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Archive for November, 2011
Tuesday, November 29th, 2011
The Mobilizing Opportunities for Veterans Employment (MOVE) Act was introduced as H.R. 3473 by U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) and U.S. Rep. Tom Petri (R-Wis.). The bipartisan legislation will hopefully help the entire U.S. veteran population find employment, according to an article in The State Journal.
Veterans do not deserve to put their lives on the line for this country only to come back to unemployment rates higher than the general civilian population. In relation to many assigned missions abroad that include nation building, the jobs created by this bill would allow these veterans to help re-build this country’s transportation infrastructure. For many veterans, the skill sets needed to perform this work are already present, making them very favorable choices for such positions.
The MOVE Act is unique in that it is not just a “standard” job creation bill. Instead, it will affect any state agency accepting federal highway money and creates, within those departments, specific opportunities for veteran preferences. Simply, state departments would be held responsible for ensuring that contractors they use for construction work give preference in hiring to veterans.
Reducing the unemployment rate among veterans is certainly one issue that can be solved. This war-zone to work-zone legislation can produce favorable results for all those involved, as veterans are given chances at employment, and employers are given the opportunity to hire solid employees.
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 veterans disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.
Tags: Move Act, U.S. veterans, Unemployed veterans
Posted in General, US Military Legislation, Veterans' Benefits | No Comments »
Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011
According to an article on VVA-NC.com, crew members who worked on planes that were used to spray Agent Orange, during the Vietnam War, are concerned their proximity to the toxin’s residue on the planes is a health risk. Veterans who suffer from a service-related disability or illness, may be able to file for veterans disability claim and should seek help from legal counsel to pursue compensation.
The military used C-123 Provider aircraft to deliver/spray Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. The spraying ended in 1971, but those C-123s were repurposed and used to transport cargo and perform medical evacuations until 1981.
Crew members aboard these planes have reported “strong odors” in the planes, but were likely ruled out to due to fact that TCDD, the main toxin in Agent Orange, is odorless.
The U.S. Air Force tested multiple C-123s to determine if TCDD existed in the planes. After reviewing the test results, and the subsequent reports, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) came to the same conclusion that even if C-123 crews were exposed to Agent Orange residue, the exposure was not capable of causing any negative long-term health concern.
This does not mean that your health condition does not exist and you should seek help. You still may be able to collect disability benefits, which is why you should have an attorney by your side.
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 veterans disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.
Tags: Agent Orange, Veterans disability, Vietnam War
Posted in General, Veterans' Disability, Vietnam veterans | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011
According to an article in Off The Base, many veterans find comfort in speaking to other veterans with disabilities or mental health conditions, which is why The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) created a campaign known as “Make the Connection”.
Veterans who support and help one another through the most difficult times in their lives can be a powerful experience. By the VA implementing the “Make the Connection” program on its own webpage, veterans can privately find help and a sense of therapeutic treatment.
The webpage is designed to help veterans of every generation and service. Vietnam veterans can find the exact type of help as can veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The help that can be found ranges from struggling with an identity as a newly disabled veteran to transitioning back into the civilian world following a deployment.
The information on the site is designed to help family members and loved ones as much as it is designed to help veterans, clinicians, and active-duty soldiers. Through different techniques, the site is designed to help veterans find help for themselves, and locate resources from which they can ask for the needed help.
Furthermore, the site also offers services ranging from testimonials of other soldiers and how they learned to cope with varying issues to self-assessment tools for substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression.
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 veterans disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.
Tags: Make The Connection, mental health, post-traumatic stress disorder, Veterans disability
Posted in General, Iraq-Afghanistan War, VA News, Veterans' Disability, Veterans' Resources, Vietnam veterans | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was sued for wrongfully causing the death of an Iraq War veteran. According to an article on KWTX.com, a settlement offer has been accepted in the case, but the details to that settlement haven’t been disclosed.
The suit was originally filed by Randy and Judy Pilgrim against the VA medical center in Waco following the death of their son, Lance, in August 2007. They were seeking over $75,000 in damages.
Lance Pilgrim was a veteran suffereing from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to his parents, Lance’s PTSD was caused by his military service during his tour of duty in Iraq. He sought treatment at the Waco VA medical center for:
- drug addition;
- severe depression; and
- suicidal tendencies.
