VA's "National Health Study for a New Generation of U.S. Veterans" will begin with 30,000 veterans deployed to OEF/OIF and 30,000 comparison veterans who were not deployed.

"This study will help us fulfill President Obama's pledge to 'stand with our veterans as they face new challenges' by enabling us to understand the health problems of our newest generation of combat veterans," Dr. Gerald M. Cross, VA's acting under secretary for health, said. "The study's findings will help us plan more effectively to provide the best care possible for these deserving veterans."

The study will include veterans who served in each branch of service, representing active duty, reserve and National Guard members.

Women will be oversampled to make sure they are represented and will comprise 20 percent of the study, or 12,000 women. A combination of mail surveys, online surveys, telephone interviews and in-person physical evaluations will be used to collect data from the veterans.

The study will compare the deployed and non-deployed veterans in terms of chronic medical conditions, traumatic brain injury (TBI), post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychological conditions, general health perceptions, reproductive health, pregnancy outcomes, functional status, use of health care, behavioral risk factors (smoking, drinking, seatbelt use, speeding, motorcycle helmet use, and sexual behavior) and VA disability compensation.

VA has contracted with an independent veteran-owned research firm, HMS Technologies Inc., to

collect the data.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is responsible for providing federal benefits to veterans and their families. The VA health care system operates more than 1,400 sites of care. Nearly 5.5 million people received care in VA health care facilities in 2008.

"This incremental approach to expanding enrollment ensures that access to VA health care for a greater number of beneficiaries does not sacrifice timely access or quality medical care for those veterans already enrolled in VA's health care system," Dr. Gerald Cross, VA's acting under secretary for Health, said. "Over the next four years, we hope to provide enrollment to more than 500,000 veterans."

Under a new regulation effective June 15, VA will enroll veterans whose income exceeds current means-tested thresholds by up to 10 percent. These veterans were excluded from VA health care enrollment when income limits were imposed in 2003 on veterans with no service-connected disabilities or other special eligibility for care.

There is no income limit for veterans with compensable service-connected disabilities or for veterans being seen for their service-connected disabilities.

Veterans who have applied for VA health care but were rejected due to income at any point in 2009 will have their applications reconsidered under the new income threshold formula.

Those who applied before 2009, but were rejected due to income, must reapply. VA will contact these veterans through a direct-mail campaign, veterans service organizations, and a national and regional marketing campaign.

Information about enrollment and an income and assets calculator are available at www.va.gov/healtheligibility .

The calculator provides a format in which veterans enter their household income, number of dependents and zip codes to see if they may qualify for VA health care enrollment.

In addition to applying online, veterans may also contact VA's Health Benefits Service Center at 1-877-222 VETS (1-877-222-8387).

Each VA medical center across the country has an enrollment coordinator available to provide veterans with enrollment and eligibility information.

From left, US Marines Gunnery Sergeant Corry Wilhoit, Shokawah Casino Table Games Manager Mike Bull and US Marines Gunnery Sergeant Sheryl Wilhoit. Shokawah donated 1,296 decks of playing cards to the US Marine Corps. Courtesy photo.

HOPLAND – Hopland Shokawah Casino has donated a total of 1,296 decks of playing cards to members of the US Marine Corp stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Table Games Manager Mike Bull, who arranged the donation, explained the highly unusual nature of the gift.

“These casino playing cards had never been opened or used,” Bull said. “Their cases were still sealed and the decks inside of the cases still contained their original factory seals as well.”

Bull said casinos use security seals, tape, labels, holograms and other tamper evident devices on their decks to prevent cheating. The donated decks were not marked, disfigured or drilled, and didn't have shaved corners to prevent them from being tampered with in order to sneak them back into the casino.

It turned out that the casino did not break internal security protocols with its donation as they had just switched card manufacturers and the new decks were totally different from the old decks which would never be allowed in the casino again and consequently did not have to be disfigured.

Gunnery Sergeant Corry Wilhoit who, along with Gunnery Sergeant Sheryl Wilhoit, accepted the gift, expressed the Marines' appreciation.

“Thank you sir, Our people in Iraq and Afghanistan will really appreciate these,” he told Bull.

Sho-Ka-Wah Casino is an enterprise of the Hopland Band of Pomo Indians and opened in August of 1998 and has steadily expanded to over 580 slot machines, nine table games, three restaurants (Taqueria Villa, Hawk’s Nest Bar and Grill and The Many Fires Steakhouse).

Over the course of the past eleven years, the Hopland Band of Pomo Indians has succeeded in building a strong support system for their members (including health benefits, educational assistance, housing and social services) and upgrading infrastructure for their schools and libraries while providing financial assistance and services to many local organizations.

Visit Shokawah online at www.shokawah.com .

The doors will open at 5 p.m., with dinner served at 6 p.m.

The requested donation is $7.

American Legion Post 194 is located at Second and Gaddy Lane in Kelseyville.