Any delay or failure to provide the appropriate standard of care could be grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit. Compensation may be available for medical expenses, loss of wages, pain and suffering and other damages.
A man recently filed a medical malpractice lawsuit alleging he was injured during surgery in December 2014 at a Veterans Affairs hospital in California. According to the lawsuit, the plaintiff holds the surgeon and hospital responsible for negligence during surgery that caused esophagus damage that went undetected for two weeks. The plaintiff seeks general damages, medical expenses, all legal fees and any other relief as the court deems just.
While waiting for their case to settle, the plaintiff could be facing financial issues in which litigation funding could help. This lawsuit cash advance is often the answer to difficult situations where a plaintiff is between a rock and a hard place without sufficient funds to handle unexpected medical bills and ordinary living expenses such as the rent/mortgage, groceries, utility bills, etc.
Receiving a lawsuit cash begins with completing an online application. Next, one of our professional staff members will request case documentation from the plaintiff’s attorney. Once the application has been reviewed, if the case is approved for funding, we will prepare a contract for signature by the plaintiff and his/her attorney. Funds will then be sent via overnight mail or wire transfer.
There are no applications fees, no credit check and no employment requirements required. Because there is no need for a credit check, the plaintiff’s credit remains intact. But, the most appealing benefits of litigation funding is that there are no monthly payments and if the case is lost, the cash advance does not need to be repaid.
If you believe you or a family member has been seriously injured from medical malpractice, medical error, or neglect by a doctor, hospital, nurse, clinic, nursing home or other health care provider, you may have a grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit. Once your lawsuit is filed by an attorney, if you need financial assistance, contact Litigation Funding Corporation. We may have the mechanism you need to pay your bills, keep your credit standing, and fight for your rights.
The post Patient Alleges Negligence During Surgery Cause Esophagus Injury first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>The department must send written updates to the governor and Legislature about issues at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans and D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette. The reports will include information about staffing levels, timeliness of medication distribution, patient complaints, number of veteran deaths and accountability of patients’ money.
The measure is an effort to ensure conditions at the facilities are better monitored. It follows a February audit that revealed a wide range of problems at the state-run Grand Rapids veterans facility, which provides care to more than 430 veterans. The report raised concerns about low staffing, workers’ failure to check on patients and allegations of abuse and neglect that went uninvestigated. In addition, residents’ safety was compromised because workers failed to conduct alarm checks.
The bill was sponsored by Rep. Holly Hughes, R-Montague. “Our state’s veterans deserve the highest standards of care available, and this bill helps ensure that the conditions of veterans’ homes are evaluated and reported on more consistently and effectively,” Snyder said in a statement.
The post Michigan veterans facilities must now issue quarterly reports first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>In the study, it was revealed that VA hospitals are failing to ask patients important questions 39% of the time about trauma history, substance use and violence risk.
On top this, VA has failed to provide appropriate justification for discharging patients on multiple antipsychotics 61% of the time, and created a continuing care plan for patients upon discharge around 50% of the time.
Lead author, Meredith Rosenthal stated that, “These results are very troubling,” and that, “They further substantiate the need for VA hospitals to receive greater regulation and financial resources.”
The post VA Inpatient Psychiatric Hospitals Failing to Meet Quality Measures first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>H.R. 5325 Continuing Appropriations and Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017, and Zika Response and Preparedness Act, extends both the employment based fourth preference non-minister special immigrant program for religious workers and employment based fifth preference EB-5 Regional Center programs and funds the federal government until December 9, 2016, well after the November, 2016 presidential election. Members of Congress from both parties have stated their intent to draft legislation which would make significant changes to the EB-5 program prior to that date.
The post Continuing Resolution Funds the Federal Government and Extends 2 Immigration Programs first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>
The largest rise in sleep problems has been linked with patients who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), combat experience or other mental disorders. The same period between 2000 and 2010 has seen PTSD diagnoses triple. University of South Carolina researchers noted the prevalence of sleep disorders among 16 percent of veterans with PTSD. The number is the highest among all health conditions considered.
However the study’s senior author and associate professor Dr. James Burch said in a statement, “Because of the way this study was designed, this does not prove that PTSD caused the increase in sleep disorder diagnoses.” His team conducted subsequent research to study the connection between the two. It found that a history of PTSD was associated with higher chances of experiencing sleep problems.
Former service members with cancer, cardiovascular disease and other chronic health problems also had higher rates of sleep disorder diagnoses in comparison to those without such conditions. Sleep apnea and insomnia were the top two most common types of sleeping problems veterans experienced respectively.
The study examined the medical data of around 9.7 million veterans who sought care in the Department of Veterans Affairs health system. The findings were published in the journal Sleep in July.
The prevalence of sleep disorders among veterans is a cause for concern. It indicates the need for sleep disorder management and treatment to be integrated into health care services and caregiving for veterans.
Sources:
- http://stgist.com/2016/07/17/more-veterans-today-have-sleep-disorders-says-new-study/
- http://www.sleepreviewmag.com/2016/07/among-us-veterans-prevalence-diagnosed-sleep-disorders-risen/
- http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2016/07/15/Sleep-disorders-on-steep-rise-among-US-veterans-study-says/7861468599222/
The $2.2 million study will be conducted at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland as well as Sisley’s Scottsdale Research institute in Phoenix, Arizona. Since not all participants will begin at the same time, the study is expected to take up to two years to complete.
According to physician and study organizer Dr. Sue Sisley, the ideal candidate will have a disability rating from the Department of Veterans Affairs for combat-related PTSD, but otherwise be generally healthy with no other major medical issues. Veterans with traumatic brain injuries will be eligible to participate. There candidates should still have symptoms from PTSD despite having already been treated.
The study intends to use different methods of smoking and different types of marijuana to figure out which combination, if any, helps PTSD victims with their symptoms. After initial tests and assessments, participants will be given 1.8 grams (two joints worth) of marijuana a day. Participants will be told to smoke in response to their PTSD symptoms. There are no requirements on the amount smoked at a time or how many times a participant chooses to smoke as long as they don’t exceed the 1.8 grams.
Sisley recognizes that marijuana will not be a cure for PTSD, but believes that it will at least reduce the symptoms. If her hypothesis is proven true, officials with the California-based Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) says they intend to seek use of marijuana as a federally approved, prescription drug.
If you are a combat veteran suffering from PTSD in the Baltimore area and would like to participate in the study, you can email your contact information to arizona@marijuanasites.org.
For the Phoenix area, contact 410-550-0050 to register your interest in participating.
The post Veteran Volunteers Needed for PTSD Marijuana Study first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Veterans are required to have honorable discharges in order to obtain full benefits. Otherwise, they may miss out on tax breaks, education benefits and access to the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system, including vital mental health care services.
A less than honorable discharge is often issued to service members for minor misconduct, including absence without leave and tardiness to formation. However, such behavior can be linked with veterans who have a medical history of PTSD, traumatic brain injury and other conditions. According to Coffman, service members are being improperly discharged instead of being medically retired or retained for treatment and rehabilitation.
Since 2009, over 20,000 combat veterans with mental health problems have been forced out of the military with less than honorable discharges. Congress has acknowledged in recent years that some improper discharges occurred due to insufficient screening for PTSD and other combat-related conditions. The Fairness for Veterans Act ensures combat veterans receive due consideration in their post-discharge appeals.
The post Fairness for Veterans Act aims to recognize PTSD-related discharges first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>In a report released February 11, Institute of Medicine researchers said veterans of the 1991 Persian Gulf War are at a higher risk for developing a number of physical and mental health conditions. These include post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, digestive problems, chronic fatigue syndrome and Gulf War illness. The latter is an umbrella term used to describe undiagnosed symptoms in Gulf War veterans.
The IOM panel examined studies on the prevalence of various diseases in Gulf War veterans as well as those who did not deploy. They then categorized them on a spectrum ranging from “sufficient evidence of a causal relationship” to “inadequate or insufficient evidence to determine an association.”
According to the committee, the over $500 million in government-funded research on Gulf War veterans between 1994 and 2014 has provided little overall insight into the war’s health effects. Although evidence for Gulf War illness has increased in recent years, there has been a lack of progress in determining its causes and understanding how to treat it. The debilitating disease’s wide range of symptoms include fatigue, joint and muscle pain, headaches, gastrointestinal problems and skin rashes.
The IOM committee recommended the VA continue to monitor aging Gulf War veterans for degenerative brain diseases that take a long time to develop, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. The focus should shift to personalized care for veterans and treatment of the illness, as well as its mind-body connection.
However, veterans advocates who suffer from Gulf War-related illnesses expressed outraged at the report. They argued it reflects the panel’s bias toward the VA and selectivity in choosing the studies to review.
The post It’s time to focus on treatment of Gulf War illnesses, panel tells VA first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Authored by Rep. Julia Brownley, the Female Veterans Suicide Prevention Act will determine which of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ programs are the most effective in preventing female veteran suicides. The measure will also examine factors unique to women in order to allow the development of gender-specific programs.
“We can and must do more to address the epidemic of suicide among our women veterans,” said Brownley. “We know that suicide can be prevented, but we need to work harder to understand the root causes. This bill is an important step forward toward that goal.”
VA studies have shown female veterans are six times more likely to commit suicide as civilian women. The suicide risk doubles for female veterans between the ages of 18 and 29. The majority of research into veteran suicide has focused on males who comprise 90 percent of the veteran population. As a result, the reasons for the high female veteran suicide rate are unclear.
Researchers have identified several possible factors. These include adverse childhood incidents before military service, injuries such as traumatic brain injury and military sexual trauma (MST) among women. They found that veterans who experienced sexual assault while in the military faced an overall higher risk of suicide.
Female veterans with a history of MST were more than twice as likely to commit suicide as women veterans without such experiences. The results highlight the importance of MST awareness and mental health treatment for associated conditions such as post-traumatic stress or depression, which can be risk factors for suicide.
Overall, the VA’s suicide prevention efforts have appeared to help male veterans more than women. While the VA has taken steps to improve mental health programs aimed at women, there is no gender-specific data available on their effectiveness.
The post New measure seeks to prevent female veteran suicides first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>According to the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center, over 300,000 service members have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the past 15 years. Concussions are among the least severe of such injuries, which are mostly caused by bombs.
Researchers at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, performed MRI brain scans on 834 active service members with blast-related concussions between 2009 and 2014. The results found brain scarring in 52 percent of injured service members, signs of bleeding in 7 percent and pituitary gland irregularities in one third of patients.
Although MRIs have revealed a high occurrence of brain damage, the technology is too expensive to scan all veterans. Radiologist Dr. Gerard Riedy, the study’s lead author, hopes the findings can result in more accurate diagnoses and targeted treatment of brain injuries. Researchers said they aim to test existing imaging methods and find out which ones accurately identify TBI. A portable version of the exam will then be designed for the Department of Veterans Affairs and the military.
“The current diagnosis is based on subjective information. A diagnosis from an objective method like MRI would greatly enhance the possibility of treating veterans with the correct treatment paradigms,” said Riedy. “The TBI treatments and PTSD treatment paradigms can be vastly different. So in my book an accurate diagnosis is key to any hope at meaningful recovery.”
Distinguishing between TBI and post-traumatic stress (PTS) can be challenging as they are often identified by similar symptoms. However, both conditions require different treatments that can have adverse effects when interchanged. For example, the antidepressants used for treating PTS can prove harmful to people with TBI.
The post Over fifty percent of combat veterans suffer brain scarring first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>While PTS symptoms increased the most during the first six months after the service members returned home, they tended to subside after a year. However, researchers were most surprised by the prominence of PTS and severity of symptoms five years after the veterans’ return.
One possible explanation they offered for PTS re-emerging after a long time was that many service members rely on the support of a military group in the early stages to cope with traumatic events. However, such bonding with former peers tends to decrease with time, leading to a delayed stress reaction.
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, 11 to 20 percent of Iraq veterans in the United States suffer PTS symptoms each year. These symptoms can include nightmares, flashbacks, nervousness, fear, guilt, depression and difficulty concentrating.
Lead study author Iris Eekhout of VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam said there is a lack of research into the long-term mental health effects that veterans experience. The findings suggest screening for PTS symptoms should continue for more than just a year after veterans return home. Doing so would ensure the condition does not go undiagnosed as new or recurrent cases could emerge.
Eekhout emphasized that it is crucial for veterans to have easy access to mental health care. “It is important to monitor their psychological health for a long time after deployment, because early detection of symptoms is essential to early treatment, which is related to positive outcome,” Eekhout said. The findings were published in the journal The Lancet Psychiatry.
The post Veterans face chances of PTS recurring years after combat first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>PTS and traumatic brain injury (TBI) are two of the biggest mental health issues facing veterans today. The organization estimates that over 400,000 veterans suffer from PTS while around 320,000 are dealing with TBI.
The Wounded Warrior Project’s survey of 23,000 veterans is described as “the largest collection of data on this generation of injured veterans ever collected.” The annual survey asked wounded veterans about their combat experiences, mental and physical health and challenges in transitioning to civilian life.
The survey also revealed some truths about the lack of adequate health care for former service members. Thirty-five percent of veterans reported facing problems in accessing the mental health care they needed. The same number of veterans also said they had difficulty scheduling appointments with the Department of Veterans Affairs. In 2014, the agency was involved in a scandal in which dozens of veterans died while waiting for treatment at the VA hospital in Phoenix, Arizona.
“Our annual survey shows that this generation of injured veterans continues to struggle with the invisible wounds of war, including PTSD and TBI, and the challenges are not getting better with time,” said Wounded Warrior Project CEO Steve Nardizzi.
The organization is launching its $100-million Warrior Care Network in early 2016. The program seeks to provide improved mental health care for injured veterans by connecting four medical centers across the United States.
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 post Survey shows thousands of wounded veterans struggle with PTS and TBI first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>A study by Abt Associates and the Cohen Veterans Center at New York University Langone Medical Center followed about 2,400 Vietnam veterans from the 1980s to 2011. The National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study comprises one of the longest follow-up periods of a representative group of veterans to date. The researchers found that veterans with PTS were at a greater risk of dying from cancer or external causes such as suicide, murder, traffic accidents and other injuries than those without the disorder.
“This study gives us vital insights into the potential long-term health and mental health effects of warzone service on America’s uniformed services personnel,” said Abt researcher Dr. Nida Corry, one of the study’s lead authors. According to the findings published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, the study “offers really valuable empirical information that can help us better understand how to care for our Vietnam veterans.”
The researchers were unable to determine why PTS and warzone stress increased the risk of death. Vietnam veterans, now most in their 60s and older, make up the majority of living veterans today. Examining the long-term health effects of their combat experiences would help improve the treatment and support available to them. It would also enhance prevention efforts for future generations of service members.
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 post Vietnam veterans with PTS are at a higher risk of death first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Tyler Skluzacek, a senior at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota, was inspired to create the app due to his personal connection to PTSD. His father, an Iraq veteran, suffers from PTSD and has trouble sleeping due to night terrors which involve screaming, flailing and experiencing fear while sleeping.
Skluzacek and his team won the top prize of $1,500 at HackDC, a computer programming contest in Washington, D.C., in September. They spent 36 hours creating a mobile app for PTSD. The app is called myBivy. It refers to bivouac, a military term for a safe place to sleep such as a temporary camp or shelter.
