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Archive for the ‘Veterans' Events’ Category
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 »
Thursday, December 15th, 2011
According to an article on My Fox Atlanta¸ the Wounded Warrior Project joined forces with the Georgia Aquarium to provide veterans with disabilities an opportunity to take part in a physical therapy swimming method in the biggest aquatic exhibit in the world.
Their guide for the day was Scott Rigsby, who is has been a double-leg amputee for the last 20 years. Unlike many others, Rigsby knows what the veterans participating in the therapy program are going through and what they are capable of accomplishing.
More importantly, he identifies with the 3 biggest, and most common mental problems facing veterans in the program: depression, anxiety, and fear. He told the veterans in his program that it is only the beginning of what they will face and they should get out of their comfort zone to surpass those feelings.
The therapy program refers to it as a confidence building swim. It’s more than just being around beautiful whale sharks and manta rays; it’s about what the water does for therapy.
For some, being in the water offers a relief to their aching bodies because of the weightless environment. Others see the water as being able to remove certain limitations they face because of their disabilities. The confidence derived from the experience builds motivation and shows veterans that they alone posses the ability to change their lives, along with their families, after war.
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: physical therapy program, Veterans Disabilities, Wounded Warrior Project
Posted in Disabled Veterans, Veterans' Disability, Veterans' Events, Veterans' Resources | No Comments »
Thursday, November 10th, 2011
How will you be spending your Veterans Day 2011 weekend? How about ending the week at a dinner honoring our South Florida veterans, followed by a Saturday night full of poker, raffles, and prizes?
If this sounds like a great weekend to you, what’s even better is that both events benefit a great cause!
Care for Disabled Veterans is a non-profit organization based in Ft. Lauderdale that provides free or low cost Independent Medical Exams to veterans seeking disability benefits through the VA.
The charity event kicks off with a veterans appreciation dinner at 5 p.m. on Friday, November 11. The dinner is open to the first 1,000 veterans who may bring up to 2 guests each – but you must register quickly!
To register, send an email to dinner@careforvets.org before 12 p.m. on Friday with the following details:
- name;
- mailing address;
- contact phone number;
- the branch of military you served in; and
- number of guests (please indicate if any are under 13 years of age, limit 2 guests per veteran).
If your submission is received before noon you will get a confirmation email with your seat reservation. The event will begin at 5 p.m. at the historic Dania Jai-Alai facility in Dania Beach, FL and you will need a photo ID to be admitted to the dinner.
To continue the celebration of Veterans Day in Ft. Lauderdale, Care for Disabled Veterans has also put together a charity poker tournament with a first prize of $10,000 (with a minimum of 200 players)! This event is 5 p.m. Saturday, November 12 and there’s plenty going on besides poker!
Registration for the poker tournament can be done immediately online at the discounted rate of $100 until 11:59 p.m. Friday, November 11. Online registration can be completed using their secure online registration form on the event page. All major credit cards are accepted and you will receive a confirmation email to bring to the event. Questions about online registration should be directed to the Care for Disabled Veterans online contact form, or for immediate assistance call 1-877-617-2170 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday.
Don’t worry if you didn’t register online! You can still register at the door for $125 between 4 and 5 p.m. the day of the event.
The poker tournament will allow unlimited rebuys through the first 6 levels and bounty spiffs with 32 giveaways. Even if Texas Hold ‘Em isn’t your thing and you’re just there to support your card shark, there’s plenty going on this evening! Aside from the card games, there will also be a silent auction, raffles, and a Spin-A-Wheel prize giveaway!
If you need a break from winning big, there will be a cash bar available, as well as the Dania Jai-Alai on-site restaurant. Please remember that the facility is primarily non-smoking (there are designated smoking areas) and there is free on-site parking as well.
All proceeds from the Veterans Day 2011 Charity Poker Tournament will go to support Care for Disabled Veterans. While there are many Veterans Day events going on across the nation, take some time to come by and support a local effort for Veterans Day in South Florida.
