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Board of Directors
Seth Thomas (President)
Tim Valentin (Vice-President)
Linda Hooker (Secretary)
Karl Olson (Treasurer)
Vicky Garrison (Imm. Past President)
John Novicki (Membership Director)
Ron James (Sports/Rec Director)
Rob York (MS Coordinator)
Chapter Staff
Sarah Little
Executive Director
North Star Bullet Editor in Chief
Mission
612-699-8551
Ginny Grabowski
Office Assistant
Volunteer Coordinator
612-467-2263
office@mnpva.org
National Service Officers
Jason Stephenson
Sr Veterans Health & Benefits Specialist 1 Veterans Drive - SCI 141 Minneapolis, MN 55417
612-629-7022 jasonS@pva.org
Tami Anderson
Sr National Service Officer
Federal Building Room G915
St. Paul, MN 55111
612-970-5668 | 1-800-795-3609
tamiA@pva.org
Jim Arndt
Vocational Rehab Program
Foundedin1946,theParalyzedVeteransof America(PVA)isanationalorganization dedicatedtoservingformermembersofthe U.S.ArmedForceswhohavesuffered catastrophicparalysisasaresultofspinal cordinjuryordisease.ByPubliclaw92-93 (1971),theU.S.CongresscharteredPVA.
north Star Bullet Assistant Editor
612-467-2263
Federal Building Room G915
St. Paul, MN 55111
202-416-6476 | 1-800-795-3609
jamesA@pva.org
Todd Kemery
National Director
612-467-2263 toddkemery@mnpva.org
Tanya Whale
Administrative Assistant Army Veteran
1 Federal Drive, Room G915
St. Paul, Minnesota 55111
612-970-5668


Greetings, MNPVA members! The days are short, and the nights long. We are entering the holiday season faster than it feels possible. However, the chapter remains dedicated to providing support and good cheer no matter how fast the days overcome us.
Upcoming events/activities for everyone to consider consist of, but are not limited to, Basecamp, bowling, Army vs Navy football game, and the Superbowl party. As always, the chapter encourages participation and would be happy to assist with any questions, comments, or concerns about details regarding participation. It is among each of our personal responsibilities to get up, get out, and get proactive!
Lastly, as I sit and write to you all, we are just a few short days away from deer opener. Though we all may not be hunters, my final words flow into everyday life just the same. Let our aim be steady and our sights be true!
""YOUR AIM SPECIFIES THE LANDSCAPE OF YOUR PERCEPTIONS"
-Jordan B. Peterson
As National Service Officers, we regularly monitor proposed changes to any benefit administered either through the Veterans Health Administration or Veterans Benefits Administration, as we realize the impact this could have on veterans and their families.
Specific to the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC), there are expected to be changes to the program in the future. Some of the proposed changes include expanding and clarifying eligibility, in particular clarifying eligibility between the two tiers as to the stipend the family member receives, and fewer reassessments. There is a proposed rule that has not yet come into effect that will amend the time frame for reassessments to two years instead of the present oneyear reassessment.
A legacy participant in the PCAFC program is one who was in receipt of the PCAFC benefit as of September 30, 2020, or who had applied before October 1, 2020. If you fall under this category, the date for being reassessed has now been pushed out until September 2028. Prior to this new ruling that came out at the end of September of this year, all legacy participants were going to be reassessed prior to the end of September of this year.
Another important note for those in receipt of the PCAFC program, you do qualify for ChampVA Health Insurance if you are not on Medicare, Tricare, or other form of insurance. If you have questions about the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregiver program, please reach out to me at 612 629 7022.