Using smartphone technology, the app monitors a veteran’s heart rate and movements while they are asleep. It also tracks their sleeping patterns and remains alert for symptoms indicating the onset of panic attacks. The goal of the app is to predict when veterans experience night terrors. It then uses sounds or vibrations to disrupt deep sleep without waking the veteran up, therefore preventing night terrors.
Skluzacek and his team are raising money on Kickstarter to develop the app for wider use across different types of devices. A functional prototype is currently available on the Pebble Time smartwatch and Android smartphone. They plan to start clinical trials in early 2016 and officially launch by May.
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 post Student creates app to improve sleep for veterans with PTSD first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Tyler Skluzacek, a senior at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota, was inspired to create the app due to his personal connection to PTSD. His father, an Iraq veteran, suffers from PTSD and has trouble sleeping due to night terrors which involve screaming, flailing and experiencing fear while sleeping.
Skluzacek and his team won the top prize of $1,500 at HackDC, a computer programming contest in Washington, D.C., in September. They spent 36 hours creating a mobile app for PTSD. The app is called myBivy. It refers to bivouac, a military term for a safe place to sleep such as a temporary camp or shelter.
Using smartphone technology, the app monitors a veteran’s heart rate and movements while they are asleep. It also tracks their sleeping patterns and remains alert for symptoms indicating the onset of panic attacks. The goal of the app is to predict when veterans experience night terrors. It then uses sounds or vibrations to disrupt deep sleep without waking the veteran up, therefore preventing night terrors.
Skluzacek and his team are raising money on Kickstarter to develop the app for wider use across different types of devices. A functional prototype is currently available on the Pebble Time smartwatch and Android smartphone. They plan to start clinical trials in early 2016 and officially launch by May.
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 post Student creates app to improve sleep for veterans with PTSD first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>The program was launched by AmeriCorps and the Michigan Region 10 Veterans Community Action Team. Under the collaboration, 15 bicycles have been given to veterans in Southeast Michigan since the spring of 2015. The bicycles improve mobility for veterans by allowing them to travel to work and medical appointments, attend classes, stay active through exercise and perform other everyday tasks.
Wheels for Warriors presented new bicycles to two veterans during an event at the Ann Arbor VA Medical Center on Oct. 29. Leonard Jasper and Jeff Breen from Lenawee County, Michigan, previously had to rely on walking to get around. Breen is a U.S. Navy veteran of the first Gulf War while Jasper served in Korea and Germany from 1973 to 1976.
The bikes are custom-made according to the veterans’ measurements and cost $329.99 each. The veterans also received a helmet, security lock, portable back rack and a kickstand.
Tammy Sheldon, Lenawee County veterans service officer, said, “This is a quality of life issue . . . We know that neither one of them has a car, so they have to rely on walking or Dial-A-Ride to get them to the VA medical center.”
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 post Wheels for Warriors program provides Michigan veterans with bicycles first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>The program was launched by AmeriCorps and the Michigan Region 10 Veterans Community Action Team. Under the collaboration, 15 bicycles have been given to veterans in Southeast Michigan since the spring of 2015. The bicycles improve mobility for veterans by allowing them to travel to work and medical appointments, attend classes, stay active through exercise and perform other everyday tasks.
Wheels for Warriors presented new bicycles to two veterans during an event at the Ann Arbor VA Medical Center on Oct. 29. Leonard Jasper and Jeff Breen from Lenawee County, Michigan, previously had to rely on walking to get around. Breen is a U.S. Navy veteran of the first Gulf War while Jasper served in Korea and Germany from 1973 to 1976.
The bikes are custom-made according to the veterans’ measurements and cost $329.99 each. The veterans also received a helmet, security lock, portable back rack and a kickstand.
Tammy Sheldon, Lenawee County veterans service officer, said, “This is a quality of life issue . . . We know that neither one of them has a car, so they have to rely on walking or Dial-A-Ride to get them to the VA medical center.”
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 post Wheels for Warriors program provides Michigan veterans with bicycles first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>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
The post Michigan veterans hotline offers round-the-clock help and information first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>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
The post Michigan veterans hotline offers round-the-clock help and information first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Captain Jason Haag, a former Marine, was trying to take a flight to Virginia with his service dog Axel. They were returning home after attending the American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards in California, where his German shepherd was named Service Dog of the Year.
Haag’s relationship with his service dog has become a life-changing one for him. The 35-year-old veteran, who has served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. He was introduced to Axel in 2012 through K9s for Warriors, a program that connects disabled veterans with service dogs.
In an apology issued by American Airlines on Sept. 21, company spokesperson Victoria Lupica said, “We apologize to both Captain Haag and his family for the confusion with the travel plans . . . Thank you, Captain Haag, for your service to your country. We are extremely proud to fly you, Axel and your family.”
The apology came after American Airlines employees reportedly demanded proof that Axel was a real service dog even though he was wearing a special vest and harness that identified him as one. Although Haag was in compliance with the airline’s policy on service animals, he was interrogated about his disability and asked to supply additional paperwork. The American Airlines website states that service dogs are welcome on flights and does not mention an ID card requirement.
The American Humane Association said Haag’s experience highlights the need for better employee training. “Service animals are absolutely essential to so many people who struggle with emotional and physical challenges. In this case, the airline did not even follow its own guidelines,” the association’s president and CEO Dr. Robin Ganzert said in a statement.
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 post American Airlines apologizes for stopping veteran with service dog from boarding flight first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Captain Jason Haag, a former Marine, was trying to take a flight to Virginia with his service dog Axel. They were returning home after attending the American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards in California, where his German shepherd was named Service Dog of the Year.
Haag’s relationship with his service dog has become a life-changing one for him. The 35-year-old veteran, who has served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. He was introduced to Axel in 2012 through K9s for Warriors, a program that connects disabled veterans with service dogs.
In an apology issued by American Airlines on Sept. 21, company spokesperson Victoria Lupica said, “We apologize to both Captain Haag and his family for the confusion with the travel plans . . . Thank you, Captain Haag, for your service to your country. We are extremely proud to fly you, Axel and your family.”
The apology came after American Airlines employees reportedly demanded proof that Axel was a real service dog even though he was wearing a special vest and harness that identified him as one. Although Haag was in compliance with the airline’s policy on service animals, he was interrogated about his disability and asked to supply additional paperwork. The American Airlines website states that service dogs are welcome on flights and does not mention an ID card requirement.
The American Humane Association said Haag’s experience highlights the need for better employee training. “Service animals are absolutely essential to so many people who struggle with emotional and physical challenges. In this case, the airline did not even follow its own guidelines,” the association’s president and CEO Dr. Robin Ganzert said in a statement.
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 post American Airlines apologizes for stopping veteran with service dog from boarding flight first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Around 20 percent of women who served in Vietnam as part of the U.S. military between the 1960s and 1970s have experienced PTSD. Many female veterans are still living with the disorder. The researchers noted that although PTSD was common among men who served in Vietnam, not much is known about its impact on women’s health.
“Because current PTSD is still present in many of these women decades after their military service, clinicians who treat them should continue to screen for PTSD symptoms and be sensitive to their noncombat wartime experiences,” said the study’s lead author Kathryn Magruder, of the Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Charleston, South Carolina.
Magruder and her team examined the survey responses of 1,956 women who were stationed in Vietnam, 657 who served near Vietnam and 1,606 who remained in the United States during the Vietnam War. The participants were interviewed starting in 2011 and their medical records were reviewed. The findings were published online in JAMA Psychiatry on Oct. 7.
More than half of the women served as nurses during the war as members of the Army and Air Force. The researchers said they were still exposed to sources of stress even though they did not participate in combat. About 16 percent of female veterans who were stationed in Vietnam still experienced PTSD when surveyed, compared to around 8 percent of women who had served near Vietnam and about 9 percent who remained in the United States.
Many female Vietnam veterans still suffer due to their wartime experiences. The study results suggest that exposure to sexual harassment, job performance pressure and other stressors heighten the chances of PTSD. The study highlights the need to change military culture so that sexual harassment is not a PTSD risk factor for future generations.
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 post Study highlights PTSD among female Vietnam War veterans first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Around 20 percent of women who served in Vietnam as part of the U.S. military between the 1960s and 1970s have experienced PTSD. Many female veterans are still living with the disorder. The researchers noted that although PTSD was common among men who served in Vietnam, not much is known about its impact on women’s health.
“Because current PTSD is still present in many of these women decades after their military service, clinicians who treat them should continue to screen for PTSD symptoms and be sensitive to their noncombat wartime experiences,” said the study’s lead author Kathryn Magruder, of the Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Charleston, South Carolina.
Magruder and her team examined the survey responses of 1,956 women who were stationed in Vietnam, 657 who served near Vietnam and 1,606 who remained in the United States during the Vietnam War. The participants were interviewed starting in 2011 and their medical records were reviewed. The findings were published online in JAMA Psychiatry on Oct. 7.
More than half of the women served as nurses during the war as members of the Army and Air Force. The researchers said they were still exposed to sources of stress even though they did not participate in combat. About 16 percent of female veterans who were stationed in Vietnam still experienced PTSD when surveyed, compared to around 8 percent of women who had served near Vietnam and about 9 percent who remained in the United States.
Many female Vietnam veterans still suffer due to their wartime experiences. The study results suggest that exposure to sexual harassment, job performance pressure and other stressors heighten the chances of PTSD. The study highlights the need to change military culture so that sexual harassment is not a PTSD risk factor for future generations.
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 post Study highlights PTSD among female Vietnam War veterans first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>The grocer held job interviews for veterans and their families on Sept. 15 at all 128 of its Michigan stores. They were hiring to fill around 1,400 jobs in the area. Kroger also attempted to fill 20,000 open positions in the supermarket division across the country by hosting in-store job interviews.
“The Kroger Company of Michigan is deeply committed to Michigan veterans and their families, and we continue to honor our heroes by offering them career opportunities. Kroger is a place where veterans can start with a job and remain for a career,” said Jayne Homco, president of The Kroger Co. of Michigan, in a statement.
Many veterans face unemployment after returning home to the United States from duty due to lack of opportunity or the challenge of transitioning to civilian life. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the joblessness rate for veterans of all generations was 4.3 percent in September. The rate has decreased only slightly from the 4.7 percent recorded in the same month last year.
Unemployment can have a negative impact on both the mental and physical health of veterans. It can also lead to problems such as homelessness. A job can provide veterans with the opportunity to utilize their skills, improve their quality of life and maintain their independence.
In 2014, Kroger hired more than 6,000 veterans nationally through the Honoring Our Heroes campaign as part of its commitment to active duty troops and the country’s more than 23 million veterans.
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 post Kroger holds open job interviews for veterans nationwide first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>The grocer held job interviews for veterans and their families on Sept. 15 at all 128 of its Michigan stores. They were hiring to fill around 1,400 jobs in the area. Kroger also attempted to fill 20,000 open positions in the supermarket division across the country by hosting in-store job interviews.
“The Kroger Company of Michigan is deeply committed to Michigan veterans and their families, and we continue to honor our heroes by offering them career opportunities. Kroger is a place where veterans can start with a job and remain for a career,” said Jayne Homco, president of The Kroger Co. of Michigan, in a statement.
Many veterans face unemployment after returning home to the United States from duty due to lack of opportunity or the challenge of transitioning to civilian life. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the joblessness rate for veterans of all generations was 4.3 percent in September. The rate has decreased only slightly from the 4.7 percent recorded in the same month last year.
Unemployment can have a negative impact on both the mental and physical health of veterans. It can also lead to problems such as homelessness. A job can provide veterans with the opportunity to utilize their skills, improve their quality of life and maintain their independence.
In 2014, Kroger hired more than 6,000 veterans nationally through the Honoring Our Heroes campaign as part of its commitment to active duty troops and the country’s more than 23 million veterans.
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 post Kroger holds open job interviews for veterans nationwide first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Visitors to VA facilities can now bring service animals if they “are individually trained to perform work or tasks on behalf of an individual with a disability,” whether it is physical or mental. Under the policy, only dogs can be considered service animals. VA rules are now in line with existing federal regulations enforcing the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Under the regulation, VA facilities are allowed to ask only if the animal is required for a disability and if so, what task the animal has been trained to perform. They cannot request proof of the animal’s training as a service dog. However, VA facility managers have the right to remove a dog from the property if it displays threatening behavior, is untrained or is improperly housebroken.
Service dogs are an essential part of life for many veterans who are coping with post-traumatic stress disorder and other conditions. According to Service Dog Central, a national organization of service dog trainers, an estimated 387,000 people nationwide have service dogs.
The change in regulation has been welcomed by veterans advocates working to alter the previous restrictive policy. In the past, the VA allowed only seeing-eye dogs to accompany veterans. Access for other assistance dogs, such as those aiding mobility, was determined inconsistently by local rules which resulted in veterans being allowed to visit only certain facilities with their dogs.
The VA is now training employees to ensure they understand the revised guidelines and that policies at all facilities “are consistent with the new regulation.”
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 post VA revises access guidelines for service dogs at facilities first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Visitors to VA facilities can now bring service animals if they “are individually trained to perform work or tasks on behalf of an individual with a disability,” whether it is physical or mental. Under the policy, only dogs can be considered service animals. VA rules are now in line with existing federal regulations enforcing the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Under the regulation, VA facilities are allowed to ask only if the animal is required for a disability and if so, what task the animal has been trained to perform. They cannot request proof of the animal’s training as a service dog. However, VA facility managers have the right to remove a dog from the property if it displays threatening behavior, is untrained or is improperly housebroken.
Service dogs are an essential part of life for many veterans who are coping with post-traumatic stress disorder and other conditions. According to Service Dog Central, a national organization of service dog trainers, an estimated 387,000 people nationwide have service dogs.
The change in regulation has been welcomed by veterans advocates working to alter the previous restrictive policy. In the past, the VA allowed only seeing-eye dogs to accompany veterans. Access for other assistance dogs, such as those aiding mobility, was determined inconsistently by local rules which resulted in veterans being allowed to visit only certain facilities with their dogs.
The VA is now training employees to ensure they understand the revised guidelines and that policies at all facilities “are consistent with the new regulation.”
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 post VA revises access guidelines for service dogs at facilities first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Davis arrived in the United States from Manchester, England, on July 29. He kicked off his journey on Aug. 1 from Cape Cod. So far, he has trekked through Massachusetts into Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey and New York. His goal is to reach Huntington Beach, California, by Veterans Day on Nov. 11.
The 49-year-old veterans advocate is raising money for the Wounded Warrior Project and UK-based veterans charity Combat Stress. He is accepting donations and chronicling his trek via Not Broken, Just Damaged, his Facebook page. Davis has served 24 years with the British army and worked alongside U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan for five years.
“We talk about ‘leaving no man behind,’ but our veterans ultimately get left behind after coming back home . . . I’m doing what I can to bring attention to just how bad the situation is among our veterans. There’s just not enough being done. I don’t expect the system to ever be perfect, but there’s lots of room for improvement,” Davis said.
Davis was inspired to embark on the 3,178-mile journey across 15 states after returning home from Afghanistan. He chose to do the walking tour in the United States rather than his home country because he thought the bigger population would help to gain more attention for the cause.
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 10 to 18 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are likely to have PTSD. Claiming that veterans with PTSD do not receive the help they need, Davis said, “If my efforts can help keep just one veteran from ending up homeless or committing suicide, then it’s worth it.”
