Emerald Empire MOAA of Eugene
Emerald Empire MOAA of Eugene
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    • ABOUT US
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Emerald Empire Chapter of MOAA

NEVER STOP SERVING

MOAA ADVOCACY IN ACTION

MOAA FOCUS: Supporting combat injured veteran pay, ensuring equitable pay and benefits for active-duty members, Affordable Mental health care for Tricare recipients.

Major Richard Star Act (wounded veteran pay) (pdf)

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Equitable pay and benefits for active duty (pdf)

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Affordable Mental Health care (pdf)

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MOAA Letter to President Biden

MOAA Letter to President Biden (docx)Download

National MOAA information

 The national organization (MOAA) is a non-partisan advocate on military personnel matters, especially proposed legislation affecting the career force, the retired community and veterans of the uniformed services. 

 National MOAA areas of emphasis can be found at http://www.moaa.org/takeaction/  

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Update on VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities

Additional Information

   The Department of Veterans Affairs is proposing changes to the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities specifically pertaining to the respiratory, auditory and mental disorders body systems.     

   The proposed updates to the rating schedule for these conditions will enable VA to incorporate modern medical data and terminology to provide Veterans with more accurate and consistent decisions.     

   Veterans who currently receive compensation for a service-connected condition in these body systems will not have their disability rating impacted when the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities is updated. Updating the rating schedule allows Veterans to receive decisions based on the most current medical knowledge relating to their condition.     

   By incorporating modern medical data in the assessment of disabilities and how they impact earning capacity, Veterans will receive evaluations which more accurately compensate them for their service-connected disabilities. Proposed updates include:     

   Modernizing the evaluative rating criteria for sleep apnea, using developments in medical knowledge to evaluate it based on its responsiveness to treatment, bringing the rating criteria for sleep apnea more closely in line with the stated purpose of the rating schedule.    

   Evaluating tinnitus (ringing in the ears) as a symptom of the underlying disease which causes it, rather than as a stand-alone disability.   

    Evaluating mental health conditions based on a more robust and holistic approach that assesses how impactful the disability is to cognition, interpersonal relationships, task completion, life activities and self-care. Additionally, the proposed evaluation criteria include a 10% minimum evaluation for having one or more service-connected mental health conditions and will no longer require “total occupational and social impairment” to attain a 100% evaluation.    

   No change to a Veteran’s current rating would occur due to these proposed changes. If the proposed changes are finalized, Veterans who currently receive compensation for a service-connected condition can apply for increased compensation, but no reductions shall be made unless an improvement in the Veteran’s disability is shown to have occurred.     

   The public has 60 days to provide comments to VA regarding the two proposed updates via the Federal Register notices located here and here.     


Thomas J. Murphy  Director, Northeast District  Performing the Delegable Duties of the Under Secretary for Benefits

VA Adds Presumptive cases for exposure

Veterans can apply for benefits here

Learn more

VA Benefits Newsletter

New service-connected benefits

You may be eligible for newly enacted service-connected benefits.  

Over the course of the last six months, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has begun processing service-connected disability claims for six new presumptive conditions related to environmental exposures during military service. We request your help in making more Veterans aware of these newly added presumptive conditions to help them file a claim and obtain any earned benefits. 

In May 2021, VA started implementing provisions of the William M. Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (NDAA), adding bladder cancer, hypothyroidism and Parkinsonism to the list of medical conditions presumptively associated with exposure to Agent Orange. A few months later VA added asthma, rhinitis and sinusitis (to include rhinosinusitis) on a presumptive basis based on particulate matter exposures during military service in Southwest Asia and certain other areas.  

Any Veteran who was previously denied service-connection for any of these six conditions but had symptoms manifest within 10 years of military service would need to file a supplemental claim. Be sure to use VA Form 20-0995, Decision Review Request: Supplemental Claim when filing. The claim form should include the name of the condition and specify that the condition is being claimed due to in-service exposure to environmental hazards.  

VA is committed to assisting Veterans who may have been exposed to hazardous materials during their military service.  

Be sure to stay plugged in to www.va.gov for the most recent developments around environmental exposures during military service, as VA is constantly conducting research and surveillance as well as reviewing scientific literature for conditions that may be related to exposure during military service.  

For more information about VA benefits and eligibility, or how to file a claim, Veterans and survivors can visit VA’s website at www.va.gov or call toll-free at 1-800-827-1000. 

New Lactation Pods in VA Clinics

Mamava Lactation Pod in the Eugene VA Clinic

Roseburg VA opens lactation pods in Roseburg and Eugene 

 "Hello, mamas!" reads the sign on the two new Mamava Lactation Pods that Roseburg VA Health Care System (RVAHCS) proudly launched on February 1, 2022. One is located at the Roseburg VA Medical Center, in Building 1 on the 5th floor, just outside the elevators. 

The other is located at the Eugene VA Health Care Center on the 2nd floor, next to the elevator banks.  

