The Veterans Blog was created by the disability law firm of LaVan & Neidenberg, P.A. It is intended to serve as a valuable resource on issues important to veterans and their families. Veterans, their loved ones, the media and the general public are encouraged to visit the blog daily for updates. Comments are also welcome and can be posted in response to blogs.
Welcome to TheVeteransBlog.org
November 12th, 2009Veterans Encouraged to Ask Questions through White House’s Live Twitter Session
January 25th, 2012In light of the State of the Union address, a 3-day Twitter Q&A schedule will have officials from the Obama Administration answering questions related to their specific fields. One of the most important sessions to disabled veterans will be the 10 a.m. EST session held on Thursday, January 26 and hosted by Matt Flavin. Flavin is the administration’s lead counsel on veterans’ issues and wounded warrior policy.
During the session, veterans are encouraged to voice their questions and comments via Twitter using the #WHChat hashtag in their message. For those that won’t be able to take part in the live event, a complete transcript will be made available on the WhiteHouse.gov website later that day. There will also be a full interactive recap at the Storify website.
Aside from Twitter, the White House is making use of YouTube and Google+ as well to connect Americans with the administration. From now through Saturday, January 28, users are able to submit video questions through the White House’s YouTube channel. President Obama will have his responses released through the White House’s Google+ public page.
As the government continues to increase its interaction with the American people through social networking and the Internet, it’s important that veterans take this opportunity to have their voices heard. Issues about veterans disability benefits, veteran homelessness, and jobs for veterans can only be addressed when veterans and advocates participate in these types of forums.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veteran’s disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.
Free Year of Credit Monitoring for Veterans Impacted by 2011 Privacy Breach
January 24th, 2012The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is offering complimentary credit monitoring for veterans affected by the 2011 privacy breach.
In March of 2011, the VA received a request for personal records, including social security numbers, of deceased veterans. This request was made by the genealogy website Ancestry.com to help improve their family history databases. While the VA was obligated to release this information under the Freedom of Information Act, an error occurred where the information of 2,200 living veterans was also included among the records.
When the information went live in December of that year, the error was brought to the attention of the VA, which immediately launched an investigation into the problem. Meanwhile, efforts have been made to notify all living veterans whose information was released about the mistake and what they were doing to minimize the impact.
Currently, those veterans whose information was compromised can obtain a free year of credit monitoring from any of the 3 main credit bureaus by calling 1-877-322-8228. So far no misconduct has been reported and veterans’ disability benefits have not been affected.
Protecting veterans privacy is important to protecting a soldiers’ rights to benefits. Many programs exist to help disabled veterans manage their affairs and finances if their disability impairs them from doing so on their own.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veteran’s disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.
Military Program Helping Veterans Transition to Civilian Life
January 23rd, 2012Camp Pendleton’s 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment unit suffered some of the highest causalities due to heavy combat in Afghanistan, including 25 deaths, more than 150 injuries, and over a dozen traumatic amputation. Instead of bringing the unit back and releasing the members to fend for themselves, the Marine Corps required the remaining soldiers to remain at Camp Pendleton for 90 days for mental health evaluation and to help ease their transition back into civilian society.
In the 90-day “decompression” program, the soldiers were given the opportunity to hold a memorial for their fallen comrades, participate in social events, like barbeques and banquets, and learn how to communicate about their war experiences. The veterans will be monitored to see if the program has helped improve their mental health and prevent many of the problems faced by veterans coping with conditions like PTSD or anxiety disorders.
As more veterans have had to file for veterans’ disability due to PTSD and other mental health conditions related to combat experience, the military has increased its efforts to help soldiers both active and retired with psychological health care. If a veteran still suffers from these conditions, veterans disability benefits may be available to help.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veteran’s disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.
Active Duty Soldiers Find Pet Refuge through Dogs on Deployment
January 19th, 2012To help active duty soldiers with the difficult event of having to leave their dogs behind while deployed or transferred to housing that doesn’t allow pets, a new non-profit, called Dogs on Deployment, is organizing boarding houses across the country.
Dogs on Deployment is a volunteer organization founded by a husband and wife active duty military family. Lieutenant Shawn Johnson was deployed at the same time his wife, second Lieutenant Alisa Sieber-Johnson, was transferred to a base in Quantico, VA that didn’t allow dogs. They were lucky enough to find a family willing to adopt their pet until they could return. Their situation prompted the Johnson’s to find a solution for other soldiers facing the same issue.
The organization has over 120 boarder homes across the nation, but volunteers are always in high demand. Families who board military dogs may adopt them short-term during the owners’ deployment or long-term until the owners are back in a position to keep a pet again.
Taking care of a dog is a serious commitment, but can be a highly rewarding one, especially for disabled veterans. Dogs have long since been paired with disabled veterans for therapy and assistance reasons – from guide dogs to PTSD therapy. While these dogs aren’t trained for therapy use, they can still be a great companion for a disabled veteran. This program can open up an opportunity for a disabled veteran to continue to support their fellow service members.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veteran’s disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.
Disabled Veterans National Foundation $1000 Scholarship for Veterans Education
January 18th, 2012The Disabled Veterans National Foundation’s (DVNF) scholarship program is offering several veterans the chance to receive $1000 to further their education.
