Tabatha and Karle Griffith took their young son Gabriel to the local pediatrician December 13, 2010 to find out why their son was vomiting frequently. Dr. Ann Lambernedis examined him at Teays Pediatrics. The doctor could not say why the child was vomiting and did not take his pulse at the time even though radiological tests were performed on Gabriel’s chest and abdomen.

The young boy continued to vomit, prompting the parents to call the doctor several times for assistance. On December 27, 2010 the parents once again took their son to Teays Pediatrics for help. Dr. Lambernedis still had no diagnosis to offer them and once again the child’s pulse was not taken.

In July 2011, the child was once again taken to see Dr. Lambernedis because he was still vomiting. There was no diagnosis suggested at this time either, but the child’s pulse was noted to be 100 beats per minute. More chest and abdomen tests were performed again.

A week later, the Griffith family received a referral from Dr. Lambernedis to a gastroenterologist. By the time the Griffiths went to see the gastroenterologist in August 2011, their son’s pulse was 160 beats per minute.

Their son was sent to the hospital and diagnosed with supraventricular tachycardia. His breathing rate doubled and according to the statement of claim filed in this case, hospital staff did not intubate him in a timely manner. The Griffith’s son suffered cardiac arrest the next day and sustained irreversible neurological damage, leaving him in a permanent vegetative state.

The Griffiths filed a medical malpractice lawsuit alleging Dr. Lambernedis was negligent in diagnosing their son’s condition and not treating him correctly and that the hospital and other medical professionals were also negligent in their care and treatment of their son.

In order to handle their medical bills, the Griffiths would need access to a substantial amount of money. The ideal solution for them may be to apply for litigation funding, also referred to as pre-settlement funding. Being approved for and receiving litigation funding does not mean the finance company is involved in your case. All case litigation strategies, trial preparation, settlements, negotiations and legal decisions remain in the purview of your attorney in partnership with you.

A lawsuit loan is considered to be non-recourse funding, which means that any repayment is dependent on the outcome of your case. If it should fail in court, there is no repayment and you keep the funding with no obligation to repay it.

Daren Monroe writes for Litigation Funding Corp. To learn more about lawsuit funding and litigation funding, visit http://www.litigationfundingcorp.com/.

According to the agency, over 65,000 veterans and their family members have used the hotline since the Michigan Veteran Resource Service Center was launched in Sept. 2014. An average of 1,500 calls have been received per month on the hotline.

“The MVRSC provides 24/7 access to the advice and assistance veterans need to be successful in their civilian lives. Through 800-MICH-VET, veterans and their families can connect with a friendly, knowledgeable call center agent who will help them break down the barriers that stand in their way,” said MVAA director Jeff Barnes.

Call center agents have received around 20,000 calls for help and information. They have also made 3,300 follow-up calls to veterans to ensure they have been able to access the services and resources they need. In addition, the center has processed over 7,000 DD-214 discharge papers. Veterans can use them to apply for veteran status on their driver’s licenses, avail of discounts and file for federal benefits.

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact an attorney about your Post Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, Mental Health, Sexual Assault, Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability, Medical Malpractice, or Aid and Attendance claim, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800

According to the agency, over 65,000 veterans and their family members have used the hotline since the Michigan Veteran Resource Service Center was launched in Sept. 2014. An average of 1,500 calls have been received per month on the hotline.

“The MVRSC provides 24/7 access to the advice and assistance veterans need to be successful in their civilian lives. Through 800-MICH-VET, veterans and their families can connect with a friendly, knowledgeable call center agent who will help them break down the barriers that stand in their way,” said MVAA director Jeff Barnes.

Call center agents have received around 20,000 calls for help and information. They have also made 3,300 follow-up calls to veterans to ensure they have been able to access the services and resources they need. In addition, the center has processed over 7,000 DD-214 discharge papers. Veterans can use them to apply for veteran status on their driver’s licenses, avail of discounts and file for federal benefits.

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact an attorney about your Post Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, Mental Health, Sexual Assault, Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability, Medical Malpractice, or Aid and Attendance claim, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800

During his opening remarks at the conference on Aug. 24, VA Secretary Robert McDonald said that investing in TBI research can help solve the many problems that veterans face, such as homelessness, suicide and unemployment.

The VA Traumatic Brain Injury State of the Art Research Summit brought together more than 300 leading TBI researchers from around the United States, representatives from various VA regional medical centers and members of nonprofit organizations. “We need your expertise and your experience. We need you to tell us what resources you need for the VA to be nationally and internationally acknowledged as the leader in TBI research, diagnoses and treatment,” said McDonald.

Since 2001, more than 327,000 service members have been diagnosed with head injuries, according to the Congressional Research Service. But that number could be higher since not all head injuries, such as mild concussions, are reported. According to researchers, many veterans may have a TBI despite not showing symptoms.

The summit addressed a range of TBI-related topics including head injury diagnosis, care and long-term rehabilitation for veterans with TBI, pain management, innovations in health care and the direction of future research. Experts also assessed past TBI research and discussed the current understanding of the injury.

McDonald emphasized that along with developing new, cutting-edge treatments for TBI, it is essential to be able to predict its long-term effects. He said that some of the health care problems the VA has faced over the past years are due to its inability to predict future needs or to secure resources to meet demands.

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact an attorney about your Post Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, Mental Health, Sexual Assault, Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability, Medical Malpractice, or Aid and Attendance claim, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800

During his opening remarks at the conference on Aug. 24, VA Secretary Robert McDonald said that investing in TBI research can help solve the many problems that veterans face, such as homelessness, suicide and unemployment.

