Veteran Issues Digest Number 1769

[admin]

1. More on FW: Dental Exam Can Be Crucial in Finding Diabetes

Posted by: "Colonel Dan" colonel-dan@sbcglobal.net coloneldan1

Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:02 am (PDT)

Undiagnosed diabetes lending to death is an Agent Orange presumptive
condition.

From: ashaunam@yahoo. com
Sent: Monday, March 24, 2008 12:11 PM
To: VeteranIssues- owner@yahoogroup s.com
Subject: Re: Dental Exam Can Be Crucial in Finding Diabetes

Using differnet addy but I am Berta Simmons-of HadIt.com Veteran to Veteran LLC Oral
candidiasis is also often diagnosed at a dental exam.
Oral candidia is often due to high glucose that spills into the saliva. The
VA's own training letter on diabetes Mellitus states that this is an
indicator and symptom of diabetes.

The symptoms can be a hot burning senation in the mouth and a white coating
of the gums and tongue.
By finding my husband had this condition during a VA hospitalization along
with consistently high glucose reading but no diabetes diagnosis-I was able
to obtain 3 independent medical opinions to show that he had diabetes from
Agent Orange (Vietnam) and that it led to his other conditions found upon
autopsy- which the VA admitted they caused.(FTCA/ Sec 1151) Death by VA has
no Peace with Honor. Undiagnosed diabetes lending to death is an Agent
Orange presumptive condition.
An Agent Orange death will give him Peace with Honor.

Diabetes is a highly undiagnosed disease that often isnt diagnosed until the
vet has a stroke or a heart attack directly due to the diabetes.It can led
to vision problems, skin problems, peripheral neuropathy, and countless
other conditions.



--- In VeteranIssues@ yahoogroups. com, "Colonel Dan" <colonel-dan@ ...>
wrote:
>
> Note: Most Veteran's can't get Dental Care at VA
>
> http://www.cumc. columbia. edu/news/ in-
vivo/february_ 2008/dental_ research. html
>
> Dental Exam Can Be Crucial in Finding Diabetes
>
> College of Dental Medicine and Mailman School of Public Health
researchers
> have found that the dental exam may play a key role in diabetes
diagnosis.
> "Diabetes has a reciprocal relationship with periodontal disease,
the most
> common oral disease in adults. Adults with diabetes are more likely
to have
> periodontal disease, and those with periodontal disease are more
likely to
> have their diabetes out of control," says Luisa N. Borrell, D.D.S.,
Ph.D.,
> assistant professor of epidemiology at the Mailman School and
dentistry at
> CDM.
> The authors suggest using a combination of patient-derived
information,
> (demographic, family history of diabetes, and self-reported
hypertension and
> hypercholesterolemi a), and findings from a periodontal examination
(pocket
> depth or level of clinical attachment) to assess the patient's risk
for
> diabetes. According to the American Dental Association, 60 percent
of
> Americans have at least one dental check-up annually, so if
dentists are
> able to identify patients at risk for the disease, they could refer
them to
> a physician for diagnostic testing and appropriate treatment.
> By doing so, dentists could make a positive impact on public
health. Not
> only has the prevalence of diabetes in the United States increased
steadily
> over the past 15 years, but evidence suggests that about 30 percent
of such
> cases remain undiagnosed. "A couple of important trends in the U.S.
> population are going to force dentists and other oral health care
personnel
> to play an active role in improving the health of the population,"
Dr.
> Borrell says, citing increased diversity, aging, tooth retention,
and the
> emerging link between oral disease and systemic conditions as
examples.
>
> Borrell LN, Kunzel C, Lamster IB, Lalla E. Diabetes in the Dental
Office:
> Using NHANES III to estimate the probability of undiagnosed
disease.
> J Periodont Res 2007; 42: 559-565
> This research was conducted with support from grants from the
National
> Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research and the Robert Wood
Johnson
> Foundation Health & Society Scholars Program.
>
Using differnet addy but I am Berta Simmons-of HadIt.com Veteran to Veteran LLC Oral
candidiasis is also often diagnosed at a dental exam.
Oral candidia is often due to high glucose that spills into the saliva. The
VA's own training letter on diabetes Mellitus states that this is an
indicator and symptom of diabetes.

The symptoms can be a hot burning senation in the mouth and a white coating
of the gums and tongue.
By finding my husband had this condition during a VA hospitalization along
with consistently high glucose reading but no diabetes diagnosis-I was able
to obtain 3 independent medical opinions to show that he had diabetes from
Agent Orange (Vietnam) and that it led to his other conditions found upon
autopsy- which the VA admitted they caused.(FTCA/ Sec 1151) Death by VA has
no Peace with Honor. Undiagnosed diabetes lending to death is an Agent
Orange presumptive condition.
An Agent Orange death will give him Peace with Honor.

Diabetes is a highly undiagnosed disease that often isnt diagnosed until the
vet has a stroke or a heart attack directly due to the diabetes.It can led
to vision problems, skin problems, peripheral neuropathy, and countless
other conditions.



