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Archive for September, 2010
Thursday, September 30th, 2010
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently launched the Veterans Relationship Management (VRM) program. This program will run for multiple years and will considerably improve veterans’ access to information about benefits as well as receive health care. Ensuring veterans receive appropriate access to health care and benefits is one of the VA’s top initiatives and this program is just the most recent one to work towards advancing that goal.
According to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki, the VRM will utilize 21st century technologies to make sure veterans will have much better interaction with the VA. When veterans make contact with the VA call centers, VA employees will be able to supply much more accurate information than in the past. The VA’s benefit website will also contain more up-to-date information than previously available.
One problem veterans complained of in the past is the length of time spent waiting to reach VA call centers. This is one aspect of the call centers that will be improved upon by the end of the year. Faster service coupled with better and more accurate service will be verified through the recording and review of phone calls. The VRM will introduce improvements every 6 months to allow time to iron out the inevitable kinks before another improvement is added.
One very noteworthy segment of the VRM is the improvement of the VA’s benefits website. Visitors to the website will be in control of the information they want to access. The VA coupled with the Department of Defense (DoD) to establish a single sign-on opportunity. Essentially this is a sign-on allowing a visitor to the site to access multiple transactions without needing to continually having to input their sign-on information.
The VRM will make veterans’ lives interacting with the VA much smoother. The easier the information is to access, the easier it will be for the veterans to use.
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: Department of Defense, Disabled Veterans, VA benefits website, VA Call Centers, VA Health Care System, Veterans Relationship Management program, Veterans' Benefits
Posted in VA News, Veterans' Benefits, Veterans' Resources | No Comments »
Wednesday, September 29th, 2010
The Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have been separately building electronic health record (EHR) systems for active-duty soldiers and veterans. These records are designed to follow soldiers from their first day in the military, through their service, and into the VA in their post-military lives. Now the Senate Appropriations Committee wants the two agencies to provide details on just how these EHRs are going to be developed.
The Senate Appropriations Committee is pushing to have the EHR program include some sort of plan to have both agencies bring their respective EHR systems together. The committee wants the DoD and the VA to form a plan that would service both departments to reduce total costs.
The DoD and the VA have comparable systems. The committee showed concern for the fact that neither agency has shown any indication of how they are going to work together to satisfy their shared system requirements. The two departments share 1,800 EHR system requirements. Of those, 97% of them are comparable and only 3% are department-specific.
The committee simply does not see the need for two independent EHR systems when they have so many requirements in common. The Committee ordered both departments to submit a joint strategic plan utilizing common requirements.
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: Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, Disabled Veterans, Electronic Health Records, VA Health Care System
Posted in VA News | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 28th, 2010
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has become a major issue for many veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. PTSD symptoms can present as either very mild or completely debilitating. The symptoms by themselves present enough problems for those veterans suffering from the disorder. Now, a new study has shown those soldiers and veterans diagnosed with PTSD have higher incidences of other medical illnesses than veterans without PTSD.
The study consisted of analyzing the medical histories and illnesses of over 90,000 soldiers, both male and female, who utilize the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system. Additionally, the researchers found women were more likely than men to suffer from this effect.
The most recurrent conditions the veterans suffered from were:
- Lower spine disorders;
- Headaches; and
- Lower extremity joint disorders.
Males suffering from PTSD were eventually diagnosed with more medical conditions than men not diagnosed with PTSD or other mental health issues. The difference between these two groups, however, is smaller than the difference between females and males. Between the two groups of males, the most common medical conditions found were:
- Lower spine disorders;
- Lower extremity disorders; and
- Hearing problems.
Health providers, then, must take precautions when treating patients diagnosed with PTSD. The mental health treatment provided for these soldiers and veterans must be coupled with medical care. Anything less does nothing but put soldiers and veterans at increased risk for medical problems.
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, post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD, VA health care, Veterans disability
Posted in Disabled Veterans, General | No Comments »
Monday, September 27th, 2010
It must still pass inspection in order to open its doors, and when it does, a new Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) nursing home will open in St. Augustine, Florida. More than that, this nursing home is the state’s first “green” veterans’ nursing home, at a total cost of $31 million. The 95,000 square foot facility is in St. Johns County, on Florida 16, west of I-95. There are 5 veterans ready to move into the facility and 60 applications pending. The VA home will eventually hold 120 veterans.
Although it is the first VA nursing home in Northeast Florida, It is the 6th in the state. Many VA patients suffer from dementia, and the next closest VA nursing home in Daytona Beach cannot handle all of these veterans. Of the 120 beds in the home, 60 beds are located in a secured wing to prevent patients from wandering away.
