"WASHINGTON -- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded a grant of more than $1.3 million to the state of Nebraska for improvements at the state veterans' home in Grand Island."

(External Link)
http://www1.va.gov/OPA/pressrel/PressArtInternet.cfm?id=844

"WASHINGTON -- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced a new policy providing a single, uniform standard of care throughout the Department for performing laser eye surgery procedures."

(External Link)
http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/PressArtInternet.cfm?id=843

"WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded a grant of more than $6 million to the state of Maine to construct a new residential care facility for veterans at Machias, which will be Maine's sixth state veterans home."

(External Link)
http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/PressArtInternet.cfm?id=842

"The Department of Defense (DoD) today announced the continuation of its transformation to new military healthcare contractors and changes in regional areas of responsibility.

On Aug. 1, 2004, Tricare-eligible beneficiaries in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, eastern Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee transition to the Tricare South Region. These locations formerly comprised the Southeast and Gulf South Regions (Regions 3 and 4). This is the third major transition to new regions and new contracts announced by the department, including the initial transition of parts of the West Region on June 1 and parts of the North Region on July 1. "

(External Link)
http://www.dod.mil/releases/2004/nr20040728-1065.html

"The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has expanded its online benefits applications to include Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance."

(External Link)
http://www1.va.gov/OPA/pressrel/PressArtInternet.cfm?id=834

"The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded a grant of $368,550 to the state of Kentucky to renovate the heating and cooling system at the state veterans' home in Hanson."

(External Link)
http://www1.va.gov/OPA/pressrel/PressArtInternet.cfm?id=836

"WASHINGTON -- Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi approved a $1.6 million grant to Nevada to expand the state-run Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City, Nev."

(External Link)
http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/PressArtInternet.cfm?id=828

"(DoD) today announced the continuation of its transformation to new military healthcare contractors and changes in regional areas of responsibility. On July 1, 2004, more than 1 million Tricare-eligible beneficiaries in Alaska, California, Hawaii, and the Yuma, Ariz., area, transitioned to the new West Region. These beneficiaries join with beneficiaries in Oregon, Washington state and northern Idaho who transitioned on June 1. The Tricare West Region contractor is TriWest Healthcare Alliance Corp."

(External Link)
http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/2004/nr20040706-0981.html

"(VA) Veterans can receive chiropractic care at 26 selected Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities beginning this fall, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi announced today."

(External Link)
http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/PressArtInternet.cfm?id=826

"(VA) announced today that veterans will now be able to access their Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) accounts at any time of the day or night from any computer or telephone."

(External Link)
http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/PressArtInternet.cfm?id=824

"(VA) wants to ensure that surviving spouses of deceased veterans are aware of an approaching deadline that may affect entitlement to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits"

(External Link) http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/PressArtInternet.cfm?id=823

• Pentagon Targets 1 In 4 Military Bases
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NOTES:
The Concurrent Disability Payment Frequently Asked Questions are from DFAS in Cleveland Ohio,
Released 02/02/2004

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The Facts about the 1973 Fire at NPRC were released by NPRC and appear on their website. The reason this is being published is because there were NO Navy records involved in the fire and I have heard from many Navy Veterans that they were told their records were destroyed in this fire. It simply is not true!
• Concurrent Disability Pay FAQs
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• Facts about the 1973 Fire at NPRC
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• TRICARE NEWS RELEASE Feb. 3, 2004, No. 04-05
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• DIC Benefits for Remarried Widows
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• Burial of spouses who remarry
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• Benefits for children with spina bifida
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• Payment of benefits accrued and unpaid at time of death
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WASHINGTON (Jan. 5, 2004) - Expensive hotels and cramped couches will soon be a faded memory for families of veterans being treated for long-term illnesses at the Houston Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center when the largest "Fisher House" opens next fall.  Full text at VA NEWS RELEASES