The VA Traumatic Brain Injury State of the Art Research Summit brought together more than 300 leading TBI researchers from around the United States, representatives from various VA regional medical centers and members of nonprofit organizations. “We need your expertise and your experience. We need you to tell us what resources you need for the VA to be nationally and internationally acknowledged as the leader in TBI research, diagnoses and treatment,” said McDonald.

Since 2001, more than 327,000 service members have been diagnosed with head injuries, according to the Congressional Research Service. But that number could be higher since not all head injuries, such as mild concussions, are reported. According to researchers, many veterans may have a TBI despite not showing symptoms.

The summit addressed a range of TBI-related topics including head injury diagnosis, care and long-term rehabilitation for veterans with TBI, pain management, innovations in health care and the direction of future research. Experts also assessed past TBI research and discussed the current understanding of the injury.

McDonald emphasized that along with developing new, cutting-edge treatments for TBI, it is essential to be able to predict its long-term effects. He said that some of the health care problems the VA has faced over the past years are due to its inability to predict future needs or to secure resources to meet demands.

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact an attorney about your Post Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, Mental Health, Sexual Assault, Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability, Medical Malpractice, or Aid and Attendance claim, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800

Peters, of Michigan, said the bill would ensure the fair treatment of veterans who were discharged because of behavior resulting from conditions such as traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder. A wide range of physical, cognitive and emotional symptoms can arise from such mental traumas, including aggressive outbursts, memory problems and poor judgment.

Peters introduced the bill on Aug. 3 along with several Republican lawmakers. “Service members suffering from mental health trauma should not lose access to benefits that they’ve earned through their service, and they should receive fair due process when petitioning for an upgrade of their discharge status,” Peters said.

The way service members leave the military can have a significant impact on their eligibility for benefits. When veterans are given administrative discharge rather than an honorable one, they often lose out on health, retirement and other benefits offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill would give veterans in such situations an opportunity to have their records reviewed.

“If they have good, solid medical evidence that they indeed suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, then they can get their discharge changed to an honorable discharge,” Peters said.

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact an attorney about your Post Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, Mental Health, Sexual Assault, Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability, Medical Malpractice, or Aid and Attendance claim, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800

Peters, of Michigan, said the bill would ensure the fair treatment of veterans who were discharged because of behavior resulting from conditions such as traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder. A wide range of physical, cognitive and emotional symptoms can arise from such mental traumas, including aggressive outbursts, memory problems and poor judgment.

Peters introduced the bill on Aug. 3 along with several Republican lawmakers. “Service members suffering from mental health trauma should not lose access to benefits that they’ve earned through their service, and they should receive fair due process when petitioning for an upgrade of their discharge status,” Peters said.

The way service members leave the military can have a significant impact on their eligibility for benefits. When veterans are given administrative discharge rather than an honorable one, they often lose out on health, retirement and other benefits offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill would give veterans in such situations an opportunity to have their records reviewed.

“If they have good, solid medical evidence that they indeed suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, then they can get their discharge changed to an honorable discharge,” Peters said.

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact an attorney about your Post Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, Mental Health, Sexual Assault, Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability, Medical Malpractice, or Aid and Attendance claim, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800

Michigan governor Rick Snyder will look at the bill sponsored by Senator Jim Stamas, R-Midland. If approved, the legislation will assign the state’s Veterans Affairs Agency the task of sending “welcome home” letters to veterans returning to the United States from duty.

The outreach measure is intended to ensure Michigan’s veterans a smooth transition into civilian life and employment. Veterans face many challenges when it comes to assimilating with non-military life, whether it is finding housing or dealing with health issues such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The letter will include information about veterans service organizations and other useful communication about job and education opportunities, as well as benefits they earned.

Stamas said the reform was a way to express appreciation to Michigan’s 650,000 veterans who “make tremendous sacrifices to protect our freedoms and way of life.”

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact an attorney about your PTSD, TBI, Mental Health, Sexual Assault, Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, TDIU, Medical Malpractice, or Aid and Attendance claim, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800

Perhaps the VA needs to bring in Oscar the Grouch’s Sesame Street neighbor, Count von Count, to give themselves a lesson and count how many veterans have waited far too long to receive the health care and benefits they have earned.

The cranky Sesame Street character who lives in a garbage can was used in reference to veterans who will attend town-hall events Wednesday in Philadelphia. The spokeswoman from the Philadelphia VA benefits office – which will host the town halls – said in a statement that the agency regretted any misunderstanding caused by the slide show.

There’s no clear answer as whether this idea came out of the Philadelphia VA or the national office. But so much for improving customer service to our veterans.

What’s more, the slide show contains a “coping with stress” and four-minute relaxation technique for employees if they feel angry or overwhelmed (by the veterans in attendance at the town ha
lls).

Maybe some of the veterans in attendance would love to know about those “coping with stress” techniques as well, especially as they sit on egregiously long wait lists for care.

The bottom-line throughout all this unfortunate news coming out of the VA is this: those who have sacrificed so much for our country do not deserve to be treated like garbage. They are not grouches. Veterans are not “too demanding” or “unreasonable” when they get upset by the current state of their care. Many have lost trust in the VA.

Instead of slideshows depicting Oscar the Grouch and relaxation techniques for employees, perhaps a presentation on best practices, cutting wait times, and real customer service is in order.

Read more on this issue on Stars & Stripes’ website:  http://www.stripes.com/news/philly-va-training-slides-depicted-veterans-as-oscar-the-grouch-1.300205

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact an attorney about your PTSD, TBI, Mental Health, Sexual Assault, Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, TDIU, Medical Malpractice, or Aid and Attendance claim, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800

A new study released Thursday has started to unveil the brutal legacy that has been left on members of the U.S military and its veterans after more than a decade of war.

