Disclaimer of Endorsement: Reference herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA). The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of WDVA, and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes.
The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by WDVA of the linked web sites, or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized WDVA activities, the Department does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. All links are provided with the intent to provide information and awareness. Please let us know about existing external links which you believe are inappropriate and about specific additional external links which you believe ought to be included.
Disclaimer of Liability: With respect to documents available from this server, neither the Washington State Government nor any of its employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights.
Notice: Information from this server resides on a computer system funded by WDVA. The use of this system may be monitored for computer security purposes. Any unauthorized access to this system is prohibited and is subject to criminal and civil penalties under Federal Laws including but not limited to Public Laws 83-703 and 99-474.
Reference from this Web page or from any of the information services sponsored by the WDVA to any non-governmental entity, product, service or information does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by WDVA or any of its employees. We are not responsible for the content of any "off-site" web pages referenced from this server.
Intended Use/External Content Policy
Purpose of this policy: The Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes that "External Content" - content that is provided by entities that are not part of government -- may be included in the publicly accessible web site, www.dva.wa.gov, (the "Site") operated by WDVA. WDVA does not intend that this Site be an open public forum, and External Content on pages operated by WDVA will be permitted at the sole discretion of WDVA.
Applicability
This policy applies only to pages that are operated by WDVA. This policy is not intended, and shall not be construed, to prohibit external content that:
External content therefore includes, but is not limited to, links, acknowledgements on pages operated by WDVA
Content Guidelines
In exercising its discretion to allow external content on its web site, WDVA will be guided by the purpose of the Site, which is as follows:
WDVA, at its sole discretion, will determine whether external content meets these purposes. Generally, external content that does not suit these purposes includes, but is not limited to, content that contains, suggests, or infers any of the following:
Removal of Content
WDVA reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to withdraw external content that otherwise meets its guidelines. This discretion may be exercised if WDVA becomes aware, receives claims or allegations, or has reason to inquire whether, the content refers or links the viewer to content not on WDVA’s Site that either violates any of the above listed guidelines, except the last one, or would be reasonably likely to offend a reasonable citizen. Withdrawal of content on these bases will be permitted whether or not WDVA is legally obligated to act upon any information of which it is aware.
WDVA not responsible for external content
"Links" to other information sources are provided as a courtesy, but we cannot vouch for or take responsibility for information contained beyond files administered by the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs. Links from this page do not represent or imply the endorsement of commercial products by the State of Washington, Veterans Affairs, or by departmental staff.
Introduction
Thank you for visiting the WA State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) website and reviewing our Privacy Notice. This statement addresses collection, use and security of and access to information that may be obtained through use of www.dva.wa.gov. This notice covers the following topics:
NOTE: For information on the privacy practices regarding health and other client confidential information go to NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES FOR RESIDENT CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. Link to Governor's Executive order 00-03 Public Records Privacy Protections.
If you do nothing during your visit to our website but browse, read pages, or download information, we will gather and store certain information about your visit. This information does not identify you personally. We automatically collect and store the following information about your visit:
The Internet Protocol Address and domain name used. The Internet Protocol address is a numerical identifier assigned either to your Internet service provider or directly to your computer. We use the Internet Protocol Address to direct Internet traffic to you. This address can be translated to determine the domain name of your service provider (e.g. xcompany.com or yourschool.edu);
The type of browser and operating system you used;
The information we automatically collect or store is logged and used by WDVA only to improve the content of our web services and to help us understand how people are using our services. WA State Department of Veterans Affairs analyzes this information/the website logs to determine how our website is being used, so that we may continually improve the site's usefulness to the public.
What we collect if you volunteer information.
If during your visit to our website you participate in a survey, send an email, or perform some other transaction on-line, the following additional information will be collected:
The information collected is not limited to text characters and may include audio, video, and graphic information formats you send us.
We use your email to respond appropriately. This may be to respond to you, to address issues you may identify, to further improve our website, or to forward the email to another agency for appropriate action. Survey information is used to improve services provided by the agency. Information from other on-line forms is used to respond to information requests.
You may choose whether to provide personal information on-line.
"Personal information" is information about a natural person that is readily identifiable to that specific individual. Personal information includes such things as an individual's name, address, and phone number. A domain name or Internet Protocol address is not considered personal information.
We collect no personal information about you unless you voluntarily provide it to us by sending us email, participating in a survey, or completing an on-line form. You may choose not to contact us by email, participate in a survey or to provide any personal information using an online form. Your choice to not participate in these activities will not impair your ability to browse www.dva.wa.gov and read or download any information provided on the site.
If personal information is requested on the website or volunteered by the user, state law and the federal Privacy Act of 1974 may protect it. However, this information is a public record once you provide it, and may be subject to public inspection and copying if not protected by federal or state law.
If you believe that your persona information is being used for a purpose other than what was intended when submitted, you may contact the Public Records Officer as shown in the Contact Information Section of this statement.
Users are cautioned that the collection of personal information requested from or volunteered by children on-line or by email will be treated the same as information given by an adult, and may be subject to public access.