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
The post Veteran embarks on cross-country trek to raise awareness for PTSD first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Davis arrived in the United States from Manchester, England, on July 29. He kicked off his journey on Aug. 1 from Cape Cod. So far, he has trekked through Massachusetts into Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey and New York. His goal is to reach Huntington Beach, California, by Veterans Day on Nov. 11.
The 49-year-old veterans advocate is raising money for the Wounded Warrior Project and UK-based veterans charity Combat Stress. He is accepting donations and chronicling his trek via Not Broken, Just Damaged, his Facebook page. Davis has served 24 years with the British army and worked alongside U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan for five years.
“We talk about ‘leaving no man behind,’ but our veterans ultimately get left behind after coming back home . . . I’m doing what I can to bring attention to just how bad the situation is among our veterans. There’s just not enough being done. I don’t expect the system to ever be perfect, but there’s lots of room for improvement,” Davis said.
Davis was inspired to embark on the 3,178-mile journey across 15 states after returning home from Afghanistan. He chose to do the walking tour in the United States rather than his home country because he thought the bigger population would help to gain more attention for the cause.
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 10 to 18 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are likely to have PTSD. Claiming that veterans with PTSD do not receive the help they need, Davis said, “If my efforts can help keep just one veteran from ending up homeless or committing suicide, then it’s worth it.”
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
The post Veteran embarks on cross-country trek to raise awareness for PTSD first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>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
The post VA hosts conference on traumatic brain injury first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>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
The post VA hosts conference on traumatic brain injury first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>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
The post Michigan senator introduces bill to help improperly discharged veterans first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>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
The post Michigan senator introduces bill to help improperly discharged veterans first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>The study was carried out at the VA Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where researchers randomly assigned 116 veterans with PTSD to receive one of two types of therapy. One group participated in eight weekly 2.5-hour sessions and a daylong retreat that focused on stress reduction though mindfulness and meditation. The other group underwent nine weekly 1.5-hour sessions of present-centered group therapy that emphasized coping mechanisms for PTSD symptoms in daily life.
According to the findings reported on Aug. 4, 49 percent of veterans who received mindfulness-based therapy reported a significant reduction in their PTSD symptoms, compared with 28 percent of those who received standard group therapy. Veterans from the first group also reported a greater improvement in quality of life after two months.
An estimated 23 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are affected by PTSD. Mindfulness training is part of a growing wave of alternative therapies in mainstream medicine. It involves teaching veterans take-home techniques for confronting memories from war that they would otherwise try to avoid. The breathing and calming exercises of meditation help veterans focus on the present and cultivate awareness during everyday activities.
Mindfulness training could work as an alternative or addition to standard PTSD treatments such as prolonged exposure and cognitive processing therapy, said researchers. However, follow-up research into the long-term benefits of the therapy and its future applications in VA PTSD programs is still needed. The findings were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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 post Mindfulness-based therapy eases PTSD symptoms of veterans first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>The study was carried out at the VA Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where researchers randomly assigned 116 veterans with PTSD to receive one of two types of therapy. One group participated in eight weekly 2.5-hour sessions and a daylong retreat that focused on stress reduction though mindfulness and meditation. The other group underwent nine weekly 1.5-hour sessions of present-centered group therapy that emphasized coping mechanisms for PTSD symptoms in daily life.
According to the findings reported on Aug. 4, 49 percent of veterans who received mindfulness-based therapy reported a significant reduction in their PTSD symptoms, compared with 28 percent of those who received standard group therapy. Veterans from the first group also reported a greater improvement in quality of life after two months.
An estimated 23 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are affected by PTSD. Mindfulness training is part of a growing wave of alternative therapies in mainstream medicine. It involves teaching veterans take-home techniques for confronting memories from war that they would otherwise try to avoid. The breathing and calming exercises of meditation help veterans focus on the present and cultivate awareness during everyday activities.
Mindfulness training could work as an alternative or addition to standard PTSD treatments such as prolonged exposure and cognitive processing therapy, said researchers. However, follow-up research into the long-term benefits of the therapy and its future applications in VA PTSD programs is still needed. The findings were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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 post Mindfulness-based therapy eases PTSD symptoms of veterans first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>The erroneous exams resulted in some local veterans being denied TBI benefits. There were more than 300 veterans involved, although the exact number of veterans who may have been denied benefits because of the exams was not known. The affected veterans have been asked to return for new evaluations conducted by medical specialists.
After the TBI examination problems were reported, VA Public Affairs officer Ralph Heussner said in a written statement, “The Minneapolis VA Compensation and Pension Unit did conduct some initial TBI evaluations with providers who were not specialists in one of the four prescribed specialty areas.”
“We have contacted veterans affected by this issue to schedule and complete a repeat initial TBI examination by a medical specialist in neurology, psychiatry, neurosurgery or physical medicine and rehabilitation,” Heussner said.
Since at least 2010, the Minneapolis VA has been violating VA rules about the types of specialists required to make an initial diagnosis for veterans who may have a TBI. A VA training manual and forms used by VA Compensation and Pension examiners state that only physiatrists, psychiatrists, neurosurgeons and neurologists can make an initial TBI diagnosis. Once a TBI is diagnosed, the veteran must undergo a neuropsychological assessment specific to TBI to determine the impact of the brain injury.
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
The post VA admits unqualified doctors performed brain injury exams on veterans first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>The erroneous exams resulted in some local veterans being denied TBI benefits. There were more than 300 veterans involved, although the exact number of veterans who may have been denied benefits because of the exams was not known. The affected veterans have been asked to return for new evaluations conducted by medical specialists.
After the TBI examination problems were reported, VA Public Affairs officer Ralph Heussner said in a written statement, “The Minneapolis VA Compensation and Pension Unit did conduct some initial TBI evaluations with providers who were not specialists in one of the four prescribed specialty areas.”
“We have contacted veterans affected by this issue to schedule and complete a repeat initial TBI examination by a medical specialist in neurology, psychiatry, neurosurgery or physical medicine and rehabilitation,” Heussner said.
Since at least 2010, the Minneapolis VA has been violating VA rules about the types of specialists required to make an initial diagnosis for veterans who may have a TBI. A VA training manual and forms used by VA Compensation and Pension examiners state that only physiatrists, psychiatrists, neurosurgeons and neurologists can make an initial TBI diagnosis. Once a TBI is diagnosed, the veteran must undergo a neuropsychological assessment specific to TBI to determine the impact of the brain injury.
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
The post VA admits unqualified doctors performed brain injury exams on veterans first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Current federal law requires some veterans who do not receive VA health services to carry paperwork as proof of military service to employers or private businesses for discounts. The document, known as the DD-214, contains Social Security numbers and other personal information that could make veterans vulnerable to identity theft.
“At a time when many vets are struggling to reintegrate to society, we should be providing them with solutions, not paperwork. This bill will allow veterans to immediately prove their service to employers, thereby expanding their access to jobs and a number of other benefits,” said Dan Benishek, chairman of the Veterans Subcommittee on Health and Northern Michigan’s U.S. representative, who has co-sponsored the bill.
The VA currently issues ID cards to veterans who receive its benefits, mainly for health care. The new ID cards would not replace the cards already issued to veterans, nor can they be used as proof of eligibility for obtaining federal benefits. No time frame has been determined for when the first ID cards might be given out.
Veterans requesting the ID cards would have to pay a small fee, the amount to be decided by VA officials. The payments would fund the program. In Michigan, like in many other states, veterans already have the option to declare their veteran status on state driver’s licenses or IDs with no extra cost.
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
The post Congress passes bill to provide veterans with VA-issued ID cards first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Current federal law requires some veterans who do not receive VA health services to carry paperwork as proof of military service to employers or private businesses for discounts. The document, known as the DD-214, contains Social Security numbers and other personal information that could make veterans vulnerable to identity theft.
“At a time when many vets are struggling to reintegrate to society, we should be providing them with solutions, not paperwork. This bill will allow veterans to immediately prove their service to employers, thereby expanding their access to jobs and a number of other benefits,” said Dan Benishek, chairman of the Veterans Subcommittee on Health and Northern Michigan’s U.S. representative, who has co-sponsored the bill.
The VA currently issues ID cards to veterans who receive its benefits, mainly for health care. The new ID cards would not replace the cards already issued to veterans, nor can they be used as proof of eligibility for obtaining federal benefits. No time frame has been determined for when the first ID cards might be given out.
Veterans requesting the ID cards would have to pay a small fee, the amount to be decided by VA officials. The payments would fund the program. In Michigan, like in many other states, veterans already have the option to declare their veteran status on state driver’s licenses or IDs with no extra cost.
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
The post Congress passes bill to provide veterans with VA-issued ID cards first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>The VA said that same-sex couples with military ties will be eligible for the full scale of benefits that were, until recently, denied to them in some states. The agency previously upheld a policy of not providing spousal benefits to couples residing in states where same-sex marriage was not recognized.
Defense Department spokesman Navy Lt. Cmdr. Nate Christensen said the Supreme Court decision will not affect the military when it comes to the recognition of marriage or availability of benefits, since they have been in place since the court invalidated the Defense of Marriage Act in 2013.
Since then, same-sex military couples have received access to the department’s benefits. However, VA officials denied benefits to veterans in same-sex unions in states that did not legally recognize their marriages. This prompted lawsuits across the United States, most of which were put on hold while the Supreme Court made its decision.
The latest ruling is set to affect thousands of veterans as it dismantles all the barriers to gaining the full spectrum of benefits given to married couples. In a statement, VA officials said they are working to clarify the benefits process and provide guidance to same-sex couples looking to apply for them.
They added that the ruling now allows the department to “recognize the same-sex marriage of all veterans, where the veteran or the veteran’s spouse resided anywhere in the United States or its territories at the time of the marriage or at the time of application for 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
The post VA to extend veterans benefits to same-sex couples nationwide first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>The VA said that same-sex couples with military ties will be eligible for the full scale of benefits that were, until recently, denied to them in some states. The agency previously upheld a policy of not providing spousal benefits to couples residing in states where same-sex marriage was not recognized.
Defense Department spokesman Navy Lt. Cmdr. Nate Christensen said the Supreme Court decision will not affect the military when it comes to the recognition of marriage or availability of benefits, since they have been in place since the court invalidated the Defense of Marriage Act in 2013.
Since then, same-sex military couples have received access to the department’s benefits. However, VA officials denied benefits to veterans in same-sex unions in states that did not legally recognize their marriages. This prompted lawsuits across the United States, most of which were put on hold while the Supreme Court made its decision.
The latest ruling is set to affect thousands of veterans as it dismantles all the barriers to gaining the full spectrum of benefits given to married couples. In a statement, VA officials said they are working to clarify the benefits process and provide guidance to same-sex couples looking to apply for them.
They added that the ruling now allows the department to “recognize the same-sex marriage of all veterans, where the veteran or the veteran’s spouse resided anywhere in the United States or its territories at the time of the marriage or at the time of application for 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
The post VA to extend veterans benefits to same-sex couples nationwide first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>The resolution recognizes that PTSD is undertreated and underreported due to stigma and a lack of awareness. Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America says the disorder affects an estimated 20 percent of post-9/11 veterans, while the VA reports that Vietnam veterans have “high lifetime rates of PTSD ranging from 10 to 31 percent.”
The goal of this year’s campaign is to help veterans, their caregivers, families and members of the veteran and military community to learn about the PTSD treatment options available to help improve and save lives. The campaign also emphasizes the importance of recognizing the signs and symptoms of PTSD, which can sometimes be hard to detect. If left untreated, PTSD can lead to homelessness, depression and even suicide.
“Raising PTSD awareness is essential to overcoming the myth, misinformation and stigma that too often prevents veterans from seeking help . . . We encourage everyone to join us in this important effort to share important information about PTSD and help veterans receive care they need,” said VA secretary Robert A. McDonald.
Online resources for raising PTSD awareness are a major focus of the 2015 campaign. The VA runs the National Center for PTSD, which has a website that offers access to the PTSD Coach Online, PTSD Coach mobile app, an online video gallery of veterans discussing the disorder and its treatments and continuing education opportunities for health care providers, among other useful materials.
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
The post VA and Senate launch campaign to raise PTSD awareness first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>The resolution recognizes that PTSD is undertreated and underreported due to stigma and a lack of awareness. Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America says the disorder affects an estimated 20 percent of post-9/11 veterans, while the VA reports that Vietnam veterans have “high lifetime rates of PTSD ranging from 10 to 31 percent.”
The goal of this year’s campaign is to help veterans, their caregivers, families and members of the veteran and military community to learn about the PTSD treatment options available to help improve and save lives. The campaign also emphasizes the importance of recognizing the signs and symptoms of PTSD, which can sometimes be hard to detect. If left untreated, PTSD can lead to homelessness, depression and even suicide.
“Raising PTSD awareness is essential to overcoming the myth, misinformation and stigma that too often prevents veterans from seeking help . . . We encourage everyone to join us in this important effort to share important information about PTSD and help veterans receive care they need,” said VA secretary Robert A. McDonald.
Online resources for raising PTSD awareness are a major focus of the 2015 campaign. The VA runs the National Center for PTSD, which has a website that offers access to the PTSD Coach Online, PTSD Coach mobile app, an online video gallery of veterans discussing the disorder and its treatments and continuing education opportunities for health care providers, among other useful materials.
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
The post VA and Senate launch campaign to raise PTSD awareness first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Some PTSD symptoms include nightmares, heightened emotional reactions and negative changes in mood. Researchers examined 159 Afghanistan and Iraq veterans with PTSD symptoms and found that 69 percent of them had a higher chance of getting the sleep disorder. For every significant increase in PTSD symptom severity, the risk of developing sleep apnea rises 40 percent.
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which breathing frequently stops and starts. A common symptom is excessive daytime sleepiness, though not all patients suffer it. Certain aspects of PTSD, such as sleep deprivation and the psychological stress from combat, may increase the chances of developing sleep apnea.
Many veterans tend to experience PTSD and other mental health conditions upon returning to civilian life.
“The implication is that veterans who come to PTSD treatment, even younger veterans, should be screened for obstructive sleep apnea so that they have the opportunity to be diagnosed and treated,” Dr. Sonya Norman, PTSD Consultation Program director at the National Center for PTSD, said in a statement.
Sleep apnea could potentially lead to other health problems such as diabetes, hypertension, depression and worsening PTSD.
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
The post Study links PTSD to higher sleep apnea risk in veterans first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Some PTSD symptoms include nightmares, heightened emotional reactions and negative changes in mood. Researchers examined 159 Afghanistan and Iraq veterans with PTSD symptoms and found that 69 percent of them had a higher chance of getting the sleep disorder. For every significant increase in PTSD symptom severity, the risk of developing sleep apnea rises 40 percent.
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which breathing frequently stops and starts. A common symptom is excessive daytime sleepiness, though not all patients suffer it. Certain aspects of PTSD, such as sleep deprivation and the psychological stress from combat, may increase the chances of developing sleep apnea.
Many veterans tend to experience PTSD and other mental health conditions upon returning to civilian life.
“The implication is that veterans who come to PTSD treatment, even younger veterans, should be screened for obstructive sleep apnea so that they have the opportunity to be diagnosed and treated,” Dr. Sonya Norman, PTSD Consultation Program director at the National Center for PTSD, said in a statement.
