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Archive for the ‘Iraq-Afghanistan War’ Category
Wednesday, January 4th, 2012
According to an article on Truthout, the Department of Defense (DoD) is readying itself in preparation to implement a “new safeguard” for U.S. veterans with mental and emotional health issues.
U.S. Veterans returning from combat will undergo “intensive screenings” designed to detect “mental and emotional” problems brought on by their deployments. According to recent studies, a soldier takes his or her own life every 36 hours.
A couple years ago Congress passed a law mandating every soldier undergo 3 different mental-health screenings within 2 years of returning from combat. This program was first implemented by the Montana National Guard, and proved very successful as a pilot program.
For the most part, the main concern is being able to detect post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Army has examined 400,000 troops without releasing any information as to the results yet. The DoD has added 3500 new health-care providers to its ranks to help examine combat veterans for “elevated stress levels.”
The new law required screenings be done individually every 6-months, which is how they were done in the Montana model, and not via paper questionnaire, which is how it had been done previously. Soldiers and veterans are given “personal, and private, one-on-one attention from a trained health-care provider” under the law, which includes 2-years of follow up assessments.
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: Military Legislation, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), suicide prevention, Veterans disability, Veterans Mental Health
Posted in General, Iraq-Afghanistan War, US Military Legislation, Veterans' Disability | No Comments »
Tuesday, December 27th, 2011
A couple of years ago, Stephen Goodman took it upon himself to write and hand-deliver more than 200 thank you cards to U.S. veterans recovering from injuries in his local Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital. The response he got from the veterans was so positive, that he soon wanted to thank every deployed soldier for their service, according to an article in Top Secret Writers.
It took Stephen 2 years to do it, but he was able to write a thank you card to the 180,000 deployed soldiers. He started out writing individual hand-decorated cards with personal messages in them. One at a time he plugged away and, with the help of his family, soon 15,000 cards were completed.
Eventually word of Stephen’s efforts got out, and Kodak decided to help with the effort. Kodak worked with Stephen to create 2 card templates and eventually donated more than 100,000 copies to his cause. On December 16th, Stephen and his family delivered 180,000 cards to Luke Air Force Base to be sent out to the deployed soldiers.
Stephen’s grandfather is a Vietnam veteran, and like most other Vietnam veterans, he did not receive a warm welcome upon his return to this country from that war. Stephen was determined not to let any soldier feel what his grandfather felt upon their return from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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: Iraw war soldiers, Vietnam veteran
Posted in General, Iraq-Afghanistan War | No Comments »
Wednesday, December 21st, 2011
A recent report from the Huffington Post states that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) plans on spending $100 million to prevent homelessness among U.S. veterans. More specifically, the VA is granting the money to local and community organizations that can help veterans stop from becoming homeless in the first place.
Local and community organizations will be able to apply for a share of the $100 million so they can get involved and help U.S. veterans before they lose their home. The VA believes prevention is the key to eliminating homelessness among veterans. It’s much easier, and takes less effort, to prevent veterans from becoming homeless than it does to establish housing once the homelessness has occurred.
VA Sec. Eric Shinseki hopes to help 35,000 veterans and their families with this grant program. The grant money will be used to offer the necessary services to prevent homelessness, such as education, counseling, and training.
There are over 100,000 homeless veterans, and the VA has already stated that by 2015 they plan on lowering that number to zero. Veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan will need help on many levels from many different organizations. While some needs may be much more severe than others, no veteran should return to this country and not have a roof over his or her head.
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, homeless veterans, U.S. veterans, Veterans disability, veterans prevention programs
Posted in Disabled Veterans, General, Iraq-Afghanistan War, VA News, Vet Groups & Networking, Veterans' Disability, Veterans' Resources | 1 Comment »
Monday, December 19th, 2011
According to an article in The Navy Times, in an attempt to secure some solid answers about the general condition of the war area in the Middle East, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is going to study the “medical records and stored tissue samples” collected from 450 military dogs that were deployed to that region. This study is part of the continued effort of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses Task Force to identify sicknesses in U.S. veterans and troops.
Researchers will create a database of information and then use it to locate “trends in canine diseases.” They will then compare those results with human diseases and look for common elements that could be due to the local environment, such as toxic dust.
The canines will serve as the proverbial canaries in the coal mines, but in a more retroactive sense. Researchers hope to be able to use the information from the canines’ tissues to determine if there are any future health problems expected in veterans.
Modern day soldiers are being exposed to “a host of environmental health hazards,” which can and has included low levels of toxic chemicals, as was reported in an earlier VA report, just as Gulf War veterans were in the early 1990s.
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: gulf war veterans, Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses Task Force, military dogs, U.S. veterans, Veterans disability, Veterans Health
Posted in General, Iraq-Afghanistan War, Veterans' Events | No Comments »
Friday, December 16th, 2011
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently conducted a survey that showed 1/3 of female veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder had reported having been raped, sexually harassed, or sexually assaulted and forced sexual contact occurred with every 1 in 100 male veterans. The results forced the VA to revamp how sexual trauma disability claims are handled, according to an article in The Navy Times.