Changes to PVA membership criteria have expanded our membership to include all veterans with MS. Call us today to find out more information. If you know of a veteran with MS, share this information with them!
If you have MS (or know someone who does) and have any questions about MNPVA, please contact our office or our MS Coordinator, Rob York (robyork@mnpva.org).
Please reach out to Ginny to find out how you can join the team of valuable volunteers serving SCI/D veterans. We can always use volunteers in many different areas such as fundraising committee, event committee, website committee, mailing help, sewing, IT assistance or to provide support at events.
“THE SMALLEST ACT OF KINDNESS IS WORTH MORE THAN THE GRANDEST INTENTION.”
Congratulations to our Aug/Sept puzzle winner, Bradley Paulson. Could you use a $25 Gift Card? Send in a completed copy or a digital picture of your completed puzzles for a chance to win in our regular drawing! One submission per month. Thank you for sending in your entriesparticipation is growing!
Next drawing date: 12/10/2025.

We love hearing from our members. If you have a question, a need, or just want to say hi, please reach out. The chapter is you and you are the chapter!
Phone or Voicemail
Office Phone
612-467-2263
Call or Text
Executive Director (Sarah)
612-699-8551
President (Seth)
320-390-0219

Office Assistant: ginnygrabowski@mnpva.org
Executive Director: sarahlittle@mnpva.org
President: seththomas@mnpva.org
Facebook: @MinnesotaPVA
Instagram: pva.mn
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/mnpva X (formerly Twitter): @pvamn1993
Monday - Thursday 9am - 4pm
Monday - Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 1:30pm
Friday 9am - 1:30pm Office Hours
Our office is conveniently located in the VA Minneapolis SCI/D center, across from the PT/OT center.
All members are invited to join us at our monthly board meetings. These meetings are hybrid (both in person and virtual) so you can choose what works for you! Please call the office at 612-4672263 for details. We'd love to see you!!


Eligibleveteranscanreceive
Ekso Indego
EksoIndegoisanFDA-cleared,powered exoskeletonwornaroundthewaistand legsthatenablesindividualsparalyzed fromspinalcordinjuries(levelT3-L5)*to standandwalk,offeringanewlevelof independence.

Scanwithyourphone formoreinformation onhowyoucould receiveyourownEkso IndegoPersonal.
GettingVeteranswithSCI BackonTheirFeet
ArecentlyrevisedVApolicyallowsEkso Indegotobeissuedtoqualifiedveterans atnocost.**
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Improveyourcardio&bonedensity
Enjoyeye-levelconversationsagain


&
Come join us for an evening of fun, food, and learning! This popular event is open to inpatients, outpatients, family, and caregivers. 4:00 PM 4:00 PM
Next Date: 11/26/2025Cancelled; 12/10/2025

Consider supporting PVA by donating your unused vehicle! For wheelchair accessible vehicles, contact us at the MNPVA office at 612-467-2263. Your vehicle will be matched with one of our veterans in need of accessible transportation.
For all other vehicles, go to pva.careasy.org/home. Donations through National PVA also benefit our chapter.


As we get closer to Thanksgiving, MNPVA would like to thank all of our wonderful members, volunteers, and donors. Without you, we would not be able to do what we do. Every bit helps us to continue making a difference and we look forward to continuing to serving you.
Nov 27-28
December 10
December 18
December 24January 4
January 15
January 28
MNPVA wants to make it easier for members to attend activities in their communities and just for fun! Reimbursement is available for activities like concerts, sporting events, and theater!
MNPVA wants to make it easier for members to attend activities in their communities and just for fun! Reimbursement is available for activities like concerts, sporting events, and theater!
Reimbursement may include the cost of admission, lodging, transportation, meals/food, non-alcoholic beverages, and parking for MNPVA members. Reimbursements cannot be made until event date has passed and attendance confirmed by signature on form. Contact the office for more information or reimbursment form.
Reimbursement may include the cost of admission, lodging, transportation, meals/food, non-alcoholic beverages, and parking for MNPVA members. Reimbursements cannot be made until event date has passed and attendance confirmed by signature on form. Contact the office for more information or reimbursment form.
Please note: FY25-26 shall not exceed $600/member. Availability of funds are subject to change at anytime. Reimbursement amount is set each year in October by the Board of Directors based on budget.
Itemized receipts are required and must be accompanied by a signed reimbursement request form. Reimbursement request forms must be received within 30 days for payment. Some restrictions apply. Participation as an athlete may be covered differently. Please contact the office ahead of time to request assistance and information.