This year, the DVNF will award 50 $1,000 scholarships to veterans to attend an accredited college, university, or trade school. The response to the scholarship program has been so overwhelming that the DVNF has announced the extension of the application deadline from February 1 to March 1, 2012 to give more veterans the opportunity to apply.
Interested veterans must complete the following for consideration:
- DVNF Scholarship application;
- State-certified Veterans DD-214 form;
- 3-4 minute video or 500-750 word essay (topic provided in the application); and
- a letter of recommendation from a non-relative.
The DVNF will make their decisions in March and notify the winners at the beginning of April. Scholarships will be sent to the recipient’s school by the end of May.
Precilla Wilkewitz, president of the DVNF, said that her organization is highly aware that many veterans aren’t entitled to every part of the GI Bill benefits. The DVNF strives to fill the gaps many veterans have in their benefits by providing scholarships for continuing education.
Programs like the DVNF can help provide additional benefits and resources when a veteran doesn’t qualify for full disability benefits through the VA. If you’ve only received partial benefits or a low disability rating, you may need to talk to a veterans’ disability attorney to review your case.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veteran’s disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.
Veterans Can Find Employment Opportunity at Washington D.C. Career Expo
January 17th, 2012The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) continues its service to our veterans around the D.C. area with a career fair and expo targeted at connecting veterans to employment opportunities at several federal and private agencies.
The Veteran Career Fair and Expo will be held at the Washington D.C. Convention Center on Wednesday, January 18 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. This event offers veterans with proof of military service the opportunity to meet with recruiters and participate in workshops.
Participating employers include the following:
- The Department of Defense;
- National Cemetery Administration;
- Veterans Benefits Administration;
- Veterans Health Administration; and
- many other federal agencies and private sector employers.
The event is open to all veterans but mainly targets those in the D.C., Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and West Virginia areas, as many of the employers are located in these states. Aside from job recruitment there will be workshops on resume building, interviewing skills, education opportunities, and benefits for veteran health care and education.
The VA offers many programs and resources to support all veterans, especially disabled veterans. Many national and local veterans’ advocacy groups also exist to provide more local resources to those who have served our country and need the proper care to adjust back into civilian life.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veteran’s disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.
Gulf War Veterans Have 5 More Years to Pursue Disability Benefits
January 16th, 2012The window of opportunity was closing for certain Gulf War veterans to qualify for disability benefits, but a recent amendment to the U.S. federal code has extended an important deadline.
Many Gulf War veterans have been diagnosed with multiple, seemingly unrelated diseases sometimes referred to as “Gulf War Syndrome.” These conditions range from diabetes to chronic fatigue and can impair several body systems without an apparent underlying cause. It may also produce multiple disabling symptoms, which cannot be medically explained or connected to a single condition.
The legislation in question, Title 38 CFR 3.317, placed a December 31, 2011 deadline for Gulf War veterans to file and qualify for disability related to an undiagnosed or multi-symptom illness. As the deadline approached, disabled veterans’ advocacy groups and lawmakers lobbied to have the date pushed back.
Veterans of the Persian Gulf War now have until December 31, 2016 to obtain the medical evaluation necessary for their disability rating. With the proper rating, Gulf War veterans can apply for veterans’ disability benefits through the VA.
Unlike many other qualifying conditions for disability, Gulf War veterans who suffer from illnesses that cannot be medically explained or produce multiple unrelated symptoms may qualify for benefits without establishing a connection to their military service.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veteran’s disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.
Class Action Settlement Awards Lifetime Disability Benefits to Thousands of Veterans
January 12th, 2012Due to the fact that the Department of Veterans Affairs is misclassified post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in regards to veterans’ disability benefits, a class action lawsuit was filed against the federal government. The lawsuit represented 1,029 Iraq and Aghanistan War veterans who claimed they were denied benefits for their PTSD disability due to improper disability ratings.
The claimants were veterans diagnosed with the medical condition between 2003 and 2008 but did not receive disability benefits for their PTSD disability rating. A decision from Judge George W. Miller of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims ruled in favor of the veterans on December 22, 2011. His decision requires the U.S. Military to award lifetime disability retirement benefits to the 1,029 veterans that were named in the class action lawsuit.
Additional veterans may soon see help from this decision as well. There were 66 other veterans included in the class that will be eligible for the lifetime disability benefits if they file their veterans’ disability claim for PTSD with a minimum 30% disability rating. The settlement also increased the disability rating for 1,066 OIF/OEF veterans who were only receiving partial benefits.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veteran’s disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.
VA Program Receives $100 Million Grant to Help Over 40,000 Homeless Veterans
January 11th, 2012In order to further the progression of ending veteran homelessness by 2015, the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) has been given $100 million in grant money to award to community programs across the country that help relocate homeless veterans and their families to affordable housing or prevent them from losing their current residence. With nearly 22,000 veterans and their families that had been helped last year from this funding, the multi-million grant is expected to help about 40,000 in 2012.
Since 2009, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and Housing and Urban Development initiatives such as the SSVF have helped successfully relocate nearly 34,000 veterans to permanent housing and case managers to help them retain residency. This initiative was accomplished through partnerships with nearly 4,000 community agencies throughout 40 states, including the District of Columbia.
Last year the Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) listed that on any given night in 2010 a little over 76,300 veterans may have been out on the street with no permanent housing. The 2011 report shows a decline to roughly 67,500 over the year, reducing the number of homeless veterans by nearly 12% nationwide.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veteran’s disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.