2. Priority 8, SENATE AND HOUSE VETERANS COMMITTEES URGE VA TO OPEN ITS

Posted by: "Colonel Dan" colonel-dan@sbcglobal.net coloneldan1

Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:05 am (PDT)


SENATE AND HOUSE VETERANS COMMITTEES URGE VA TO OPEN ITS DOORS TO
MIDDLE-INCOME VETERANS

March 14, 2008
http://veterans. senate.gov/ public/index. cfm?pageid= 12
<http://veterans. senate.gov/ public/index. cfm?pageid= 12&release_ id=11611>
&release_id= 11611

WASHINGTON, D.C. -Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Senate Veterans'
Affairs Committee, and Congressman Bob Filner (D-CA), Chairman of the House
Veterans' Affairs Committee, sent a letter today urging VA Secretary James
B. Peake to raise the income threshold that currently bars veterans making
as little as $28,430 a year from the VA health care system. Under current
law, Secretary Peake has the authority to redefine the income threshold at
his discretion.

"The current ban on enrollment is far too restrictive for middle-class
veterans, who served our nation honorably but cannot receive health care
from VA. I am encouraged by Secretary Peake's willingness to reconsider the
current income threshold, and I hope that we can work together to bring
world-class health care to more veterans who need it," said Akaka.

Majority members of both Committees joined Akaka and Filner in signing the
letter: Senators John D. Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Patty Murray (D-WA), Barack
Obama (D-IL), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Jim Webb (D-VA),
Jon Tester (D-MT); and Representatives Corrine Brown, Michael H. Michaud,
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, John J. Hall, Shelley Berkley, Ciro Rodriguez,
Joe Donnelly, Jerry McNerney, Zachary T. Space, and Harry E. Mitchell.

On January 17, 2003, the Bush Administration banned enrollment of "Priority
8" veterans into the VA health care system due to resource constraints.
Priority 8's are non service-connected veterans who exceed a certain income
cap, currently as low as $28,430 in some regions. VA estimates that as many
as 1.5 million middle-income veterans have been denied, or are awaiting,
enrollment into the VA health care system due to this restriction. At a
Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs' budget hearing on February 13, 2008,
Secretary Peake expressed a willingness to consider modifying the Priority 8
income threshold.

In their letter, Akaka and his colleagues noted that the Priority 8 ban was
implemented under the rationale that VA lacked the resources to care for all
veterans. Responding to that issue, they noted that last year, Congress
provided VA with the largest funding increase in the Department's 77-year
history, and underscored their commitment to bringing VA enough resources to
care for more veterans.

"VA should be available to all veterans - whether they were fortunate enough
to have escaped injury during their service or not," Akaka stated. "It is
time to move back in that direction."

The Committee's omnibus health care package, S. 1233, contains a provision
that would allow all Priority 8 veterans back into the VA health care system
by rescinding the ban issued in 2003. However, due to opposition from
Republican members to this provision, the bill is currently stalled in the
Senate. Chairman Akaka plans to continue to push for an up-or-down vote on
this vital legislation in the Senate.

A copy of the letter is below:

March 14, 2008

The Honorable James B. Peake, MD

Secretary of Veterans Affairs

810 Vermont Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20420

Dear Secretary Peake:

We write to ask you to address the ban on enrollment of
middle-income veterans - so-called Priority 8 veterans - who wish to receive
their health care through VA. VA's own estimates suggest that as many as
1.5 million middle-income veterans are still awaiting, or have been denied,
enrollment. Many earn as little as $28,430 per year.

As Secretary, you have full authority to redefine the income
threshold for eligibility, and we urge you to do so in order to allow more
veterans entry into the VA health care system. You stated before the Senate
Committee on February 13, 2008, that you would be willing to examine raising
the threshold and would work with the Committee to this end. We are
following up on that pledge.

The President banned enrollment of new Priority 8 veterans on January 17,
2003. The rationale for the ban was overcrowding in the VA health care
system. Yet, in testimony before the Senate Committee on February 13, 2008,
you stated that VA is on track to "virtually eliminate the waiting list [for
health care appointments] by the end of next year."

Given that Congress recently provided VA, in the Fiscal Year 2008
Consolidated Appropriations Act, with a record funding increase of $6.7
billion over Fiscal Year 2007, we believe that VA has the capacity and
resources to serve more middle-income veterans. We also note that many
Priority 8 veterans have private health care coverage and would be subject
to existing copayments for care. These veterans would effectively bring
revenue into the system and would offset some of the cost of their care.

Mr. Secretary, we urge you to investigate real options for
re-opening the VA health care system to middle-income veterans. We look
forward to working with you to meet our mutual obligation to those who have
served our country.

