RGJ Investigates: Reno VA office ranks worst in nation for processing veterans' claims
Reno's Veterans Administration office ranks worst in the nation for processing veterans' benefit claims
Ray Hagar
March 2, 2014
Since Sgt. Michael Alarcon was discharged from active duty with the Nevada Army National Guard last summer, his life has turned into a purgatory of paperwork and despair.
Severely injured by a bomb in Iraq in 2009, the veteran’s spine is held together with rods and pins. Although he recovered enough to return to active duty, complications from the injury now leave him in daily pain. He recently underwent surgery to repair a shoulder injured in his final weeks of active duty, and he needs additional surgeries because of complications from his spinal injury.
After his discharge in June after 23 years of military service, Alarcon began applying to receive disability benefits from the Veterans Administration, a process that is still unresolved eight months later.
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Monday, March 3, 2014
VA claim fraud received over $9,000 a month
Holland man, 56, charged with fraud in getting VA, workers’ comp benefits
Buffalo News
NEWS STAFF REPORT
March 2, 2014
A Holland man has been charged with receiving benefits from the Veterans Administration and workers’ compensation under false pretenses, U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced.
Richard L. Klaffka, 56, was charged with making false statements, mail fraud, wire fraud and fraud.
Conviction on the charges could carry a penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or both.
Klaffka has been receiving more than $9,000 per month in tax-free benefits from both government entities as a result of his false claims, according to the complaint.
Beginning in 2008, Klaffka told the Veterans Administration that, as a result of an injury connected with his military service in 1978, he was confined to a wheelchair and unable to engage in everyday activities such as walking, driving and dressing himself or both, according to the criminal complaint.
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Buffalo News
NEWS STAFF REPORT
March 2, 2014
The defendant was already receiving benefits for the service-related injury and was appealing for a significant increase in those benefits, Hochul said.
A Holland man has been charged with receiving benefits from the Veterans Administration and workers’ compensation under false pretenses, U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced.
Richard L. Klaffka, 56, was charged with making false statements, mail fraud, wire fraud and fraud.
Conviction on the charges could carry a penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or both.
Klaffka has been receiving more than $9,000 per month in tax-free benefits from both government entities as a result of his false claims, according to the complaint.
Beginning in 2008, Klaffka told the Veterans Administration that, as a result of an injury connected with his military service in 1978, he was confined to a wheelchair and unable to engage in everyday activities such as walking, driving and dressing himself or both, according to the criminal complaint.
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Florida Vietnam "hero" fraud wanted more money from VA
This fraud was not caught for any other reason than he got too greedy and wanted an increase in his VA benefits.
February 28, 2014
Fraud Vietnam veteran claiming Purple Heart and Bronze Star pleads guilty
Veteran who lied about Purple Heart pleads guilty
Walter Eatman claimed to have PTSD, Purple Heart
WESH.com By Melissa Catalanotto
Feb 28, 2014
ST. CLOUD, Fla. —A veteran from St. Cloud has pleaded guilty to making false statements to receive benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and stealing government funds.
According to court documents, Walter Clarence Eatman, 68, of St. Cloud, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, applied for and received VA benefits for five years. Court documents said he falsely claimed he suffered post-traumatic stress disorder, hearing loss and tinnitus.
Court documents also say he lied about serving in combat in Vietnam for two years and being awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. Officials said Eatman never served in Vietnam, nor did he earn a Purple Heart or Bronze Star.
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'War hero' admits lying to get government benefitsA friend sent Wounded Times a link to this story, which makes it all even worse.
Walt 'Sandman' Eatman of St. Cloud never served in Vietnam, nor was he wounded, federal prosecutors say.
Orlando Sentinel
By Susan Jacobson
February 28, 2014
Walter Eatman of St. Cloud claimed that he suffered post-traumatic stress disorder after being haunted by memories of combat in Vietnam, where he was awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.
The trouble is, none of the claims were true, federal prosecutors said.
Eatman, 68, on Thursday pleaded guilty to theft of government funds and making false statements. Prosecutors say he stole about $106,000 in government money and benefits, including mental-health counseling and medication, by lying about his service.
Eatman, whose nickname is "Sandman," is a former Marine. But he did not serve in Vietnam from August 1965 to August 1967 as he claimed.
Eatman came to the attention of prosecutors after he tried to have his Veterans Affairs benefits increased in September 2010 by claiming that was suffering from PTSD.
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Left to right- Don Smith, museum CEO, Art Schwabe, American Legion Florida Commander
and Walt Eatman, Vice Commander pause during their tour of the museum.
American Legion Commander Visits Museum of Military History
The Bringing Honor Home: Campaign 2013 raises funds to support educational exhibits, special events and programs.The Museum of Military History was honored with a visit by current American Legion, Department of Florida, Department Commander Art Schwabe on August 15th. Commander Schwabe was accompanied by Steve Shuga 6th District Vice Commander and Assistant Commander Walt Eatman. Commander Schwabe’s entourage was escorted by the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office motorcycle police unit.
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Sunday, March 2, 2014
Fighter jet crashed in Nevada
SAD UPDATE
Pilot dead after Marine jet crashes in Nevada
Pilot dead after Marine jet crashes in Nevada
Navy: Fighter jet in Nevada crash 'total loss'
Associated Press
Published: March 1, 2014
FALLON, Nev. — A fighter jet that crashed during a training exercise in western Nevada is a total loss and the pilot's condition is unknown, a spokeswoman for the Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, said Sunday.
It took rescue crews several hours to reach the site after the 3 p.m. Saturday crash because of a snow storm and mountainous, remote terrain, Lt. Reagan Lauritzen said.
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Navy finds missteps in deadly SEAL Humvee crash at Fort Knox
Navy finds missteps in deadly SEAL Humvee crash at Fort Knox
Associated Press
Published: March 1, 2014
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A series of missteps led to a deadly Humvee accident last May at Kentucky's Fort Knox, a Navy investigation concludes.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan H. Kaloust of Massapequa, N.Y., was partially ejected and killed during the training exercise, which was conducted under "blacked out" conditions. That means the vehicle's headlights were off and the sailors participating in the exercise were wearing night goggles.
The Virginian-Pilot reported Saturday the incident prompted Naval Special Warfare Command to re-examine its safety requirements for Humvee training missions. The heavily redacted investigative report was obtained Friday by the Norfolk newspaper through a Freedom of Information Act request.
The report said the accident could have been prevented.
The Humvee was among three loaded with Navy SEALs from Virginia Beach during the training exercise along a remote gravel road.
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Associated Press
Published: March 1, 2014
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A series of missteps led to a deadly Humvee accident last May at Kentucky's Fort Knox, a Navy investigation concludes.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan H. Kaloust of Massapequa, N.Y., was partially ejected and killed during the training exercise, which was conducted under "blacked out" conditions. That means the vehicle's headlights were off and the sailors participating in the exercise were wearing night goggles.
The Virginian-Pilot reported Saturday the incident prompted Naval Special Warfare Command to re-examine its safety requirements for Humvee training missions. The heavily redacted investigative report was obtained Friday by the Norfolk newspaper through a Freedom of Information Act request.
The report said the accident could have been prevented.
The Humvee was among three loaded with Navy SEALs from Virginia Beach during the training exercise along a remote gravel road.
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