August 2015 Volume 31

The Desert Oracle

facebook.com/AZPVA www.azpva.org

Page 2 The Desert Oracle

Officers John Tuzzolino, President Gordon Moye, Vice President Leonard Smith, Secretary Dianne Brunswick, Treasurer

Board of Directors Joseph Chitty Joseph Hamilton Sue Wudy National Director Leonard Smith Executive Director Peter R. Quinn Administrative Assistant Anthony O’Clair Office Assistant Cyndee Collings Membership and Volunteer Coordinator Anthony O’Clair PVA National Service Officer’s Michael Wilson, Sr. National Service Officer Jacqueline Berkshire, Senior Secretary PVA National Service Office 3333 N. Central Ave., Ste. 1055 Phoenix, AZ 85012 602-627-3311 Fax- 602-627-3315 800-795-3582

5015 N 7th Ave. Suite 2 Phoenix, AZ 85013 Office: (602)-244-9168 Fax: (602) 244-0416 1-800-621-9217 Office Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00am – 4:00pm

The views expressed in the articles of the Desert Oracle are the opinions of the author and not necessarily the opinion of the AZPVA. Any article not attributed to an individual / group was compiled with available information by APVA staff/members. The Desert Oracle does encourage our readers to submit their articles, interests and/or rebuttals.

Attention All Readers !!!! The Arizona Chapter has a prosthetics Lending closet. For a small donation you can acquire a power wheelchair, a manual wheelchair, shower equipment, aluminum walkers, canes, crutches. We also have Hoyer Lifts (manual & electric) Do not hesitate to call the Chapter office if you are in need of any type of equipment. We may have just what you need.

Call us at : 602-244-9168

Paralyzed Veterans of America Arizona Chapter

E-mail - azpva@azpva.org Web - www.azpva.org

Contents

Board of Directors…….………..….……..…..pg. 2

Notes From Our NSO...…..….....……….…..pg. 3

Vietnam War Commemoration Program…...pg. 5

2015 Veterans Day Message ………………pg. 6

National Family Caregivers Month…………..pg.7

For More Than 50 Years…………………….pg. 8

Pictures From AZPVA Pistol Shoot ……….pg.10

Pictures From APVA Trapshoot……………pg.11

Spina Bifida Walk and Roll………………….pg.12

Membership Report………………………….pg.15

Birthdays…………………………………...…pg.16

Page 3

Notes From Our Senior NSO Michael Wilson

eBenefits Fact Sheet What is eBenefits? eBenefits is a joint VA/DoD web portal that provides resources and self-service capabilities to Veterans, Service members, and their families to research, access and manage their VA and military benefits and personal information. eBenefits uses secure credentials to allow access to personal information and gives users the ability to perform numerous self-service functions. It also provides a list of links to other sites that provide information about military and Veteran benefits. It is an essential way for Veterans, Service members, and their families to receive access to and service from VA and DoD. What can I do in eBenefits? Some of the features within eBenefits allow Veterans and Service members to access official military personnel documents, view the status of their disability compensation claim, transfer entitlement of Post-9/11 GI Bill to eligible dependents (Service members only), and register for and update direct deposit information for certain benefits. For a full list of features, see the reverse side of this fact sheet. New features are being added regularly. How do I access eBenefits? eBenefits is located at www.ebenefits.va.gov. Before Veterans can access and use eBenefits they must be listed in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) and obtain a DS Logon. Service members can access eBenefits with a DS Logon or Common Access Card (CAC). They can choose from two levels of registration, DS Logon Level 1 (Basic) and DS Logon Level 2 (Premium). Note: If Veterans attempt to register and are informed they have no DEERS record, VA will first need to verify their military service and add them to DEERS. All VA Regional Offices have staff familiar with procedures for adding a Veteran to DEERS. What is a DS Logon? A DS Logon is a secure identity (username and password) that is used by various DoD and VA websites, including eBenefits. If you are already registered in DEERS, you are eligible for a DS Logon. Once you have a DS Logon, it’s valid for the rest of your life. How do I register for an eBenefits account? You can register for an eBenefits account online using the eBenefits DS Logon Account Registration Wizard. There are two types of registration, Basic and Premium. You will be walked through a series of questions to assist you in obtaining a Premium eBenefits Account, which gives you the highest level of access to eBenefits features. With a Premium Account you can view personal data about yourself in VA and DoD systems, apply for benefits online, check the status of your claims, update your address records, and more. To get a Premium eBenefits Account, you must verify your identity. Many people will be able to verify their identity online by answering a few security questions. Service members may verify their identity online by using their CAC. Military retirees may verify their identity online using their Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) Logon. For those unable to verify their identity online, you will instantly receive a Basic Account. A Basic eBenefits Account lets you customize the site and access information you enter into eBenefits yourself; however, you cannot see your personal information in VA or DoD systems. However, there are other options available to you. Veterans in receipt of VA benefits via direct deposit may have their identity verified by calling 1-800-827-1000 and selecting option 7. Others may need to visit a VA Regional Office or TriCare Service Center to have their identities verified in person.