 Mamava Pods are available for mothers, Veterans, and VA employees who need a private, safe, and clean area to breastfeed, bottle-feed, or pump. 

They can also be utilized as a quiet space for parents who need a parenting moment with their child.  The pods are ADA accessible, have easy to wipe seats, counter space, electrical plugs, USB ports, and a mirror.   

The Mamava app is available from the AppStore and Google Play. Registration is required to use the app; however, it only requires an email address, password, and first and last name.  With the app, you can unlock the pod, reserve times, receive vacancy alerts, see if the pod is open, adjust the light and fan, and search for other Mamava Pods while traveling. Pods can also be accessed with a code using the keypad.  

Mamava Lactation Pods offer parents on-the-go a friendlier, cleaner, and more comfortable alternative, and RVAHCS is delighted to be able to provide them.  Inside lactation pod 

The point of contact for this release is Traci Palmer, Acting Public Affairs Officer, Roseburg VA Health Care System; traci.palmer@va.gov; 541-440-1000, Ext. 43026.

National MOAA News

Why Should I Join MOAA?

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 National MOAA has many benefits that the local chapters cannot provide, and is very active as the voice of military members before the members of Congress. 

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Emerald Empire MOAA of Eugene

moaaofeugene@gmail.com

A MESSAGE FROM THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION

 

Greetings Veterans,


VA is the world’s leading research and educational center of excellence on  PTSD and traumatic stress. VA has a National Center for PTSD and there are abundant resources available on the website.  By visiting this site, you can learn more about PTSD and available treatment options, as well as locate VA care centers near you.

VA also created “PTSD Coach,” an app that provides tools and resources to help you learn about and manage PTSD symptoms. Additionally, VA has developed this helpful guide you can share with families and friends to help them understand PTSD and how they can support you.

Letting others know how you feel and asking for support can be extremely helpful.  We encourage you to access information regarding mental health care and resources here. allows this site, you can explore mental health resources by topic and locate VA and community resources near you.  Additional assistance can also be found at this website, Don't wait. Reach out.

If you are experiencing a crisis, the Veterans Crisis Line or National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, is available by dialing 1-800-273-8255, (Veterans press 1). The crisis line is staffed around the clock by a caring, qualified responders, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

We care about you and encourage you to use these resources.  Please do not hesitate to reach out to VA with any assistance you might need for a safe and joyful holiday season!


 If you know a Veteran who is in crisis, call the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 and press 1. 

ROSEBURG COVID VACCINATION INFORMATION

  

 Roseburg VA Health Care System913 NW Garden Valley Blvd
Roseburg, OR 97471
(541) 440-1000 

December 20, 2021
2022-011  

PRESS RELEASE | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Roseburg VA Expands Offering of COVID-19 Booster Shots - Dec 20, 2021 Update

ROSEBURG, OR – The safety and care of Veterans and our workforce are VA’s top priorities. As of October 26, 2021, Roseburg VA Health Care System (RVAHCS) has been offering Veterans, employees and SAVE LIVES Act recipients the Moderna vaccine booster shots.

“Vaccines remain the best way of protecting Veterans, staff and the RVAHCS community against COVID-19,” said Keith Allen, Medical Center Director. “During the holidays, the expanded Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations regarding booster shots allow us to better protect those at higher risk, as well as our community at large.”

CDC recommends a booster for individuals who are 18 years and older and are at least 6 months from their second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, or at least 2 months from their single dose J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.

Adolescents aged 16-17 years may receive a booster dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after completion of the primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks.

Individuals who are 18 years and older may receive any of the COVID-19 vaccines as a booster dose and should check their vaccination site ahead of time if they have a preference of vaccine. Individuals younger than 18 years old should only get the Pfizer-BioNTech as a booster.

While the initial series of vaccines remain highly effective in reducing the likelihood of infection and preventing severe illness, hospitalization, or death among those infected, the purpose of this booster shot is to “boost” antibody protection when it has decreased over time.

VA is also offering the booster to spouses, caregivers and CHAMPVA recipients under the authority of the SAVE LIVES Act, as supply and capacity permits. The SAVE LIVES Act authorizes VA to offer vaccine to Veterans not traditionally eligible for VHA care, and others including spouses and caregivers of Veterans.

Veterans who received a COVID-19 vaccine outside of VA will need to contact the Primary Care Clinic at 541-440-1000. Those who received a vaccine under authority of the SAVE LIVES Act and want a booster shot may do so in VA if supply permits and should consult with their physician if they have questions about whether they should receive a booster. Contact the RVAHCS Call Center at 541-440-1000 for an appointment or information about walk-in hours.

CDC advises that it is safe for people to get both the COVID-19 vaccine and flu vaccine at the same time. Veterans receiving care at VA who wish to get a booster shot can get both shots together during the same visit.

Visit VA’s Questions webpage for questions and answers regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. 


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