Sleep apnea could potentially lead to other health problems such as diabetes, hypertension, depression and worsening PTSD.
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
The post Study links PTSD to higher sleep apnea risk in veterans first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>The VA developed a plan a decade ago for the medical center to replace old, congested facilities for around 400,000 veterans in Colorado and nearby states.
The cost of the 184-bed hospital has now ballooned to $1.73 billion, making it one of the most expensive projects in the department’s history. The mounting costs are attributed to poor planning and mismanaged construction by the VA, among other reasons.
Threats of a shutdown have loomed over the project due to lack of money. Congress passed a short-term emergency funding bill on June 12 to continue work on the hospital until the end of September, allowing the VA to re-route $150 million to the project from within the agency’s own 2015 budget.
The VA has yet to work out a long-term funding solution as the facility still requires millions of more dollars. It is likely to be completed in 2017.
“The VA’s mismanagement of this project is inexcusable, and we intend on holding those responsible for the mistakes accountable . . . Our veterans should not suffer for the VA’s mistakes,” U.S. Representative Mike Coffman, R-Aurora, said in a statement.
Congress had rejected the VA’s earlier suggestion to cover costs by taking money from the Veterans Choice Program, which allows veterans to see private doctors after lengthy waits for medical care at VA facilities.
The project highlights the need to make the VA, one of the government’s most heavily funded departments with a budget of $160 billion, more accountable for how it undertakes construction projects and fulfills its main responsibility of providing health care to veterans.
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 post VA comes under fire as Denver hospital crosses budget by over one billion dollars first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>The aim of this program is to put the roughly 50,000 homeless veterans to work. In order to do so, the VA plans to employ Community Employment Coordinators (CECs) at all VA medical centers in the country. With the help of CECs, veterans will be paired with community employers who can find them jobs. Once employed, the CECs will provide resources to the veterans which will help them succeed in their field.
The HVCES program compliments existing efforts to end veteran homelessness which provide vets a place to live. By implementing a Housing First approach, the US has been able to reduce the number of homeless vets by 33%.
After having a place to live, the next step for veterans is to find a job. This is where HVCES comes in. Having cash in your pocket is not the only benefit of having a job for veterans. The VA believes a job can give veterans improved quality of life, self-esteem, independence, and social skills.
If the government remains focused on solving the homeless-veteran problem, 0% Veteran-homelessness is a real possibility. These servicemen and women are strong, hardworking, and skilled. All they need is an employer to give them a chance to prove it and allow them to get back on track.
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
The post Continued Efforts to End Jobless Vets is Paying Off first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>It was the Mid-Michigan Honor Flight’s third flight to Washington in what marks the tenth year of the free trip in Michigan. It allowed some of the state’s 660,000 veterans to visit the monument that honors them, a trip that otherwise may not have been possible.
“This is a way for these gentlemen to get a hug back from America. We wouldn’t be where we are today if it wasn’t for what they did. So, I couldn’t find a better way to thank them,” Mid-Michigan Honor Flight hub director Patricia Donegan said in a statement.
The veterans traveled with their guardians, who paid $500 to sponsor the flight. Some of them stayed at the Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan, for dinner and entertainment the night before the trip.
They were greeted by several members of Congress and current servicemen upon arriving in Washington, D.C.
The Mid-Michigan Honor Flight, run entirely by volunteers, is hoping to host a second flight later this year despite being underfunded.
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 post Honor flight takes Michigan veterans to Washington DC memorial first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>The Veteran Affairs (VA) recently published a report that analyzed female veteran suicides over a span of 11 years. The results revealed that they commit suicide at nearly six times the rate of nonveterans.
When broken down by age group, female veterans aged 18 to 29 commit suicide at 12 times the rate of nonveterans. This means that the younger female veterans are committing suicide at twice the rate of the overall female veteran population. VA researchers could not offer a definitive cause of these troubling statistics, but did offer potential explanations.
The first of which uses another issue among the female veteran population to explain the suicide rate, sexual assault. It is estimated that 23% of women in the military have experienced unwanted sexual contact, 10% of which involve rape. The prolonged distress associated with experiences of sexual assault can lead an individual to develop depression and other psychological illnesses. Ultimately, the victim may take her life.
The second explanation attempted to account for the disproportionately high rate among female veterans in comparison to women overall. Usually, women tend to use pills or other methods besides a firearm when attempting suicide. Such attempts are less lethal than a firearm and result in less successful attempts.
According to government surveys female veterans are more likely than other women to have guns according to government surveys, and thus use them in suicide attempts more often than other women.
Experts also believe soldier’s backgrounds may account for the suicide rate. Previous research showed that men and women who join the military are more likely to have endured difficult childhoods. Since women have only served in the military on a voluntary basis, their damaging childhood experiences may be the reason for taking their own lives in addition to their initial choice to enlist.
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
The post Female Veterans Afflicted By Suicide first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Fortunately, one Metro Detroiter’s has a simple, yet genius, answer to this problem: “Give them a bike”. It may not sound like much, but Bikes for Vets is the real-deal. It eliminates the one of the largest barriers to employment, transportation. The cost of maintaining and insuring a car is very high in Michigan. If a person cannot afford a car, they have no way of getting to work unless he/she relies on someone else for a ride. When you are dependent on someone else to get you to work, there are always scheduling conflicts that will force you to be late or miss work.
Bikes for Vets aims to solve this money and dependency issue. By providing a vet virtually free transportation, they can arrive to work on a consistent basis. Add this to the large public bus systems of Metro Detroit, and you can provide people with a fast, reliable, rock-bottom priced method of transportation.
Bill Mowder, the creator of the Bikes for Vets program, said the idea suddenly hit him one day as he was watching a person load his bike on to the front of a public bus. As an Americorps Navigator, he is assisting veterans every single day. Yet, he thought there was more to be done, particularly with finding them transportation.
Traditional transportation assistance involves helping veterans with car expenses, but as we know, this can be expensive. For example, for a veteran to get assistance on a car repair he must get two certified estimates and verification of car insurance. Most veterans cannot even afford the mechanic inspections, let alone car insurance payments. On average, the cost of inspection, parts, and service totals to about $900.00.
The Bikes for Vets solution, on the other hand, is cost-effective and easy. Bill found that most people in the Metro Detroit area live within 10 miles of where they work. In addition to this, public busing systems are available in most areas and all Metro Detroit buses are fitted with a bike rack. These circumstances allow for biking to be a realistic option of transportation.
With the help of the local store D&D Bicycles and Hockey, he was able to purchase a reliable bike at an affordable price. At $437.00, a veteran receives a bike, helmet, kickstand, rack, and bike lock so they are ready to hit the road the next day. D&D Bicycles and Hockey has several locations around the Metro Detroit area including Northville and Westland.
The program’s first four participants gave rave reviews of the concept, namely the health and work benefits. One man was able to arrive to work on-time consistently and finally get 40 hours a week. A woman reported her 22 mile-a-day ride allowed her to lose 7 pounds in just a week of work.
Besides the obvious physical health benefits, veterans also reported better mental health from participating in Bikes for Vets. By avoiding car payments and maintenance, their stress levels are significantly reduced. This saved money allows them to pay their bills, building their self-esteem.
Since the first test of concept, he has given bikes to 15 veterans thus far. Private donations have allowed this program to flourish. Bill expects that as awareness increases, the program will quickly spread statewide, and hopefully throughout the country.
If you would like to contribute to this worthy cause, please contact Bill at bill.mowder@yahoo.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 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 post Bikes for Vets Helps 8 Veterans at Event first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>As illustrated in a recent Time Magazine report, however, training and caring for a dog can provide veterans with a simpler, warmer companionship, and even a reason to go on living.
Phil Ruddock, a Louisiana veteran of Desert Storm, experienced paranoia and trouble sleeping when he returned home – a textbook case of PTSD. After Phil had a nervous breakdown, lost his job, and became a recluse, a friend brought him an abandoned pit bull. The dog’s companionship gave him the confidence to slowly return to a normal life. Phil says the dog, Mia, rescued him.
Now, Phil runs a nonprofit devoted to helping other veterans discover the pleasure and therapy that dogs provide. Brothers and Sisters in Arms rescues adult dogs of all breeds from shelters and trains them with special commands designed to help soldiers deal with potentially stressful situations. Phil says that when he introduces a deeply wounded veteran to his or her new friend, he can see a great weight lifted from them and knows they will be all right.
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 post Program Pairs Dogs and Veterans for Companionship, Stress Relief first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Jon Stewart is notorious for being highly critical of any American involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts, in addition to his stark opposition to our continued efforts in the War on Terror. Regardless of this ideology, he has actively assisted returning soldiers to enter into the highly competitive television industry.
Over the last three years, The Daily Show has offered five-week internship programs to veterans that give them a crash course on how the TV business operates. This program has been kept quiet during this time because Stewart and his staff wanted to reach out to veterans looking to get into the television business, and not crazed fans of his show.
Now that his tenure as host is coming to an end, he is urging all others in the entertainment industry to emulate his idea. It is very difficult for service members to crack into the industry because they did not have the chance to attend college, acquire internships, and start early with an entry-level position. In order to both thank veterans for their service and give them a head start in the industry, Jon Stewart hopes that his program that culminates in a studio job fair will match these veterans with careers in the industry.
For veterans, it is often difficult to enter any industry because they compete with young adults who attended universities instead of fighting for our country. Businesses should level the playing field by offering special training and programs to veterans, just like Jon Stewart.
You do not have to agree with the war they are fighting, but you should honor and respect their choice to fight for the freedoms we all take for granted and help to reintegrate them into civilian 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 a veterans attorney, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800
The post Veteran Jobs in TV Industry first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>The bulk of the funding – just under $1 million – will go to the Michigan State Housing Development Authority and the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, located in Detroit.
The Ann Arbor Housing Commission, Kent County Housing Commission, and Lansing Housing Commission, along with VA health care facilities in those locations, will each receive $100,000 or more.
The funding is part of the VA’s Supportive Housing program, which combines vouchers for rental housing with clinical services and case management.
Michigan’s US senators, Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters, announced the allocation in a statement that stressed the sacrifice U.S. soldiers make and the importance of helping them secure permanent housing and adequate health care.
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
The post New Federal Funding Allocated to Helping Homeless Michigan Veterans first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>The Veterans Choice Program allows eligible veterans to receive health care outside the VA system. One of the criteria for eligibility is living more than 40 miles from the closest VA health care facility.
Previously, this distance was calculated as a straight line between a veteran’s residence and the facility. Effective immediately, driving distance will be the determining factor instead of straight-line distance. According to the VA, nearly twice as many veterans now qualify for the program.
Being that the purpose of the program is to alleviate the burden of veterans who may live far from VA health care facilities, it makes a lot of sense to use driving distance to determine eligibility. This simple rule change will significantly increase the health care access of a huge number of veterans. We at Legal Help for Veterans applaud the VA for this significant and very beneficial change in policy.
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 post Veterans Choice Program Dramatically Expands Eligibility first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Included in the legislative package is one measure that would establish a volunteer application process through the Michigan Department of Civil Rights. That protocol would permit veterans to obtain state-issued identification, dog tags and service dog vests.
Knezek, who served in Iraq, says that many veterans return home with what he calls “invisible wounds,” including PTSD and traumatic brain injury. Knezek explains that many of these veterans find solace and comfort through the presence of a service animal.
Unfortunately, Knezek says, some people question whether a veteran who appears healthy by all outward appearances has a legitimate need for a service animal.
Sen. Margaret O’Brien, R-Portage, one of the package’s four co-sponsors, adds that it will help educate businesses about the special needs of veterans with service dogs.
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
The post Michigan lawmakers sponsor bills to afford protections to veterans with service dogs first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>The policy, known as the Fireworks-Free Fourth of July, is the result of a partnership between the DNR and Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency. While officials do not guarantee that fireworks will be set off near the state parks, they are hoping that there is enough distance between urban areas and the green spaces to make sure that the mood, as well as atmosphere, will remain on the low-key side in the parks.
“While fireworks are a traditional Fourth of July festivity, some veterans and others prefer a calmer celebration with a little less excitement,” said DNR Parks and Recreation Division Chief Ron Olson. “We are pleased to honor our veterans and offer that opportunity in several of our beautiful state parks.”
Michigan is home to 658,469 veterans, according to the most recent statistics compiled by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
A list of the 12 state parks covered by the policy can be found at the DNR website.
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 post Michigan to make 12 state parks available to veterans for fireworks-free Fourth of July first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>The deputy assistant secretary, Jan Frye, said that “gross mismanagement” by senior VA officials has caused billions of dollars to be wasted, which has resulted in making a “mockery” of federal laws concerning the purchase of goods and services. Frye made her remarks to the House Veterans Affairs subcommittee on oversight and investigations.
“I can state without reservation that VA has and continues to waste millions of dollars by paying excessive prices for goods and services due to breaches of federal laws,” Frye said to the House subcommittee.
Frye first raised concerns over the issues she discussed with the House subcommittee in a 35-page memo to VA Secretary Robert McDonald earlier this year.
Total VA requested funding for the 2015 fiscal year stood at $163.9 billion, according to the VA. The 2015 figure represents a nearly 68 percent increase from 2009.
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
The post VA official tells House committee that department wastes billions on improper spending first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>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
The post Michigan’s ‘Welcome Home’ Bill to Help Veterans Transition into Civilian Life first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>There are clear improper treatment procedures ranging from overprescribing of psychiatric medications and pain killers, overlooking cases of cancer among numerous patients, and even patients being set on fire during surgery mishaps. Yes, this really did happen.
The reports outline construction overspending exceeding over $1 Billion, prevalence of off-the-books appointment wait lists, and claims of whistleblower intimidation. The failure to release these problem-ridden reports confirms lawmaker’s criticism of the lack of transparency of the VA.
In addition, Lawmakers agree that there is an issue of accountability within the VA. Currently, the VA has self-correcting disciplinary procedures which allow them to avoid reform and strict reprimands. One such example comes from the Veterans Hospital in Florida where a physician who was found to be prescribing significantly high rates of controlled substances was not faced with any reprimands. Instead, he was counseled for 2 years by his supervisors on safer prescribing practices, which the inspector general found to “not result in changes to his prescribing practices.”
The VA’s tendency to conceal these reports from the public as long as possible goes to show that there needs to be continued reform and additional oversight by Congressional committees.
To read more on this story, visit http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/benefits/health-care/2015/05/17/veterans-affairs-inspector-general-reports/27302011/.
If you believe that you have been harmed by a government employee at the VA while receiving medical treatment, or need help with your VA disability claim or approval, contact Legal Help for Veterans to preserve your rights.
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
The post VA Mismanagement, Malpractice Detailed In Reports first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Macy’s customers are donating $3 at the store’s cash registers in return for a 15 to 25 percent discount on their purchases. Donations kicked off on May 16 and are being accepted leading up to Memorial Day on May 25, 2015.
The Cincinnati-based company has raised $5 million for “Got Your 6” in the past two years with around 1.7 million people having donated to the campaign. “Got Your 6” refers to the military phrase for “I’ve got your back.”
Employers are at times reluctant to hire veterans due to concerns over post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues posing a problem to employees and customers. “Got Your 6” works to dispel common misconceptions about veterans, along with helping them integrate with the community and empowering them to become leaders.
