












Veterans



VI

VII

MyVA is about










28 2015









their communities



VA Adaptive Sports


Winter Sport Clinic

Snowmass Colorado

March 29-April 3



May 18-21



May 29-June1


Dallas Texas

June 21-26

Warrior Games

Quantico Virginia

June 19-29


Omaha Nebraska

August 8-12


Chicago Illinois

August 18-20


Iowa City Iowa

September 7-10



September 13-18


San Antonio Texas

September 21-23



October 12-18






conditions









VIII

VA Making Progress

IX











peak


INFECTIONS



























professionals


medical assistants












































treatment decisions































satisfaction




















X


























XI






















XII











XIII

III

IV

Reaching Milestones

V






GOALS






TIMELINE












Veterans



VI

VII

MyVA is about










28 2015









their communities



VA Adaptive Sports


Winter Sport Clinic

Snowmass Colorado

March 29-April 3



May 18-21



May 29-June1


Dallas Texas

June 21-26

Warrior Games

Quantico Virginia

June 19-29


Omaha Nebraska

August 8-12


Chicago Illinois

August 18-20


Iowa City Iowa

September 7-10



September 13-18


San Antonio Texas

September 21-23



October 12-18






conditions









VIII

VA Making Progress

IX











peak


INFECTIONS



























professionals


medical assistants












































treatment decisions































satisfaction




















X


























XI






















XII











XIII

IV

Reaching Milestones

V






GOALS






TIMELINE












Veterans



VI

VII

MyVA is about










28 2015









their communities



VA Adaptive Sports


Winter Sport Clinic

Snowmass Colorado

March 29-April 3



May 18-21



May 29-June1


Dallas Texas

June 21-26

Warrior Games

Quantico Virginia

June 19-29


Omaha Nebraska

August 8-12


Chicago Illinois

August 18-20


Iowa City Iowa

September 7-10



September 13-18


San Antonio Texas

September 21-23



October 12-18






conditions









VIII

VA Making Progress

IX











peak


INFECTIONS



























professionals


medical assistants












































treatment decisions































satisfaction




















X


























XI






















XII











XIII

Reaching Milestones

V






GOALS






TIMELINE












Veterans



VI

VII

MyVA is about










28 2015









their communities



VA Adaptive Sports


Winter Sport Clinic

Snowmass Colorado

March 29-April 3



May 18-21



May 29-June1


Dallas Texas

June 21-26

Warrior Games

Quantico Virginia

June 19-29


Omaha Nebraska

August 8-12


Chicago Illinois

August 18-20


Iowa City Iowa

September 7-10



September 13-18


San Antonio Texas

September 21-23



October 12-18






conditions









VIII

VA Making Progress

IX











peak


INFECTIONS



























professionals


medical assistants












































treatment decisions































satisfaction




















X


























XI






















XII











XIII





GOALS






TIMELINE












Veterans



VI

VII

MyVA is about










28 2015









their communities



VA Adaptive Sports


Winter Sport Clinic

Snowmass Colorado

March 29-April 3



May 18-21



May 29-June1


Dallas Texas

June 21-26

Warrior Games

Quantico Virginia

June 19-29


Omaha Nebraska

August 8-12


Chicago Illinois

August 18-20


Iowa City Iowa

September 7-10



September 13-18


San Antonio Texas

September 21-23



October 12-18






conditions









VIII

VA Making Progress

IX











peak


INFECTIONS



























professionals


medical assistants












































treatment decisions































satisfaction




















X


























XI






















XII











XIII

VII

MyVA is about










28 2015









their communities



VA Adaptive Sports


Winter Sport Clinic

Snowmass Colorado

March 29-April 3



May 18-21



May 29-June1


Dallas Texas

June 21-26

Warrior Games

Quantico Virginia

June 19-29


Omaha Nebraska

August 8-12


Chicago Illinois

August 18-20


Iowa City Iowa

September 7-10



September 13-18


San Antonio Texas

September 21-23



October 12-18






conditions









VIII

VA Making Progress

IX











peak


INFECTIONS



























professionals


medical assistants












































treatment decisions































satisfaction




















X


























XI






















XII











XIII

VA Adaptive Sports


Winter Sport Clinic

Snowmass Colorado

March 29-April 3



May 18-21



May 29-June1


Dallas Texas

June 21-26

Warrior Games

Quantico Virginia

June 19-29


Omaha Nebraska

August 8-12


Chicago Illinois

August 18-20


Iowa City Iowa

September 7-10



September 13-18


San Antonio Texas

September 21-23



October 12-18






conditions









VIII

VA Making Progress

IX











peak


INFECTIONS



























professionals


medical assistants












































treatment decisions































satisfaction




















X


























XI






















XII











XIII

VA Making Progress

IX











peak


INFECTIONS



























professionals


medical assistants












































treatment decisions































satisfaction




















X


























XI






















XII











XIII











professionals


medical assistants












































treatment decisions































satisfaction




















X


























XI






















XII











XIII



























treatment decisions































satisfaction




















X


























XI






















XII











XIII

























satisfaction




















X


























XI






















XII











XIII











X


























XI






















XII











XIII























XI






















XII











XIII






















XII











XIII











XIII

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