Includes two great accessible seats. Save your itemized parking, food, and non-alcoholic beverage receipts to request reimbursement from us. Bring a family member, friend, or caregiver for the second seat! For ticket recipients who want to say thanks, share a photo with us including a couple sentences of your experience! Tickets are drawn and awarded about ten days before each game.
Interested members should contact our Sports/Rec Director, Ron
James, at 218-252-8035 or call the office at 612-467-2263
*drawn randomly
12/07/2025 Washington Commanders @ 12:00 PM 12/25/2025 Detroit Lions @ 3:30 PM
January = TBD Green Bay Packers



“Great seats. Fly Eagles Fly.” -Linda Hooker
11/28/2025 Avalanche @ 2:30 PM 11/29/2025 Sabres @ 7:00 PM
12/11/2025 Stars @ 7:00 PM
12/13/2025 Senators @ 1:00 PM
12/14/2025 Bruins @ 5:00 PM
12/16/2025 Capitals @ 7:00 PM
12/20/2025 Oilers @ 2:00 PM
12/21/2025 Avalanche @ 5:00 PM 12/23/2025 Predators @ 7:00 PM

Our chapter continues to support active bowling groups that meet weekly. All skill levels are welcome, and no commitment is required. Bowling once a week has many benefits for both the body and mind. Current locations include:



Tuesdays at 11:30am
McPete's Sports Bar & Lanes
590 Humboldt Dr Big Lake, MN
Fridays at 11:30am
Split Rocks Bowling 5063 273rd St Wyoming, MN 55092
OR
St. Croix Lanes
1153 St Croix St, River Falls, WI
If you're near - let us know


As we grow our bowling groups, we have many ideas for events, competitions, and gatherings. Our chapter's own famous "Minnesota" Bowling Ramps are available for those desiring to bowl regularly.
If you live in the Twin Cities metro area and would like to join a more local bowling group, let us know! We're looking into starting a group in the Bloomington area.
Please contact the office at 612-467-2263 if you’re interested in joining, and if there isn’t a local group, we can help get the word out to form one.
Discover ongoing research in our community aimed at enhancing life quality for individuals with spinal cord injury or disease. Each study includes contact info, inclusion criteria, and status. MNPVA invites you to review these opportunities, contact the researchers with queries, and discuss with your physician if they suit you. Thanks to the amazing local researchers for their vital work in the SCI/D field!
VA Research Study seeking veterans with spinal cord injuries who use wheelchairs and who use a lift to transfer to their wheelchair.
The purpose of this research study is to assess and refine our CMAP system (Comprehensive Mobile Assessment of Pressure), a seated pressure mapping system. Participation will last about 4 weeks.
Participants must have a smartphone and a home wifi connection.
Participants will use a pressure mapping device in their wheelchairs at home – this device sends seating information to a research therapist who will monitor activity and make recommendations for pressure injury prevention.
Participants will complete surveys and participate in interviews. The study provides up to $100 compensation to participants.
The principal investigator of this study is Dr. Byron Eddy. Anyone interested can call the study coordinator at 612-467-4806.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the utility of a standing wheelchair that provides mobility while standing. We will assess how much participants use this device, what they can do with it, and any impact on health and quality of life.
We are looking for volunteers who meet the following criteria:
•
• Spinal cord injury (SCI) or stable spinal cord disorder/dysfunction (SCD)
Greater than 6 months post-injury (SCI) or post diagnosis (SCD)
•Manual wheelchair user
•
• •
•
•
Sufficient hand & arm function to operate manual standing wheelchair
Unable to stand independently without support
Body weight below 275 lbs
Age 18 or older
Not involved in another study related to mobility
This study involves completing study visits at the Minneapolis VA for assessments and training followed by taking a device home for 2 months.
This study is open only to Veterans

Join the NIH Happiness study for a research focus group. Share your insights to improve spinal cord injury research!
We want to learn about the benefits and challenges of practicing Qigong, a mindful movement program that might help reduce nerve pain for people with spinal cord injuries.

