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Archive for January, 2010
Friday, January 22nd, 2010
Ground was broken on Friday for a new building in Cocoa, FL, that is designed to provide female veterans living in Florida with a new resource for coping with veterans’ related issues, such as homelessness.
According to a story on FloridaToday.com:
- Each night, there are an estimated 131,000 veterans who are homeless
- Nearly 300,000 veterans each year will be homeless at some point AND
- Of those figures, 15% are believed to be women veterans.
The Center for Drug Free Living in Cocoa is transitional housing for homeless female veterans in the Brevard County, Florida-area. The proposed building will provide much-needed housing for veteran women, with seven units of two bedrooms each. There will also be services in place to assist 28 homeless veteran women and their dependent children with any mental illness or drug addiction problems.
Female veterans in Florida face unique challenges. Among the concerns for Florida female veterans are issues of finding affordable housing, childcare, and healthcare. They also might struggle to maintain adequate employment, which can be difficult in healthy economic times, let alone during a recession.
This project is funded, in part, by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The center also received local funding and a generous donation from an anonymous source. The center is projected to reach completion in 2011.
Homeless Florida veterans deserve to have access to adequate resources to combat substance abuse and mental health disorders, which are debilitating problems that severely impact the veteran’s qualify of life. When Florida veterans do not have access to veterans’ disability benefits, the chances only increase that those veterans could eventually face homelessness.
Additional housing benefits are available to disabled veterans which may be based on your disability rating. If you are a disabled veteran who is fighting the VA to receive disability compensation, contact the veterans’ disability rights law firm of LaVan & Neidenberg.
Tags: homeless veterans
Posted in Disabled Veterans | No Comments »
Friday, January 22nd, 2010
For years, studies and statistics have demonstrated that a significant portion of veterans struggle with substance abuse. Sadly, substance abuse is increasingly becoming a problem for active military personnel, whose time spent in active combat predisposes them to mental-health disorders and/or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which in turn can lead to substance abuse.
The abuse of illicit drugs – or more commonly – prescription drugs, can certainly impact a soldier’s health and mental well-being when they leave service and seek to adjust to life as a veteran. Prescription drug abuse is particularly a risk for disabled or injured veterans and soldiers who have suffered from painful combat-related injuries.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has said that more than 7% of veterans suffered from issues related to substance abuse. This information is based upon surveys they conducted between 2004 and 2006.
Substance abuse of prescription medications can have a severely negative impact on a veterans’ life, making it difficult to find reliable employment or to support their family and themselves.
In recognition of their duty and service to their country, active-duty soldiers and veterans should be provided with adequate support to cope with and overcome drug abuse. Likewise, veterans should be given the resources needed to prevent substance abuse and drug addiction in the first place.
If you are a veteran who has been injured while serving in the U.S. military, and you have struggled with substance abuse related to your injuries, please contact the Florida veterans disability rights law firm of LaVan & Neidenberg.
Tags: veterans
Posted in General | No Comments »
Thursday, January 21st, 2010
Reduced federal funding for Veterans Administration projects could represent yet another challenge for injured and disabled veterans who rely on VA projects for financial, medical and day-to-day support.
A story in the Alabama newspaper, St. Clair Times, reports that the VA currently has a project list totaling about $400 million, but the VA has received only $100 million by Congress. This means only 38 out of 157 VA projects will receive matching grant funds.
This funding shortfall has already delayed important projects and services for disabled veterans. One such project is the opening of a new veterans’ home in Pell City, AL, which was to begin construction this year.
A spokesmen from the VA Regional Office in Montgomery, Alabama said they hope to get the necessary matching funds in 2011. The proposed veterans’ home should eventually provide more than 250 private rooms and assisted living housing.
Many disabled and wounded veterans rely on programs and funding from the VA in order to survive. These resources, such as veterans’ disability benefits, are a recognition of the valuable commitment and sacrifice that veterans have made in serving their country.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation by the VA, contact LaVan & Neidenberg. We can appeal your rating decision and fight for your rights. You are entitled to certain programs and benefits based upon your VA rating decision so contact our veterans disability rights firm today.
Tags: Department of Veterans Affairs, VA, veterans
Posted in Veterans' Resources | No Comments »
Thursday, January 21st, 2010
Doctors may have a new tool to identify – and subsequently treat – the symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in veterans and wounded soldiers.
A recent study by University of Minnesota and the Minneapolis VA Medical Center has found that a high-powered brain scan can identify PTSD in the patient’s brain.
A story from Minnesota.PublicRadio.org reports that over the course of the study, doctors were able to use the brain scan to spot cases of PTSD more than 90 percent of the time. This type of medical advance could be a huge help for veterans trying to prove their disability cases.