In the State Of Washington, laws exist to ensure that government is open and that the public has a right to access appropriate records and information possessed by state government. At the same time, there are exceptions to the public's right to access public records that serve various needs including the privacy of individuals. Exceptions are provided by both state and federal laws.
All of the information collected at this site becomes public records that may be subject to inspection and copying by members of the public, unless an exemption in law exists. RCW 42.17. 260(1) states that
Each agency, in accordance with published rules, shall make available for public inspection and copying all public records, unless the record falls within the specific exemptions of subsection (6) of this section [RCW 42.17.260(6)], RCW 42.17.310, 42.17.315, or other statute which exempts or prohibits disclosure of specific information or records. To the extent required to prevent an unreasonable invasion of personal privacy interests protected by RCW 42.17.310 and 42.17.315, an agency shall delete identifying details in a manner consistent with RCW 42.17.310 and 42.17.315 when it makes available or publishes any public record; however, in each case, the justification for the deletion shall be explained fully in writing.
In the event of a conflict between this Privacy Notice and the Public Records Act or other law governing the agency’s disclosure of records, the Public Records Act or other applicable law will control.
Review and Correction of Personally Identifiable Information.
You can review any personally identifiable information we collect about you by using the information in the Contact Information section at the end of this Notice. You may recommend changes to your personally identifiable information you believe to be inaccurate by submitting [an email or written?] request that credibly shows the inaccuracy. We will take reasonable steps to verify your identity before granting access or making corrections. (RCW 43.105.310)
Presently the Department of Veterans Affairs does not use cookies or applets to provide web services. In the future to better serve our users we may start using "cookies" or "applets" to customize your browsing experience with Department of Veterans Affairs web site.
Cookies are simple text files stored on your computer by your web browser.
Applets are tools downloaded to your computer to work with the software you have. Applets are intended to enhance your browsing experience by enabling you to view information in a unique manner or enable access to information that your computer would otherwise be unable to access without the applet.
The WA State Department of Veterans Affairs, as developer and manager of www.dva.wa.gov, has taken several steps to safeguard the integrity of its data and prevent unauthorized access to information maintained by WA State Department of Veterans Affairs. This agency takes precautions to safeguard personal information you provide through our web services.
This information should not be construed in any way as giving business, legal, or other advice, or warranting as fail proof, the security of information provided via WDVA websites.
The WA State Department of Veterans Affairs website has many links to other websites. These include links to websites operated by other government agencies, nonprofit organizations and private businesses. When you link to another site, you are no longer on the WA State Department of Veterans Affairs website and this Privacy Notice will not apply. When you link to another website, you are subject to the privacy policy of that new site.
Neither the State of Washington, nor any agency, officer, or employee of the State of Washington warrants the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of any information published by this system, nor endorses any content, viewpoints, products, or services linked from this system, and shall not be held liable for any losses caused by reliance on the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of such information. Portions of such information may be incorrect or not current. Any person or entity that relies on any information obtained from this system does so at their own risk.
Intended Use/External Content Policy
Purpose of this policy: The Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes that "External Content" - content that is provided by entities that are not part of government -- may be included in the publicly accessible web site, www.dva.wa.gov, (the "Site") operated by WDVA. WDVA does not intend that this Site be an open public forum, and External Content on pages operated by WDVA will be permitted at the sole discretion of WDVA.
Applicability
This policy applies only to pages that are operated by WDVA. This policy is not intended, and shall not be construed, to prohibit external content that:
External content therefore includes, but is not limited to, links, acknowledgements on pages operated by WDVA
Content Guidelines
In exercising its discretion to allow external content on its web site, WDVA will be guided by the purpose of the Site, which is as follows:
WDVA, at its sole discretion, will determine whether external content meets these purposes. Generally, external content that does not suit these purposes includes, but is not limited to, content that contains, suggests, or infers any of the following:
Removal of Content
WDVA reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to withdraw external content that otherwise meets its guidelines. This discretion may be exercised if WDVA becomes aware, receives claims or allegations, or has reason to inquire whether, the content refers or links the viewer to content not on WDVA’s Site that either violates any of the above listed guidelines, except the last one, or would be reasonably likely to offend a reasonable citizen. Withdrawal of content on these bases will be permitted whether or not WDVA is legally obligated to act upon any information of which it is aware.
WDVA not responsible for external content
"Links" to other information sources are provided as a courtesy, but we cannot vouch for or take responsibility for information contained beyond files administered by the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs. Links from this page do not represent or imply the endorsement of commercial products by the State of Washington, Veterans Affairs, or by departmental staff.
You may contact WDVA as follows:
To review your personal information, or request correction of your personal information:
Public Records Officer
WA State Department of Veterans Affairs
PO Box 41150
Olympia, WA 98504
FAX:360-725-2197
360-725-2212
To offer comments about WDVA's website, or about the information presented in this Privacy Notice:
Webmaster
WA State Department of Veterans Affairs
PO Box 41150
Olympia, WA 98504
FAX: 360-725-2197
webmaster@dva.wa.gov