Efforts are also underway to make veterans an integral part of the American work force. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has compiled a group of 1,500 companies committed to employing veterans.
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
The post Macy’s Raises Funds for Nationwide ‘Got Your 6’ Veteran Campaign first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>From the 1950s to 1987, some 750,000 people were exposed to polluted drinking water, which contained harmful chemicals from spills, a dump site on the base, and leaking underground storage tanks on base and an off-base dry cleaner.
At the community forum, representatives from the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry (ATSDR) were on hand to discuss the outcomes of four studies that were conducted to examine the impact of exposure to the contaminated drinking water.
A VA official outlined for the audience what conditions need to be met to qualify for the registry:
- You must have lived at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between August 1953 and 1987.
- You must be a dependent of a service member who was stationed at Camp Lejeune during that time period.
- And you must have one of the 15 conditions listed by the VA as being associated with Camp Lejeune.
Learn more and find information on how to apply for benefits at the VA’s website:
http://benefits.va.gov/compensation/claims-postservice-exposures-camp_lejeune_water.asp
ATSDR and VA representatives also fielded questions from attendees, many of whom shared tragic stories of infant deaths, cancers, and other diseases.
Many people, like Neil Wilson, one of the forum attendees, lived at Camp Lejeune as children. Wilson was in attendance to get information for his family, who because of exposure to the contaminated drinking water have a range of health problems. His mother gave birth to seven of his nine siblings while stationed at the base. He learned of the exposure’s connection to his family after his brother was diagnosed with a heart problem.
“I have family members dying before me. They want answers,” Wilson said. “I’ve been following this for a number of years and I came today to get them answers, but I’m not too hopeful. I have to be a spokesperson for my family.”
The ATSDR and VA representatives hoped to share new information from recent studies on Camp Lejeune and tell people how to apply. You can also read our blog from last October when the VA announced Camp Lejeune victims would receive financial aid:
http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/2014/10/camp-lejeune-toxic-water-victims-to-receive-financial-relief-va-announces/
Read more on the forum here:
http://www.jdnews.com/news/military/veterans-families-attend-meeting-on-water-contamination-1.477296?page=0
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 post Veterans & Families from Camp Lejeune Looking for Answers at Community Forum first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>But now, the waiting game is almost over as VA Secretary Robert McDonald said he plans to make an announcement in the coming weeks about health care benefits for the crews who flew C-123 aircraft. Many of those planes were used during Vietnam to pray Agent Orange over the countryside, and they continued to be used after the war.
Multiple Air National Guard units used these reserve planes in various states across the U.S.
Up until January of this year, there was some uncertainty as to whether reservists had, in fact, been exposed to the herbicide. But an Institute of Medicine study released in January challenged that uncertainty.
The Institute of Medicine researchers wrote, “It is plausible that, at least in some cases … the reservists’ exposure exceeded health guidelines for workers in enclosed settings.”
Therefore, the report continues, some reservists likely experienced “non-trivial” increases in their risks for certain diseases. These findings bolster an earlier 2012 report by the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry that these individuals’ levels of exposure to dioxin were 182 times higher than safe amounts.
However, it was four years ago when Retired Air Force Major Wesley Carter started requesting documents through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) after he and some fellow reservists were diagnosed with multiple cancers, heart disease, and other Agent Orange-associated illnesses.
Since then, the reservists have been battling the VA to receive the same benefits as those who served in Vietnam. After a few delays, it appears that will finally happen.
At Legal Help For Veterans, PLLC, we focus exclusively on veterans’ rights. If you are a veteran looking to get the benefits that you deserve, call us today at 1-800-693-4800. We handle a variety of claims, including Agent Orange and other service-connected injuries. 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 a veterans lawyer, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800
The post VA Announcement on Agent Orange Benefits for C-124 Air Force Reservists Could Come Soon first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>
Though Baby Boomers do focus on cash flow in retirement, planning beyond that with an estate plan is often not on their radar.
When it comes to finding the right long-term care facility for your parent, ideally your loved one is in a position to give input or has already provided input in the past. Still, as a child of a loved one who needs long-term care in Michigan, it’s important to evaluate the most recent information including the financial ability to afford certain facilities and which level of care is most appropriate. By sitting down with an elder law attorney before a health situation escalates, you will have greater peace of mind in making life-changing decisions. According to a report by Kiplinger.com, choosing a long-term care facility for a loved one is daunting. It’s never an easy decision to move someone you care about into a facility, but it’s often in the best interest of the senior citizen. If a doctor diagnosed your parent with Alzheimer’s, it’s vital to your parent’s safety and health that he or she gets the best care possible. Kiplinger cites a report by the Alzheimer’s Association that revealed 75 percent of those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s go into a nursing home by the time they reach age 80, which compares to 4 percent of the general population.
Taking the first step
The first step is to talk with your loved ones and doctors or other medical professionals about specific needs. Your parent’s medical providers will advise you on whether he or she needs assisted living to help with daily living activities such as bathing or dressing. Another level of care is “skilled nursing” for those with more complicated health issues or bedridden. Memory care is another classification of care for people dealing with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
Thinking about the future
Some people don’t want moved from one facility when they need assisted living and then to another part of town or different city when they need more intensive care. Your loved one can more easily keep the same friends by living in a senior living facility with an entire continuum of care. Some facilities have different floors or separate buildings for different levels of care. Also, talk to your parent about whether he or she would prefer some religious component. Whether it is a chapel services or a faith-based facility, a senior citizen will be happier to have spiritual options.
Crunching the numbers
Assessing what your loved one’s financial situation is easier when you have an elder law attorney with documents drawn up for your parent. Experts say the cost of a long-term care facility often ranges from about $3,600 a month to more than $10,000 a month. If your parent is a veteran, he or she could get financial assistance for long-term care from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Medicaid isn’t going to kick in until your loved one depletes his or her other assets.
Starting the search
Whether you want to stay in Michigan or go outside the state to find a facility is up to your family. However, many older people like staying in their home state to receive care so they are close to loved ones and friends. The eldercarelocator site lets you search for services for older adults. The site is a public service by the U.S. Administration on Aging. You can look up different topics such as Adult Day Program, Alzheimer’s Disease and Caregiver. After creating a list of different potential facilities, set up an appointment to visit in person. Experts recommend you pay close attention to the cleanliness and the way the staff treats people. Use all of your senses to gauge whether or not the facility is up to your standards.
Elder law attorney Christopher J. Berry and the Elder Care Team specializes in a Michigan Retirement Plan Trust. We can make sure your loved one has his or her financial affairs in order including money to pay for long-term care. For more information about choosing a long-term facility, please contact us.
The post A Go-To Guide for Choosing a Long-Term Care Facility for a Parent appeared first on Estate Planning Lawyers | Elder Law Attorneys | Brighton | Novi | Livonia Elder Law Attorneys.
The post A Go-To Guide for Choosing a Long-Term Care Facility for a Parent first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>In August of 2014, the Michigan Court of Appeals found that the governmental immunity protections provided in M.C.L. §691.1407(1) did not apply to state-run veterans homes, where the underlying claim was sounded from the medical care or medical treatment of the moving party Estate of Andrew Ball v. Grand Rapids Home for Veterans, ___ Mich. App. ___; ___ N.W.2d ___; 2014 Mich. App. Lexis 1580; COA # 314861 (August 26, 2014).
The Court found that M.C.L. §691.1407(4), the medical care and treatment exception to the governmental immunity provided by the statute, was not implicated in Ball because the allegations arose as a result of a condition that directly resulted for the complainant’s medical condition. The condition was his reason for treatment at the facility, and as a result, the Court found a sufficient nexus was created to allow the suit to go forward under the M.C.L. §1407(4) exception to governmental immunity.
The home in question was run by the State Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. After the decision came down in Ball, which allowed the State to be sued as a party in cases that had a nexus to medical care and treatment, a bill was introduced by that would explicitly exclude from all liability a nursing care facility that was run by the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. The proposed bill would amend the language of M.C.L. §691.1407(4) to explicitly exclude those facilities from the medical care and treatment exception. The bill is before the judiciary committee for review and a result, either passage or failure, is likely to come from the legislature this year.
The proposed amendment to the bill would except all claims stemming from the care or treatment of a veteran in a State run nursing home owned by the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs from suit by the patient against the State. In other words, if a veteran who is placed in one of these homes is injured or wrongfully dies because of a mistake that is made by an employee of the State facility, no recovery can be had against the State for negligence or improper medical care or medical treatment. Therefore, the only attempt at recovery would be against the individual who acted negligently and any insurance that would apply to that individual.
As a result, the possibility of collection and compensation for those veterans who are injured in that way is made substantially less likely. Given the service these men and women have given our country, such a seemingly wide ranging prohibition in cases of this nature seems rather unfair. Simply being a veteran who resides in a Department of Military and Veterans Affairs home should not mean that the agency charged with your care should be completely immune from liability for an injury you receive, through no fault of your own.
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
The post Veterans in State-Run Long Term Care Facilities Targeted by Legislature first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>And so more problems for our veterans continued to fester without proper oversight, leaving those who have served our country out to dry.
It is unknown how many of the investigations uncovered serious or dangerous problems as the reports have not been read or analyzed yet, but all of them concerned VA medical care provided to veterans or complaints of clinical misconduct.
The VA inspector general said they could not provide specifics for the apparent lack of transparency, as the inspector general has not analyzed the reports in full.
Catherine Gromek, the VA inspector general, advised requesting the reports under the Freedom of Information Act. USA Today submitted a request in January for 23 reports. Her office has maintained that officials are “working diligently” to fulfill the request.
The inspector general’s office noted that, in general, reports may not be released if allegations are unsubstantiated and disclosing them could damage someone’s reputation, when there is a pending lawsuit or when subjects of investigations are no longer working at the VA.
Officials from the inspector general’s office did review 26 reports withheld from the public since January 2014 and found less than half — 46% — involved unsubstantiated allegations. They said in 42% of the cases, inspectors determined VA officials had already addressed their concerns so a public report was unnecessary. One was the subject of a pending lawsuit.
However, these statistics and reasons for lack of transparency do not satisfy the many veterans and their families who continue to suffer through poor care, long waits, and a bevy of other issues at VA medical centers. And they should not satisfy the public either.
Read USA Today’s full report on the issue here:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2015/03/08/probes-of-veterans-health-care-often-not-released-to-public/24525109/
At Legal Help For Veterans, PLLC, we focus exclusively on veterans’ rights. If you are a veteran looking to get the benefits that you deserve, call us today at 1-800-693-4800. We handle a variety of claims, including PTSD, TBI, and other service-connected injuries. 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 a veterans attorney, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800
The post VA Health Care Investigations Left in the Dark first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>But both VA itself and most experts strongly urge veterans to enroll in Medicare. One of the most compelling reasons, cited by Stan Hinden in an article for AARP, is that VA medical coverage is funded by an appropriation from Congress that must be passed each year. As a result, VA does not guarantee benefits in the future, because funding levels may not be sufficient to cover the needs of all veterans. The National Council on Aging agrees that the priorities and funding of VA can change, and that veterans could see the VA benefits they have now decrease in the future.
Veterans who sign up for Medicare will have health coverage for a wider array of medical services, and they will be able to access private doctors and medical facilities. This can become especially important as veterans age and encounter more complex health concerns.
Medicare can also provide vitally necessary coverage in urgent situations. For example, if a veteran is taken to a non-VA hospital ER, Medicare will cover the costs of care. Or, if a veteran is pre-authorized by VA for treatment in a non-VA hospital, Medicare may pay for additional treatments that become necessary but were not expressly authorized by VA.
Low-income veterans may be especially concerned about the cost of Medicare premiums. But Medicare premium assistance programs are available to low-income individuals, including veterans. In Michigan, the Michigan Department of Community Health runs the program that provides premium assistance to Medicare recipients.
Finally, veterans should be aware that Medicare imposes penalties on individuals who sign up after the initial enrollment period. Typically, to avoid penalties, individuals must sign up for Medicare in a seven-month window surrounding their 65th birthday. Individuals who fail to do so, including veterans, will pay higher premiums if they decide to sign up later.
The National Council on Aging offers more information on Medicare for veterans with VA benefits on the website mymedicarematters.org. In addition, many veterans benefits attorneys offer assistance to veterans seeking all of the coverage to which they are entitled.
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
The post Veterans Should Sign Up for Medicare When Eligible, Even With Good VA Benefits first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Last year, the senator’s bill was defeated in Congress. Gillibrand’s bill sought to put the decision to prosecute sexual assault cases into the hands of prosecutors, not commanding officers. But those who dissented, including Senator Claire McCaskill, say that Gillibrand’s bill was examined by experts who agree that it would not create the desired effect of reducing military sexual assault and retaliation against survivors.
McCaskill introduced and successfully passed a bill last year that increased oversight of military sexual assault cases while keeping prosecutorial decision-making within the chain of command.
Generally, politicians, the public and the media agree that sexual assault and retaliation against those who report it are major problems in the military. The Department of Defense recently found that more than 60 percent of servicemembers who reported a sexual assault faced some form of retaliation.
The Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN) points out that in addition to retaliation from fellow servicemembers, survivors of military sexual assault face discrimination in having post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) claims approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). SWAN notes that survivors of military sexual trauma (MST) have their PTSD claims approved at a rate that is more than 20 percent lower than that of other PTSD claims.
While SWAN supports Gillibrand’s bill, it is also undertaking independent efforts to change VA evidentiary standards for MST-related PTSD claims. The group advocates for a policy that requires the same level of evidence for MST-related PTSD claims as for other PTSD claims — a standard that has been relaxed in recent years in order to help more veterans with valid claims get the treatment they need.
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 post Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Renews Push for Reform of Military Sexual Assault Prosecutions first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Chronic Hepatitis C infections can destroy the liver. Eventually, sufferers will require a liver transplant or will die from the disease. The VA is the nation’s single largest care provider for Hepatitis C, with 174,000 veterans currently documented as having the virus and as many as 42,000 undocumented cases.
In July, the VA gave the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee a $17.6 billion wishlist of resources. At that time, VA officials stated that the high cost of Sovaldi was cutting into their resources. Congress approved the new funding, but none of the funding was specifically earmarked for Sovaldi.
Sovaldi was developed by Gilead Sciences and approved by the Food and Drug Administration last year.
The drug cures 90 percent of Hepatitis C cases. Patients who are cured of the disease no longer carry the virus or show symptoms, making it by far the most effective treatment available.
But the cure comes at a high cost. Each pill costs $1,000, with a full 12-week course clocking in at $84,000. If all 3.2 million Americans with Hepatitis C were treated, the total cost of treatment would exceed the amount that the United States currently spends on all drugs.
Sovaldi may be at the frontline of a new trend of specialty drugs that provide dramatic results for specific illnesses but come with huge, perhaps uncarryable, costs. Experts worry that Sovaldi and other drugs could eventually strain Medicaid, Medicare and the prison system, as well as the VA.
In the fiscal year that ended on September 30, the VA spent $220 million on Sovaldi. The agency was able to negotiate the price of one tablet down to $543 from $1,000.
Gilead recently came under investigation by the Senate Finance Committee, which inquired as to how Gilead came to set the high price of the drug. Gilead blamed the high price on the amount it spent developing the drug.
