U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs CWV – News Update

We often find ourselves performing the same motions each day, forgetting to move our joints and our bodies in all the ways they were designed to move. Stretching is known to improve joint health by increasing the range of motion in the joints, loosening tight muscles and ligaments, and resetting your posture. [From VA News]

Kathlene Contres was born in Pennsylvania and attended Slippery Rock University, graduating in 1977. Three years later, she joined the Navy, moving to Newport, Rhode Island, to attend Officer Candidate School. After graduating, she was stationed in the Navy Audio Visual Center at Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C. [From VA News]

We honor her service.

Today, Women Veterans Recognition Day, we honor the service and sacrifices of women Veterans. This day serves as a reminder that women have long fought for the right to serve and are an integral part of the United States military. [From VA News]

As a Marine Corps administrative noncommissioned officer, Toni Williams was called “mama bear” for the care and support she gave to Marines experiencing sexual assault or on the verge of suicide. Afterwards, Williams continued to serve by providing meals to the homeless through the Salvation Army and resources to Veterans and their families through the Washington, D.C. Mayor’s Office of Veterans Affairs. “It was one of the best decisions I made to stand side-by-side with those Marines,” Williams recalled about her service years. [From VA News]

We honor her service.

The PACT Act, passed in August 2022, expands Veterans’ eligibility to benefits based on the addition of new presumptive conditions and toxic exposure locations. Presumptive conditions are ones VA assumes are related to military service, therefore making it easier for Veterans to connect certain conditions to their military service. As a result, more survivors are eligible for benefits than ever before. [From VA News]

Robin Braun was born in Pensacola, Florida. She attended Northern Arizona University and earned her commission after graduating in 1980. In 1981, she was stationed at the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas, serving as an instructor pilot with the Training Squadron 31. Two years later, Braun joined the Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron in Hawaii, where she served in several positions using the EC-130Q aircraft. [From VA News]

We honor her service.

Naval Academy graduate Cassandra Williamson served for more than nine years in the military, first as an enlisted Navy cryptologic tech collecting intelligence for a submarine group, and later as a Marine Corps officer. Today, she is the executive director of the Transgender American Veterans Association (TAVA) and continues her service by helping Veterans access care and benefits. Williamson was born in eastern Kentucky but spent most of her life in Alabama. [From VA News]

We honor her service.

As we celebrate Pride Month, it’s important to recognize that the fight for equality and inclusion is ongoing. At VA, we are committed to ensuring that Pride counts, every day of the year. We believe that every Veteran, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, deserves the highest quality of care and support. [From VA News]

In March 2020, a national emergency was declared due to the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) outbreak. In response to this emergency, VA adjusted how it processed claims, acknowledging how the pandemic affected certain aspects of the claim process, such as claim exams or hearings. Since many claimants were unable to attend scheduled exams or hearings due to these COVID-19 concerns, VA held these claims until claimants could attend their appointments. [From VA News]

Evelyn Brady, Navy Veteran and mother of three, had her world turned upside down in 2019. She’s now championing efforts to bring awareness to those who, like her, carry the title of Gold Star Family. [From VA News]

Dee Allen was born in Birmingham, Alabama. In 1997, she completed her undergraduate education at the University of Maryland, where she majored in criminal justice and behavioral science. Allen pursued her degree while simultaneously serving in the U.S. Navy. Allen joined the Navy in 1986, first serving as a seaman recruit. [From VA News]

We honor her service.

VA marks the first anniversary of the enactment of the Making Advances in Mammography and Medical Options for Veterans Act (MAMMO Act), which expands access to breast cancer screenings and the provision of state-of-the-art treatment and clinical trials through partnerships with the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The MAMMO Act expands access to high-quality breast cancer screening and treatment services for Veterans. The past year has yielded significant results in expanding breast care services. [From VA News]