Sincerely,

Daniel K. Akaka

Bob Filner

John D. Rockefeller IV,

Patty Murray,

Barack Obama

Bernard Sanders

Sherrod Brown

Jim Webb

Jon Tester

Corrine Brown

Michael H. Michaud

Stephanie Herseth Sandlin

John J. Hall

Shelley Berkley

Ciro Rodriguez

Joe Donnelly

Jerry McNerney

Zachary T. Space

Harry E. Mitchell

3.
Adopting a four-legged veteran

Posted by: "Colonel Dan" colonel-dan@sbcglobal.net coloneldan1

Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:55 am (PDT)

http://www.uswardog s.org/

http://www.military workingdogadopti ons.com/

MWD Facility Contact Numbers thru-out US below
http://www.military workingdogadopti ons.com/donation s.html


Adopting a four-legged veteran

By Karen <mailto:kjowers@atpco. com?subject=Question from ArmyTimes.com
reader> Jowers - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Mar 24, 2008 11:00:42 EDT
http://www.armytime s.com/news/ 2008/03/military _dogs_032208w/

Benny was declared "excess" by the military and scheduled to be euthanized
by January, according to his military medical records.

Today, Benny - a spry German shepherd - is anything but excess to Debbie
Kandoll, who found him during a determined search to adopt a retired
military working dog.

Even at the advanced dog age of 10, with degenerative bone disease, Benny
has become an integral part of the Kandoll family since he was adopted from
Langley Air Force Base, Va., on Jan. 4.

Kandoll, the wife of an Air Force Reserve officer currently on active duty,
wants to get the word out to other military families and civilians that
retired dogs are available for adoption at military working dog facilities
across the country, as are some younger dogs who may have washed out of the
program.

She has launched a Web <http://www.military workingdogadopti ons.com/> site
that includes phone numbers for 125 military working dog facilities.

The idea of supporting the troops, said Kandoll, who lives near Goldsboro,
N.C., "should apply to all veterans, not just the human ones."

Kandoll said she thought at first that she could adopt retired dogs only
through the Defense Military Working Dog School at Lackland Air Force Base,
Texas.

"People should check with regional facilities to see what is available," she
said.

As for Benny, he's thriving and his mobility has improved, she said - partly
because he now gets to sleep on comfy pillows instead of concrete.

Although Benny is no longer on military patrols and sniffing for drugs, he
is anything but retired. He visits hospitals, including the Department of
Veterans Affairs hospital in Durham, N.C., as a certified therapy dog.

Kandoll and Benny make appearances at local events to raise awareness and
encourage more civilians to adopt retired military working dogs.

Last year, 360 retired military working dogs were adopted or transferred to
law enforcement agencies, according to officials at the Defense Military
Working Dog School, with the 341st Training Squadron at Lackland.

Of those, 103 were transferred to law enforcement agencies, 139 were adopted
at Lackland and the remaining dogs were adopted elsewhere, many likely by
former military working dog handlers.

Under a law passed in 2000, dogs declared "excess" by the Defense Department
can be adopted by law-enforcement agencies, prior military handlers and the
general public.

"A lot of people still don't know they can adopt dogs," said Ron Aiello,
founder of the U.S. War Dogs Association and a former military dog handler
in Vietnam. "They don't know dogs were used in Vietnam and that they are
being used now. I'd like to see more veterans adopt military working dogs."

Aiello said he works closely with Kandoll to provide information to people
who want to adopt dogs. Interest has come from a number of Vietnam veteran
dog handlers, many of whom had to leave their dogs behind in Vietnam.

He and Kandoll think adopting the dogs can be therapeutic for veterans.

To adopt a military working dog, prospective owners fill out a basic
application with questions about their experience with dogs, other pets in
the household, yard size, fencing and children in the household, officials
said.

Once a match for a prospective adoption is made, an agreement is signed for
the transfer of ownership, in which the new owner releases the Defense
Department from liability.

The dogs are free, but the new owners must pay all costs, including
transportation.

Officials at the Military Working Dog School said they have not had to
euthanize any dogs for lack of someone to adopt them. In fact, they've had
to establish a waiting list because there are not enough dogs to meet the
high demand for them in the community and with law-enforcement agencies.

Kandoll's dream is to build a Web site that connects people to working dogs.
"These people at Lackland go above and beyond to place dogs in a home," she
said. "But it's such an overwhelming job. The problem is that the word
hasn't gotten out that after the handlers and law enforcement, civilians can
adopt the dogs.

"That's why the kennel master had this smile in his voice when I called and
asked if he had a dog available for adoption on the afternoon of Nov. 29,"
she said.

"He said, 'Yes, I do. ... His name is Benny, and he's a great big
goofball.'"

Kandoll had checked with Lackland officials earlier in November, but Benny
was not in their database of dogs available for adoption, although he had
been declared "excess" - ready to be retired - in October.

"If I hadn't had the military connection, I would not have known how to
contact these other facilities," she said.

She and her husband drove to Langley Air Force Base on Jan. 4 and picked up
Benny.

As part of the adoption process, Kandoll received Benny's military medical
records.

She quickly noticed that on Nov. 29, Benny officially had been scheduled for
euthanasia in December or January. Nov. 29 was the same day Kandoll had made
her 20th phone call - the one that led her to Benny.


"Keep on, Keepin' on"
Dan Cedusky, Champaign IL "Colonel Dan"
See my web site at:
http://www.angelfire.com/il2/VeteranIssues/