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
The post New Hepatitis C Cure Could Strain VA Finances first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Knapp offers her support and time to veterans who need someone to talk to about their emotional, physical and economic problems. She has helped veterans from every war since World War II, right up to veterans of the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Knapp told the Battle Creek Enquirer, “They’re a younger bunch now, but they’re all so appreciative, and they all want some link with family and community. I try to give them that.”
The 72-year-old has strong ties to the military: her late husband, her father, her grandfather, two sons and a brother all served in the military.
Knapp was awarded the 2014 American Association of Retired Persons Andrus Award for Community Service for her work at the VA and the Comstock Community Center. She was presented with the award in an AARP ceremony on November 1 in Grand Rapids.
Over the course of her three-and-a-half decades volunteering at the VA, Knapp has logged 2,426 hours. She is known for planning monthly parties, as well as a Las Vegas Day in February and a Christmas in July party.
Knapp and her husband started volunteering with veterans at the VFW Auxiliary 6252 in Comstock back in 1979, where she was made auxiliary chairman. Two years later, she started volunteering at the Battle Creek VA.
Knapp lives in Kalamazoo. In addition to volunteering once a week at the Battle Creek VA, she raises money for veterans’ programs, teaches Sunday School and coordinates the holiday food basket program at the Comstock Community Center.
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 post For Nearly 35 Years, Volunteer Jackie Knapp Serves Michigan Veteran Community first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Chuck Dardas, president of Alpha USA manufacturing facility in Livonia, invited Carol Ann Fausone, who is a retired Michigan National Guard General and currently serves as a constituent advocate in Congressman Dave Trott’s office.
She said she was encouraged to see a number of young women in the crowd and that the pillars of the contest mirror those of Representative Trott’s philosophy.
“This contest is all about problem solving and getting creative,” she said. “Go out there and do your best! I can’t wait for five weeks to go by and see what you produce.”
Fausone also continues to help veterans with their health care benefits, job placement, and mentoring aspiring students looking to get into the armed forces. She was encouraged to see so many middle schoolers geting involved in the contest, as she knows from experience helping to place veterans in jobs that these types of skills are what employers are looking for.
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
The post The General Encourages Kids to be Inventors first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Family members stated that the patient was Roland Mayo, 65. Mayo was a Vietnam veteran and a former Riverside County deputy sheriff and marshal.
According to Mayo’s daughter, he was admitted to the hospital on October 8 to have a stent replaced in his carotid artery. Complications from prior cancer surgery required a second operation.
Following the surgery, Mayo seemed to be doing well. However, he later began vomiting, then choked on the vomit, resulting in his death.
Following an anonymous tip to Sacramento’s News10, the VA confirmed that a DNR band was incorrectly placed on Mayo’s arm. The VA stated when the patient went into distress, the code response team reviewed the chart and found that Mayo was not actually DNR. According to the VA, the incorrectly placed armband did not impact the response, and Mayo received appropriate resuscitative efforts.
The incident comes after an onslaught of VA scandals this year, including the revelation that thousands of veterans have faced months-long waits for their medical care.
According to a recent report by Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, poor care in the VA system is deadly. Up to 1,000 veterans have lost their lives because of VA treatment since the beginning of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The pervasive malpractice also takes an economic toll and has cost taxpayers close to $1 billion in settlements.
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
The post Vietnam Veteran Dies Following Do Not Resuscitate Error first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Pop the Champagne for bureaucratic progress!
It should be noted, the Department currently uses at least nine maps of the US, which divides the country into dozens of regional networks and administrative duties for its hundreds of programs.
Later this year, all VA agencies will be on the same page, looking at the same map, coordinating efforts along the newly drawn five regions to allow veterans a single point of entry for a host of office offerings.
However, VA officials skimmed past specific details on what they called “the biggest organizational change in VA history,” but said the work will not immediately mean cuts to the 340,000-plus workforce.
The new VA Secretary, Bob McDonald, has touted the MyVA program as an overall push to improve customer service toward veterans by trimming layers of bureaucratic waste and duplication, which has caused many a veteran headaches.
To its credit, the program has improved signage at hospitals and given more independent authority to call center operators on veterans benefits issues. The map change, officials said, could potentially improve communication and coordination between offices that previously had little interaction, creating more one-stop shops for veterans.
But don’t hold your breath quite yet, as details on exactly how this change will all play out won’t be decided for months. (Agreeing on one map was hard enough.)
The Regional Offices, which oversee benefits processing, home loan awards, and health care services, among other items, will each have to decide how to realign their operations in light of the new map.
On a briefing call earlier this week, VA officials said the map announcement was intended to provide an update on the overall MyVA simplification efforts and to reassure veterans that work is taking place.
Secretary McDonald said in a statement that this is the “first step in empowering veterans to interact with one VA” and a way to “improve the veteran experience by enabling veterans to more easily … access their earned care and benefits.”
VA expects to have plans in place to ensure their structures are aligned within the new map by the end of June.
Read more on this story in the Military Times:
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 post VA Settles on a Single Map of the US in an Effort to Simplify the Agency first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>According to the report, female veterans are more likely to be unemployed than male veterans or non-veteran women. They are more likely to be homeless than non-veteran women. In addition, fewer resources are available to women who need basic health care, PTSD treatment or treatment for military sexual trauma.
Nearly 300,000 women served in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars after 9/11. In 2014, women represented 14.5 percent of active duty service members and 18 percent of reserve members, rates which are expected to increase in the future. Currently, 10.3 percent of all veterans are women.
The study found that female veterans received only 6 percent of domiciliary homeless care for veterans and of grant and per diem programs. They received only 4.4 percent of healthcare support for homeless veterans.
For female veterans, even basic medical care can be a challenge. A third of all Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers do not employ a gynecologist.
A large proportion of women in the military experience sexual trauma — up to 20 percent of women receiving VA healthcare. However, research shows that many veterans have their military sexual trauma claims denied. Meanwhile, there is a shortage of staff trained to treat this pervasive problem.
At the same time, women also suffer from issues that are common to all veterans, such as increased rates of mental health problems and systemic difficulties in receiving much-needed services.
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
The post New Research Reveals Aid Gap for Female Veterans first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>The study examined the effects of Sudarshan Kriya yoga on PTSD patients over the course of one year. Sudarshan Kriya focuses on breathing-based meditation. Twenty-one male Iraq/Afghanistan veterans diagnosed with PTSD participated in the study. Eleven participated in a seven-day program that included Sudarshan Kriya, meditation and group discussions, while 10 participants were used as a control group.
Up to 20 percent of America’s 2.3 million Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans suffer from PTSD. The effects are deadly: according to the Department of Veterans Affairs, at least 22 American veterans commit suicide each day.
Individuals suffering from PTSD suffer from anxiety, personality changes and flashbacks. They often feel jumpy and constantly on guard, a phenomenon known as hyper-arousal. Traditional treatment includes antidepressants and psychotherapy.
The veterans’ symptoms were evaluated one week prior to the program, followed by one week, one month and one year after the program. Of the veterans involved in the active program, seven continued to practice yoga afterwards.
The study found that the group that did yoga had fewer PTSD symptoms, and symptoms that did occur were less severe. They had lower anxiety, a lower respiratory rate and showed less hyper-arousal and greater regulation of emotions. The participants in the yoga group reported fewer intrusive memories, and most patients reported that while they experienced trauma during the yoga practice, the impact of the memories was lessened.
In the past, yoga has been demonstrated to be effective in reducing PTSD in tsunami survivors, as well as in the treatment of anxiety, depression and alcoholism.
The practice of yoga is founded in focusing on breathing and remaining in the present moment. Yoga practitioners are also trained in “intraception,” the practice of observing and understanding one’s internal state. In conjunction with other treatments, these tools may help individuals with PTSD to move away from negative thoughts.
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 post Study: Yoga Can Help Treat PTSD in Veterans first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Brigadier General (ret)
Positive reports surfaced last year on the significant reduction of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) backlog in benefits claims – VA workers slashed the backlog by over half to 245,000. VA officials were optimistic on cutting that number to zero by the end of 2015…but now that appears out of reach.
Army Times reports that VA will likely not reach a backlog of zero by the end of 2015, as was their goal. VA workers did set a record of completing over 1.3 million claims last year, but with new claims only continuing to increase it appears zeroing-out the entire backlog in the next eleven months or so is unlikely.
“I think they can get close, but I don’t think they can get to zero,” Jackie Maffucci, the research director for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, told Army Times last week. “Just looking at the numbers, it’s doubtful.”
To Congress’s credit, they did lend a helping hand to the tune of an additional $40 million in the budget to slash the backlog with digital scanning, more claims processors, and other efforts.
However, Army Times also reported that a new backlog is just around the corner. Appeals have risen steadily from about 245,000 in March 2013 to about 287,000 today. Congress gave VA $11 million to address the increasing appeals as well.
The backlog is based on the number of claims pending for more than 125 days. Last year, VA Undersecretary Allison Hickey indicated that the funding from Congress, which provided for new paperless systems, better training of claims processors, and improved communication systems, did contribute to the decrease from 2013-2014.
In 2014, the backlog reduction was welcome news. It represented a ray of hope that one promise from government – to eliminate the backlog before 2016 – was on track to be fulfilled. Despite this news, that promise still matters.
In comparison to years past, veterans are getting better and faster service (which was a low benchmark to improve upon). If the backlog can’t be cut to zero by the end of the year, let’s hope VA comes close – 125-plus days is a long time to wait for critical health care. And let’s not forget that the service our veterans deserve for sacrificing so much is still not where it needs to be.
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
The post VA Goal to Eliminate Claims Backlog by End of 2015 Appears Out of Reach first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>For couples, a healthy sexual relationship can be a source of joy and resilience throughout life. However, that relationship can become difficult to maintain in light of the issues many veterans face when returning from combat.
According to at least two studies of veterans who served after 9/11, about one in three suffer from erectile dysfunction or other forms of sexual dysfunction. The risk is three times higher among veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The causes of the problems are multifactorial. Medication can be an issue. The average American veteran uses 17 prescription medications, some of which are known to affect sexuality. Most psychiatric drugs, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Prozac and Zoloft, are associated with lower sexual interest, difficulty becoming aroused and difficulty achieving orgasm.
Additionally, PTSD is strongly associated with sexual dysfunction. Among other issues, PTSD sufferers can find it difficult to be intimate with others, sexually or platonically. Although treatment for PTSD will sometimes resolve sexual problems as well, sometimes specific treatment aimed at improving sexual function is necessary.
Finally, many health care providers fail to discuss or treat sexual problems. Health care providers are more likely to detect problems when they take the time to discuss the effects of combat service on the likelihood of later sexual dysfunction with patients, rather than briefly asking about whether or not the veteran has erectile dysfunction.
There are a number of effective treatments available for sexual dysfunction. Treatment for sexual dysfunction includes medication, therapy and even surgery. There are also adaptive devices available for veterans who have injuries that would affect their sex lives, including missing arms or legs.
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
The post Young Veterans Run Higher Risk of Sexual Dysfunction first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Later in the flight, the situation escalated. Calley was travelling with Sun, his service dog, who is trained to respond to Calley in moments of stress. During an period of turbulence, Sun put her front paws up on the empty seat next to Calley. A flight attendant came in from another cabin and began yelling at Calley about the dog’s conduct. Other passengers, including a fellow veteran, found the steward’s approach so rude and unwarranted that they began to speak up for Calley and Sun, pointing out that the dog was not bothering anyone. The Lansing State Journal reports that nearly a dozen passengers filed complaints about the steward’s conduct upon disembarking.
US Airways has since apologized, although the airline refuse to reveals what measures have been taken in response to the incident.
Calley is determined to turn the incident into a platform for good. He told his story to reporter Louise Knott Ahern of the Lansing State Journal to raise awareness about the need for service animals for veterans with PTSD in Michigan.
Calley described to Ahern how the use of a service animal has helped him. The dog monitors his heart rate, breathing and tension levels, and she intervenes by providing calming contact when necessary. Calley says that the dog is able to pull him out of difficult moments, including flashbacks.
But he also says that in Michigan, veterans in need of service dogs must go through a waiting list that is two years long.
In order to combat this problem, Calley works with an organization called Liberty’s Legacy, which aims to make more service dogs available to Michigan veterans. In an addendum to her article, Ahern points out that the organization benefit from penny drives held at schools, and that any school can volunteer to hold a drive for Liberty’s Legacy.
Ahern encourages people interested in supporting Liberty’s Legacy to contact her through the Lansing State Journal, so that she may connect with Calley for further information.
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
The post Michigan Veteran Turns Incident of Discrimination Into Platform for PTSD Awareness first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Although benefits will increase slightly, the cost of living is also projected to increase. In particular, the USDA projects that food inflation will continue to rise in 2015. Consumers will continue to see a rise in the cost of basics, such as milk, eggs and meat. Health care costs may also increase in 2015.
It is recommended that veterans who receive disability benefits rework their budgets in consideration of both the increased benefits and the increased cost of living.
The COLA increase will represent an average increase of $19 per month, or $228 per year, in SSDI benefits. The average monthly SSDI benefit will increase from $1,146 to $1,165 .
The projected inflation in consumer prices is in line with what the Federal Reserve considers to be healthy, stable inflation. Approximately two percent is considered to be the optimal rate of inflation.
The increase in benefits will take effect in January 2015.
COLA has resulted in an increase to disability benefits nearly every year since 1975, with the exception of three years. There was no adjustment in 1983 because of an administrative change, and none in 2010 and 2011 because consumer prices did not increase.
The end of the year represents the Medicare annual enrollment period. Medicare recipients who are concerned about their upcoming health care costs were able to adjust their 2015 coverage until December 7.
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 post Benefits Increase Coming for Veterans Disability Recipients in 2015 first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>This initiative follows a recent directive to the Army’s Review Board Agency (ARBA) to help those veterans whose discharges were under “other than honorable” conditions, and who assert that they suffered from PTSD or related conditions that might have facilitated the misconduct that led to their discharge.
While this directive is focused on those veterans who served before PTSD was a recognized as a debilitating medical condition, it applies to all veterans (who have “other than honorable” discharges). This comes as welcome news for the thousands of Vietnam-era veterans who may have been given punitive discharges as a result of their conduct caused by PTSD.
The ARBA is the Army’s highest level of administrative review for actions taken by lower level organizations, and it includes several boards that hear claims of soldiers and veterans who appeal unfavorable information in their personnel records – which include discharge statuses for veterans.
Upgrading one’s discharge can be crucial for veterans seeking benefits offered by Veterans Affairs. Less than honorable and other than honorable discharges are very often a disqualifying factor from benefits.
Veterans’ organizations, like the Vietnam Veterans of America, estimate that one third of the 250,000 other than honorable discharges issued to Vietnam-era veterans may have been PTSD-related. Three veterans organizations, along with five Vietnam-era combat veterans, recently filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking relief for those tens of thousands of veterans who fall into that category.
Under the new directive, veterans who were previously denied upgrades can re-apply and the ARBA will consider the case on a blank slate. However, this only applies to veterans with other than honorable discharges, and not those who were discharged under “less than honorable” conditions due to serious infractions.
While we do not work on discharge upgrades, if you have a VA disability claim you can contact attorney Kristina Derro at (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
The post Veterans Can Find Help Applying to Upgrade Discharge for PTSD at New Website first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>At VA, this status is known as Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU), also referred to as individual unemployability. With this status, a veteran receives benefits in accordance with a 100 percent disability rating.