Continued on page 4

Page 4 The Desert Oracle

eBenefits Features

If you are a Veteran: Apply for Veterans benefits online Check on your compensation or pension claims status Upload documents to support your compensation or pension claim Check Post-9/11 GI Bill enrollment status Use the VetSuccess employment search View DoD TRICARE health insurance Sign up for Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) (Time limits apply) Search for and select an accredited representative or organization Order prescription medications Message your physician securely Access your medical information via Blue Button Utilize the military skills translator and résumé builder Order medical equipment such as hearing aid batteries and prosthetic socks Check on your appeal status Generate a VA home loan certificate of eligibility Obtain official military personnel documents such as DD Form 214 Register for and update direct deposit information for certain benefits If you are a Family Member of a Veteran or Service member: Check on your compensation and pension claims status Use the eLearning Center to get important health information View Post-9/11 GI Bill enrollment status Check your VA payment history For More Information visit www.ebenefits.va.gov

2015 ANCILLARY BENEFIT AMOUNTS

Auto Grant: $20,174.68

SAH: $73,768.00 SHA: $14,754.00 RH Insurance: $10,000

Supplemental RH: $30,000 (under age 65 and P&T) VMLI: $200,000

HISA: $6800.00 (over 50%) HISA: $2000.00 (NSC) Clothing Allowance: $777.29

Continued from page 3

Notes From Our Senior NSO Michael Wilson

Page 5

Ceremony Part of DOD Vietnam War Commemoration Program

Paralyzed Veterans of America honored 37 of its Vietnam War-era veteran members during a special 50th year commemoration ceremony as part of the national Vietnam War Commemoration Program operated under the oversight of the Department of Defense Office of Commemoration of the United States.

During the ceremony each honoree was presented with a commemorative flag, certificate and special pin by Major General James T. Jackson, director of The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration. The special commemoration ceremony is one of several events Paralyzed Veterans will conduct as a commemorative partner during the special commemorative period from 2015 to 2017 to do what should have been done 50 years ago: thank and honor Vietnam-era veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice.

“The Vietnam Commemorative Partnership is a strong first step toward amending the wrongs committed against our Vietnam veterans, paying tribute to them and showing how grateful we are as a nation,” said Sherman Gillums Jr., deputy executive director of Paralyzed Veterans. “Vietnam veterans encompass nearly 80 percent of Paralyzed Veterans of America membership, and we are exceptionally proud to be a part of the partnership. We commend DOD for establishing the Vietnam War Commemorative Partnership and honoring our Vietnam veterans.”

U.S. Marine Corps veteran, and current National Vice President of Paralyzed Veterans Joe Fox was one of the Vietnam veterans honored today. Fox joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1966 and served with the 1st Battalion 26 Marine Delta. He was wounded on May 8, 1968, while serving in Vietnam during an operation in the province of Quảng Trị outside of Đông Hà. He received the Purple Heart in 1969 and was honorably discharged at the rank of Sergeant E-5.

“After 38 years, it was an honor to be officially recognized today and presented with the Vietnam Veteran Commemorative lapel pin. I would like to congratulate and welcome home all of my brothers and sisters who served in the Vietnam conflict, and all those who continue to serve and keep this great nation safe,” said Fox.

The purpose of the pin is to recognize, thank and honor U.S. military veterans who served during the Vietnam War period. All living U.S. veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces from November 1, 1955 to May 15, 1975, regardless of location, are eligible for the pin.

