Disabled American Veterans

Blind Veterans National Chapter #1

WEB SITE: http://www.davbvnc1.com/contents.htm

March/April2013 Newsletter

Editor: Dennis O’Connell

Bvnc1@verizon.net

"IF I CANNOT SPEAK GOOD OF MY COMRADE,

I WILL NOT SPEAK ILL OF HIM OR HER."

 

OFFICERS OF THE BLIND CHAPTER

Commander Richard Bugbee (AZ)
Phone 480 986-0304

Email: dadbug37@gmail.com

Senior Vice Commander Dave May (OH)
1st Junior Vice Commander
Carroll Prosser (SC)

2nd Junior Vice Commander Gary Traynor (WI)
3rd Vice Commander James Hogan (CA)

4th Junior Vice Commander Stephen Moffitt (RI)

Judge Advocate & Immediate Past Commander Dennis O’Connell (NY)
Chaplain Rev. Tony Martino (IL)
Phone 847 736 2111
email:
Deaconmart@wi.rr.com

Adjutant/Treasurer Paul Kaminsky (FL) (also webmaster)

Phone 904 291-0576
email: pkjax@kaminsky.com

If you know of any member who is sick or deceased please inform one of the officers whose contact information is listed above.

WELCOME ABOARD

Clarence Blankenship, War  WV

MESSAGE FROM THE COMMANDER

As I return from DAV’s annual Mid-winter Conference in Washington, DC, I once again am reminded of how much effort DAV must expand in order to assure that our political promises is kept by our elected officials. All I can say is THANK GOD FOR DAV. We, as rank and file members of DAV can sleep easy; because our association is always ready and able to fight for its DAV members, and indeed, for ALL America’s veterans. Our cause is just, and we are well-prepared to do battle.

During National Mid-Winter Conference many DAV representatives including myself and Adjutant Kaminsky traveled to Washington DC. to meet with several congressional staffers and Congress persons to discuss important issues which will affect us the Veterans, your Family members and the retirees.

Some the DAV legislative priorities for 2013 are:

1. Sustain a robust VA Health Care System for all eligible veterans

•Work with Congress and VA to ensure sufficient funding for VA health care program.

• Develop and promote new legislation and policies that strengthen and expand appropriations that advance VA health care, including new accountability measures.

• Develop and build support for comprehensive long term plan to address VA’s aging health care infrastructure needs and expand research projects and facilities.

2. Improve access to and the quality of VA Health Care Services

• Expand caregiver services to meet the needs of veterans from all eras.

• Improve timely access to mental health care and counseling services, with particular focus on newer combat veterans suffering PTSD, addictions and other mental health issues.

• Strengthen and expand women veterans health care programs and services.

• Develop a comprehensive plan reforming VA long-term support and services.

3. Expand and Improve Employment and Economic opportunities for Veterans

•Work with Congress to develop and enact legislation to transfer veterans employment programs from the Department of Labor to VA (in a new

Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration that also includes VR&E, Education and business programs).

• Provide adequate funding to assure the successful implementation of this expanded VA program.

• Strengthen veterans’ vocational, rehabilitation and employment programs.

• Improve delivery of transition services to all separating service members.

4. Improve the Delivery of Benefits to Veterans, Dependents and Survivors

•Work with VA and congress to complete the ongoing reform of VA’s benefits claims processing system, with the focus on quality, accuracy, accountability and timeliness.

• Develop and promote legislation and policies to expand the use of interim ratings for veterans filing complex and multi-issue disability compensation claims.

•Work with VA and Congress to ensure that any revisions to the VA Schedule remain faithful to longstanding statutory policy underlying the purpose of the VA disability compensation system.

•Work with Congress to eliminate inequitable policies that prohibit the concurrent receipt of VA disability compensation and military retired pay and that require Dependency Indemnity Compensation and Military Survivor Benefit Plan payments to be offset.

The above are just some of the example issues which are important to us and our fellow Veterans. DAV representatives will meet with various congressional members to discuss the above and ask for their support.

How are such important issues brought to light? It all starts with us at the Chapter level where we discuss our concerns and then write it down and pass it to the Adjutant. I encourage all of you to become active and get involved. You make the difference!!!!

20th National Veterans TEE Tournament Dates and Location

Iowa City, IA , September 9 - 12, 2013

Applications are now out. Contact your Recreational Therapy Department or your VIST coordinator to receive one.

STORY SUBMITTED BY Mike Corcoran

The other day I went into Lens Crafters to get my prescription sun
glasses adjusted. A lady sat me at an adjusting station & I folded my
cane and put it on the floor.
A young gentleman came over and adjusted my glasses for me. I thanked
him, got up and unfolded my cane and started to walk away. He said that’s
neat! What is that?  I said it is my white cane, I am legally blind. He
said white cane like he had never heard the term before.   He said what
do you do, follow the white ball on the end? I explained that I use it to
feel my way around.  This is true! It happened to me.
FYI

All regional offices have been notified of the acuity changes to 20/200 for the $12,992.00 housing Grant.
 The SHA grant changes made by section 203 of the public law, are codified at and amend 38 CFR § 3.809A, and 38 USC § 2101(b)(2) (note that (b) is entitled “Adaptations to Residence of Veteran”. The public law amends the definition of blindness and deletes the term "permanent and total" from the description of blindness. As noted in the September 2012 VSCM call, Section 203 changes the requirement to central acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with the use of a standard correcting lens.  An eye with a limitation in the field of vision such that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle no greater than 20 degrees shall be considered as having a central visual acuity of 20/200 or less. 
 The following text should be inserted into RBA, if there is an award of the SHA grant based upon the enhanced definition of blindness, until it can be amended: 
Section 203 of P.L. 112-154 amends section 2101(b)(2) to provide special home adaptations to Veterans who have central acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with the use of a standard correcting lens. An eye with a limitation in the fields of vision such that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle no greater than 20 degrees shall be considered as having a central visual acuity of 20/200 or less. 
NOTE:  VBMS-R users should insert the standard glossary text entitled “SHA_GWOT” in addition to the generated text in the Reasons for Decision block.
Temporary Residence adaptation (TRA) grant.
                A veteran whom qualifies for either the 2101(a) ($64,950.00) grant or the 2101(b)($12,992.00) grant, and residence in a home other than his own,  may use the TRA Grant to modify the home where they reside, in the amount of $28,528.00 for the 2101(a) grant or $5,092.00 for the 2101(b) grant. The amount they use is deducted from the amount of entitlement under 2101 (a) or 2101(b). TRA grants after  8/06/2013 will no longer be deducted from the entitlement of these grants.

REPEAT FROM LAST ISSUE

ARTICLES NEEDED

Feel like writing an article, or sending one from somewhere else that members might be interested in? Just send them to bvnc1@verizon.net or 303 Carnation Avenue, Floral Park, NY 11001-3435 and they just might appear in a future issue.

 

DAV National Convention; August 9 - 13, 2013

Hilton Orlando; 6001 Destination Parkway; Orlando, FL 32819

Phone: 407.313.4300; Fax: 407.313.4301

$124 Single/Double

Blind Chapter Meeting Schedule

August 9th 9::00 am & 4:00 pm / August 10th 8:30 am Convention's
Opening Session August 10 - 13 Convention Schedule TBA

 

We are looking for photos of Chapter members participating in events that support our blind veterans. At the Convention the Blind Chapter host a breakfast for the supporters of our Chapter.  This year we would like to display a video Power Point of the many activities Chapter members volunteer or or participate in.  Email .jpg images to Adjutant Kaminsky at pkjax@kaminsky.com.

 

GOD BLESS AMERICA and our Distinguished American Veterans