The
basic problem began in 1933 with the passing of the Economy Act that cut military
pensions to give government more money for the New Deal projects to
recover the economy.
The Government's First Step in Reducing Veterans' Benefits
No
Mercy
National Tribune, December 15, 1932
“Those
with huge incomes seek to add to their unearned increments by taking
from the disabled veterans and widows their means of existence. The
extremely wealthy men—and women, too—want a reduction in their
Federal taxes, and to accomplish such a reduction, they say it is necessary
to pauperize the ex-service men and their dependents.”
Roosevelt's New Deal
March 15, 1933
The New Deal, introduced by F D Roosevelt was to transform America's
economy which had been shattered by the Wall Street Crash. Roosevelt
asked Congress to pass the Economy Act. This cut the pay of everybody
who worked for the government and the armed forces by 15%. Government
departmental spending was also cut by 25%. The saved money, about $1
billion, was to go towards financing his New Deal.
The impact of the decision was noted after the Vietnam Vets were not treated fairly by the VA.
Resolution
November 10, 1982
Representatives from six Veterans' advocacy groups gathered in Washington, D.C. and signed a resolution to be presented to Congress.
Letters from Veterans
Service Organizations
Re: Judicial Review Act
June
30, 1986
Letter from The
American Legion to House Committee on Veterans Affairs:
"In
our considered opinion that authorizing judicial review of individual
VA benefit determination in the federal court system would have a definite
adverse impact on the VA system."
National News Articles relating
to Veterans Dilemma
Uncle
Sam stacks deck against Veterans
by
Jack Anderson
August 17, 1991
"Thus, there
is a colossal mismatch in most Veterans' disputes. The resources of
the Goliath VA Bureaucracy vs. the Davids of the Veterans' community.
Even when a Veteran pulls a upset with a mere slingshot often the does
not comply with the COVA [Court of Veterans' Appeals] rulings."
Transcripts
of Cases before the Court of Veterans Appeals
Richard
S. Levy, Appellant, v. Jesse Brown
November 9, 1993
Case No. 92-1174
Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Appellee.
On Appeal from the Board of Veterans' Appeals
Statements from Professionals Regarding Court of Veterans Appeals:
Re:
STATE OF COURT
October 17-18, 1994
Chief Judge Frank Q. Nebeker
State Of The Court for Presentation Secretary of Veterans Affairs
"Neither the Court,
through the Board, the Board, nor the General Counsel has direct and
meaningful control over the Agencies of Original Jurisdiction. Indeed,
it is also clear that the VHA—the Veterans Health Administration—often
ignores specific directives to provide medical opinions as directed.
And this is resulting in unconscionable delays."
Novermber,
1996
OMB tells VA to hide "grim picture" of service to Veterans
from Congress
and public
Letters from Veterans Affairs Office
Letter from Toni S. Hustead, Chief Veterans Affairs Branch to Office
of Budget Management
January
24, 1997
Most of the VBA outyear workload and performance measures (other than C & P) paint a grim picture of service to veterans. GPRA envisions that if these kinds of results come out of a status quo model they should be discussed during negotiations. At that time options on how service to veterans can be maintained or under these funding constraints should be brought forward.
Statements Regarding Regional
Veterans Administration Offices:
Re:
Wisconsin Veterans Offices
November 3, 1997
Letter from Attorneys Joseph C. Koltz and David Mirhoseini
to The Honorable Barbara B. Crabb
Letters from Veterans for Due
Process
Open
Letter to Presidential Candidates
October 17, 2000
From: Veterans for Due Process, Inc.
and The National Veterans Organization