Page 6 The Desert Oracle

2015 Veterans Day Message from Paralyzed Veterans of America National

President: “Be of service to those who have served our country” On November 11, 2015, Paralyzed Veterans of America National President Al Kovach, Jr. issued the following statement in honor of Veterans Day: “Long before there was a Veterans Day, President Abraham Lincoln, stood before a cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to honor those men who, as he stated, ‘gave their lives that that nation might live.’ Today, as we come together as a nation with pride and gratitude to honor all of the brave men and women who have served our great country, I implore all citizens to consider how we can also be veteran advocates. Think of how we can be their warriors on Veterans Day and every other day of the year. Veterans Day is one of the few days where our nation unites in prayer for the safe return of all those still serving, and acknowledges the millions of veterans who have been paralyzed, wounded, or incapacitated while serving their country. But it is also a time to demonstrate to them and their families that their sacrifices have not been in vain. As President Lincoln also said in his immortal address at that cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in 1863, ‘from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion.’ That cause was the preservation of the greatest nation ever born. And so, on this Veterans Day, marking the terrible world war that ended at the eleventh hour, of this eleventh day, on this eleventh month in 1918—but also marking ALL wars before it and since—let us join those friends and loved ones who mourn these soldiers by acknowledging the debt of gratitude we owe all of our veterans, living and dead. But more than that, let us all pledge to pay that debt by serving and supporting them in every way we can. Be of service to those who have served our country, who have shed blood fighting our nation’s battles—only to return home and find themselves in a new battle—a battle for the benefits, health care and jobs they need and so richly deserve if they are to live the full lives that their sacrifices have made possible for the rest of us. Veterans Day is not the only time to show our commitment to those who sacrificed so much for our freedom. Now more than ever we must commit ourselves each and every day to taking care of those who have served us. No Americans deserve it more.”

Page 7

Paralyzed Veterans of America Recognizes National Family Caregivers Month

Paralyzed Veterans of America joins the nation in recognizing the contributions of caregivers across the United States during National Family Caregivers Month in November. More than 65 million people – 29 percent of the U.S. population – care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member or friend in any given year and spend an average of 20 hours per week providing care for their loved one, according to statistics by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. More than one million of those caregivers provide emotional and physical support to military veterans with injuries and/or service-connected diseases and disorders. Commonly called America’s “hidden heroes,” military caregivers provide this free care often at great personal sacrifice, leaving many prone to stress, financial difficulties and health issues, such as fatigue, depression and physical pain. “As a veteran whose livelihood is sustained by a caregiver, I deeply appreciate the effort to bring attention to the plight of caregivers,” said Sherman Gillums, Jr., deputy executive director of Paralyzed Veterans of America. “Next to military service, I cannot think of a more noble cause one can undertake, often at great sacrifice.” In 1997, President Clinton signed a proclamation to designate one week in November in recognition of the contributions of caregivers. It quickly evolved into National Family Caregivers Month and now serves as more than a time of recognition but a means to educate the public, promote the rights of caregivers and empower individuals in caregiving roles. “When our men and women in uniform come home with wounds of war -- seen or unseen -- it is our solemn responsibility to ensure they get the benefits and attentive care they have earned and deserve,” said President Obama in a proclamation recognizing the 2015 National Family Caregivers Month. “Caregivers in every corner of our country uphold this sacred promise with incredible devotion to their loved ones, and my administration is committed to supporting them.” The wellness and well-being of the caregiver directly impacts the ability to help a veteran with spinal cord injury/disease or polytrauma. For that reason, Paralyzed Veterans of America has long included caregivers as part of its advocacy for veterans. That advocacy includes pushing for legislation that would expand caregiver support services – the top legislative priority for Paralyzed Veterans in 2015. The “Military and Veteran Caregiver Services Improvement Act of 2015 (S. 1085 and H.R. 1969),” introduced in April by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Rep. Jim Langevin, D-R.I., would expand eligibility for the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Comprehensive Family Caregiver Program by eliminating the requirement that comprehensive caregiver benefits be provided only to caregivers of veterans with a service-connected injury incurred after Sept. 11, 2001. In addition to advocating for caregiver benefits, Paralyzed Veterans of America has worked to ensure the employment and work-life balance needs of caregivers are met. Paralyzed Veterans of America’s award-winning vocational rehabilitation program, Operation PAVE(Paving Access for Veteran Employment), provides free one-on-one career counseling and assistance to veterans and their caregivers. A recently published resource, “Paving Access to Employment for America’s Hidden Heroes,” also helps employers create caregiver-friendly workplaces.

