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Archive for March, 2010
Wednesday, March 31st, 2010
Following criticism that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was not doing enough to help veterans in crisis, the VA launched the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The center covers 15 phone lines and 3 chat lines. The staff of 20 includes:
- Responder
- Counselor
- Social workers and
- Health tech assistants
Some of the veterans call the Lifeline because they are contemplating suicide. Other callers just want information on their local VA hospitals and what mental health services are available to them. 20% of the 30,000 yearly suicides are veterans. That means on average, 18 veterans kill themselves everyday.
The Lifeline center is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The center opened in 2007 and has not had a break from the ringing phones since. The crisis center has almost reached the 250,000 call mark since inception.
The Lifeline focuses on providing immediate assistance with access to instant resources. Veterans need to feel they will not be allowed to just fall through the cracks once they are no longer connected to the Lifeline.
Having access to immediate mental health resources is a new service the Lifeline center offers. For a veteran in dire need of these services, health techs at the crisis center can direct them to help in the caller’s local area or organize an emergency rescue. The next day the veteran receives a follow up call from the center.
The center’s results earned them a $15 million budget for the 2010 year with an additional $4 million to be used for public service campaigns. Besides the phone lines, the center offers a chat line for younger veterans, especially veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Many recent Iraq and Afghanistan veterans call the center because of problems transitioning back into civilian life. Responders focus on listening to the veterans needs and validating their feelings.
The Lifeline clinic is many times a last alternative for the veteran callers. One problem facing younger veterans is overcoming their pride enough to make that initial call for help. The more word gets out about the clinic, the more they will be able to hopefully help those veterans in need.
Learn more about the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and how it helps veterans.
Tags: mental health treatment, veteran suicide prevention programs, Veterans' Resources, Veterans’ Mental Health
Posted in General, Iraq-Afghanistan War | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 30th, 2010
The absurd backlog of disability claims facing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is no secret and as such, the VA is constantly searching for a solution. The newest suggested solution is that the VA go completely paperless. The problem plaguing the VA is just how to go about eliminating the overwhelming amount of paperwork in order to go 100% electronic.
VA Secretary Eric Shinseki has given the VA until 2012 to solve this problem. 2012 is when the electronic claims processing system is set to make its debut. VA estimates place the amount of backlogged disability claims at approximately 2.6 million by 2015 if the system is not corrected.
The current wait time on the processing of a veteran’s disability claim is around 5 months. Disability claims from Iraq and Afghanistan require approximately 6 to 12 hours per claim. At the same time, the VA is plagued with complaints about both lost paperwork and flat out inaccuracy.
The severe limitations of the current system requires paperwork being shipped all over the country if more than one person needs to review a veteran’s disability claim. Under an electronic system, the veteran’s claim could be viewed by several people in several locations at once, should the need arise.
Last October Secretary Shinseki allowed veterans suffering from service-related illnesses due to exposure to Agent Orange to receive compensation. This means the VA could face potentially 200,000 new disability claims. Beyond that, Secretary Shinseki is also forcing the VA to take second looks at previously rejected claims from Gulf War Veterans.
The new electronic system will cut claims processing times by approximately 70%. Once the VA figures out how to make the transition, everything else will hopefully fall into place and the VA’s massive backlog will begin to be chipped away.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, contact LaVan & Neidenberg. You may be entitled to certain programs and benefits so contact our veterans disability rights firm today.
Tags: disability claim process, Disabled Veterans, Electronic Claims Processing, Eric Shinseki, VA healthcare system
Posted in Disabled Veterans, General, Veterans' Benefits | No Comments »
Monday, March 29th, 2010
Two very significant bills passed unanimously through the House of Representatives last week. The bills both focused on financial support for needy veterans.
H.R. 4810 is also known as the End Veteran Homelessness Act of 2010. If passed in its current form, this initiative will reinforce programs already in existence that help homeless veterans. This bill spotlights the unique needs of homeless female veterans and those veterans with children. On any night, the amount of homeless veterans across the country numbers approximately 131,000.