The study found that over the past year, on average, each service member visited the doctor more than once a month. This marks the highest rate ever for out-patient treatment of U.S. military members.

Doctors have encountered out-patient visits at a shocking pace of 14 out-patient visits per service member in the past year of 2013. This is a whopping 60% increase from average out-patients visits by U.S. military members in 2004.

Among the most frequently treated problems, more than 20 million out-patient visits by troops were primarily for joint and back problems and mental disorders.  Rates for both of these ailments have increased by 30% since 2009.

The study also found that women in the service visited doctors more frequently than their male counterparts, even after discounting issues related to pregnancy. The most common behavioral health problems men were treated for were alcoholism, anxiety, and adjustment issues.  For women, the most common issues were anxiety, adjustment disorders, and depression.

 The negative effects of war on the health of those serving in the military are becoming ever more apparent. Veterans who have served are struggling through a growing list of medical problems, making the need for veteran aid more apparent.

With this new study, and reports of poor veteran treatment like the “secret waiting list” at the Phoenix VA*, this country needs to renew its dedication to properly caring for those who have protected our freedoms in times of war.

*Read LHFV’s past post on the “secret waiting list” issue here: http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/2014/04/an-absolute-disgrace-veterans-dying-on-va-hospitals-secret-list/

You can read more in the Army Times article here: http://www.armytimes.com/article/20140508/BENEFITS06/305080052/Troops-go-doctors-more-than-ever-new-survey-shows

To read the full report, check out the April edition of the Pentagon’s Medical Surveillance Monthly Report. It can be found here: http://phc.amedd.army.mil/PHC%20Resource%20Library/MSMRv21_n04.pdf

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact an attorney about your PTSD, TBI, Mental Health, Sexual Assault, Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, TDIU, Medical Malpractice, or Aid and Attendance claim, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800

Whatever the cause of homelessness among veterans, the statistics are clear: while veterans constitute only 7 percent of the general population nationally, they account for 13 percent of the adult homeless population. In short, veterans are twice as likely as the civilian population to become homeless.

Unfortunately, two traits common among veterans — a sense of pride that discourages seeking help and a lack of awareness of job and housing programs — often combine to make former members of the military more likely to struggle onward without a home. And, as is the case for many homeless individuals, job loss, extenuating circumstances and divorce are common causal factors that make the struggle even worse.

Nationwide, 140,000 homeless veterans stayed in a shelter at some point in 2012, according to the Department of Housing and Development. And an extraordinarily high number of them are socially isolated upon arrival.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development found that 96 percent of veterans arrive at shelters alone and without family. The lack of a social support network can be especially devastating for a demographic group with an already high percentage of individuals with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

There are programs in Michigan, including the Grand-Rapids-based nonprofit housing agency Community Rebuilders, that help homeless veterans find housing. Legal Help for Veterans stands ready to help veterans secure the benefits that can assist them in their time of need. They have earned our support through their service to our country.

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact an attorney about your PTSD, TBI, Mental Health, Sexual Assault, Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, TDIU, Medical Malpractice, or Aid and Attendance claim, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800

Statistics estimate that tinnitus, which strikes young and old alike, affects 10 percent to 15 percent of the U.S. population. But rates among combat veterans are much higher. A recent U.S. Army study concluded that 25 percent of all soldiers return from service in Iraq and Afghanistan with the compromised hearing that results in tinnitus.

There are multiple causes of tinnitus, including noise-induced hearing loss, obstruction of the ear canal, damage to the inner ear and even tumors. Some theories posit that the brain creates the ringing associated with tinnitus as a means of replacing the sounds the ear once heard.

Imagine the environment in which soldiers work. Sudden, loud noises and explosions are a routine occupational hazard to both hearing and life. Unfortunately, the use of hearing protection is rarely practical in combat circumstances.

Tinnitus has also been associated with psychological factors, including fear and memory. Veterans face the possible dimension of this complicating factor both on the battlefield and after the return home, especially in cases involved post-traumatic stress disorder.

When a veteran seeks disability compensation for hearing loss and/or tinnitus, it is important that the claim provide as much information as possible on the likely source of the hearing damage, the duration of exposure and any hearing protection that was employed. A medical opinion from an ear specialist will also help expedite such a claim through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact an attorney about your PTSD, TBI, Mental Health, Sexual Assault, Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, TDIU, Medical Malpractice, or Aid and Attendance claim, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800

 The five conditions linked to moderate to severe TBI were: Parkinson’s disease, certain types of dementia, depression, unprovoked seizures, and certain diseases of the hypothalamus and pituitary glands.

 Those secondary illnesses will be considered service-connected and won’t require medical opinions to establish whether there is correlation to TBI. However, the findings come with some caveats to receiving benefits.

The severity of a TBI must be “moderate to severe” and three of the five illnesses need to manifest themselves within a certain length of time from the TBI. Dementia must manifest within 15 years of a TBI. For depression, it’s three years (or 12 months for a mild TBI). For hormone deficiencies of the hypothalamus or pituitary glands it’s 12 months.

Still, the VA encourages veterans to file claims even if they don’t meet the severity of TBI or length of time between TBI and the secondary illness.

Read more here: http://www.sentinelsource.com/life_and_style/lifestyles/va-links-five-more-illnesses-to-traumatic-brain-injuries/article_ac7eb8fb-17ea-5ec4-b4dc-608069279501.html#.UtcpDp9BXsk.gmail

For more information on veteran benefits and answers to FAQs, visit www.legalhelpforveterans.com and be sure to check out our e-books as well.

