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Archive for May, 2010
Thursday, May 27th, 2010
Thousands of people run marathons and half marathons. Very few people run 21 half-marathons in 21 days. Col. Jack Mosher and Maj. Jay Brock are attempting just such a feat. Together they will each run ½ marathons every day for 21 days – 21 marathons in 21 days.
From May 8 to May 28 the pair will run a path starting in Kittery, Maine and ending in Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington, D.C. Why would someone do this, you might ask. The two are running in order to show other veterans that they need to take responsibility for their own health. The two have named their effort the Resiliency Run.
Veterans returning to the states following a deployment face a number of obstacles ranging from difficulty finding jobs to relationship issues to homelessness and/or mental health issues including suicide. Many veterans are unwilling or unable to get help. Brock hopes the Resiliency run will inspire veterans in need to find the help they need, no matter the issue they’re facing.
Mosher’s focus is eliminating veterans from living on their couch and urges exercise as a necessary component of a healthy lifestyle. While counseling should be included where necessary, it is Mosher’s belief people who are mentally and physically strong do not commit suicide.
To reinforce the “no excuses” attitude soldiers are supposed to embody, Mosher points out he is 45-years-old and Brock is in his mid-30’s. If these two can do something as trying running 21 half marathons, there is no reason younger veterans cannot get themselves involved in some sort of exercise program, even at the basic level.
Both men have learned things about themselves along this run but all that is secondary to the inspiration they hope to bring to veterans across the country. Veterans need to make sure they keep themselves healthy following their discharge from the military. It is their responsibility to make this happen to ensure they don’t fall into the dark mental traps waiting for many of them upon their return.
Learn more about the Resiliency Run and how these two soldiers hope to inspire 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: post-traumatic stress disorder, Veteran Health
Posted in General | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 26th, 2010
Over 600 veterans waiting for kidney transplants could receive very good news next month. The Pittsburgh Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital transplant center, along with 3 other locations may very well have a new way to find matching organs for those veterans in need.
Paired kidney exchange is a new and growing practice. Here is how it works: usually people in need of organs go to their family or first to find someone who matches and can donate. If there are no matches, that friend or family donates to a pool of recipients. It is hoped that by doing this it will create a series of new kidneys available for kidney transplants.
William Gunnar, the National Director of Surgery for the Veterans Health Administration is considering allowing the VA to join the practice. Before he makes any decision whether the VA will go forward with the paired kidney exchange, he demands ethical and legal reviews of the practice. His review is expected to be concluded this month. There are 4 VA hospitals performing kidney transplants:
- Pittsburgh;
- Nashville;
- Iowa City; and
- Portland.
There are 194 veterans waiting for kidneys at the Pittsburgh VA hospital alone yet that site only performs approximately 40 transplants every year. Kidney transplants save money as the more transplants are performed, the less money the VA spends on dialysis.
According to a 2007 federal law, paired kidney exchanges does not equate to selling organs. Gunner, however, still wants to receive a legal opinion before giving the green light on letting the VA go ahead with the program. There are many steps between now and allowing the VA to participate in a paired kidney exchange. The quicker the program gets approved, the quicker veterans in need get help.
Learn more about paired kidney exchange and how the VA may get involved.
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: Organ donation, Paired Kidney Exchange, VA healthcare, VA healthcare system
Posted in General, VA News | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, May 25th, 2010
The Richmond Fisher House is located at the Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center and is only one of many homes around the country for the families of veterans requiring significant or long-term medical care. The Fisher House Foundation was developed to aid those family members of veterans receiving medical health care by offering on-site living accommodations in as close to possible home away from home conditions.
Some of the families stay in the Fisher homes for long periods of time, so the accommodations have to be comfortable. The Richmond Fisher House is one of the largest such homes and contains:
- Over 16,000 square feet of living space;
- 21 Bedrooms;
- A dining room;
- A living room;
- A family room; and
- A communal kitchen.
Fisher House plays a vital role in helping families support those veterans undergoing treatment. Many families do not have the funds to pay for extended hotel stays. Fisher House serves more than just a financial role; they bring families together that eventually develop support systems for each other.
Fisher house provides more than just a place to stay, it attempts to provide a home away from home. Supporting family members undergoing medical therapy takes a toll on everyone involved. Staying at Fisher House gives people all the comforts they have at home at no cost:
- Washers and dryers;
- Personal bathrooms;
- Libraries of books and DVDs;
- Linens; and
- Play areas for children including an outdoor playground.
Sitting in a hospital all day can be stressful on both adults and children. Without these amenities, their stays would be much more stressful. There is no way to measure how critical the role Fisher House plays in family members staying in support of their veteran.
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, families of veterans, Fisher House, VA healthcare, VA medical facility
Posted in General, Veterans' Dependents, Veterans' Resources | No Comments »
Monday, May 24th, 2010
A short time ago the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) added more diseases to the list of disabilities that will be recognized by the VA as being the result of exposure to Agent Orange. The VA can now expect thousands of new disability claims to require processing. The problem is, the VA’s disability claims system is already severely over burdened.