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Eric Shinseki has said since the beginning of his term he has planned on ending the existence of homeless veterans. The unanimous passing of this bill echoes his feelings, and shows he is not the only one who finds this situation deplorable. U.S. Congressman Ciro Rodriguez (TX-23), of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, referred to this situation as “reprehensible” and went on to say having a place to live is a fundamental right all veterans deserve.
H.R. 4667 is named the Veteran’s Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2010. This bill focuses on those veterans with disabilities that are service-related and raises the amount of compensation they are given. It will become effective December 1, 2010 and also increases the rates received for:
- Dependents; and
- Indemnification for survivors of specific disabled veterans.
These were not the only veteran-related bills included in this House session. The EARNED Act allows veterans who retired between specific dates after serving active duty for at least 20 years to shift earned education benefits to his or her dependents. The Advanced Appropriations Bill aids the VA in helping veterans and their families. This Bill distributes the VA their budget every two years as opposed to annually.
Veterans who have served this country should be able to depend on their country to serve them when they are in need of assistance. Bills like these will help veterans and their dependents. Hopefully helpful bills will continue to be introduced and passed giving veterans the benefits and resources they deserve.
Learn more about legislation being passed benefiting veterans and their families.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, contact LaVan & Neidenberg. You may be entitled to certain programs and benefits so contact our veterans disability rights firm today.
Tags: homeless veterans, Veterans disability, Veterans' Resources, Veterans’ legislation
Posted in VA News | No Comments »
Thursday, March 25th, 2010
The United States has been forced to redefine and rethink policies that have been in place for years. Indeed, unconventional warfare has forced the U.S. to adapt to new ways of waging war. There has been a long standing ban on women in combat and US military commanders are now rethinking those policies.
The current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have forced women into combat roles. Female soldiers are currently battling an enemy who does not discriminate by sex but has the sole goal of killing American troops. Because of their actions in combat, women have been rewarded with medals for valor and bravery.
One constant reality is in the theatre of war, commanders want the most qualified and capable people in their units. There is no reason combat units in war should be denied the most qualified soldiers because of an outdated and sexist policy against female soldiers.
Despite serious concerns from male superiors, military organization and regulation did not crumble when women began serving along with men. The positive performances from female soldiers in the 1990-1991 Gulf war paved the way for such groundbreaking events as:
- Women serving in combat aircraft;
- Women serving on naval warships; and
- The Navy lifting the ban against females serving on submarines.
To date, more than 120 women, out of the 220,000 that have fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, have been killed in combat. If women are good enough to die among men they are good enough to serve among them. It is important the military’s new policies focus on the requirements for specific jobs because the current policies operate under the assumption it is not possible for a woman to meet the standards.
Learn more about women serving in combat roles and the military’s response to the demands of the current wars.
Tags: female combat soldiers, gulf war veterans, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, women veterans
Posted in Iraq-Afghanistan War | No Comments »
Wednesday, March 24th, 2010
In Northwest Houston, veteran students have an excellent resource at their disposal. The Lone State College (LSCS) – University Park’s Veterans Affairs Center (VAC) offers veterans all the educational and financial aid help they need in order to attend their community college programs under one single roof.
The VAC is very helpful in assisting veterans transitioning back into their communities. It is designed to resemble the one-stop shopping centers veterans are used to existing on military installations. The VAC allows veterans to obtain their education benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, to speak with a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) counselor, and to have any questions answered regarding their education as well as other veteran benefits and resources.
In the spring of 2009, 931 veterans enrolled in LSCS. By fall of 2009, veteran enrollment was up to 1,576. It is expected this semester will put the number of veteran students attending LSCS over 1,700. The need to construct the VAC became very obvious very quickly.
The center focuses on helping veterans to get their maximum amount of educational and housing benefits from the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The center has already received incredible positive feedback from the community. The center provides veterans with:
- Work and study areas;
- A computer lab;
- A break room; and
- A conference room.
The VAC provides more than just educational benefits, it also serves as a safe harbor for veteran students. The VAC is a centralized location where veterans can find out about their benefits, or just hang around other veterans.
Learn more about the veteran’s transitional center.