Tags: veterans day 2011, veterans day events, veterans day ft. lauderdale, veterans day south florida
Posted in Disabled Veterans, Veterans' Benefits, Veterans' Disability, Veterans' Events | No Comments »
Thursday, April 7th, 2011
More than 300 veterans took to the slopes last week while competing in the 25th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass Village, Colorado. The Winter Sports Clinic provides injured veterans and those who have just recently become injured or disabled the opportunity to competitively take part in rehabilitative and adaptive winter sporting events.
The very nature of the clinic’s events push the competitors to go beyond what they believed possible, given their injuries. Most discover they were not as limited as they believed they were before competing. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Sec. Eric Shinseki praised the competitors as year-round inspirations, and not just because of their efforts during the competition.
The clinic is sponsored by both the VA and the Disabled American Veterans (DAV). It is a rehabilitation program and veterans suffering from particular conditions and receiving care at any VA health care facility are eligible. The Winter Sports Clinic should be considered an expansion of the daily rehabilitative care provided by the veterans’ local VA medical centers. Those conditions include:
- spinal cord injuries or disease;
- visual impairments;
- specific neurological conditions;
- orthopedic amputations; and
- specific other disabilities.
The clinic lasted for 6 days, and consisted of multiple adaptive sporting events. The events included lessons on adaptive skiing, both Nordic and Alpine, as well as scuba diving, rock climbing, sled hockey, and trap-shooting.
The more successful athletes at the clinic may qualify to participate in even more competitive events. The VA partners with the U.S. Paralympics to introduce successful adaptive athletes to higher end levels of competition at the Paralympic games.
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, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Disabled Veterans, National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, Paralympics, Veterans disability
Posted in Disabled Veterans, Veterans' Events, Veterans' Resources | No Comments »
Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010
This year was the 6th in which the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) held the Road to Recovery Conference. This year’s conference was held at Walt Disney in Orlando, Florida and was attended by over 120 veterans suffering from military-related disabilities. The educational conference included both on-site counseling and plenty of information on helpful VA programs.
The Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes and the American Legion both presented the event, which lasted a week. The Road to Recovery Conference brought together the VA, veterans advocacy and service organizations, and private sector companies. Their united goal was to provide help for veterans and their dependents in need.
Veterans had access to in-person counseling from VA counselors. They were also given access to VA employees, who provided veterans with all necessary information relevant to veterans and their families, such as:
- Health care information; and
- Financial benefits.
The conference brought in government experts as well as private companies to help veterans with their resumes and to offer career counseling. Over the course of the week, veterans were able to attend discussion, workshops, and seminars focusing on not only improving relationships, but provided information on:
- Veteran benefits;
- VA services;
- VA insurance;
- VA health care,
- financial support; and
- Job opportunities.
There is a new paralympic program for disabled veterans. U.S. Olympic Committee Representatives presented information on the paralympic program and attempted to recruit disabled veterans for participation.
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 (VA), Road to Recovery Conference, VA Counseling, Veterans disability, Veterans' Benefits
Posted in VA News, Veterans' Benefits, Veterans' Disability, Veterans' Events | 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, August 25th, 2010
The National Veterans Training, Exposure, and Experience (TEE) tournament is being held in Riverside, Iowa, from September 6-9, 2010. Participants will learn, among other things, about golfing with disabilities and the golf tournaments will be held at the Riverside Casino and Golf Resort and 4 other area golf courses.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Iowa City VA Medical Center sponsor the TEE tournament, which is in its 17th year. Visually impaired veterans as well as those suffering from other disabilities will build their self-esteem and develop skills by playing:
- Adaptive golf;
- Bowling;
- Kayaking;
- Horseshoes; and
- other activities.
The TEE tournament was originally only designed for those veterans suffering from visual disabilities or who were blind. In 2009, the tournament opened participation to veterans with other debilitating conditions such as:
- Amputations;
- Spinal cord injuries; and
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
The TEE Tournament started as a local event, but in 2008 stepped up to become only 1 of 6 of the VA’s national rehabilitation programs. The TEE tournament had 36 participating veterans its first year and already has 200 signed up for this year’s tournament. Any veteran who is currently under care of a VA medical facility is eligible to participate and veterans ranging from WWII to the current two wars will be represented.