In order to handle the backlog issue, the VA is designing a claims processing network specifically for those Vietnam Veterans making claims related to Agent Orange. This new system will focus on simplified claims and will be the VA’s first fully automated disability claims processing system.
The Senate Appropriations Committee added $13.4 billion to cover the costs of the expected claims made in response to the VA’s new Agent Orange disability standards. VA Secretary Eric Shinseki expects the new Agent Orange standards to bring in over 200,000 disability claims in addition to the more than 1 million filed in 2009.
The new automated claims processing system is expected to usher in a new era in VA claims processing. The VA is very specific in what they want in their network. Their system must be able to process specific web-based forms. Additionally, the new system must be able to help the VA reduce their current backlog of unprocessed disability claims.
This is more than just something the VA is interested in building. The VA must have this system put in place. If the VA does not act immediately to rid themselves of their current backlog while efficiently dealing with the new claims pouring in they will find themselves at the bottom of an insurmountable mountain.
Learn more about the new Agent Orange disability claims processing system.
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: Agent Orange, automated disability processing, Disabled Veterans, VA health care, Veterans' Benefits, Vietnam veterans
Posted in Disabled Veterans, Veterans' Resources | No Comments »
Thursday, May 20th, 2010
Just about a year ago, many home sellers would not even meet with buyers using VA backed loans. Those times have changed. More veterans and active military personnel are using the VA loans available to them in an environment of more restricted conventional mortgage lending guidelines. The VA is making 30% more home loans than last year.
VA loans come in a very attractive package. For instance, their interest rates are very competitive and they do not require a down payment if the loan is $729,000 and under. If the loan is for more than that, the VA will require a small down payment. The no down payment option makes it much easier for qualified borrowers to buy or refinance a home, which is not easy for home buyers in this market.
Additionally, VA loans do away with private mortgage insurance (PMI) as well as prepayment penalties. Because the VA sets credit requirements easier to meet than conventional mortgage lenders, qualifying for VA loans is much easier. The VA will also help out borrowers if they ever run into financial problems and have issues making their payments. Borrowers can also roll the VA’s funding fee into their loan, making the VA loan itself even more attractive. Disabled veterans are given an even better deal. Those disabled veterans looking to borrow from the VA for a mortgage or a refinance do not have to pay the VA’s funding fee at all.
The VA itself does not make the loans. Instead, they insure and secure loans made by more traditional lending institutions such as banks. The amount of people able to take VA loans is limited however to eligible veterans, service members, and surviving spouses. It is easy to see my more veterans and soldiers are taking advantage of VA loans while they can.
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, VA home loans, veteran benefits
Posted in General, VA News | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
Once again a laptop was stolen containing veterans’ personal data. The last time this happened, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) paid out $20 million in a settlement in a class action suit brought by veterans.
The laptop stolen this time belonged to a contractor working for the VA. This laptop contained personal information on hundreds of veterans. This laptop’s information was not encrypted and that is a direct breach of the VA’s information technology policy.
The laptop was stolen April 28th and somewhere between 616 and 644 veterans whose personally identifiable information was stored on the laptop were immediately notified. Information encryption is a Congressional and VA mandate yet none of the data on this laptop was encrypted. This is despite the vendor previously certifying to the VA that all laptops storing veteran data were encrypted.
Following a short investigation, it was revealed 578 vendors would not sign contracts with the VA including clauses requiring them to encrypt all veteran information on their computers. Worse, the VA has taken no action against these vendors for refusing to follow the VA’s security measure rules.
The vendor from whom the laptop was stolen had numerous, widespread contracts with the VA. In a letter to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki, The VA’s Chief Information Officer said the VA is lacking in “its primary responsibility of protecting veterans’ personal information.”
The 578 vendors will be investigated to determine if any of them still have contracts with the VA and if they can be forced to encrypt their information without sacrificing health care. Hopefully this is the last time the VA will have to learn this lesson and will insist on their vendors following their own rules.
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: VA health care, VA Information Technology Policy
Posted in VA News | No Comments »
Tuesday, May 18th, 2010
Veteran legislation is at an apparent all time high. It seems every couple of weeks sees the introduction of some new legislation intended to somehow extend benefits to veterans and their families or forge some new benefit.
Last Wednesday saw the passage of three bills by the House Veterans Affairs Committee. All the bills were bipartisan-backed and whipped through the panel through a voice vote. Most likely they will end up on the House’s suspension calendar. The three bills included:
- One for therapeutic companion dogs;
- One for chiropractic care; and
- One for increasing money going to VA doctors and nurses.
The first bill authorizes a 5-year pilot program. This program will take place in multiple Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers across the nation. The program will use trained dogs to calm and hopefully treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in veterans.
The second bill, if signed into law, would supply chiropractic services to veterans. The bill provides these services must be available in 75 VA hospitals by the end of next year and must be available at all VA hospitals by the end of 2013. The services included in this bill are aimed at improving the onslaught of muscular-skeletal injuries overwhelming Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.