Tags: GI Bill benefits, Post-9/11 GI Bill, student-veterans, veterans assistance, veterans education
Posted in General, Veterans' Resources | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010
Five years ago St. Johns County submitted an application to be the site of Florida’s newest veterans nursing home. Today, the home is receiving its final touches, a new administrator has been hired, and Florida’s Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is almost ready to open its doors.
Florida has a long history of taking care of its elder veterans. The state’s original VA homes were established in the 1880’s. That program led to where Florida is today: building nursing homes with veterans in mind.
The Clyde E. Lassen State Veterans Nursing Home would not even be recognizable to veterans spending time in nursing homes even 15 years ago. This home contains 72 private rooms and 24 semi-private rooms. All the rooms are divided into “neighborhoods” which are negotiated via a series of street signs. The fine details of the home include doors with shingled overhangs and every room includes a completely customizable memory board. Half the building is secured and monitored to handle veterans suffering from dementia.
The entire home is designed to make veterans feel like they are at home. The first veteran will move in in September. Following that, 10 veterans a month will move in until the home is at capacity. In order to be able to move into the home veterans must:
- Be honorably discharged;
- Lived in Florida for at least 1 year; and
- Require skilled nursing as determined by the VA.
Florida currently has 1.7 million veterans across the state so homes like this are desperately needed. The state will take possession of the home in June, once construction is complete. Needy veterans in Northeast Florida will most certainly benefit from Florida’s newest and continuing effort to take care of their state’s veterans.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, contact LaVan & Neidenberg. You may be entitled to certain programs and benefits so contact our veterans disability rights firm today.
Tags: Disabled Veterans, Florida veterans, VA Nursing Homes, Veterans' Resources
Posted in Disabled Veterans, Veterans' Resources | 3 Comments »
Monday, March 22nd, 2010
New legislation was recently introduced in hopes of benefiting veterans. Not just veterans but permanently disabled blind veterans. Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) initiated a new bill aimed at forcing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to allow blinded Massachusetts veterans to keep their full pension intact. A veteran’s pension is aid given to veterans:
- With reduced or no income;
- Are 65 or over; and
- Are either temporarily or permanently disabled.
The Veteran’s Pensions Protection Act, as drafted by Senator Kerry and if successfully passed, will put a stop to the VA deducting payments veterans rightfully earned from the State of Massachusetts. Currently, all permanently blind Massachusetts veterans receive $2,000 a year. The VA then subtracts this payment from the veterans’ federal pension checks as income. Senator Kerry’s bill is designed to stop this appalling practice and therefore ensure permanently disabled, blind veterans receive everything to which they are entitled.
Senator Kerry is a long time supporter of veteran’s rights and is disgusted at the idea of veterans being denied their owed benefits essentially because of what amounts to red tape. Essentially the VA is reducing the blinded veteran’s pension because they see the $2,000 annuity as income, something veterans are not able to have while accepting a pension.
There are currently 4 other states providing blinded, disabled veterans annuities which are calculated as income. These payments are incomes as opposed to having the annuities being given as gifts and subsequently deducted from the veteran’s pension. A pension is designed to supplement income or completely replace a veteran’s income.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, contact LaVan & Neidenberg. You may be entitled to certain programs and benefits so contact our veterans disability rights firm today.
Tags: Blind veterans, Disabled Veterans, veteran pensions, veterans legislation
Posted in Disabled Veterans, VA News, Veterans' Benefits, Veterans' Disability | 3 Comments »
Friday, March 12th, 2010
Two sets of patient data were downloaded and recorded onto a personal laptop by a physician’s assistant in the Atlanta VA Medical Center. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Inspector General initiated a criminal investigation into the downloading. One of the sets of information contained 3 years of patient data. The other contained medical information going back 18 years.
It is possible that while the physician’s assistant’s laptop was never directly connected to the VA’s network, the information could still have been removed from the network. To date, the VA has not released information as to how many veteran-patients may be affected or involved or if they are even planning on notifying those veterans.
The VA’s Office of Information and Technology is currently working to determine the specific details of the information removed from the VA network. The results of their findings will allow the VA to determine how to proceed. What is known so far is that some of the information came from an unapproved research project.