In an effort to move away from an institutionalized feeling, the patient rooms are set up so there is more of a “neighborhood feeling.” Those rooms in the secure wing have shadowboxes where patients put their personal items. This is done in an effort to help them remember which room is theirs.
Veterans must have lived in Florida for at least a year, they must have an honorable discharge, and they must possess a VA issued certificate of need for skilled nursing home care to be eligible for residency in the new VA home. It is not expected to take much time to fill the home once the doors open.
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, Green Nursing Home, St. Augustine VA Nursing Home, VA Nursing Home
Posted in Disabled Veterans, General, Veterans' Resources | No Comments »
Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010
The Miami Fisher House was built to support the families of soldiers in the Bruce W. Carter Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Miami, Florida. It opened last week and is the first Fisher House in South Florida, and 1 of only 4 in the entire state.
Relatives of VA Medical Center patients can stay in 1 of the Fisher House’s 20 rooms temporarily and free-of-charge. Family members consider the Fisher House a home away from home. It is certainly a more comfortable alternative to spending hundreds of dollars on hotels or sleeping in hospital rooms while supporting a loved one receiving care at the Miami VA medical center. The Fisher Homes provides families with:
- private bathrooms;
- beds;
- linens;
- a TV room;
- a community kitchen with multiple stoves and ovens;
- dressers; and
- chairs.
The Fisher House foundation is a non-profit that has already built 47 Fisher Houses in the last 20 years. They supplied the majority of the $7 million price tag to build and furnish the Miami Fisher House. Approximately $2 million was raised through a local fundraiser.
The Miami Fisher House manager has commented on the drop in stress levels in family members after the first night spent in the house. A happier and less stressed family is a better support system for the veteran undergoing treatment at the Miami VA.
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, Miami Fisher House, Miami VA, veteran family support, Veterans disability
Posted in General, Veterans' Dependents, Veterans' Resources | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 21st, 2010
Deployed Army National Guard troops who served in the Qarmat Ali region may have been exposed to toxic chemicals. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) notified the soldiers at risk of the exposure and told them it likely occurred while they guarded a water treatment plant. Because of the exposure, Steve Buyer (R.–IN.) introduced legislation to give the exposed soldiers extended VA health care benefits.
It’s possible the soldiers were exposed to sodium dichromate. Exposure to sodium dichromate can lead to very serious symptoms, including:
- Burns;
- Ear, nose, and throat disorders;
- Skin lesions;
- Breathing problems; and
- Heightened rates of lung cancer.
The VA is also building a registry to track those who were exposed at Qarmat Ali and the health issues they are facing. This does not help all veterans, however. Veterans who were discharged more than 5 years ago do not qualify for such these extended benefits. Those veterans must go through the arduous process of being given a disability rating for their service-related disability.
Buyer’s legislation, HR 6127, will provide for another 5 years of “no-questions-asked” VA health care to all veterans of Qarmat Ali. Their time would begin to toll on the day the VA notified them of their possible exposure to sodium dichromate, not on their date of discharge.
With something like exposure, preventative treatments could be vital. The sooner the soldiers are treated, the better. It is possible the bill could be voted on before the November 2nd break.
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: National Guardsmen, Qarmat Ali, Sodium Dichromate, veteran benefits for national guardsmen, veterans legislation
Posted in General, US Military Legislation, Veterans' Benefits | No Comments »
Monday, September 20th, 2010
When it came to light Prudential Financial was essentially making profits off of the money owed to the families of fallen soldiers, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was seemed shocked. Shocked that Prudential would keep life insurance payments owed to those families in their corporate accounts and that they refused to issue the lump sum payouts to family members as required by contract. What the VA failed to mention, however, was their agreement with Prudential allowing Prudential to do this very thing.
The VA’s secret agreement affects the lives of 6,000,000 soldiers and their families. The VA had a signed contract and an oral agreement with Prudential in which the VA authorized Prudential to utilize retained-asset accounts. These accounts held lump-sum payments from life insurance payouts intended for families of fallen soldiers.
Prudential did not disburse those lump-sum payouts, however, they issued checkbooks. Those checkbooks worked like IOUs against the account as opposed to drafts. Prudential kept the money in their corporate accounts, which they used for investments, and retained the investment income for itself. This has been happening since 1999.
The VA’s authorization for Prudential to operate like this was finally put in writing in 2009 with an amendment to their original contract. For those 10 years, Prudential’s actions could be considered a breach of contract to the survivors of fallen service members. For those 10 years Prudential was violating the terms of their original contract with the VA. For 10 years the VA allowed Prudential to disregard their contractual obligation to furnish survivors with lump-sum payouts.