The final bill would raise the amount of money used to fund continuing professional education for VA doctors and nurses. The money would also allow other health care workers to be able to participate in the training and would increase the amount of workers able to receive the assistance. This increase could total $42 million over the next 5 years.
Coupling these three bills with the other veteran legislation that has passed or is in position to pass this year is impressive. If things continue at this pace, veterans will be in for a very promising year.
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, PTSD treatment, VA Benefits, VA health care, veterans legislation
Posted in General, US Military Legislation, VA News, Veterans' Benefits, Veterans' Disability, Veterans' Resources | 1 Comment »
Monday, May 17th, 2010
Nobody knows how to help veterans better than other veterans. There is no refuting the horrors of wars and the possible terror veterans are subjected to during their time of service. For many, though, returning to civilian life can be a much more difficult road to travel.
Vets Helping Vets is a non-profit outreach program headquartered in Ocala, Florida. Hank Whittier is the Executive Director and is noticing disturbing new trends in veterans needing help. Besides the increasing number of veterans requesting help, Whittier has noticed many initial requests start with help finding employment and quickly degenerate into needing help with food and rent. The economy seems to be just as crippling as transitioning back into civilian life.
Whittier is also seeing many more requests for mental health help. The requests, though, are just as likely to come from families as from the veterans themselves. Some veterans are simply not aware of available benefits, and others cannot handle filing all the necessary paperwork. For some veterans already receiving benefits, they need transportation.
Vets Helping Vets has existed since 1997. Volunteers perform all the work and the organization relies on food and monetary donations for their success. Some of the ways Vets Helping Vets assist those in need include:
- Employment referrals;
- Benefits information;
- Transportation for VA medical care;
- Food pantries; and
- Financial assistance.
While Vets Helping Vets does provide some direct help, they focus on matching veterans in need with the most suitable service agency for their circumstances.
Learn more about how Vets Helping Vets make sure veterans in need are given the help they rightly deserve.
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: Veteran groups, veterans assistance, veterans helping veterans
Posted in Disabled Veterans, General, Vet Groups & Networking, Veterans' Resources | No Comments »
Thursday, May 13th, 2010
It seems the more veterans returning from combat deployments suffering from PTSD the more therapeutic programs are developed. Had you visited Shadow Cliffs Regional Park last Friday and seen the 20 veterans standing on the lake you may not have come to the conclusion that it was a therapy session, but that is exactly what it was.
A veteran at Walter Reed Medical Center created Project Healing Waters in 2005. The Project’s focus is on soldiers and veterans and their physical and emotional rehabilitation; most of the participants suffer from PTSD. They attempt to do this through fly fishing, among other activities.
Fly fishing, it seems, is an ideal way in which to conduct therapy. One thing fly fishing provides is a very beautiful and tranquil environment. The operators of Project Healing Waters believe healing properties exist in the outdoor environment. They believe being outdoors has helped those suffering from:
- Depression;
- Suicidal tendencies; and
- Autism.
Some veterans suffering from PTSD find fly fishing useful because of their shortened attention spans and their difficulty completing certain tasks. Making a tie able to attract fish is essential to fly fishing. Being able to make a successful tie requires an involved, complex, and complicated process. This process requires not only hand-eye coordination, but tolerance and patience.
Fly fishing itself demands these same traits. Successful fly fishing depends on paying attention to your movements and concentrating on controlling your body. Because of the concentration required to fly fish, veterans cannot fish and focus on the stress in their lives at the same time. Fishing then, provides many veterans with momentary mental reprieves.
The Project members believe showing veterans who suffer from PTSD they can complete small tasks and in turn larger tasks works as a building block toward improving their mental health.
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, mental health treatment, PTSD, PTSD Therapy
Posted in General, Veterans' Disability | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 12th, 2010
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) have become the most prevalent injury seen in veterans returning from deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. In an effort to provide better care, President Obama signed The McNerny Bill into law.
McNerny, a member of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, wrote the bill to advance available health care for those veterans suffering from TBIs. The bill was signed in under the incredibly comprehensive Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers have struggled to keep up with treating the sheer amount of veterans suffering from TBIs requiring care. At the same time as they administer “traditional” treatments, the VA is always trying to develop new and improved ways in which to treat these veterans.
Because of this bill, the VA will be much better prepared to provide the required treatment to those suffering veterans. The bill creates a panel to first evaluate how the VA provides medical treatment to veterans with TBIs and second to make annual recommendations about how the VA can improve. Additionally, the bill provides for education and training programs focused on TBIs for VA health providers.
10,963 service members had been diagnosed with TBIs in 2000. By December 2009 that number was 27,862. The Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center lists the leading causes as:
- War-zone blasts;
- Gunfire; and
- Shrapnel.
This legislation is much needed as there are so many veterans in need of care. It is hoped this bill will aid those veterans suffering from TBIs get the progressive care they require.
Learn more about the McNerny Bill and how it will help veterans suffering from TBIs.
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, TBI, The Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act (S.B. 1693), Traumatic Brain Injury, traumatic brain injury treatment, VA health care, Veterans' Benefits
Posted in Disabled Veterans, VA News | No Comments »
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