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Posts Tagged ‘Operation Enduring Freedom’
Wednesday, October 13th, 2010
According to some economists, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are going to cost this country an additional trillion dollars over and above original estimates. Last Thursday a full panel meeting was held on Capitol Hill, which was to focus on the cost of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
The hearing included testimony from the authors of The Three Trillion Dollar War, which provided estimates for the cost of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars in the long term in 2008. During their testimony, they explained that the original estimates were too conservative. Their original estimate for the cost of veterans’ care was $717 billion. At this most recent hearing their new estimate was $934 billion, just a little shy of $1 trillion.
When asked for an explanation, the authors stated the amount of veterans currently using Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care services is at a level they didn’t expect to see until 2016. Approximately 565,000 veterans used VA health care by March. Current estimates put the amount of veterans currently in the system around 620,000.
Because there are so many more veterans in the VA system and using VA resources than originally estimated, costs all over the place had to be raised. Although not exhaustive:
- Long-term health care estimates jumped from $284 billion to $348 billion;
- Long-term disability estimates were pushed from $388 billion to $534 billion; and
- Social Security disability payment estimates were upped from $43 billion to $52 billion.
A more accurate picture of where the numbers stand will not be published until January. These wars are hardly “self-financing,” which is how they were originally touted.
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: Afghanistan, costs of war, Department of Veterans Affairs, Iraq, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, VA healthcare system, Veterans disability
Posted in Iraq-Afghanistan War | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has assembled a research team who are working toward identifying certain patterns within symptoms by pouring through millions of VA clinicians’ notes. The hope is that distinguishing patterns will help treat veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars suffering from seemingly unexplainable conditions.
That veterans are returning from war suffering from conditions that modern epidemiological science cannot explain is not a new phenomenon. What is new, however, is that researchers working on these conditions are being given access to all the VA’s medical records as opposed to being limited to only those from their home hospital.
Some of the most common symptoms baffling researchers are:
- Gastrointestinal problems;
- Respiratory illness;
- Blood disease; and
- Skin rashes.
The VA is the single largest health care system in the United States and one of the earliest health care organizations to adopt digital record-keeping technology. The Veterans’ Informatics and Computing Infrastructure (VINCI) allows researchers secure access to VA patient records. Given the VA’s recent history of having seemingly secure information stolen, access on this level is not given lightly.
Researchers are only allowed to work within VINCI’s secure virtual environment behind the firewall so as to prevent theft of the data. The researchers’ first goal is to change all of the physicians’ narratives from the entire VINCI network into data that can be studied and analyzed. This data will generate millions of key words and will then be analyzed to determine if any patterns emerge.
The ultimate goal of this undertaking is to understand how symptoms and causes are linked. Once on that track it may very well be possible to pin point specific origins. The more data researchers are given to analyze the more likely it is an answer can be found.
Learn more about researchers using the VA’s extensive health care records to find a link between causes and symptoms of mysterious conditions plaguing 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: Disabled Veterans, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, VA healthcare, veteran illnesses, Veterans disability, Veterans Health Care
Posted in General, VA News | 2 Comments »
Monday, April 19th, 2010
The Soldiers Project is a nonprofit foundation in Ventura County, California. The foundation offers free counseling to Iraq and Afghanistan veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI).
One of the founding members of the Soldiers Project, Dr. Carol Tanenbaum, recently gave a speech in which she spoke of “secondary infection” resulting from PTSD. This refers to activities and situations soldiers suffering from PTSD commonly find themselves in:
- Engaging in criminal behavior;
- Engaging in domestic violence;
- Self-medicating usually resulting in substance abuse;
- Becoming homeless; and
- Ending up in court.
Many soldiers returning from deployments find themselves unable to fit into the life they left behind; they find they can only relate to the people they were in combat with because those are the only ones that understand what they went through.
The Iraq and Afghanistan wars are different animals from previous wars because soldiers are being deployed multiple times. Therefore, there is not enough time between deployments for soldiers to fully rest and recover from their previous deployment to the detriment of their psychological and nervous systems.
Essentially, the multiple deployments are increasing the chances soldiers will develop PTSD. The Department of Defense (DoD) estimates of the 1.9 million soldiers deployed since 2003, more than 900,000 have been deployed multiple times.
Many soldiers are very resistant to using the Veterans Affairs (VA) system. The Soldiers Project, however, does not operate the same way as the VA and allows veterans and soldiers to be treated away from the VA system. The Soldiers Project is 100% confidential and also treats families of veterans.
The Soldiers Project is supported 100% through grants and private donations, has 300 therapists available in Southern California, and 400 nationwide.
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, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, PTSD, Soldiers Project, TBI, veterans assistance, Veterans' Resources, Veterans’ Mental Health
Posted in Disabled Veterans, General, Iraq-Afghanistan War, Veterans' Resources | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 14th, 2010
In the Yountville, California Veterans Home, not every veteran is on the same path. Three years ago the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) launched the Pathway Home Project (PHP), which houses approximately 30 young veterans from the “war on terror.” All the occupants of the PHP served in Iraq and Afghanistan and all suffer from deep, psychological scars as a result of their time served.
To date, around 150 soldiers have passed through the Pathway Home, with another graduation happening at the end of the month. Every veteran living in the Pathway Home is suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The VA mental health care provider for the PHP estimates:
- 4 out of 5 have contemplated suicide; and
- 1 out of 5 has been homeless since returning from their deployment.
