Your veterans news today update for Friday, August 22:
VA official accused of lying to Congress placed on administrative leave (The Blaze)
A senior Veterans Affairs official accused of lying to a member of Congress has been placed on administrative, along with another top official at the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System. CAVHCS Director James Talton was placed on leave, along with Chief of Staff Dr. Cliff Robinson.
McCain: Why is Phoenix VA boss still employed? (Arizona Republic)
“Right now, the … people who really were responsible here in Phoenix, they’re on (paid) administrative leave,” Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said. “What does that mean? What message does that send?” In addition to Phoenix VA Health Care System Director Sharon Helman, two other top officials at Phoenix VA are under suspension in the wake of the VA’s wait times scandal: Lance Robinson, an associate director, and Brad Curry, director of Health Administration Services.
New federal report uncovers flaws at Charleston VA hospital (Post & Courier)
The Charleston (S.C.) VA hospital funneled “hundreds of thousands of stipend dollars” to caregivers who may not have qualified for a program that provides medical and financial benefits for post-9/11 veterans, a new federal report shows.
Missed leukemia diagnosis by VA has veteran living day to day (Washington Examiner)
Lucas Davis thought he had already heard the worst by the time he met with a cancer specialist at the Department of Veterans Affairs last November. His leukemia had been diagnosed a month earlier, and was confirmed by two other doctors. But as the oncologist reviewed the electronic medical records of Davis’ past treatment at VA, he discovered that elevated white blood cell counts six years earlier should have been a warning of the onset of the disease. No one said anything to Davis at the time.
Congressman’s office sorry for using Soviet medals in veterans ad (Associated Press)
A New Jersey congressman’s office is red-faced over a Facebook ad about veteran benefits that featured Soviet military medals. The ad asked people to like Rep. Scott Garrett’s page to learn what he’s doing to support veterans’ benefits.
Wounded Texas veterans find therapy on the water (Associated Press)
A group of combat veterans and wounded warriors were invited to participate with their families in a learn-to-sail seminar on a lake northwest of Dallas. Army veteran David Callaway has fought PTSD since his tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. At times, the stress is so severe that he can’t leave his house, and seeks the oblivion of sleep before sundown. But since he enrolled in a five-man pilot program for the sailing seminar in July, he eagerly anticipated sharing the experience with the larger warrior contingent.