Post-traumatic stress disorder is common among disabled veterans and wounded soldiers. Symptoms of PTSD – such as flashbacks and depression –are debilitating, but can be difficult to quantify, a fact that can hinder a veteran’s disability benefits claim.
If you are a wounded veteran suffering from PTSD, talk to your doctor about whether this new high-powered brain scan could be used to prove that you suffer from PTSD. This tool should enable you to gain more concrete evidence of your PTSD and help you to prove your veterans’ disability case.
If you are a veteran and suffering from PTSD and fighting the VA to get disability compensation, contact LaVan & Neidenberg, a veterans law firm located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We represent more than 5000 disability claimants. Our disability attorneys have experience with cross examining agency-appointed medical and vocational experts and take time when speaking with you about your disability claim. Call us today at 1-888-234-5758 for a FREE legal consultation. There is NO OBLIGATION to hire our firm and there are NO FEES unless one of our trained disability lawyers wins your case.
Tags: Disabled Veterans, PTSD
Posted in Disabled Veterans | No Comments »
Wednesday, January 20th, 2010
A new national cemetery for veterans has opened in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The national cemetery, named Washington Crossing National Cemetery, will eventually become the final resting place for thousands of soldiers and veterans who served their country.
Washington Crossing opened Wednesday, with the burial of seven veterans. The expansive cemetery can accommodate more than 200,000 deceased veterans. There also are allowances for veterans’ spouses and children.
Each gravesite will be marked by a three-foot stone with the veteran’s information. There is no cost for veterans to be buried at Washington Crossing, but the veteran must have served 180 days in the military in order to qualify for burial at the national cemetery.
This cemetery could be a valuable service for disabled veterans and their families, who often have to cope with numerous financial and medical difficulties as a result of service-related injuries and illnesses.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation by the VA, contact LaVan & Neidenberg. We can appeal your rating decision and fight for your rights. You are entitled to certain programs and benefits based upon your VA rating decision so contact our veterans disability rights firm today.
Posted in Veterans' Resources | No Comments »
Wednesday, January 20th, 2010
If you are a disabled veteran who is awaiting your VA disability benefits, you are probably familiar with the long wait periods for a veterans’ disability benefits claim to be processed. In response to the backlog of unanswered veterans’ disability claims, the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) launched the Expedited Claims Adjudication (ECA) Initiative in four Regional Offices (RO).
The VA says that the ECA was created “to speed up the processing” of disabled veterans’ claims. However, if you are a veteran awaiting your claim, it is important to exercise extreme caution when signing any ECA agreements or waivers of rights.
The ECA agreement and waiver, requires that you be represented by an attorney or the Veteran’s Service Organization (VSO). It also imposes new limits to your rights and alters the VA’s responsibilities in very important ways, some of which are listed below:
- The ECA waiver limits the number of appeals that you can submit
- The Initiative puts specific time constraints on how long you have to appeal a claim.
- The ECA initiative significantly alters the amount of evidence that the VA is required to look at when considering your disability claim.
Read more about the ECA Initiative and talk to a veterans’ disability attorney if you have any questions about what this waiver would mean for you.
If you need assistance with your veterans disability claim, contact the veterans disability rights law firm of LaVan & Neidenberg. Veterans disability rights lawyers can help you win your claim against the VA!
Tags: Veterans' Benefits
Posted in Veterans' Disability | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 19th, 2010
The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced that it will construct a $53 million VA medical facility in Cape Coral, Florida, intended to provide health services for Southwest Florida veterans.
The new Cape Coral VA facility will replace the Fort Myers, Fla. VA facility. The proposed 220,000-square-foot medical facility will provide medical treatment for Florida veterans and should be completed within two years.
According to the VA, the Cape Coral VA medical building will include:
- Surgery and outpatient support
- Ambulatory surgery capabilities
- Specialty care and practices
There are an estimated 1.7 million veterans in Florida. There are currently seven VA major medical facilities in Florida, which is home to the second highest number of veterans living in the United States.
Disabled veterans living in Florida may qualify for VA disability benefits. Applying for disability benefits can often be a confusing and intimidating process for veterans and their families.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation by the VA, contact LaVan & Neidenberg. We can appeal your rating decision and fight for your rights. You are entitled to certain programs and benefits based upon your VA rating decision so contact our veterans disability rights firm today.
Tags: Department of Veterans Affairs, VA
Posted in Disabled Veterans | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 19th, 2010
Florida veterans are voicing their concerns with the way in which the Department of Veterans Affairs handles disability benefit claims and survivor benefits, sometimes referred to as the “widow’s tax.”
A story on Tallahassee.com reports that a group of interested individuals will meet Wednesday with the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee to discuss such issues as the “backlog for disability claims” and how this affects disabled Florida veterans.