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact an attorney about your PTSD, TBI, Mental Health, Sexual Assault, Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, TDIU, Medical Malpractice, or Aid and Attendance claim, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800

Jim Fausone
Veterans Disability Lawyer

In most organizations the people at the top get it.  The people at the bottom are just doing a job.  It is the people in the middle that make or break the team.  You have seen it where there is “no bench” strength.  If the star football player goes down, no one steps up.  It is about the LTs and the NCOs.  Well, one Congressman called this issue out.  “It’s become apparent to me and many others that there is a culture of complacency among the agency’s middle management,” Rep. Jeffrey Miller (R-Fla.), chair of the House Veterans Affairs Committee (HVAC), told International Business Times. “These mid-level managers know that as federal employees there is a good chance they’ll have their position longer than I will be chairman of oversight, and longer than the VA secretary will have his job. They’re evidently willing to just wait out those of us who are trying to change things, and unfortunately the consequences are as serious as life and death for our veterans.”  So Congress knows the problem, gosh I don’t want to keep blogging about that for the next decade, and where the bulk of the problem is located.  So, do something!  

Read more about this in a recent article.

http://www.ibtimes.com/va-broken-death-medical-mistreatment-claims-backlogs-neglect-veterans-affairs-hospitals-clinics   

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact an attorney about your PTSD, TBI, Mental Health, Sexual Assault, Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, TDIU, Medical Malpractice, or Aid and Attendance claim, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800

In Florida, the state legislature and Governor Rick Scott have worked together to give hunting veterans a break.  They passed a bill during the 2013 legislative session which created a recreational hunting and fishing licensing exception for active and reserve duty military service members, disabled veterans, their immediate family members and their assistants during the special events that are regularly held for vet-focused recreation or rehabilitation purposes. The exemption was started as of September 5, 2013, by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

As the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Chairman Richard Corbett stated, Florida’s military and disabled veterans gave so much to the state that the state wanted to give something back. Veterans are invited to participate in hunting and fishing events without first having to buy a license or a permit.

The exemption does not mean that active military personnel and disabled veterans can simply go off and fish and hunt without a license. The exception is specifically for participation in special events such as an NRA-organized hunt or a fishing trip sponsored by the Wounded Warriors. The event organizers must still apply for an event permit in order for the qualified exemption to kick in for participants

The permit exemption does mean that the qualified event participants may fish and hunt without a saltwater or freshwater fishing license or a recreational hunting license, nor will they need a permit to hunt Florida migratory birds, waterfowl, turkey, deer, or snook, or to gather spiny lobsters, or shoot during archery season, crossbow season, or muzzle-loading season, if the participant is taking part in an exempted event in which those activities are sponsored. The permit exemption does not cover alligator trapping licenses or permits, tarpon tags, the federal duck stamp or limited entry/quota hunts.

The exemption also does not authorize any fishing or hunting without a license by someone who is not a qualified event participant directly participating in the permitted event.

A number of other states also offer fishing and hunting licensing breaks to veterans: In North Carolina, vets who are 50 percent or more disabled may get a lifetime hunting-fishing license for $10.00. Veterans with service-related disabilities in Iowa can get a lifetime hunting or fishing license for a $7.00 fee. New Mexico offers any veteran with a 100 percent service-connected disabled a free lifetime small-game hunting and fishing license.

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact an attorney about your PTSD, TBI, Mental Health, Sexual Assault, Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, TDIU, Medical Malpractice, or Aid and Attendance claim, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800

Jim Fausone
Veteran Disability Lawyer

Listening to the general press, you would think the world will fall apart if there is a government shutdown.  In reality, only about 1/3 of the government workers will be off work.

The VA will be at work on your claims.  The October payments are already in the mail.  VA benefits are protected and should go out during a shutdown. Could VA run out of funds, maybe in a month or so.   If your claim is being processed, the VA employees who handle such claims are protected from the shutdown.

But remember how slow VA is anyway, so the shutdown provides a convenient excuse for not meeting schedule.   So let’s not freak out just yet.  The VA is still working and Congress will figure this out in a few days or a week.  Veterans have enough stress in their lives without it being whipped into a frenzy by the general media.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-tarantino/government-shutdown-faq-f_b_4019443.html

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact an attorney about your Post Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, Mental Health, Sexual Assault, Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability, Medical Malpractice, or Aid and Attendance claim, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800

The failure to address sexual assault in the military is costing the U.S. billions of dollars per year.

A new study released from the RAND Corporation calculated costs of medical and mental health services that victims of these assaults seek after an incident, as well as other “intangible” costs.  All told, the study believes that these costs reached $3.6 billion last year.

These findings add to a growing sense of urgency surrounding this important problem.  Reports of these incidents have spiked 35% since 2010.  Astoundingly, as many as 26,000 members of the military were sexually assaulted last year.

Currently, military sexual assaults are dealt with through the chain of command.  However, this can result in retaliation from co-workers and might discourage victims from coming forward.  In an attempt to combat this, the U.S. House of Representatives has recently passed a provision providing whistleblower protection to victims of these assaults.

Additionally, some senators have proposed an amendment taking this process out of the chain of command entirely by creating special military prosecutors in charge of these investigations.

One thing is for sure – all necessary measures need to be taken to stop this atrocious conduct.  It is our duty to protect those who protect us.

If you have questions about this topic or other veteran issues, contact Legal Help For Veterans, a practice group of Fausone Bohn, LLP, at 800.693.4800 or online at www.legalhelpforveterans.com.

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact an attorney about your Post Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, Mental Health, Sexual Assault, Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability, Medical Malpractice, or Aid and Attendance claim, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800

Veterans have to really prove up PTSD to VA rating officials to receive about $25,000 a year in disability payments.  But here is a report of a student locked up and forgotten by DEA for five days and he gets $4.1 million from the federal government.  This is not fair.

