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 VAMC Lyons is grateful to the men and women who risk their lives to fight terrorism in Afghanistan, Iraq and many other places around the world.
Contact Information
Robin Baptiste
Transitional Patient Advocate
East Orange: Room #7-104
(973) 676-1000 x 1468
(908) 229-0457 (cell)
Tiffany Evans
Administrative Support
East Orange: Room A-215
(973) 676-1000 x 3044
Alba Lopez
TBI Social Work Casemanager
East Orange: Room: #7-102
(973) 676-1000 x1464
(973) 566-1880 (pager)
Mary Jo McNulty
Administrative Support, CBOCs
James J. Howard Outpatient Clinic
(973) 676-1000 x 6105
Fran Michaels
Polytrauma Social Worker
East Orange: Room #7-109
(973) 676-1000 x 1447
(973) 281-0280 (pager)
(201) 417-4481 (cell)
Carolyn Snyder
OEF/OIF Case Manager
Lyons: Building 4, Suite 2, Room #8
(908) 647-0180 x 4788
(908) 261-0029 (pager)
Michelle Stefanelli
OEF/OIF Program Manager/Point of Contact
East Orange: Room #7-111
(973) 676-1000 x 1727
(973) 566-4201 (pager)
Loise Wojnar
Polytrauma Social Worker
Lyons: Building 4, Suite 2, Room #5
(908) 647-0180 x 4788
(908) 261-0030 (pager)
Elizabeth Zirpoli
OEF/OIF Case Manager
East Orange: Room #7-105
(973) 676-1000 x 1463
(973) 281-0541 (pager)
VA Services for Veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom
Seamless Transition From Active Duty:
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD) are working as partners to meet the needs of our newest veterans – the men and women who served in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom – by creating a seamless transition from active duty to civilian life.
VA’s goal is to ensure that every seriously injured or ill serviceman and woman returning from combat receives priority consideration and worldclass service. Together VA and DoD are finding ways to move records more efficiently between the two agencies; share critical medical information electronically; protect the health of troops stationed in areas where environmental hazards pose threat; process benefit claims as one shared system; and, in every way possible, hold open the doors to an uncomplicated passage from soldier to citizen.
Enhanced Employee Awareness
Former VA Secretary Anthony J. Principi initiated an awareness campaign in August 2003 to enhance continuity of VA services for our newest returning war veterans. In a letter to all employees, former Secretary Principi said:
“Every VA employee has an obligation to ensure that each veteran who is wounded, injured, or ill from training for, preparing for, or fighting the war against terror receives priority service … The men and women who embody our department now have the rarest of opportunities: another chance to make a first impression. Our actions over the next few months will define our department for the lifetime of the veterans who are now returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.”
Changes that followed were aimed at sensitizing employees to our newest war veterans and improving access to VA programs. Through messages on paycheck stubs, emails, memos, conference calls and closed circuit television programs, former Secretary Principi and his under secretaries for health and benefits have alerted field employees to be especially sensitive to the needs of our newest disabled war veterans.
Throughout the nation, VA officials work with military disability retirement lists staffs to identify service members from Iraq or Afghanistan for special outreach efforts. Enduring Freedom/Iraqi Freedom coordinators at each VA benefit office and medical center coordinate with DoD discharge staff to ensure a smooth transition to VA services at locations nearest to the veteran’s residence after discharge. Through this coordination, the veterans are known at the local VA facilities which process their benefits claims and continuity of their medical care, including medications and therapy, is assured.
Benefits and Services
Every activeduty service member, Reservist or National Guards member who serves in a theater of combat operations is eligible for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care for injuries or illnesses he or she believes is related to combat service for a period up to two years beginning on the date of discharge or release from service. This two year eligibility for medical care is available even if there is insufficient medical evidence available to conclude that the veteran’s illness is the result of combat service. At the end of the two year period, these veterans have the same eligibility for VA medical care as veterans of earlier conflicts.
VA offers a spectrum of health care and benefit programs for veterans of the war on terrorism, including disability compensation, vocational rehabilitation, prosthetic services, life insurance, pension, education benefits, specially adapted housing and automobile grants, and survivor and burial benefits. Many VA services are provided at a higher priority or on an expedited basis for this newest generation of combatdisabled veterans. VA programs for veterans with a serviceconnected injury or illness apply equally to those who served in the regular active duty forces and to National Guard members or reservists returning from federal activation.
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