The VA has a standing rule against connecting personal computers to the VA network. They also encrypt all the data stored on the VA network. It is unclear however, what effect this safeguards had on the downloaded information.
The burden is on the medical center to retain and control their records, not the patient. While the investigation is still ongoing, hopefully there will be no damage done to the veteran-patients.
Tags: Atlanta VA Medical Center, Medical records stolen, VA medical center
Posted in VA News | No Comments »
Thursday, March 11th, 2010
A new study presented some very interesting findings to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA) last week. The study concluded it was possible to treat veterans suffering from panic disorder over the course of a weekend. This is a very promising idea for the countless veterans that cannot, or do not want to, participate in therapy requiring commitments of months or years.
Many veterans cycling back from deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan return with anxiety disorders. Of the returning veterans suffering from anxiety-related problems, approximately one-third of them suffer from panic disorder.
The study’s subjects were all Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans already in the Houston VA Medical Center’s Trauma Recovery Program. All of the subjects had already refused to participate in a ten-week standard cognitive-behavioral treatment plan but did agree to the study’s weekend program.
On average, the participants were approximately 28-years-old and were currently diagnosed with panic disorder. Veterans also diagnosed with the following were excluded from the study:
- Bipolar disorder;
- Psychosis;
- Suicidal or homicidal ideation or intent;
- Severe depression; and
- Panic attacks only related to specific phobias or medical conditions that mimic anxiety symptoms.
The veterans were broken into small groups of 3 – 4 and the sessions they attended were driven by 2 psychologists. The sessions focused on educating the veterans about the causes of panic disorders and treatments. The veterans were also educated in individual techniques for how to deal with their specific symptoms.
At the end of the weekend, the veterans demonstrated immediate improvements. At the 6-month follow up appointment, the veterans continued to exhibit very positive gains in their symptoms as well as demonstrating lower levels of anxiety and depression levels. The veteran’s reactions to the study were probably just as important as the results. All the participants established were satisfied and felt the weekend program very adequate.
Impressive results coupled with complete program portability make this weekend program a very prospective treatment for veterans suffering from panic disorder.
Learn more about treating veterans suffering from panic disorder with Intensive Weekend Programs.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, contact LaVan & Neidenberg. You may be entitled to certain programs and benefits so contact our veterans disability rights firm today.
Tags: Anxiety disorder, mental health treatment, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Panic disorder, Veterans disability
Posted in Disabled Veterans, General | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010
The HONOR center is a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) comprehensive homeless center located in Gainesville, Florida. It opened its doors for the first time on Monday and will give aid to disabled and homeless veterans in the area.
Inside the center is a 45-bed portion called “the Residence.” Inside the Residence is a separated area designated specifically for homeless women veterans. The HONOR center will offer:
- Counseling;
- Therapy; and
- Job skills training.
Of the homeless population, approximately one-third have served in the military. Approximately 3% of the 131,000 homeless veterans are women. The HONOR center is designed to stop the homeless veteran problem from getting any worse. The creators of the center plan on providing hope and new opportunities to homeless veterans through various programs.
Veterans are able to live up to 6 months in the Residence and will have access to many amenities during their stay designed to physically and mentally recuperate those in need. During their 6 month stay, veterans will have access to:
- A library;
- Buffet-style dining;
- A workout room;
- Recreation areas; and
- Special programs focusing on occupational therapy, etc.
Veterans returning from deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from PTSD at much higher rates than previously experienced. Untreated PTSD is one major contributing factor to veterans not properly acclimating back to civilian life. Without proper acclimation, veterans are more likely to become homeless.
The HONOR center will also aid in getting homeless veterans into any and every program they need to get back on their feet. Hopefully the HONOR center will, in the end, save lives and get deserving veterans back on their feet.
Learn more about the HONOR center and how it is helping veterans.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, contact LaVan & Neidenberg. You may be entitled to certain programs and benefits so contact our veterans disability rights firm today.
Tags: Disabled Veterans, homeless veterans, HONOR center, PTSD
Posted in Disabled Veterans, Veterans' Resources | No Comments »
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