Continued on page 8

Page 8 The Desert Oracle

Meanwhile, a 2014 report commissioned by the Dole Foundation and conducted by RAND Corporation unveiled some alarming gaps in support for veteran caregivers. The report identified several programs to strengthen and empower military caregivers, including building their skills, mitigating stresses, building greater support networks, ensuring workplace flexibility and raising public awareness of their value. In February, Paralyzed Veterans of America joined with the Dole Foundation and other national organizations to develop an action plan for implementing the RAND report’s recommendations. The Hidden Heroes Impact Forum resulted in the development of seven impact councils made up of national organizations to focus on addressing gaps in caregiver support services. “The problem is caregivers don’t receive medals or parades or ‘thank you for your service’ from strangers,” Gillums said. “However, their heroism is a sustained and emotionally taxing sort where the only reward is the smile they bring to the face of their loved one. I’m glad we celebrate November as National Family Caregivers Month, but we need to keep them in our forethought all year long.”

Continued from page 7

Ceremony Honors Veterans Living with Spinal Cord Injury For More Than 50 Years

Six veterans living with spinal cord injury (SCI) for more than 50 years were honored Nov. 9, 2015, in a joint ceremony by the Southeastern chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center in Augusta, Ga. The ceremony was a way to honor the service and sacrifice of veterans who have endured many years living with SCI as well as to honor the caregivers and family members who have sacrificed much to care for their loved ones. “We wanted in a thoughtful way to pay tribute to the veterans who have survived 50 or more years post-spinal cord injury, as well as their caregivers and family members because if it wasn’t for them, none of us would be here,” said Al Evans, president of the Southeastern chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America. Veteran honorees received a plaque engraved with the number of years they’ve lived with a spinal cord injury as well as the words “courage, strength and service.” The number of years honorees have lived post-injury ranged from 50 years all the way to 63 years. “For these veterans, the life expectancy at the time they were injured was five years,” Evans said. “I’m only 21 years post-injury, so it made me feel like a new injury compared to these guys.” As planning began in early summer, the original intent was to honor 16 veterans, but unfortunately four veterans passed away in recent months, Evans said. Of the remaining 12, only six were able to travel to Augusta for the ceremony, he added. Among those honored included former Southeastern chapter President Homer Cole, James Chapman, William Farmer, Clyde Hewett, Howard Lloyd and Francis Mills. Evans, who was shot in the back in 1994 just two days before he was scheduled to retire from the military, said witnessing a group of veterans who have endured spinal cord injury for so many years was not only inspiring, it gave him hope for future SCI research that could lead to even longer lifespans and possibly a cure. “Because of the research that Paralyzed Veterans of America and the VA have done, I am living a great life,” he said. “I’m a quadriplegic, and it means a lot to see veterans who were injured before me who are still thriving.” The event was such a success that Evans said the Southeastern Chapter and the Norwood VAMC plan to offer more in the future. “We want to do this at least every five years because more and more of us are living longer,” he said.

Page 9

Page 10 The Desert Oracle

Pictures from AZPVA Pistol Shoot at 3 Points Shooting Range

Special Thanks to everyone who attended and Andy MacDonald

for another great year at AZPVA’s Annual Pistol Shoot.

