Military Officer - November 2008 - (Page 38)

washingtonscene vides adequate compensation in such cases. The rating schedule change mainly has the potential to affect those with mild or relatively moderate TBI who previously might have been assigned low or modest ratings. The new rules base TBI ratings on the degree of “cognitive impairment” and other “residuals” of TBI. These might include mild to severe loss of memory, attention, concentration, judgment, motor activity, visual spatial orientation, ability to communicate, and other functions. The rating schedule goes into effect in late October. Because of the complexity of each individual evaluation, it’s not possible to assert that a particular person or particular condition would receive a particular rating increase. Implementation panel highlights: Col. Jim Rice, USA, and Col. Greg Boyle, USMC, commanders of their services’ wounded-warrior units, addressed the challenges of rising numbers of returning wounded, ﬁnding and training new case managers, providing caring personal assistance to every wounded member, and reaching out to contact those who left active service before the wounded-warrior program came into being. Sam Retherford, head of the DoD/VA disability evaluation system pilot project, focused on “transparency, advocacy, and speed. … There’s still too much passing of paper and ﬁles and … conﬂicts in DoD versus VA regulations, but we’re working to expand the pilot to 13 DoD sites.” Lt. Col. Mike Parker, USAF-Ret., an advocate for the disabled, said the services aren’t following DoD guidance in all cases, and DoD doesn’t always follow the VA rating guidelines, which causes low disability evaluations. Meredith Beck, special assistant to the VA secretary, said the goal is ensuring injured servicemembers can live their lives to the fullest and make more use of civilian and community-based programs. “One problem,” she said, “is that so many people are working so hard, they sometimes don’t take time to talk to each other.” Leadership seamless transition panel highlights: Moderator Geoff Deutsch of WoundedWarrior Forum a Hit Speakers and panelists provide insight. O n Sept. 17, MOAA and the U.S. Naval Institute sponsored a symposium highlighting progress and continuing challenges in meeting the needs of wounded warriors and their families. Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Carl Levin (D-Mich.) kicked off the day, recapping the committee’s effort to address the problems exposed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C., last year, when the “sprawling overlap of bureaucracies left the wounded and their families confused, overwhelmed, and too often without adequate care. … There has been some progress,” he said, “but a lot more needs to be made, because we’ve seen some implementation shortfalls. The wounded troops aren’t complainers, so that makes your involvement [in measuring progress] all the more critical.” the Veterans Innovation Center stressed the wounded-warrior problem “won’t go away,” as problems and technological capabilities will evolve. “Those with disabilities at age 25 will still have disabilities when they’re 75.” Melinda Darby, executive director of the DoD/VA Senior Oversight Committee Ofﬁce, emphasized the commitment of both departments’ leaders and said the committee will transition to a permanent structure this fall. Dr. Lynda Davis, who cochairs the DoD/VA case-management effort, said families must be a key part of a wounded servicemember’s recovery team. Her group 38 MILITARY OFFICER NOVEMBER 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Military Officer - November 2008

Military Officer - November 2008 Contents From the Editor From the President Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire Washington Scene Chapters in Action Financial Forum Ask the Doctor Financial Guidebook Out of the Red 7 Year-End Tax Strategies Cover Story: Memory Survives Something to Say MOAA Scholarship Recipients Pages of History Faces of MOAA Information Exchange Member Books Advertising Index MOAA Member Services MOAA Calendar Sounding Taps Encore

Military Officer - November 2008

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