Many veterans with employability problems think that they will not qualify for TDIU, but this may not be true. Even veterans who can do some work, or veterans who have a low disability percentage rating from VA, can qualify for TDIU – it just depends on the situation.
In all cases, the inability to work must be related to a service-connected condition. This is the one requirement to which there are no exceptions. But after that, many VA guidelines for the TDIU determination have some flexibility.
Take, for example, the requirement that the veteran be unable to hold a substantially gainful job. What does “substantially gainful” mean? Simply put, it means being able earn a wage above the poverty line. So a veteran who works but, because of his or her disabilities, earns below the poverty line can qualify.
VA also allows some exceptions for marginal or protected employment. If a veteran works for a family member, takes on odd jobs, or works in some other situation that provides accommodations for the disability that go far beyond normal accommodations, the veteran may still qualify. It is wise to consult with a veterans disability lawyer on this point.
The VA disability rating requirement also has some flexibility. The basic requirement states that to qualify for TDIU, a veteran must have at least a 60 percent rating for one service-connected condition, or a combined 70 percent rating for several service-connected conditions. And if the veteran meets the 70 percent requirement for multiple conditions, at least one of those conditions must be rated at 40 percent or more.
But some veterans who are unable to work because of service-connected conditions do not meet those requirements, and as a result, VA will make exceptions on a case-by-case basis. Again, any veteran in this position should consult with a veterans disability attorney to see if the unique circumstances of his or her disability may meet VA standards.
Finally, all veterans should understand that they can qualify for TDIU even if the inability to work comes months or years after the initial disabling condition arises. VA gives the example of a veteran with a service-connected heart condition who works for some time, but then has to stop working because her heart is getting worse. According to VA, this veteran qualifies for TDIU.
All veterans with major employability problems should examine whether they qualify for disability compensation under TDIU. While it is true that VA often looks for reasons to deny these claims, a competent veterans disability attorney can often paint a clearer picture for VA that results in TDIU eligibility.
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
The post Understanding TDIU: Do I Qualify? first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>These courts are a type of “problem-solving court,” which are courts tailored to a specific population of people or addressing a certain realm of issues. The veterans’ treatment courts use a hybrid of drug court and mental health court principles to serve military and veterans, as well as active-duty personnel.
This past Veterans Day, Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert P. Young, Jr. praised the growth of these courts: “Veterans treatment courts are growing because they are working. Today, we are seeing firsthand that this initiative is saving lives and strengthening communities by helping veterans rebuild productive lives with their families.”
These courts promote sobriety, recovery, and stability to help veterans deal with serious problems of addiction, mental illnesses, and other disorders. Through a coordinated response that involves collaboration with the Veterans Affairs health care networks, Veterans Benefits Administration, the state DAV, and volunteer mentors and organizations that support veterans and their families, these courts are able to steer veterans clear of jail or prison time.
Indeed, these programs have helped veterans turn their lives around, avoid costly incarceration, and help reintegrate veterans into their communities and families. The program is a part of the state Supreme Court’s broader mission to help local trial courts implement best practices that improve service to the public. Michigan currently has 174 problem-solving courts that reach a reported 97% of Michiganders.
In November, the Michigan Supreme Court held a Veterans Treatment Court Forum, which brought together judges, administrators, mentors, and veteran graduates of these programs. Workshops were held to discuss the issues veterans face and the resources needed for these courts to properly address those issues – suicide prevention, online veterans assistance programs, and recruiting veteran mentors to be vital line of support for people in the program.
“Military veterans accused of crimes often present unique issues related to their military service,” said Judge Richard Bell, who presides over the Ingham County Veterans Treatment Court. “The veterans treatment court is able to bring a variety of resources to the issues presented by the veteran charged with a crime, and more often than not is able to redirect the veteran into the adoption of a positive lifestyle.”
In a year where good news for veterans has been at a shortage, at least Michigan veterans and their families can look to the growth of these courts as a positive. These courts offer the opportunity to address the underlying issues common to veterans. While it may be unfortunate circumstances that lead a veteran to these courts, veterans can count on these programs to give them a great opportunity to be reintegrated with their families and communities.
If you are a veteran and have criminal misdemeanor issues or VA disability issues, contact us for assistance.
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
The post Michigan Leads Country in Number of Veterans Treatment Courts first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>The Buddy to Buddy program was developed by the University of Michigan, and it made its debut in 2009. Today, more than 120 volunteer veterans have assisted nearly 2000 post-9/11 veterans throughout Michigan. The primary goal, according to the program’s website, is to provide support as early on as possible, helping veterans avoid a situation in which one stressor creates a cascade of other issues.
To that end, the veteran volunteers with the Buddy to Buddy program are prepared to listen and to connect fellow veterans to a range of resources. Post-9/11 veterans are invited to call in with questions or concerns about any topic, including health, finances, legal issues, substance abuse, psychological concerns and relationship problems. The program does not provide direct assistance in any of these areas, but volunteers are trained to assist veterans in gaining access to help in these and other areas.
Still, the most valuable part of Buddy to Buddy may be the opportunity to discuss issues with another veteran who truly understands.
Little scientific research exists to support the efficacy of peer support programs, but medical researchers are looking to change that. At Stanford University in California, the School of Medicine has undertaken a major new veteran peer support program that they hope will provide data to confirm the validity of, and the need for more, peer support programs for veterans. According to the researchers, many support programs may fail veterans simply because the service providers cannot understand the veteran’s perspective.
As mental health issues and unemployment among post-9/11 veterans continue to rise after employment of traditional treatment approaches, the Buddy to Buddy program in Michigan provides hope. The program is currently available throughout the state, and program staff express the hope that one day, the program will be available nationwide.
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
The post Post-9/11 Veterans Find Resources, Understanding Through Michigan Peer Support Program first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>While I commend the Air Force for this initiative, I first want to point out that women in our armed-forces have been in combat situations from the beginning. Whether as nurses or in other positions, women have been serving in combat and have sacrificed just as much as our male counterparts.
I am excited that these currently male-only direct-combat jobs will be open to women. Today, only seven jobs in the Air Force are closed to women to include special tactics officer, pararescue, tactical air control party (TACP), combat rescue officer, combat control team, special operation weather officer and enlisted.
Other service branches have already begun implementing plans to integrate women into direct-combat jobs by January 2016.
It has been nearly two years since then-Defense Secretary Leon Panetta ordered that all combat jobs be open to women by 2016 or explain why any must remain closed. In addition, the Pentagon lifted its ban on women in such roles in 2012.
While the ball has been slow to move, progress is finally being made to allow women the full opportunities to serve our country that they have long-deserve.
I have listened to many reports recently that give snapshot stories of women at the Marine Corps Infantry Officer Course, and they are having their abilities questioned. It is as if their capabilities are on trial in the media, as well as at boot camp. Once again, I return to my first point: women have been serving in combat situations for years.
Women make up 15% of the 1.3 million active-duty members. With declining enrollment in enlistment, opening equal opportunity within the service for current women in the military and future female enlistees will only benefit the armed-forces.
Brigadier General Carol Ann Fausone (ret.)
General Fausone began her military career in the U.S. Air Force, and ended her service as the first female Brigadier General in the Michigan National Guard’s history. Today, she continues to help veterans and their families nationwide with her small business, The Veteran Advocate, LLC.
Read more on this story on the armed-forces news site, Military.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
The post Air Force Sets Goal to Open 7 Combat Jobs to Women by Spring 2016 first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>These reports are preliminary and have yet to be publicly released, so the actual numbers could shift slightly as the reports are finalized. But, under the new reporting methods, there were 3,604 victims in 2012, 5,518 in 2013, and 5,983 in 2014.
The new reporting method counts every victim as one report, rather than having one report of a sexual assault contain multiple victims.
However, we should pause for a moment and consider the fact that this has always been a problem. New research and surveys suggest that victims are more willing to come forward and actually report such assaults than they were previously. The trend could be due to increased awareness of the issue, victims feeling more empowered, and a combination of other factors.
Based on the recently reported numbers, and an anonymous survey conducted by the Rand Corporation, officials said that about 1 in every 4 victims filed a sexual assault report this year. In contrast, only 1 in every 10 victims filed a report in 2012.
Certainly, the under-reporting of sexual assault is a problem inside the military and in society at-large. However, the military presents unique circumstances, where lower ranking troops are unwilling to report out of fear of retaliation from their superiors. In addition, females in the military can attest to the “good ole’ boys club” mentality that exists. And in fact, one new survey reported that 60% of women who said they reported sexual assault did experience retaliation or social backlash from their peers. There may very well be an additional feeling of helplessness due to systemic problems.
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill have complained that the Pentagon has not done enough to make it easier and more acceptable for victims to report harassment and assaults. Meanwhile victims have complained that they are indeed not comfortable going to their superiors to report sexual assault. Reporting such an incident is (unjustly) stigmatized as a weakness and infidelity to your fellow troops in a culture that breeds strength and loyalty.
While the reported numbers of sexual assault are going up, the gap between the real numbers and reported numbers is shrinking. That trend represents a positive step for the service branches, but we must recognize it is just one step in a process to minimize sexual assault as much as possible.
Brigadier General Carol Ann Fausone (ret.)
General Fausone began her military career in the U.S. Air Force, and ended her service as the first female Brigadier General in the Michigan National Guard’s history. Today, she continues to help veterans and their families nationwide with her small business, The Veteran Advocate, LLC.
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 post Reports of Sexual Assault in the Military Spike Again first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>In standard medical procedure, the ringing in the ears caused by tinnitus can only be covered by machines that produced broadband sound, better known as white noise. The S-tone approach, however, targets an exact pitch of the tinnitus in the sufferer, and then produces just the right tone to counteract that pitch.
The study showed that more than half of the tinnitus sufferers in the study found the S-tones to be more effective at reducing the volume of their tinnitus.
Tinnitus is a condition that can significantly affect a sufferer’s health and quality of life. For some, the ringing in the ears is so loud that it impedes sleep and creates difficulty concentrating, which can lead to a host of physical, psychological, economic and social problems.
The Hearing Health Foundation estimates that 60 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans return home with some form of hearing loss or tinnitus.
SoundCure, a Silicon Valley startup, is dedicated to creating a state-of-the-art S-tone device for tinnitus sufferers. Serenade, its current device, can be programmed by audiologists to the exact frequency and sound type needed by the patient. It can also be programmed for different times of day.
Jeff Carroll, Ph.D., who works for SoundCure, told ABC News that the best part about S-tone therapy is that it can work at much lower volumes than traditional white noise therapy. Because more than three quarters of participants in the AJA study indicated that the S-tones worked at least as well as white noise, a majority of tinnitus sufferers may prefer S-tone therapy simply because it is quieter.
Both the AJA study and the Serenade device have been endorsed by the American Tinnitus Association.
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
The post New Research Highlights Advances in Treatment for Tinnitus Sufferers first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Robert Stern filed an affidavit with the court and then took his story to the press, telling The Associated Press (AP) that the compensation in the settlement may be going to the wrong people.
Stern told AP reporters that behavioral problems, including domestic violence, drug addiction and suicide, can all be caused by chronic traumatic encephalopathy — also known as CTE — a condition caused by repetitive head trauma.
Right now, doctors cannot physically diagnose CTE until after a patient has died. As such, it has been difficult to link football and CTE.
But a recent report on that link is causing a stir. PBS Frontline recently went in-depth on a new report from Boston University and the Department of Veterans Affairs, who collaborate within a center that studies CTE. The center studied the brains of 79 deceased NFL players and found evidence of CTE in 76 of them.
In addition, the center studied a range of other football players — high school, college and semi-professional. All told, more than 80 percent of all football players studied showed signs of CTE.
In light of the findings, which suggest a very strong link between football and CTE, Stern was troubled by the settlement deal in the NFL concussion case. He told the AP that repetitive head trauma does not lead to Alzheimer’s disease — a condition covered by the settlement. But serious mood and behavior disorders, which are linked to repetitive head trauma and CTE, are not covered. As such, many players who suffer the symptoms of significant neurological damage from football could be left out of the settlement.
Some NFL players have already opted out of the class-action case in order to file individual lawsuits against the NFL, according to ABC News.
The class action lawsuit against the NFL was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and is case number 2:12-md-02323-AB.
At The Hale Law Firm, we have helped thousands of clients successfully prosecute their personal injury claims including auto accidents, wrongful death, dangerous products, brain injuries, burn injuries, and defective medical devices. Clients depend on their personal injury lawyers for guidance and legal advice across a broad range of personal injury accidents. To learn more, visit http://www.hale911.com/ or call 972.351.0000.
The post Expert Links Football Players’ Concussions to Behavioral Problems, Slams NFL Settlement Deal first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>In 2005, Stockwell became the first female to lose a limb during active combat when her vehicle was struck by an IED outside of Baghdad. Her lower left leg was amputated, and although she underwent a number of surgeries and survived a number of infections, she writes on her website that her sense of gratitude and hope remained intact.
The journey that led her to become an international athletic champion and sports world icon is nothing short of inspiring. Just three years after her injury, she became the first Iraq veteran to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Paralympics. After that, Stockwell changed over to triathlon, earning three national titles and three international titles.
Stockwell has been nominated for multiple ESPYs and has won a host of other awards. But according to a profile in Sports Illustrated, Stockwell is not the exception to the rule. Instead, the magazine suggested that Stockwell is at the forefront of a new generation of physically impaired veterans who have used advances in technology, along with their own resilience, to fight against the notion that they are disabled.
Along the way, Stockwell wrote, she has relied on the support of organizations such as the Wounded Warrior Project and the Achilles’ Freedom Team. Today, she is on the board of directors of the Wounded Warrior Project and the USA Triathlon Foundation.
Stockwell is pregnant with her first child, and she is expected to give birth in November. She told reporters for the U.S. Olympic Team that the timing of the baby was part of her plan for Rio de Janeiro in 2016. Although she was not sure until recently that she would be able to try out for the team, she told reporters that she had been training just in case.
Now, she says, she is ready to give it her all to achieve her dreams of Paralympic success.
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 post Michigan Veteran and Amputee Melissa Stockwell is Ready for Her Shot at Rio first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>His father acquiesced and Robert McConachie joined the United States Marine Corps. He was killed in action in Okinawa on June 14, 1945, in the final months of the war. He was just 18 years old when he gave his life for his country. However, Pvt. McConachie’s remains went unidentified for nearly seventy years.
In 1987, Pvt. McConachie’s still unidentified remains were delivered to the Army’s Central Identification Lab in Hawaii. Recent advancements in DNA testing, however, have helped the Pentagon link them to his brother. This year, nearly seven decades after his death, Army analysts positively identified Pvt. McConachie’s remains using DNA analysis and dental records.
Pvt. McConachie made his final trip home to Michigan this year. The Detroit native was buried on November 3 with full military honors at Fort Custer National Cemetery west of Battle Creek. The fallen soldier’s family now has closure knowing that he has been laid to rest in his home state of Michigan.
On this Veterans Day, it is an important reminder to thank those who serve our country in the armed forces. It is also a time to reflect on those, like Pvt. McConachie, who made the ultimate sacrifice so that we may continue to live in a free country.
If you are a veteran and need assistance with a disability benefits claim, contact the experts at Legal Help For Veterans. You can reach us at 800/693.4800 or online at www.legalhelpforveterans.com.