Every participating veteran in this tournament proves having a disability does not mean it is impossible to live an active life. That the number of participating veterans grows every year shows there are more veterans with disabilities refusing to be held back by their various conditions.
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, Iowa City VA Medical Center, TBIs, TEE Tournament, VA health care
Posted in Disabled Veterans, VA News, Vet Groups & Networking, Veterans' Events | No Comments »
Thursday, January 28th, 2010
More than 400 veterans and 600 volunteers, many VA employees, attended the Winterhaven Homeless Veterans Stand Down at the VA Medical Center in Washington D.C. (DCVMAC). The crowd was joined by Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki who stated he was “personally committed to ending homelessness among Veterans within the next five years.”
The Stand Down was held in support of homeless veterans and puts the veterans in touch with not only VA services but the services of 80 community agencies. Homeless veterans attend the Stand Down in hopes of receiving:
- Health care;
- Employment;
- Education; and
- Housing services.
Stand downs are not unique to D.C., they are held across the country with the goal of bringing together in one place all the critical services homeless veterans need to improve their lives. These events have all possible resources on hand so veterans can be serviced immediately. Things most of us take for granted, like hot meals, haircuts, and warm clothing are cherished by the attending veterans.
Not only were basic services available, veterans were offered medical screenings covering:
- Flu shots;
- Cholesterol;
- Hepatitis C;
- HIV;
- Prostate; and
- General physical exams.
Veterans were also offered various consultative services, mental health referrals for those suffering from PTSD and substance abuse, employment assistance from numerous organizations, and help with VA benefit claims. Perhaps most importantly, those veterans with housing vouchers and those seeking them were screened for immediate placement in available units.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation by the VA, contact LaVan & Neidenberg. We can appeal your rating decision and fight for your rights. You are entitled to certain programs and benefits based upon your VA rating decision so contact our veterans disability rights firm today.
Tags: homeless veterans, Homeless Veterans Stand Down, VA medical center, veterans assistance
Posted in General, Veterans' Events | No Comments »
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009
A job fair specifically designed for veterans and their spouses will be held today at the Straz Center in Tampa, Florida. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will offer a variety of opportunities for those looking to transition from active duty to civilian life.
Participants will have an opportunity to meet with potential employers from corporations, law enforcement agencies, and franchisers. Additionally, there will be representatives from veteran service agencies and veterans’ associations on hand to answer questions.
RecruitMilitary has coordinated the event and expects between 300 and 500 people to show up for it.
If you are a veteran and suffer from a physical or psychological disability, you may be eligible for VA disability compensation. Fort Lauderdale, Florida disability lawyers, LaVan & Neidenberg, represent over 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: job fair, veterans
Posted in Veterans' Events | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 17th, 2009
The VA’s 24th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic will take place March 28 – April 2, 2010.
This is an amazing opportunity for disabled veterans to participate in recreational activities and sports at the scenic Snowmass Village ski resort in Colorado. Last year, more than 350 veterans took part in the event which is open to military veterans with qualifying disabilities who are receiving inpatient or outpatient care from the VA. Eligible active duty military servicemen and women may also participate.
During the week long event, participants can take part in a variety of workshops and educational sessions that aid their rehabilitation and readjustment. The Winter Sports Clinic is co-sponsored by the VA, Disabled American Veterans, corporate sponsors and individual donors.
Events planned for the clinic include:
- Ski lessons
- Challenge race
- Adaptive sports workshops
- Scuba diving
- Snowmobiling
- Cross country skiing
To find out if you’re eligible for this exciting opportunity, contact one of the following VA program directors:
VA National Director, Winter Sports Clinic:
Sandy Trombetta (970) 244-1314; Santo.Trombetta@va.gov
VA Director of Operations, Winter Sports Clinic:
Teresa Parks (970) 263-5040; Teresa.Parks@va.gov
Tags: Winter Sports Clinic
Posted in Veterans' Events | No Comments »
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