Participants will share their thoughts in a 90-minute virtual (Zoom) focus group. $50 compensation is provided. Wearelookingfor: This





Adults (18+) with spinal cord injuries (SCI) for at least 1 year
Caregivers for adults with SCI
Healthcare personnel for adults with SCI
Other stakeholders in the SCI community







Regain function and freedom with full-leg stimulation for MS, spinal cord injury, stroke, and more


·Four muscle activation
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The Neural Sleeve is now on contract at the VA. Visit cionic.com/va to learn more about accessing the Neural Sleeve through your VA benefits.




Check out the PVAction Force page to view legislative campaigns and a list of key legislation.
The federal government shutdown is closing in on record territory as October ends with no resolution in sight. By comparison, the longest shutdown, which occurred between 2018 to 2019, lasted 35 days. Multiple attempts to pass a temporary funding resolution have fallen flat in the Senate, while the House remains in a protracted recess. Although there have been rumors of negotiations and compromises, nothing serious has materialized so far. Several bills seeking to ease the adverse impact of the government closure on various groups have been introduced, but none of these bills have passed, including one that would ensure military servicemembers are paid regardless of the government’s operating status.
Lawmakers acknowledge that the shutdown will extend into November, and some are even talking about potential stopgap legislation to keep the government funded through the remainder of this year or early next. We will monitor and report on these proposals as information becomes available. As a reminder, while the shutdown does interfere with some functions of the VA, it does not affect PVA’s work directly. If you need assistance or support, please reach out to your local PVA NSO, or call the PVA benefits hotline at 1-866-734-0857.
On October 30, the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) held a hearing focused on examining the veterans’ disability compensation process at the VA. PVA joined advocates from other veterans service organizations in pushing back on recent reporting from the Washington Post that claimed VA’s disability compensation is “too generous.”
SVAC Chairman Jerry Moran (R-KS) opened the hearing with a reference to the Washington Post articles. He stated that, “I have heard from numerous veterans and groups who are frustrated that these articles have left an impression that veterans are engaging in widespread fraud in the disability claims space. The cases of fraud highlighted in these articles do not reflect the reality of who veterans are, the vast majority of the veteran population, or the values veterans embody.”
Jeremy Villanueva, Associate Legislative Director, testified before the committee on behalf of PVA. In his oral statement, Mr. Villanueva said, “It’s disgraceful when disabled veterans are portrayed as fraudsters and cheats simply for accessing earned benefits. He further stated that, “It is a disservice to the sacrifices of the many men and women who have served this nation to suggest that large sums of money are being wasted