A UC San Diego student who was forgotten in a Drug Enforcement Administration interrogation room for five days without food or water described the incident as a “really, really bad, horrible accident.”

Daniel Chong, 25, will receive $4.1 million from the government to settle his claim.  For reasons that remain unclear, Chong was left for five days in a 5-by-10-foot windowless room without food, water or toilet facilities after being swept up in a campus raid on April 20, 2012.

He claims his quick weight loss allowed him to slip out of a pair of handcuffs.  He also claims to have suffered hallucinations and having to drink his own urine to survive. He tried to break a fire sprinkler to get water but failed. He screamed for help but soon became too weak.

DEA employees found him covered in his own feces and severely dehydrated.

Veterans are stuck pursuing claims within an administrative system.  Maybe if they had the right to file a civil suit, they could settle for fair and large dollar amounts.

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact an attorney about your PTSD, TBI, Mental Health, Sexual Assault, Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, TDIU, Medical Malpractice, or Aid and Attendance claim, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800

DOD is going to look to a commercial solution to Electronic Health Records (HER).  The need to coordinate with VA still exists.  Will the commercial solution be able to communicate seamlessly with VA’s system. We are told it will but the DOD system may cost $16 billion. We are not left with a great deal of confidence in the new direction.  The problem of lack of coordinated EHR may continue for years.

http://www.federaltimes.com/article/20130612/IT03/306120010/DoD-VA-spent-1B-trying-build-joint-health-records-system

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact an attorney about your PTSD, TBI, Mental Health, Sexual Assault, Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, TDIU, Medical Malpractice, or Aid and Attendance claim, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800

Sometimes we get asked: “Why do I need a law firm to help on my disability claims the doctors agree?”  About thirty years ago, I learned a very valuable lesson from a wise old trial judge.  Judge Stacey leaned over the bench and said in a stern voice, “keep talking counselor and you could lose this motion!”  You have to know when you have won and then shut up, sit down and claim the victory.  It is human nature to keep talking and trying to answer questions, even if not asked.  But, more often than not you just give the other side ammunition not to agree with you.

Controlling the flow of information to VA is equally important.  An example recently occurred with John Q. Veteran.  On May 5^th he underwent a complete PTSD review.  Upon our office reading the Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) form, we found the rating physician wrote “Total occupational and social impairment.”  This was one of those occasions the VA Comp & Pen report says everything you need.

A month later, John Q. Veteran went to his treating physician and received a letter addressed to the Department of Education that stated he is “totally disabled and is unable to work in any capacity.”

The PhD psychologist was specific and detailed in her conclusions.  The treating physician’s statement was general and for some other purpose.  If you sent in the physician’s statement, it may give VA a reason to stop focusing on the controlling DBQ and send out for consideration of the physician’s statement.  It is time to sit down and wait for the win.

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact an attorney about your PTSD, TBI, Mental Health, Sexual Assault, Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, TDIU, Medical Malpractice, or Aid and Attendance claim, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800

Online learning can be a flexible, affordable way to earn a college degree, which may be why more vets than ever are looking at online education.

Vets are attending college as never before, in large part perhaps due to the unemployment numbers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment for vets between 18 and 24 was 30 percent in 2011, while unemployment was just 18 percent for ages 18 to 24 in the general population.

U.S. News & World Report released its premiere listing of online education programs for military vets. Almost fifty percent of vets return from service looking to further their education by enrolling in post-secondary schools. A large percentage of those vets, according to Student Veterans of America, attend online programs as a way to meet family and work obligations.

The online schools listed by U.S. News include a number of educational programs that award college credit for eligible students who have military experience. There were also schools listed that focus on flexibility for students who are taking courses with more than one school or program. U.S. News also ranked programs based on their graduation rates and the amount of debt students faced after graduation. Their ranking, said a U.S. News spokesperson, was not just based on the benefits of each program, but also based on overall quality of the program offerings.

The ten top online programs offering bachelor degrees in terms of quality, affordability and program selection, according to U.S. News, are offered by: Pace University; Charter Oak State College; Brandman University; Bellevue University; Regent University; University of Nebraska – Omaha; California Baptist University; Post University; Ball State University, and Fort Hays State University.

The ten top online Master of Business Administration programs, according to U.S. News,  are offered by: Central Michigan University; West Virginia University; Washington State University; Temple University; University of Nebraska – Lincoln; University of Mississippi; University of Colorado – Denver; University of Memphis (Fogelman);  Ball State University (Miller); and Columbia College.

The revised G.I. Bill covers college tuition of $280 per unit and three years of full-time school, and includes a book allowance of $500 as well as a basic housing allowance of up to $1,500 per month. The housing allowance is based on the cost of living in the nearest military installation. Vets with extended years of service can often transfer their own education benefits to be used by their immediate family members.

Sources

http://www.marketplace.org/topics/life/education/theres-huge-market-online-education-veterans
http://www.chicoer.com/news/ci_23230440/returning-military-veterans-choosing-college-record-numbers

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact an attorney about your PTSD, TBI, Mental Health, Sexual Assault, Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, TDIU, Medical Malpractice, or Aid and Attendance claim, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800

The military has been subject to a number of high profile sexual assault news items in recent weeks. Currently Air Force Lt. Col. Jeffrey Krusinski, the Air Force’s head of sexual assault prevention, is under investigation for allegedly groping a woman inNorth Virginia, while more than 30 Texas-based instructors with the Air Force are under investigation regarding assault charges against trainees.

Although military sexual assaults have been garnering increased attention due to these latest, high-profile news stories, according to the latest estimates, the majority of military sexual assaults still go unreported. There were possibly as many as 26,000 assaults in 2012, according to a new report released by the Pentagon.