Thousands of disabled veterans around the country face long waiting periods for their veterans’ disability benefits. Some of those disabled veterans will wait, only to experience a denied disability claim.
Veterans’ issues are a hot topic in Florida where veterans’ disability claims and denials impact so many state residents:
- It’s estimated that 1.7 million veterans live in Florida.
- Florida has the second-highest population of veterans in the country.
- California is home to the most veterans in the U.S.
Some of the topics for discussion at Wednesday’s meeting will include:
- The nearly 400,000 pending disability claims for veterans in the United States and how this impacts disabled Florida veterans.
- The VA and Department of Defense of policies, sometimes known as the “widow’s tax,” that regulate how veterans’ spouses can collect Defense retirement benefits and VA disability benefits after their veteran spouse dies.
In recognition and respect of their service to their country, disabled Florida veterans deserve to have their voices heard and their concerns addressed. They deserve to know how and when they will receive the disability benefits to which they are entitled.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida disability lawyers, LaVan & Neidenberg, represent over 5000 disability claimants. Our disability attorneys have experience with cross examining agency-appointed medical and vocational experts and take time when speaking with you about your disability claim. Call us today at 1-888-234-5758 for a FREE legal consultation. There is NO OBLIGATION to hire our firm and there are NO FEES unless one of our trained disability lawyers wins your case.
Tags: Florida veterans, Widows Tax
Posted in Veterans' Benefits | No Comments »
Monday, January 18th, 2010
The Philadelphia VA Medical Center recently admitted to significant problems with its prostrate cancer treatment program. The cancer treatment errors have negatively impacted the health and safety of numerous injured, ill and disabled veterans.
Specifically, the Philadelphia VA facility violated federal radiation rules that are dictated by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. These medical mistakes put sick veterans at risk for additional health problems, including rectum pain and the return of some cancers.
A VA review found that the Philadelphia VA Medical Center routinely gave prostrate cancer patients the incorrect does of radiation. The VA investigation revealed:
- 97 out of 114 cancer patients were given the wrong radiation doses
- These mistakes occurred over the course of six years
- The violations stemmed from incorrect dosing in the VA prostrate brachytherapy program
- Doctors and radiation experts routinely made mistakes that endangered patients’ lives and health
The mistakes at the cancer treatment program at the Philadelphia VA clinic typically resulted in radioactive “seeds” – a form of cancer treatment – being implanted in the wrong part of the body. Some patients experienced cancer recurrences and others suffered radiation injuries.
These types of medical errors at VA medical centers represent a significant concern for ill or disabled veterans who already struggle with a variety of medical and financial challenges.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation by the VA, contact LaVan & Neidenberg. We can appeal your rating decision and fight for your rights. You are entitled to certain programs and benefits based upon your VA rating decision so contact our veterans disability rights firm today.
Tags: VA medical facility
Posted in Disabled Veterans | No Comments »
Monday, January 18th, 2010
Many Filipino soldiers who fought in World War II for the United States are still waiting for veterans’ benefits that were promised to them during the war. A recent story in the Washington Post highlights the stress experienced by some of the WWII veteran Filipino soldiers who have dealt with numerous delays in receiving the VA benefits to which they are entitled.
These Filipino soldiers fought against Japanese forces in the Philippines during WWII. The soldiers were promised U.S. veterans’ benefits in exchange for their service to the United States. This pledge was later rescinded under the Rescission Act of 1946.
In Feb. 2009, the U.S. government finally agreed to give qualified Filipino veterans a one-time payment of either $9,000 or $15,000. This was offered in place of the veteran pensions that had been promised to the soldiers.
While this could be considered a step forward for the WWII Filipino veterans, it appears the payments are being dispersed at a slow rate. This is bad news for aging veterans who need and deserve financial assistance from the VA and have been waiting for decades to receive the funds.
Listed below are a few key facts about the lump payments to WWII veterans from the Philippines:
- At least 250,000 Filipino soldiers served in WWII for the United States
- 40,000 individuals applied for the VA benefit
- The VA expected that only 20,000 veterans would apply
- About 11,000 Filipino veterans have received payment
- About 8,000 Filipino veterans’ benefit claims have been denied
- 16,000 claims have not yet been reviewed and processed
Sadly, this backlog means that many Filipino soldiers who dedicated their service to the United States may not receive their benefits in time to use them.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation by the VA, contact LaVan & Neidenberg. We can appeal your rating decision and fight for your rights. You are entitled to certain programs and benefits based upon your VA rating decision so contact our veterans disability rights firm today.
Tags: VA Benefits
Posted in Veterans' Benefits | 2 Comments »
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