simply because veterans receive earned benefits for service-connected conditions.”
Mr. Villanueva further noted that PVA has gone on record numerous times to discuss ways to make the disability compensation system less vulnerable to fraud and waste, while ensuring that veterans are fairly compensated for their conditions. His statement focused on two of those ways: ensuring proper compensation and pension exams and reviewing Disability Benefits Questionnaires for quality assurance.
The belief that the system is not plagued by fraud but could be improved was shared by the VA Inspector General and a representative from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) as well. VA’s Inspector General, Cheryl Mason, said it was “reprehensible for any person or entity to suggest that many veterans are hustling or scamming to get benefits.” She told committee members that if staff with the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) discover, while doing audit or inspection work, evidence of fraud, they immediately share with OIG investigators. Conversely, when OIG investigators identify weaknesses in the system through their investigations, they provide that information to the audit staff for further review.
Elizabeth Curda, GAO’s Director, Education, Workforce and Income Security testified that, “VA has made some progress in addressing these high-risk issues, such as identifying deficiency root causes and establishing action plans to address them ” She further stated that more work is needed to address the concerns. For example, she pointed out that GAO’s 2024 and 2025 reports identified opportunities to strengthen VA’s oversight of the quality of exams provided by contracted medical providers (examiners). For example, GAO found incorrect financial incentive payments to contractors. To address this and other shortfalls, GAO made five recommendations. All five remain open as of October 2025. VA has partially addressed one and described plans to address the others.
Offering a uniquely differing view, was Army Lt. Colonel (Ret.), Daniel Gade, PhD. He feels the VA disability apparatus has strayed from its purpose and lost sight of its mission. He told the committee that VA should focus
more on supporting the transitioning service members and less on compensation. He identified the three principles he believes the committee should pursue to fix the disability compensation system. First, the goal of any system of veterans benefits and care should be to return veterans as closely as possible to the life situations they would have found themselves in but for their service. Second, the system should incentivize desired outcomes by linking treatment for an illness with the compensation associated with it. In short, if you don’t get treatment for your condition, you have no right to expect the taxpayer to fund its effects. Third, the system needs total reform in nature and types of disabilities compensated. Those injuries not directly caused by military service might be good targets for treatment rather than compensation.
The potential outcomes of this hearing could reverberate for quite some time. To watch the recording of the hearing and read through each of the statements, click here.
In August, VA reported that many of its hospitals received high marks as part of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) 2025 hospital quality ratings. 77 percent of VA hospitals that received an Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating received 4 or 5 stars, and no VA hospitals received a one-star rating. Over 90 percent of the hospitals with ratings maintained or improved them compared to the previous year.
Less than a dozen saw their ratings slip and 26 facilities received two-star or three-star ratings, so there is room for improvement. Commenting on the ratings in August, VA Secretary Collins said, “Our job is to continue raising the bar for customer service and convenience throughout the department, so VA works better for the veterans, families, caregivers and survivors we are charged with serving.” Recently, he gathered the leadership of VA’s struggling facilities together and urged them to do better without additional resources or personnel.

“It's a matter of leadership,” Collins told POLITICO, a Hillbased newspaper that covers policy and politics. “The answer for VA has always been just give us more money, give us more people to solve problems. And when you're dealing with some quality issues, and how you handle patient care, a lot of that is just simply whether you have the right processes in place.” Although the Secretary didn’t set a specific timeframe for improvement, it is clear he expects results. He is optimistic that many of the poorest performing sites could improve their ratings in just a year or two.
On October 23, Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) released a letter he sent to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting an audit of the effect VA staffing policies are having on the spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D) system of care. The Ranking Member sent the letter following testimony PVA National President Robert Thomas provided before the committee during a mid-September hearing on the SCI/D system of care. In addition to raising staffing concerns, the letter requests a review of VA’s implementation of certain parts of the Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act (Public Law 118-210). We will monitor the status of this request.
The White House recently announced a third-party agreement with leading pharmaceutical companies that supply fertility medications. It is too early to tell how the agreement will impact individuals. More about the announcement is available here.
Air Force Reserve Major General John Bartrum’s
nomination to be VA Under Secretary for Health cleared another hurdle recently when the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee voted to advance his nomination to the full chamber. On October 22, committee members agreed to favorably report his nomination in voting that occurred along party lines. Bartrum currently serves in the most senior medical officer position in the Air Force Reserve and is the most senior Medical Service Corps hospital executive in the Air Force across all components. If confirmed, he would be responsible for overseeing the Veterans Health Administration, which is the largest integrated health system in the nation. This role involves managing a vast network of health care services for approximately nine million enrolled veterans across various facilities, including medical centers, clinics, and nursing homes.
On October 24, the Social Security Administration announced that Social Security beneficiaries will receive a 2.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) starting in 2026. The increase is reflective of the effects of inflation. Military and federal employment retirement benefits will be raised by the same amount, but Congress has yet to approve the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment of 2025 (COLA) Act (S. 2392/H.R. 2138). Once they do, VA’s disability compensation programs would receive the same COLA.
Recently, PVA joined other veterans and military service organizations in a virtual roundtable with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Office of Servicemember Affairs (OSA). The OSA is the office tasked with helping servicemembers, veterans, and military families navigate the unique financial challenges of service by providing financial resources, monitoring complaints, and holding companies accountable. Topics discussed by various organizations included continued implementation of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, ensuring enforcement of the Military Lending Act, and continued monitoring of VA claims shark businesses.
PVA took the opportunity to encourage the OSA to provide strong oversight of student loan servicers;