Of the estimated 26,000 military members who may have been sexually assaulted in 2012, just over 3,300 made a report, and fewer than 800 sought assistance while declining to file a complaint. The victims of military sexual assault or unwanted sexual contact are usually young, low-ranking service members. The perpetrators are usually also in the armed forces.

Two House members, Reps. Niki Tsongas, D-Mass, and Mike Turner, R-Ohio, have proposed a bill that would strip officers of their authority to dismiss or change the court-martial conviction of sexual assault and other major cases, and would require the dismissal or dishonorable discharge of anyone found guilty of the attempt of or act of rape, sexual assault, or forcible sodomy. Their goal, said Turner, is to establish guidelines for the punishment for sexual assault convictions and to remove that punishment from the chain of command.

 The Pentagon’s report indicated that sexual assault reporting is on the rise, from an estimated 26,000 assaults in 2012 from an estimated 19,000 assaults in 2011.   According to the report, at least 6 percent of the more than 1 million active duty members in 2012, both men and women, reported unwanted sexual contact. A significant percentage of the offenders were either Defense Department civilians or contractors or active military members.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has instructed military leaders to design a way to hold commanders accountable for fostering an environment of “dignity and respect,” including a July 1 deadline to complete visual inspections of workspaces to ensure they do not include the display of degrading materials.

Sens. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., and Patty Murray, D-Wash., recently introduced legislation which would prohibit sexual contact between instructors and trainees for the duration of basic training and for an additional 30 days after training is completed, and which would provide sexual assault victims with a lawyer advocate trained in sexual assault complaints, and which would make available to the National Guard and Reserve trained sexual assault response coordinators. Murphy stated that not only are service members failed by the system by having a climate in which assaults happen, but they are further failed by not having a support system in place for victims after the incident.

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/05/08/most-military-sexual-assault-cases-go-unreported.html?comp=700001075741&rank=1

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact an attorney about your Post Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, Mental Health, Sexual Assault, Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability, Medical Malpractice, or Aid and Attendance claim, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact an attorney about your Post Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, Mental Health, Sexual Assault, Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability, Medical Malpractice, or Aid and Attendance claim, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact an attorney about your Post Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, Mental Health, Sexual Assault, Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability, Medical Malpractice, or Aid and Attendance claim, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800

We work with over a 1000 veterans and most of those veterans are waiting on appeals of VA decisions.  The initial decision backlog at VA is  getting a lot of national attention.  A hidden story has finally made the national news.  That story is how long it takes to have an appeal heard of a VA denial of service connection or low rating by the regional office in an initial decision. So after waiting a year for that initial decision, the veteran can expect a multi year wait on an appeal.    At the first level, the Board of Veterans’ Appeals in Washington, it takes an average of 1,040 days, almost 3 years,  for the agency to render a ruling. That’s 3½ times slower than the response for those awaiting word on their initial filings.  The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review recently published an article on its study  of  4 years of data.  It found:

 ”Sifting through more than 160,0000 appeals from 2009 through early 2013, the Trib discovered 2,936 cases in which veterans or their surviving spouses died before getting decisions on their disputed claims.

If that rate holds, more than 500 veterans will die this year while their appeals languish — about one vet every 18 hours.”

Some may dismiss this as only 1.8% of the cases.  But if it was your mother, father, brother or sister waiting on a decision to improve their quality of life, you would not think this way.  This story proves what many suspected –  VA denies and delays until you die.  Our veterans deserve better.

 http://www.stripes.com/veterans-families-seeking-benefits-from-va-are-dying-for-a-decision-investigation-finds-1.220686

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact an attorney about your Post Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, Mental Health, Sexual Assault, Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability, Medical Malpractice, or Aid and Attendance claim, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact a veterans lawyer, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800

“I’ve been doing medical negligence work … for 26 or 27 years, and I’ve never seen as many cases filed against one person,” Wren’s lawyer told reporters.

In fact, Albanna has been named as defendant in 50 negligence lawsuits and four wrongful death lawsuits since 1987, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

So, asked the lawyer of one patient whose spine surgery left him hunched over and in permanent pain, “Why do the hospitals let a guy like this on staff?”

The answer may lie in the $12 million a year gross revenue he generated for Des Peres Hospital. Not surprisingly, several people have sued Des Peres’ parent, Tenet Healthcare Corp., for renewing Albanna’s credentials. Tenet has settled four of those lawsuits.

The Missouri State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts began investigating Albanna in the 1990s and then “sanctioned him for ‘unprofessional conduct’ and ‘repeated negligence’” in 2003, according to the Post-Dispatch. Albanna appealed, but the Missouri Supreme Court upheld the decision and determined that Wren didn’t even need that bone fusion surgery that forced him into early retirement.

Ultimately, Albanna settled with the medical board and agreed to four years’ probation and public reprimand “for performing more extensive than warranted surgeries” on two patients. But, typically, doctors and insurance companies are very secretive about whether a doctor has been sued for medical malpractice. So how can you find out? Watch Chris Mellino’s brief video below.

As for Albanna, the 60-year-old reportedly took a leave of absence from Des Peres Hospital in August 2011, told a court that he is no longer practicing medicine, and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy earlier this year.

Still, the lawsuits keep coming – including one for the wrongful death of a 23-year-old who died one day after Albanna operated to remove a tube from the hydrocephalic patient’s brain.

How can I find out if my doctor has been sued before for medical malpractice?

As a small way to say to show gratitude to Michiganveterans, the Michigan Legislature recently passed and Governor Rick Snyder signed legislation creating a special veteran designation on state driver’s licenses.