To learn more about Pvt. McConachie’s story, please visit: http://patch.com/michigan/wyandotte/world-war-ii-soldier-finally-laid-rest-0
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 post World War II Veteran Laid to Rest in Michigan first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>The cornerstone of the act is the requirement that VA facilities provide authorization for veterans to seek private medical treatment if a wait time is longer than 30 days or if they live more than 40 miles from a VA facility.
According to Army Times, this provision is especially important because even as recently as July 2014, more than 30,000 veterans nationwide still faced wait times of more than three months.
Nonetheless, experts say that this change will not happen overnight. Ian de Planque, deputy director for the American Legion, told Army Times that he expects full implementation to take up to a year.
In the meantime, VA schedulers are contacting some waitlisted veterans directly to arrange for private medical care. The VA reports that it has contacted more than 260,000 waitlisted veterans nationwide to arrange timely private care.
The act includes a broad array of other requirements. Some relate directly to care — for example, the requirement that treatment for military sexual trauma be improved. The act also extends the existence of a comprehensive treatment program for veterans with mild to severe traumatic brain injury.
In addition, the act provides for a stronger school loan repayment program for medical professionals joining the VA. VA officials have pointed to a lack of medical staff as a leading reason for the wait times and ensuing scandal at the VA.
The act also provides the Secretary of Veterans Affairs much broader authority to fire executives who perform poorly.
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald has set an initial 90-day benchmark to evaluate progress on the implementation of the act.
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 post VA Accountability Act Inspires Hope, Doubt first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Veterans Disability Attorney
This is one of those taboo subjects you just don’t bring up in polite company. But the reality is we hear from veterans every week about their erectile dysfunction, which can be claimed as a service connected disability in many cases.
As recently reported in the San Diego Union-Tribune:
The topic is blush-inducing, to be sure. But some post-9/11 veterans received frank talk on the subject at a conference for combat veterans in Coronado last week.
“That fiery, playful sex that people have with their partners is a huge, positive buffer to all the other stuff you go through in life,” said U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs psychologist Linda Mona, who runs an intimacy clinic at the VA medical center in Long Beach. …
San Diego County is home to 39,000 Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans — by one measure the largest cluster in the United States. About one in three are likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction or other sexual problems, according to at least two studies of post-9/11 troops.
Among people with combat stress — officially known as post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD — the risk of sexual dysfunction is threefold.
In other words, the chance of problems in the bedroom is “ridiculously high” compared to young people who didn’t serve, said Dr. Irwin Goldstein, a urologist and surgeon who directs a monthly sexual medicine clinic at the San Diego VA hospital.
Medication is a factor. By one account, the average number of prescription drugs used by America’s veterans is 17.
Some of those medications, including antidepressants and opiate painkillers, can affect sexual function. Goldstein called most psychiatric drugs “sex unfriendly.”
So if you or your spouse is feeling alone and frustrated take comfort the problem is real and you are not alone. If you need help sorting out if you have a service connected disability contact us at www.legalhelpforveterans.com.
You can read more about this problem at:
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/oct/11/veterans-sexual-dysfunction-ptsd
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
The post Veterans and Sexual Dysfunction first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>OCBA’s Veterans Committee focuses on veterans’ issues including recruitment of OCBA members to take pro bono cases related to veterans’ matters, heightened awareness and increased observation of Veterans Day, support to deployed military through provision of care packages, sponsorship of a Veterans’ Speakers Bureau, and support of Veterans Treatment Courts (in lieu of traditional jail time for minor criminal infractions).
We are honored that Kristina was nominated for the position and pleased that she is bringing attention to veterans’ issues on a larger platform.
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 post Oakland County Bar Association Veterans Committee first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>And when we say “on the verge of becoming homeless,” it’s true. The deal to save Dahlberg’s home was closed less than 24 hours before he would have lost his home.
Dahlberg said he was overwhelmed with emotions. And he said of his home: “I’m here until I die.”
***
Here is the full story from the Livingston Daily:
Last week, Brighton couple Keli Murillo and Jay Bobel, CEO of Northville-based Spartan Equities, stepped forward to put forth more than $142,000 in fees associated with saving Hamburg Township resident Ross Dahlberg’s home.
“It’s a miracle come true,” said Dahlberg, a Korean War-era veteran.
The veteran’s home was ultimately sold at a sheriff’s auction to Day Glo LLC in March due to what Joshua Parish, a veterans benefits counselor, believes was an error by the state’s Step Forward Program. Dahlberg fell behind on mortgage payments because of a divorce and medical issues, which put him in and out of the hospital and rehab care.
A state official refuted Parish’s claim that Dahlberg’s completed application was received by the state homeownership office on time.
If it weren’t for Bobel and Murillo, Parish said he was told “Day Glo LLC was going to have the Sheriff’s Department come remove Mr. Dahlberg from his home.”
Bobel, whose company regularly assists with home redemptions in the county, said he saw the opportunity to “do good” after reading a Daily Press & Argus article on the topic, which prompted him to call Parish.
“Something just didn’t sound quite right to me, and I wanted to help,” Bobel said.
Parish’s mission to help Dahlberg stay in his home became a community effort in July when he launched a GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign in hopes of securing $130,000 needed to reclaim the home before a six-month redemption period that expired Thursday. Those funds will be transferred into a secure account and go toward Dahlberg’s tax payments on the home, where he will virtually live for free.
“I want to go out in the parking lot and do a little dance,” Parish said Thursday. “I’ve exhausted so much time and effort for this project.”
The Veterans Affairs official has also secured supplies from Home Depot and Allied Lumber in Howell, Ann Arbor-based Fingerle Lumber and Milford-based ABC Supply to replace Dahlberg’s roof that had sustained water damage over a number of years. Work began Thursday by volunteer contractors from Pinckney-based Jim’s Roofing.
Dahlberg, who is wheelchair-bound due to the effects of diabetes, said he has met a number of “good people” during his struggle whom he would like to thank. He is now receiving home health assistance seven days per week through a Veterans Affairs program.
“At the moment, I’m a little choked up,” Dahlberg said Thursday afternoon. “I’m overwhelmed with emotions.
“I’m here until I die,” he said of his home.
Other important players in the effort included attorneys Paul Bohn and John Drury, and Howell-based Matecun, Thomas and Olson PLC, Parish said.
Originally posted Livingston Daily September 25:
http://www.livingstondaily.com/story/news/local/community/hamburg-township/2014/09/25/hamburg-veteran-keeps-home/16242855/
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
The post Fausone Bohn Attorney Joins Effort to Save Livingston Co. Veteran’s Home first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>The relief is long-overdue, as victims were promised coverage for their health care costs two years ago when Congress passed the landmark Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act. Not to mention, the toxic water problem stems all the way back to the mid-1950s.
The 2012 law provided health care for Marines and family members who had lived on the base from 1957 to 1987 and who suffered from any of 15 illnesses named in the law. These included cancer related to the lungs, bladder, breasts, kidneys and esophagus, as well leukemia and problems involving female infertility.
Some 750,000 people were exposed to polluted drinking water, which contained harmful chemicals from spills, a dump site on the base, leaking underground storage tanks on base and an off-base dry cleaner.
With the 2012 law, the VA immediately offered full care for veterans who had been stationed at Camp Lejeune, but it also established a waiting period for their dependents who suffered from covered illnesses to be reimbursed.
The most recent announcement from the VA means they will begin reimbursing family members later this year for health care costs incurred since March 26, 2013 – the date which Congress appropriated the funding.
The VA also planned to release a document about health care services to veterans who were on active duty at the base for at least 30 days in the three-decade period.
The news site McClatchy spoke with two individuals who were affected by the toxic water at Camp Lejeune. Retired Marine Jerry Ensminger’s 9 year old daughter, Janey, died of leukemia in 1985, and Mike Partain, who was born at the base, has suffered from male breast cancer.
The two led the long fight to get the 2012 law passed, and both said they were dismayed by the delay in individuals receiving this financial relief.
“As far as I’m concerned, so many people have already died. They just keep dragging this thing out,” Ensminger said.
Partain said “institutional apathy and incompetence” were the reasons it took two years to write and approve the regulations for how the law would be administered.
For now, at least, the victims of Camp Lejeune can celebrate a step in the right direction.
Read more on this story on McClatchy DC:
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/09/23/240809/financial-relief-finally-coming.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 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 post Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Victims to Receive Financial Relief, VA Announces first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>The legislation, already passed unanimously by the Senate, now heads to President Obama’s desk for his signature.
Veterans will see a boost in their payments starting on December 1, so that the cost-of-living increase will match the rate of Social Security benefits. Approximately 4.5 million veterans rely on disability benefits, and many of those individuals could have seen a cut to their benefits had Congress not acted.
The veterans whose disability payments are their only source of income are especially breathing a sigh of relief.
In a news cycle that has been dominated by partisanship, especially with the mid-term elections, this story is a refreshing reminder that when it comes to those who have served our country, our representatives can shed their partisan coats and come together for the greater good.
Read more on The Hill’s website:
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/217975-house-clears-increase-in-veterans-disability-payments
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
The post House Votes to Increase Veterans’ Disability Payments first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>In early August, the federal government passed legislation that qualifies veterans for in-state tuition at any public university, regardless of where the veteran legally resides.
Veterans can finally dispense with the complexities of Yellow Ribbon tuition programs, which promised tuition coverage but frequently stranded students. Michigan veterans were already close to some of the best public universities in the country, and this fall, many Michigan veterans can ponder the possibility of four years in Los Angeles, Chapel Hill or Austin as well.
At the same time, innovative new programs are popping up across the state for Michigan veterans who are looking to blend education and employment.
The Michigan Advanced Technician Training Program, also known as MAT2, combines classroom education and work experience into a highly structured program. Students work directly with and for advanced manufacturers while attending select classes at a community college. Participants are paid for their work by a sponsoring employer, who also covers complete tuition costs. Graduates earn an advanced Associate’s degree and are guaranteed full-time employment upon graduation.
MAT2 offers open enrollment and ongoing fairs to match accepted students with sponsoring employers.
The Inforum Center for Leadership offers a short and flexible program to help Michigan’s returning servicewomen acquire the necessary tools to transition into the workplace. Next4Vets is an adaption of the Center’s NextUp program, an eight-week course that helps young women plan and network for professional careers.
The Next4Vets program mixes a limited number of in-person learning sessions with ample home-based learning, so that women with families, current employment and other responsibilities can access the course more readily.
A pilot cohort of Next4Vets is expected this fall, and the program should become permanent in 2015.
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
The post Back to School: Educational Opportunities Abound for Michigan Veterans first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>The report also claims evidence that an overwhelming number of veterans who are aware of the opportunity to resubmit a claim may choose not to do so because they perceive the process to be too complex to navigate.
In 2011, the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) conducted random sampling, discovering that more than one in four MST-related claims had been improperly denied. If the sample accurately represents claims made over the last several decades, thousands of survivors of military sexual assault were denied benefits in error.
In response, the VBA created a 2013 initiative to allow resubmission of all denied MST-related claims. However, the initiative has not been widely publicized, and the GAO’s new report asserts that when the VBA did notify some veterans of the opportunity to submit a claim, the letter that was mailed was confusing and lacked essential contact information.
Meanwhile, criticism of the VBA’s handling of MST-related claims continues to mount. The Veterans Administration (VA) has faced a barrage of lawsuits alleging discrimination against victims of military sexual trauma.
Since 2008, data have shown that year over year, MST-related PTSD claims are denied more frequently than combat-related PTSD claims — despite medical experts’ testimony that sexual assault is even more likely to result in PTSD than combat. The new report from the GAO affirms that while more MST-related claims are now being approved, their approval rate still lags behind that of combat-related PTSD claims.
One of the reasons widely cited for the difficulty in approving MST-related claims is the struggle to provide evidence that sexual trauma occurred. Embarrassment and fear of retaliation cause many servicemembers to conceal an incident.
The most recent lawsuit, filed by the Yale Law School’s Veteran’s Legal Service Clinic, is seeking to make a servicemember’s own testimony sufficient to establish that an incident of military sexual trauma did occur.
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 post No New Evidence Needed to Resubmit Military Sexual Trauma-Related PTSD Claims first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>What makes the study particularly comprehensive is the fact that it followed service members through their adult lives, and it has served to buttress many of the arguments that were made in the wake of the VA’s first analysis on the subject of the mental injuries as a result of war, which was released in 1992. That landmark study surveyed 2,348 Vietnam veterans and ushered in the acceptance of PTSD as a potential consequence of the traumatic experience of military service during a war. (2)
The government’s acknowledgment of PTSD as a plausible downside of experiencing the traumas of war is, perhaps surprisingly, a relatively recent development. While Washington’s acceptance of the condition has legitimized PTSD-linked disability claims, there remain many veterans suffering from PTSD who have yet to avail themselves of the benefits they have earned and could use to help them cope with the disorder.
According to the VA study, a vast majority of veterans with PTSD do learn to cope with the disorder, but most of those who do not — accounting for 11 percent of all Vietnam vets who were surveyed — would have to endure the deleterious effects of PTSD for the rest of their lives. Unfortunately, the study also found that the lives of more than 18 percent of veterans afflicted with PTSD are cut short by retirement age, a percentage that is about double that of those vets not suffering the disorder. (3) The VA’s study has shed more light on how many veterans have been impacted by PTSD and, in the case of many of them, for a long time. More research on understanding what could be the causes of long-term affliction with PTSD is welcome, but in the meantime there is an immediate need for all vets with PTSD to seek the benefits they are entitled to, regardless of when they served in the armed forces.
www.TampaVeteransLawyer.com
David W. Magann, P.A.
813-657-9175
Source: (1), (2), (3) The New York Times 2014
The post PTSD, "Post" Means After And At Any Time first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>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 post 5th Annual Veterans’ Summit first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>
rs continues its parade of poor decisions and bad ideas with their most recent slideshow shown to VA employees, which depicts veterans as Oscar the Grouch, the character from Sesame Street.
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
The post A Lesson in Customer Service: Veterans are Not an “Oscar the Grouch” first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>DOD should know that ALS afflicts US Military Veterans at twice the rate of the civilian population. The data which VA, ALS, Harvard University and many medical schools have reviewed supports this conclusion. The reason for the startling medical fact is unknown at this time.
In fact, no one knows why U.S. military veterans are twice as likely to develop ALS than the general population, or why those who deployed during the Gulf War in 1990-91 may be twice as likely to get the disease as other troops. Although it’s still a rare illness, affecting about 30,000 people across the country, it is so devastating to its victims and their families that the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs have made a mission out of trying to reduce their suffering.
Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/03/08/3682151/more-vets-suffer-from-als-but.html#storylink=cpy
VA will treat ALS as a presumptive disease for veterans disability compensation purposes. So after viewing the 100th bucket of cold water being dumped on friends, relatives and celebrities, the challenge is getting a little tedious. However, it is raising money for necessary medical research. I just wish that DOD & VA would use this opportunity to let veterans and the general population know that this is a situation that is inflicting our veterans at twice the normal rate. Did you know that? Think about that or “paste” the above comment into your Facebook page next time a friend sends you one of those videos.
http://www.armytimes.com/article/20140821/NEWS05/308210042
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
The post ALS “Ice Bucket Challenge” first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>