Page 11

Pictures from AZPVA’s Annual Shooting Sports Event at Tucson Trap and Skeet Club

Page 12 The Desert Oracle

Pictures from Spina Bifida’s Annual Walk and Roll

Page 13

VA Formally Releases Community Care Consolidation Proposal

On Friday, October 30, 2015, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) presented its plan to consolidate the various community care programs into a single program that is based on the current “Choice” program. The VA was mandated to provide the plan by P.L. 114-41, the “Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act,” approved just prior to the August recess. The VA subsequently made the plan public on November 4, 2015. Currently, the VA contracts for health care services in the community when appropriate through a number of different programs to include: Non-VA Purchased Care, Patient-Centered Coordinated Care (PC3), Project Access Received Closer to Home (ARCH), and the Choice program. PVA has been involved in a number of meetings with VA staff to develop the principles and mechanisms that will lead to this single coordinated program. PVA generally supports the effort to consolidate the various community care programs into a single program. We continue to emphasize the need for the VA to be responsible for coordinating the care and to ensure that veterans are able to access the most appropriate care in the most convenient fashion possible. However, we also believe that VA and Congress need to remain committed to expanding the capacity of VA to provide health care services within the system, particularly with regards to specialized services, such as spinal cord injury. Our Government Relations staff has been directly involved in the ongoing discussions as VA and Congress work to reform the purchased care programs. The plan put forward by the VA will restructure and integrate VA and non-VA health care programs into high-performing networks for veterans. We believe this is an important step to ensuring veterans receive high-quality, comprehensive, accessible and veterans-centric health care now and in the future. The VA plan starts to move beyond arbitrary federal standards regulating when and where individual veterans can access medical care, keeping those clinical decisions between a veteran and his or her doctor, without bureaucrats, regulations or legislation getting in the way. However, the plan makes two particular recommendations that PVA, along with our partners in The Independent Budget, oppose. While we support the plan to expand emergency treatment and urgent care in the community, the proposal calls for a $100 co-payment for emergency care and $50 for urgent care. These co-payments are meant to serve as a perverse disincentive for veterans to utilize these critical services. Moreover, this proposal seemingly makes no exception for veterans with service-connected disabilities or who are currently exempted from co-payments, including Priority Group 4 catastrophically disabled non-service connected veterans. We also oppose granting VA the authority to disenroll veterans who do not disclose their private insurance information. Veterans are currently required to inform VA when their insurance information has changed and VA typically asks veterans about any changes to their insurance coverage when they visit a VA medical facility. To preclude veterans from receiving VA health care because they may not have known their insurance status changed or because they did not disclose this information would only harm the veterans VA was created to serve. Beyond these concerns, we believe this plan is worthy of serious consideration. It offers the hope of expanded access to a wide-variety of services both inside and outside of the VA while allowing the VA itself to improve its own delivery of care.

Page 14 The Desert Oracle

Pictures from The Great American Foodie Fest at Tempe Diablo Stadium

MEMBERSHIP REPORT from

The Arizona Chapter

The Arizona Chapter voting membership stands at 510 as of November 1st 2015. National and AZPVA records show our voting membership as:

269- Service Connected 241- Non-Service Connected

The Arizona Chapter encourages each of our members to contact the Chapter and let us know how you are doing, and if we can help you in any way. If you know of any of our members who have passed away, or if you have an address/phone change, please contact the Chapter as soon as possible. Also, if you would like to receive the Desert Oracle Newsletter by e-mail, please call or e-mail the office with your e-mail address.

Do you know a veteran with spinal cord dysfunction who isn’t a member of the AZPVA? Let us know at the Chapter office by calling

602-244-9168 or 1-800-621-9217 e-mail: azpva@azpva.org

November 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30

Page 16

Deceased Members November Please have someone contact our Chapter office in the event of a member’s death so that we can inform other member’s who might wish to pay their respects to the departed.

Jesse Collins Leonard Ellis

Dennis Young David Beauchamp Arthur T. Knell William J. Cutler Robert C. McDonald Kathleen Livingston Anthony J. Rodriguez Ronald E. Dailey Lonzo J. Copenhaver William H. Kahler Timothy J. Tomaszewski Thomas R. Epperson Roy D. Stockton Thomas T. Apostolou Mark W. Peterson

Ronald W. Warren Arlon W. Vincent Alan J. Williams James J. Naughton Dane J. Roth Clinton L. Hoback Richard J. Tinkler Ronald B. Anderson Janis K. McCammon Mark H. Hamling William D. Stokes Melanie R. Neva Leonard H. Wolin Leo B. Gamez John A. Tuzzolino

Terry L. Ingle Deborah J. Anderson Daniel D. Kehrberg Mary A. Ervin Edward Ramirez Vicente N. Yurtola Vicky L. Buselli Doug Reed Richard T. Coulson David O. Gollner Michael I. Cowden Jeffrey A. Turner Jack E. Schroder Daniel E. Glines

November