According to the lawsuit, medical personnel at the Waco VA were well aware of Lance’s problems, and were told to not perscribe hydrocodone to him. On August 14, 2007, Lance was prescribed hydrocodone and then released from VA care 2 days later. On August 18, 2007 Lance died from an overdose of hydrocodone and methadone.
The suit claimed Lance died because of the VA’s “failure to hire adequate staff and train existing staff.” The VA staff not only gave Lance a prescription for hydrocodone, but released him from his PTSD care program prior to ensuring he was properly stabilized.
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 veterans disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.
Tags: Iraq war veteran, post-traumatic stress disorder, VA Negligence, Veterans disability, Wrongful Death
Posted in General, Iraq-Afghanistan War, Veterans' Disability | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011
According to an article in The Associated Press , in May of 2011, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals described the decisions made by the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) in running its health care as being governed by “unchecked incompetence,” and ordered the VA to completely renovate their health care system; however, the court is now reconsidering its ruling, which could have incredible ramifications for veterans with disabilities.
The courts’ previous decision came at the hands of a 3-judge panel, when 2 veterans groups, Veterans for Common Sense and Veterans United for Truth, claimed the VA was ignoring serious health care issues, one of which was a dramatic increase in the number of veterans committing suicide. The claim also addressed the long delays in processing disability claims, which can take about 4 years.
In a 2-1 decision, the 3-judge panel found the VA wasn’t providing health care with the proper attention to detail and ordered the VA to develop a brand new approach to how they’ll administer mental health care to veterans, suicidal patients, and process denied benefit claims.
However, the court recently determined that decision to be invalid based on the limitations Congress has on VA decisions and ordered the re-hearing of the appeal. The date for the re-hearing has yet to be determined, which could have veterans waiting even longer to receive benefits and immediate health care.
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 veterans disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.
Tags: 9th U.S. Circuit Court Of Appeals, Department of Veterans Affairs, mental health, VA health care, Veterans disability
Posted in General, Veterans' Benefits, Veterans' Disability | No Comments »
Friday, November 18th, 2011
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemeteries are located all over the country, and most U.S veterans qualify for burial in those cemeteries. According to an article in The Washington Times, even veterans’ spouses, widows, dependents, and even unmarried, disabled adult children can qualify for burial in VA cemeteries.
In order to qualify, veterans have to meet a minimum level of active duty service and cannot have been discharged under dishonorable conditions. It is even possible to qualify children and spouses for burial in VA cemeteries if they die prior to the veteran.
The VA burial benefit is fairly comprehensive in what it provides. The only cost imposed upon the family is fees for the funeral director’s services. Outside of those, there are no costs to the deceased veterans’ families, and they receive the following:
- gravesite;
- U.S. flag;
- grave marker or headstone;
- Presidential Memorial Certificate;
- perpetual gravesite maintenance; and
- opening and closing of the grave.
Although VA national cemeteries are specifically for U.S. veterans, the gravesites cannot be reserve in advance. Veterans families can apply to the VA’s Veterans Benefits Administration to receive a “burial plot and allowance” to qualified veterans and should be prepared with their veteran’s discharge papers, casualty report, military rank, branch they served, birth and death certificate, and serial, Social Security, and VA claim numbers.
If you are a U.S. 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 veterans disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.
Tags: U.S. veterans, VA Burial Benefit, VA National Cemetery
Posted in General, Veterans' Benefits, Veterans' Dependents | No Comments »
Thursday, November 17th, 2011
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has been lobbied, by the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), to make changes to how it cares for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) veterans, according to an article in The San Diego Gay and Lesbian News. These suggestions weren’t limited to veterans with disabilities, but instead focused on overall improvements in care.
The repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell changed the military environment and by extension the VA’s environment as well. There were concerns that the VA wasn’t prepared to deal with the number of veterans who may now be openly LGBT and seeking VA assistance. In fact, multiple reports of mistreatment of LGBT veterans were cited.
While the concern stays open, the SLDN discussed multiple areas in which the VA should improve, which include some of the following:
- issuing generalized directives establishing uniform treatment of veterans regardless of sexual orientation;
- re-wording all VA publications to ensure neutral wording is used regarding sexual orientation;
- ensuring LGBT partners are given identical visitation rights as straight partners during hospital stays; and
- ensuring LGBT partners are given the identical privileges and benefits that are extended to veteran spouses as “permitted by the Defense of Marriage Act.”