Multiple investigations have been opened into Prudential’s practices, including one by the VA itself. As of the end of June, Prudential had approximately $662,000,000 of survivors’ money in their corporate account.
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: Military Life Insurance, Prudential Financial, Retained-asset accounts, Veteran Life Insurance, Veterans' Benefits
Posted in VA News, Veterans' Benefits, Veterans' Dependents | No Comments »
Thursday, September 16th, 2010
Disabled veterans will descend upon San Diego, California from September 19-25th, 2010. They will be there to take part in the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic. The clinic is very unique and specific in that it focuses on teaching veterans who have been recently injured how to take part in adaptive sports.
The sports involved in the clinic will include:
- Track and field;
- Sailing;
- Kayaking;
- Surfing; and
- Cycling.
VA Secretary Eric Shinseki praised the summer sports clinic as well as the profound and “life-changing” effects it has on the veterans. The range of adaptive sports offered through the summer clinic helps the disabled veterans “rediscover their capabilities” according to VA Sec. Eric Shinseki. Participants from previous years celebrate the lifetime friendships and solid bonds they develop with the other participants.
The clinic will be hosted by the VA San Diego health care system, as it has been every year since its inception in 2008. Some of the events will take place at the US Olympic Training Center in San Diego. Any military veteran eligible for VA medical care and has been injured in the last 6 years or has one of the following may participate:
- Spinal cord injuries;
- Visual impairment;
- Certain neurological conditions;
- Psychological trauma;
- Burn injuries;
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs); or
- Orthopedic amputations.
Participation in events like these are critical for recently injured veterans’ mental health. Being shown they can still participate in events like these helps veterans physically, mentally, and emotionally as they learn new skills and make lifelong friendships.
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: Adaptive Sports, Disabled Veterans, Summer Sports Clinic, TBI, veteran activities
Posted in Disabled Veterans, VA News, Vet Groups & Networking, Veterans' Events, Veterans' Resources | No Comments »
Wednesday, September 15th, 2010
The Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) health care system is not the most efficient system in the world in many aspects. Many veterans find they have to see numerous different doctors over the course of their various treatments. Many patients feel there is very little continuity to their treatments, and that is a problem. This is especially problematic when those doctors are specialists.
The Home Base Program is different. The program works with Massachusetts General Hospital and provides free health care to veterans who are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). The Boston Red Sox Foundation funds the program, hence the name.
2009 saw the beginning of the Home Base Program. They recently opened their first clinic just outside of Massachusetts General Hospital. To date, the Home Base Program has provided treatment for over 200 veterans. That number is a drop in the proverbial bucket, however, as there are approximately 12,000 veterans in Massachusetts being treated for mental health issues through the VA health care system.
The Home Base Program is designed to serve as an addition to the health care received at the VA. For those wounded veterans hesitant to deal with the VA, the Home Base Program serves as another path to take towards receiving treatment. A path of seemingly less resistance.
Many veterans feel more comfortable away from the VA. Being more comfortable seems to translate into being able to make more progress, according to some Home Base Program patients. The Home Base Program would like to focus on helping veterans who have served since 11Sep2001, but will treat any veteran free of charge.
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, Home Base Program, post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury treatment, VA Health Care System
Posted in Disabled Veterans, VA News, Veterans' Resources | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 14th, 2010
There is currently no national cemetery in Tallahassee, Florida. If the Department of Veterans Affairs has their way, however, there will be one there soon. The distance to the nearest national cemetery makes traveling there for visits and funerals a hardship on many veterans’ family members. Constructing a local cemetery would be a welcome and needed relief for those people with family members or friends qualified for burial in national cemeteries.
The VA is currently looking to acquire 200 acres on which to build the Tallahassee national cemetery. More specifically, the VA is looking for this land within 25 miles of Tallahassee, the state’s capitol. For many elderly veterans and their family members, the expense to travel to nearest cemetery is too cost prohibitive and difficult.
Any veteran who has been honorably discharged from military service is entitled to be buried at a national cemetery. This, of course, will always depend on the availability of space in the cemetery. Benefits bestowed on the veteran at no cost to the veteran’s family include:
- The gravesite itself;
- The opening and closing of the gravesite;
- Uninterrupted and continuous care;
- A government head stone or marker;
- The burial flag; and
- A Presidential Memorial certificate.
According to the VA, there are approximately 80,000 veterans within 75 miles of Tallahassee. The sooner the VA finds their 200 acres the better because it is going to take some significant time to build the cemetery.
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: Department of Veterans Affairs, National Cemetery, Tallahassee national cemetery, veterans and their families, Veterans' Benefits
Posted in VA News | 1 Comment »
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