The law allowsMichiganveterans who were honorably discharged from service to receive the designation on their driver’s license. This will allow them to easily prove their status as a veteran allowing them to more easily obtain discounts and other benefits reserved for them.

The Secretary of State will begin processing requests for these licenses in one year after transitioning to a new computer system.  Adding the designation is voluntary and free of charge toMichigan veterans.

There is also a hope that when store clerks, bank tellers, and others see the designation, it will provide an opportunity for that person to thank the veteran for their service.  This new law is just a small way to increase awareness of the state’s nearly 700,000 veterans and remember the sacrifice each of them has made for this country. 

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact an attorney about your Post Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, Mental Health, Sexual Assault, Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability, Medical Malpractice, or Aid and Attendance claim, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800

Unfortunately, some medical professionals may act negligently and cause serious injury to the mother or child, in which case victims and their families may pursue a claim in Ohio for medical malpractice with lawyers in Cleveland. 

Types of Medical Malpractice Involving High-Risk Pregnancy 

In Ohio, medical malpractice can happen in many ways during a high-risk pregnancy. Sometimes, it’s a doctor’s failure to communicate with the mother or with the other medical professionals who are involved with her care. Other times, the physician may misdiagnose an illness or miss signs of a serious condition that he or she should have been able to diagnose with the information at hand.

Prescription drug error can be very dangerous for the mother and fetus during pregnancy, too. If a medical professional prescribes a certain pharmaceutical, he or she needs to be sure that the benefits outweigh the risks and that it is the correct drug in the correct dosage. Any mistake could cause serious and lasting damage.

A treatment or produced may be administered or performed incorrectly as well. Surgery may hold a higher risk of medical malpractice, and this can be especially true during a high-risk pregnancy when a woman may need an emergency procedure to save her life and/or the life of her baby.

Lawyers in Cleveland Can Help Pursue Ohio Medical Malpractice Cases 

If you or a loved one has suffered harm you feel is the result of a doctor’s negligence and malpractice, contact lawyers in Cleveland at Mellino Robenalt LLC for legal help. Call 440-333-3800 to set up an appointment with a lawyer regarding negligence associated with a high-risk pregnancy.

Prevention Methods for Avoiding Infection and Having a Healthy Pregnancy

Women should discuss infection prevention with their doctor. There may be certain risk factors that women can avoid to help reduce their risk of contracting an infection.

Infection prevention methods may include:

• getting vaccinations;
• practicing proper hygiene;
• using protection during sex;
• avoiding eating spoiled or undercooked foods;
• avoiding travel to third-world countries;
• avoiding contact with rodents;
• avoiding animal feces, including pets’;
• getting recommended testing; and
• seeing a doctor at any signs of illness, such as fever, rash, diarrhea or nausea.

Preventing Vaginal Infections

Many women may experience yeast and urinary tract infections during pregnancy and still have a healthy pregnancy by addressing the infections properly.

But there are many ways to prevent yeast and urinary tract infections, including:

• keeping the genital area dry;
• taking showers instead of baths;
• removing wet clothing immediately;
• avoiding douches and other vaginal products or sprays;
• drinking plenty of water;
• wiping properly – front to back – after using the toilet; and
• urinating as soon as the need arises.

Contacting a Cleveland Lawyer about Medical Malpractice in Ohio

When medical staff fails to properly treat infections, causes an infection, or is otherwise negligent and it leads to injury to the mother or child, victims may pursue a case of medical malpractice in Ohio. Contact Mellino Robenalt LLC at (440) 333-3800 to schedule a consultation if you suspect a doctor was negligent in failing to treat or avoid an infection during pregnancy.

A scientist is alleging that the Department of Veterans’ Affairs is hiding data.

According to a scientist for the VA, the agency’s Office of Public Health has been hiding research which indicated that vets have been affected by exposure to toxins since the Persian Gulf War.

Steven Coughlin quit working at the VA in late 2012 due to what he called “serious ethical concerns.” He testified to the House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations that the VA’s public health office is invested in hiding evidence of illnesses attributed to the Gulf War. Evidence that has been released, alleges Coughlin, has been recalibrated to look “unintelligible.” He also said that his office did not release their findings as part of a study which cost as much as $10 million and which found exposure to oil well fires, pesticides and other toxins for as many as 60,000Iraqand Afghan war veterans.

Coughlin also stated that a study which was congressionally mandated regarding Gulf War vets and family was not released, and alleges that he was told the results of the study were “permanently lost.” He said that research which points to Gulf War illnesses as neurological was unlikely to be released, and that one of his supervisors threatened to retaliate against Coughlin when he did not want to intentionally leave out data.

The chief of the VA’s public health and environmental hazards office, Victoria Davey, has stated that her office maintains strict analysis and publishing guidelines, but she did not address directly the allegations made by Coughlin. The VA has issued a statement that the VA Office of Research Oversight will be reviewing the claims put forth by Coughlin, and that they took every opportunity to seriously and fully pursue allegations of malfeasance.

Coughlin’s claim includes allegations that he was told to not examine data on the number and type of medical visits and hospitalizations as part of his research on burn pits and health issues among troops inIraqandAfghanistan.IraqandAfghanistanwar vets reported a number of debilitating respiratory issues many believe may be the result of inhaling trash burn pit smoke located in combat zones. Coughlin stated that he was threatened after informing his supervisor that he would not continue his research project with redacted information.

Gulf War vets returned to the States after 1991, and have reported numerous medical issues. While the VA has recognized some medical issues as the result of Gulf War service, many vets have been told their medical issues are psychologically based. The VA formally recognized nine illnesses resulting from Gulf War service in 2010.