There was no advocating for special treatment. Indeed, it was stressed LGBT veterans and their families shouldn’t be treated any differently than traditional veterans and their families as far as receiving veterans benefits and recognition.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been unfairly treated, 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 veterans disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.
Tags: LGBT veterans, VA health care, Veterans disability, Veterans' Benefits
Posted in General, Veterans' Benefits | No Comments »
Wednesday, November 16th, 2011
The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Act of 2011 recently passed through Congress to the relief of thousands of disabled veterans as well as survivors. This marks the first time since 2009 the cost-of-living has been increased. December 1, 2011 is when the 3.6% increase becomes effective, once President Obama puts his signature on the paper.
This Act will increase the amount of disability compensation given to veterans with service-related disabilities, according to the House Committee on Veterans Affairs. It will also serve to increase the amount of monthly compensation payouts given to survivors for dependency and indemnity.
Many veterans may find this refreshing to see such an increase given the economical state of the country and the massive budget cuts being made in just about every federal agency. Veterans with disabilities have been on the receiving end of many other federal funding cuts, so this increase comes as a relief.
One distinction that must continually be made on behalf of retired military personnel as well as disabled veterans is that their benefits are earned; they aren’t entitlements. Every benefit was earned by every veteran willing to risk his or her life for this country, and those benefits aren’t things that should be considered for a place on the chopping block.
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 veterans disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.
Tags: Disabled Veterans, The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living- Adjustment (COLA) Act of 2011, Veterans Disabilities
Posted in Disabled Veterans, US Military Legislation, Veterans' Benefits, Veterans' Disability | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 15th, 2011
Many stroke victims unfortunately lose the ability to communicate because of their stroke. For those veterans unable to talk and/or write, there is new hope with an intensive therapy program that helps veterans with disabilities related to suffering strokes, according to an article in The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
The therapy specifically helps those veterans suffering from Aphasia, which is a disorder that robs people of their ability to communicate as a result of either gunshot wounds to the head or stroke. Every year the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers and hospitals admit approximately 12,000 stroke patients. Of those, 20-35% suffers from aphasia, and the VA cannot meet the current demand for treatment.
The Program for Intensive Residential Aphasia Treatment & Education (PIRATE) is still considered an experimental treatment, but so far it has proven to be very effective. A total of 44 veterans and active duty soldiers have completed the alternative therapy program to date.
The PIRATE therapy program is very non-traditional in the way that it is based on a one-on-one session. The sessions last 5 hours and occur 6 days a week for 23 days. It would take patients 1 year in more traditional therapy programs to receive the amount of therapy provided to patients who are enrolled in the PIRATE program for about 3 weeks.
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 veterans disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.
Tags: Aphasia, Stroke, Veterans disability
Posted in Disabled Veterans, Veterans' Benefits, Veterans' Disability | No Comments »
Friday, November 11th, 2011
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has plans to work toward building a fully integrated electronic health record (EHR) with the Department of Defense (DoD). According to an article in Health Care IT News, The VA recently determined to share its information with the DoD so more veterans with disabilities can be able to receive more comprehensive care.
With the VA not sharing information with the DoD, it restricted progression of understanding and treatments for veterans with specific disabilities or conditions. It also created a serious threat for veterans receiving negative drug interactions.
Specifically, it refused to share any records on veterans being treated for:
- sickle cell anemia;
- alcoholism or alcohol abuse;
- drug abuse; and
- HIV.
By updating the VA’s regulation and removing the restrictive provision, the VA can be able to work in much closer collaboration with the DoD. In the end, it means veterans can now receive better, more informed, and timelier services, treatments, and benefits.
The only way to provide the best possible, and highest quality health care is with all available updated information and the restrictive provision the VA had in place interfered with the ultimate goal of EHRs, and served as an impediment, according to VA Sec. Eric Shinseki.
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 veterans disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.
Tags: Department of Veterans Affairs, electronic health record, VA health care, Veterans disability, Veterans Health Care
Posted in Disabled Veterans, General, VA News, Veterans' Disability | No Comments »
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