increase its partnership with the Department of Education, particularly around total and permanent disability (TPD) loan discharges; and address issues related to income driven repayment (IDR) plans and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.
NEW: Survey for Project Focused on Improving the Airport Journey of Wheelchair Users
InterVISTAS is currently collaborating with Indiana University – Bloomington (IUB) to collect information on the air travel experiences of people with disabilities. Funded by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, this project strives to identify ways to enhance the air travel experiences of individuals using wheelchairs. PVA is a member of the panel overseeing this project.
1. Register: Please first complete the screening survey This will only take 5 minutes.
2. Survey: Once registered, eligible participants (those aged 18 or older, living with a disability that requires the use of a wheelchair, and currently residing in the U.S.) will receive a link to the full online survey.
Your Privacy Matters: Participation in the survey is entirely voluntary. All information you provide will be kept strictly confidential.
Have Questions? Please contact the research team at:
• Email: travelX@iu.edu
• Phone: 812-855-9037
The survey will close once researchers have reached the target number of completed responses.
REMINDER: NPR Survey on Hotel Accessibility
With support from PVA, NPR is surveying wheelchair users to hear about your experiences with hotels or lodging when you travel. Sharing your story will help
them report the facts about these issues. NPR will not share or publish any identifying information without your permission.
the survey
REMINDER: Survey on Addressing Gaps in Measuring Disability in Transportation System Data
The University of Illinois at Chicago invites you to participate in a study for a research project about travel surveys and questions asked to people with disabilities. The findings from the survey will be used to develop a guidebook that will support transit professionals in better understanding travel barriers faced by people with disabilities. Your participation includes filling out an initial screener that will check for potential participants’ eligibility for this study. After the screener, if you are eligible to participate in the study, you will receive a link to a survey that will ask you questions about some demographics, your travel experiences, and your opinions on how transportation professionals measure disability. If you have any questions about participating in this project, please contact:
Kevin Hans Waitkuweit at kwaitk2@uic.edu
Please visit the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee webpages for information on previous and upcoming hearings and markups.

John Adamek
Kelly Arndt
Scott Bossard
Harry Carlson
Daniel Couture
Fred Falk
Clark Forte
Lynn Fulton
Carol Graske
Robert Gross
Ricky Hartman
Kenneth Janusz
Chris Johnson
Lloyd Jones
Ernest Jones
Kris Kluge

Robert Krone
Jeffrey Larson
Michael Malm
Kevin Miller
John Novicki
Antonio Oye
Curtis Peterson
Eric Poehler
Monique Skewes
Richard Smith
Franklin Star
David Sullivan-Nightengale
Terry Thiele
Michael Walls
Dale Walters
Codii Young
Michelle Zapata

Orie Beltz
Norma Blankenship
John Conner
Harry Davis
Bernard Dyreson
Donald Ehn
David Elftmann
Richard Evans
David Funk
Brett Gipson
Bruce Hochstetler
John Ivens
Allen Kingsley
Jeffrey Kittock

Gene Kube
Mark Lattin
James Moriarty
Karl Olson
Richard Petron
Mark Pocernich
James Salisbury
Ken Schindele
Matthew Sjoquist
Michael Wair
Brian Walstad
Gary Winter

Mail completed copy to office to enter drawing for $25 gift card.