The VA has spent an estimated $120 million on research since 2002 to determine the origins of Gulf War illnesses, but some researchers allege that a portion of the funds never made it to back the research. They also allege that ten million dollars from the fund went to the “Gulf War Biorepository Trust,” a brain bank for vets with ALS. But of the 60 brains in the bank, all but one was from older vets, not ones who served in the Gulf War.

Source
http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/03/14/whistleblower-va-hiding-veteran-health-data.html?col=7000023435630&comp=7000023435630&rank=1

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact an attorney about your Post Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, Mental Health, Sexual Assault, Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability, Medical Malpractice, or Aid and Attendance claim, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact an attorney about your Post Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, Mental Health, Sexual Assault, Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability, Medical Malpractice, or Aid and Attendance claim, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800

If during pregnancy an infection develops, the only way to treat it may be to use antibiotics or some other form of prescription medication. Although many are not harmful to the mother or fetus, some can have serious effects on an unborn baby. If a doctor’s error during pregnancy causes infection or if a doctor prescribes a harmful medication, women and their families may have a case of medical malpractice in Ohio.

Dangerous Drugs for Treating an Infection During Pregnancy

Drugs that are harmful to the baby during pregnancy are called teratogens.

These include antibiotics such as:

• streptomycin;
• tetracycline;
• metronidazole; and
• doxycycline.

There are other medications that should be avoided as well, such as acne medications, ACE inhibitors, and anti-seizure and thyroid medications.

Penicillin, ampicillin and amoxicillin are commonly prescribed to treat pregnancy infections and are safe to use when taken correctly. Over-the-counter drugs such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen are generally safe as well. These do not appear to cause birth defects, but should be used sparingly in the later stages of the pregnancy. Talk to your doctor before taking any medication – prescription or over-the-counter – to ensure it is safe to do so.

Contacting an Attorney about Medical Malpractice in Ohio

Some pregnant women may be given unsafe medications for treating an infection during pregnancy. If these medications are prescribed by a doctor and result in complications for the mother or baby, the doctor may be held liable. Mellino Robenalt LLC can help victims understand their legal rights pertaining to medical malpractice in Ohio. Contact us today at 440-333-3800 if a medical error related to treating an infection during pregnancy has caused injury.

A number of groups representing military associations and vet service organizations had lobbied the White House to instruct the Defense Department to lower the ranking of the new drone medal. They would like the Distinguished Warfare Medal to be ranked below the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

The Distinguished Warfare Medal had been announced by former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta. The new Defense Secretary, Chuck Hagel, then asked the Pentagon to review the metal’s ranking after public outcry. The 19 organizations banded together as part of the request stated in their letter to president Obama that they would like the Distinguished Warfare metal to be demoted to below the Purple Heart, and were soliciting the president’s “personal involvement.”

The groups included The American Legion, The Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Vietnam Veterans of America, and other associations representing both active duty and reserve duty members of the Navy, Army, Air Force and Marines.

The Distinguished Warfare Medal was to be awarded to recognize the actions of the drone pilots and cyber warfare specialists when they have “a direct impact” on operations of combat. But critics said they were concerned that decorating a service member who may be hundreds or even thousands of miles from active action would be given precedence over those who risk their lives and are not fighting from remote, secure locations.

The Distinguished Warfare Medal was to rank just below the valor award that is the Distinguished Flying Cross, and above the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. Drone operators and cyber warriors can contribute tremendously to any combat operation in which they are involved, critics agreed, but they argued that the proposed new medal awarded to individuals who do not physically serve in a war zone and yet would be ranked above injury and valor medals from physical combat seemed unjust.

President Obama could, as Commander-In-Chief, order the medal’s ranking be changed or direct the Defense Secretary to do so, said former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Lawrence Korb. But with the Department of Defense withdrawing the plan, neither Obama nor Hagel needed to do so.

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact an attorney about your PTSD, TBI, Mental Health, Sexual Assault, Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, TDIU, Medical Malpractice, or Aid and Attendance claim, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact an attorney about your PTSD, TBI, Mental Health, Sexual Assault, Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, TDIU, Medical Malpractice, or Aid and Attendance claim, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800

The federal government, in an attempt to address its long-term debt problem, has proposed changes to the way it calculates inflation for VA disability payments. Currently, government benefits (ex. VA disability benefits, Social Security benefits, etc.) are adjusted according to inflation. In an attempt to save some money, the government has endorsed using a slightly different measure of inflation to calculate Social Security benefits. This would allow the benefits to still grow, but at a slower rate.

The conventional Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures changes in retail prices of a constant market of goods and services. The Chained CPI (the variation that the government wants to utilize) considers changes in the quantity of goods purchased, as well as the prices of those goods. So, for example, if the price of steak goes up, many consumers will buy chicken, a cheaper alternative to steak, rather than buying less steak or going without meat.

Supporters of Chained CPI argue that it’s a truer indication of inflation. However, it tends to be less than the conventional CPI. Under the conventional CPI, disability payments increased 1.7 percent this year. Under Chained CPI, the disability payments would have only increased 1.4 percent.

There has been talk by the government to apply this alternative inflation measure to VA disability payments for nearly 4 million veterans, as well as pension payments for 500,000 low income veterans and surviving families. However, veterans groups are rallying together to fight any potential change in the calculation. The argument is that the veterans have already suffered through their wounds and sacrifices while in service, and now they would be unduly burdened while they are trying to recover from those wounds. The groups are complaining that the government is attempting to balance a budget on the backs of disabled veterans, which is absurd given the administration’s history of generous funding for the VA.

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact an attorney about your Post Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, Mental Health, Sexual Assault, Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability, Medical Malpractice, or Aid and Attendance claim, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact a veterans attorney, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800