Private monies have kept the PHP above water for the last three years. The PHP costs $1.7 million per year to operate and those funds are just about exhausted. Without a federal grant or more outside donors, PHP will most likely close its doors.
The PHP is a very attractive environment for veterans because it is not a structured military environment. Instead, it is just a place where a couple of guys support each other through shared experiences. Additionally, there is a specialized therapy program and the ability to visit family.
Pathway Home is different from other rehabilitation homes. Besides the private funding, the PHP allows a more open mental health approach towards treating PTSD to include non-traditional treatments like involving family directly in therapy. Socialization is a very important part of the program, both for the veterans and their family.
Learn more about the Pathway Home Project and how it is helping young veterans with PTSD.
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: mental health treatment, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, pathway home project, PTSD, VA health care, Veterans' Resources, Veterans’ Mental Health
Posted in General, Iraq-Afghanistan War, Veterans' Disability, Veterans' Resources | No Comments »
Thursday, March 25th, 2010
The United States has been forced to redefine and rethink policies that have been in place for years. Indeed, unconventional warfare has forced the U.S. to adapt to new ways of waging war. There has been a long standing ban on women in combat and US military commanders are now rethinking those policies.
The current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have forced women into combat roles. Female soldiers are currently battling an enemy who does not discriminate by sex but has the sole goal of killing American troops. Because of their actions in combat, women have been rewarded with medals for valor and bravery.
One constant reality is in the theatre of war, commanders want the most qualified and capable people in their units. There is no reason combat units in war should be denied the most qualified soldiers because of an outdated and sexist policy against female soldiers.
Despite serious concerns from male superiors, military organization and regulation did not crumble when women began serving along with men. The positive performances from female soldiers in the 1990-1991 Gulf war paved the way for such groundbreaking events as:
- Women serving in combat aircraft;
- Women serving on naval warships; and
- The Navy lifting the ban against females serving on submarines.
To date, more than 120 women, out of the 220,000 that have fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, have been killed in combat. If women are good enough to die among men they are good enough to serve among them. It is important the military’s new policies focus on the requirements for specific jobs because the current policies operate under the assumption it is not possible for a woman to meet the standards.
Learn more about women serving in combat roles and the military’s response to the demands of the current wars.
Tags: female combat soldiers, gulf war veterans, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, women veterans
Posted in Iraq-Afghanistan War | No Comments »
Thursday, March 11th, 2010
A new study presented some very interesting findings to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA) last week. The study concluded it was possible to treat veterans suffering from panic disorder over the course of a weekend. This is a very promising idea for the countless veterans that cannot, or do not want to, participate in therapy requiring commitments of months or years.
Many veterans cycling back from deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan return with anxiety disorders. Of the returning veterans suffering from anxiety-related problems, approximately one-third of them suffer from panic disorder.
The study’s subjects were all Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans already in the Houston VA Medical Center’s Trauma Recovery Program. All of the subjects had already refused to participate in a ten-week standard cognitive-behavioral treatment plan but did agree to the study’s weekend program.
On average, the participants were approximately 28-years-old and were currently diagnosed with panic disorder. Veterans also diagnosed with the following were excluded from the study:
- Bipolar disorder;
- Psychosis;
- Suicidal or homicidal ideation or intent;
- Severe depression; and
- Panic attacks only related to specific phobias or medical conditions that mimic anxiety symptoms.
The veterans were broken into small groups of 3 – 4 and the sessions they attended were driven by 2 psychologists. The sessions focused on educating the veterans about the causes of panic disorders and treatments. The veterans were also educated in individual techniques for how to deal with their specific symptoms.
At the end of the weekend, the veterans demonstrated immediate improvements. At the 6-month follow up appointment, the veterans continued to exhibit very positive gains in their symptoms as well as demonstrating lower levels of anxiety and depression levels. The veteran’s reactions to the study were probably just as important as the results. All the participants established were satisfied and felt the weekend program very adequate.
Impressive results coupled with complete program portability make this weekend program a very prospective treatment for veterans suffering from panic disorder.
Learn more about treating veterans suffering from panic disorder with Intensive Weekend Programs.
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: Anxiety disorder, mental health treatment, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Panic disorder, Veterans disability
Posted in Disabled Veterans, General | 2 Comments »
Monday, October 5th, 2009
A research study at Boston University’s School of Medicine has developed an integrated treatment approach for veterans with chronic pain and PTSD.
Both ailments have been common medical conditions experienced by veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Researchers found great success in using cognitive behavioral therapy and cognitive processing therapy to treat chronic pain and PTSD, respectively. According to Science Daily, patients in the program are evaluated before and after their treatment based on different factors including “pain, PTSD, physical disability and psychological distress.”
A therapist manual, patient workbook and homework assignments have been developed as a result of the study. The 12-week long program is funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Tags: chronic pain, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, PTSD
Posted in Veterans' Dependents | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009
The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) is the nation’s first and largest nonprofit organization for veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Founded in 2004 by Paul Rieckhoff (an Army Lieutenant and former investment banker) the IAVA boasts more than 125,000 members nationwide.
The self-described mission of the IAVA is “to improve the lives of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families.” To further this mission, the IAVA:
- Educates the public about veterans’ issues
- Fosters a community for troops, veterans and their families
- Advocates on behalf of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans
If you are a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom, you are eligible to become a member of IAVA. Supporters not meeting these criteria, can also become members of the organization. There is no charge to join the IAVA.
Tags: IAVA, Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, nonprofit organization for veterans, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Paul Rieckhoff, veterans and their families, veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars
Posted in Veterans' Resources | No Comments »
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