The VA issued new guidelines to all regional offices to be used when evaluating claims from soldiers for PTSD brought on by military sexual trauma (MST). The VA has in place certain specific requirements veterans must meet when filing for disability compensation claims. Specifically, most claims must contain:
- a statement from the veteran;
- evidence of participation in a traumatic event; or
- medical documentation supporting a diagnosis.
Under the new guidelines, those reviewing MST disability claims are encouraged to look for proof that a physical attack or harassment happened, which will be considered in conjunction with the veteran’s statement. That evidence can come in multiple forms, which includes:
- pregnancy tests;
- claimants seeking mental health attention for depression; and/or
- requests for assignments to new units.
The VA acknowledges the difficulty veterans encounter in reporting MST at the time when it happens. Therefore, the new guidelines instruct examiners to “weigh evidence in a ‘light most favorable to the veteran.’”
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: Disability Compensation Claims, Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans, Military sexual trauma claims, Veterans' Benefits
Posted in General, Iraq-Afghanistan War, VA News, Veterans' Benefits | No Comments »
Wednesday, December 14th, 2011
According to an article on CBS News, the Air Force was responsible for incinerating the “partial remains” of at least 274 U.S. soldiers and then dumping the ashes in a landfill in Virginia, which was officially halted 3 years ago.
Military families had given previous consent to the military to dispose of the soldiers’ remains in a “dignified and respectful manner.” Consequently, the families were not told the remains were dumped into a landfill.
According to the Air Force, there are no future plans of notifying the families that are involved considering it would require an immense effort to entail individual searches of over 6,300 soldiers’ records. At the same time, Senior Air Force officials insist there was no active intention to deceive anyone about the secret practice.
Dover Air Force Base is the “main port of entry” for fallen soldiers as they return to the U.S. There is no way for the Air Force to determine just how many soldiers’ remains were shipped to the landfill, but it does acknowledge that there is no formal military authorization, policy, or regulation permitting such a practice. Unclaimed and unidentified soldiers’ remains are now cremated and buried at sea.
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: Dover Air Force Base, Military Families, U.S. veterans, Veterans' Dependents
Posted in General, Iraq-Afghanistan War, Veterans' Dependents | No Comments »
Tuesday, December 13th, 2011
Every soldier deployed looks forward to the day when they can come home; however, for many, that homecoming is short-lived and many U.S. veterans find themselves and their families facing homelessness. A recent article on Tampa Bay Online highlighted a new program in the Tampa area helping veterans find transitional housing to transition back into civilian life.
The Veterans Housing Complex (VHC) program is hoping to help the local area with the surge of veterans that will return stateside within the next 3-4 months. As of right now, veterans can find temporary housing at the Vista Inn and Suites, which is located on Bearss Avenue.
It is important to know that the VHC program is not only available to Iraq and Afghanistan veterans either. Every war veteran is welcome in the VHC program as there are still many Vietnam veterans and others attempting to get on their feet. This program is known to provide “adequate, safe inexpensive housing.”
The VHC program is for veterans who are neither seeking nor receiving government assistance. In conjunction with non-profit organizations, the VHC also offers limited medical assistance, which will expand once a permanent home base is established.
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: homeless veterans, U.S. veterans, Veterans disability, Veterans Housing Complex program, war veteran
Posted in General, Iraq-Afghanistan War, Veterans' Disability, Veterans' Resources | 2 Comments »
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 »
Friday, November 4th, 2011
According to an article in The Air Force Times, however, there are still a significant amount of veterans not receiving the necessary care because of barriers preventing that care. For those veterans with disabilities not receiving care, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) stresses the importance of getting help.
Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operating Enduring Freedom have produced about 2.6 million veterans. The Government Accountability Office recently released a report stating that just over 8% of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan looked to the VA for help with mental health issues between 2006 and 2010.
Many veterans refuse to seek help because they have privacy concerns. For others, it’s a lack of knowledge about the services’ existence, or the distance they have to travel to get help. For younger veterans, there may still be a perception about using VA services, i.e., they’re only for “older veterans.” These younger veterans are often also attempting to satisfy other priorities in their lives, and spending time at the VA isn’t the most pressing.
The VA has made changes in how it screens for mental health conditions, and those changes have resulted in the VA recognizing more mental health conditions. Between 2006 and 2010, the VA diagnosed 96,916 veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan with post-traumatic stress disorder. The types of injuries facing younger veterans are diagnosed and treated in different ways than in previous years and should get the needed help.
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: Mental Health Care, VA health care, Veterans disability
Posted in Disabled Veterans, Iraq-Afghanistan War, VA News, Veterans' Disability | 1 Comment »
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