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Posts Tagged ‘Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)’
Tuesday, September 27th, 2011
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is still very much struggling with understanding how to fully treat soldiers and veterans with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
Recognizing the debilitating effects of TBIs — and perhaps their own limitations in understanding and treating them in respect to the amount of TBI-related veterans disability compensation claims – the VA will be providing retroactive benefits to more veterans, according to an article in The LA Veterans Affairs Examiner.
Soldiers who suffered TBIs outside of Operations Enduring (OEF) and/or Iraqi Freedom (OIF) will now be able to draw benefits. The injuries must have been sustained between October 7, 2001 and November 30, 2005. Where they were sustained, however, is no longer relevant. This means even soldiers who were hurt stateside can qualify for the retroactive benefit. The requirement for OEF and/or OIF service to receive the benefit was removed with the passage of The Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2010.
The benefits are being paid under the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) Traumatic Injury Protection Benefit (TSGLI). Even better, the soldier with the injury did not have to have been carrying SGLI coverage at the time the injury occurred. Payments can range from $25,000 to $100,000, and will vary depending on the type and severity of injury sustained.
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: Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) Traumatic Injury Protection Benefit (TSGLI)., The Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2010, Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs), Veterans disability
Posted in Disabled Veterans, Veterans' Benefits | No Comments »
Friday, September 16th, 2011
The Defense Video and Imagery Distribution System is reporting on a new program seeking to give wounded warriors and veterans a new outlook on life. The program is called the Spirit of Wounded Warriors and Veterans: Healing the Soul through Artistic Expression, which was created via a joint effort between personnel from multiple agencies and is designed to help veterans with disabilities.
Much of the focus of the program is on veterans suffering from such mental conditions as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). The program itself provides veterans with a venue in which to show their personal artwork. There are no limits on the veterans that are allowed to submit their work to the program, i.e., veterans from all wars and conflicts are encouraged to apply.
Many veterans find creating art a very welcome distraction because it allows them to put their focus and concentration into something other than any present mental conditions and the symptoms associated with them. For many, this is an alternative therapy unrivaled by any other form of help.
Providing a distraction is one huge benefit, but another is veterans increasing their confidence in themselves and their art. Some have taken that initial distraction creating art seemed to provide for them and turned their artwork into full-time careers. Rebuilding confidence for disabled veterans with mental conditions is vital in their recovery.
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: Alternative Therapy, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs), Veterans disability
Posted in Disabled Veterans, Veterans' Resources | 2 Comments »
Thursday, September 15th, 2011
Not every seizure disorder is related to epilepsy. Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures are emotionally-based seizures and have a tendency to go undiagnosed in veterans for much longer periods of time than civilians, according to an article in U.S. News & World Report. For those suffering from this disorder and not being properly diagnosed, valuable time can be lost from their veterans disability claim.
Despite psychogenic non-epileptic seizures having a vastly different origin than epileptic seizures, the physical manifestations of both, the seizures, appear to occur the same way. This means it is very difficult to tell the seizures from each apart from each other. Because that is the case, diagnosis of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures becomes very difficult.
A recent study examined 50 veterans and 50 civilians. Each had been diagnosed with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures. From the time when symptoms began manifesting themselves, it took an average of 5 years for veterans to receive their final diagnosis. It only took about 1 year for civilians. Almost 60% of veterans had their symptoms and seizures written off to being side effects of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), which can, under some circumstances, lead to epilepsy.
Researchers were able to offer very little explanation as to why there was such a long period of time of delayed diagnosis among veterans. One potential reason suggested was the lack of epilepsy monitoring units available at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers across the nation.
There are two main problems accompanying a mis-, or delayed, diagnosis. First, it can extend the veteran’s disability being untreated. Second, many veterans are initially given epilepsy medication, which not only do not help, they can cause very serious side effects.
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: Epilepsy, Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures, Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs), Veterans disability
Posted in Veterans' Disability | No Comments »
Friday, June 24th, 2011
The level of mental health problems for veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan due to traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) is staggering. These problems were completely unanticipated and therefore were not able to be properly treated. The treatment for soldiers and veterans with TBIs is in a perpetual state of playing catch up. As long as that is the case, the possibility of an epidemic of veterans with psychological damage developing is very likely.
The Department of Defense (DoD) claims 332,000 soldiers have had TBIs since 2000. Most estimates put that number over 400,000, although many are given the misnomer of being mild traumatic brain injuries (MTBIs).
Most would agree there is no TBI that is mild. Almost every TBI has the potential to develop into not only physical issues rooted in chronic pain, but can also cause insomnia and sexual performance issues.
The chances of any TBI, “mild” or not, resulting in one of the following is very high:
- depression;
- changes in personality; and/or
- anxiety disorders.
Roadside bombs and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) are commonplace and rampant in Iraq and Afghanistan. MTBIs occur whenever a soldier is either rendered unconscious for at least 30 minutes or experiences an “altered state of consciousness.” It is easy to see why there are so many soldiers being diagnosed with such mental conditions.
The majority of soldiers recover from MTBIs. Soldiers being exposed to multiple blasts compound their issues and lower their chances of fully recovering. MTBIs, however, are difficult to diagnose, and therefore difficult to treat. New technology, however, does not make either one impossible.
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 (DoD), Mild Traumatic Brain Injureis (MTBIs), Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs), Veterans disability
Posted in Disabled Veterans, General, Veterans' Disability | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, December 28th, 2010
The Tampa, Florida Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital has developed what may be the next great step in treating traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). For an investment of $3 million, the VA hospital has developed a “smart home.” The smart home helps patients with TBIs learn to live independently in their daily lives by helping them perform basic, everyday tasks.
For many veterans with TBIs, basic, everyday tasks like doing the laundry or emptying the trash can become extremely difficult. The smart home will re-train those veterans unable to complete such necessary and basic tasks, and slowly build them back into being able to function in normal society. Veterans are tracked around the home and when they fall off course from what they are supposed to be doing, e.g., emptying the trash, they will be sent either a text or video message prompting them to get back on track.
The Tampa VA Hospital currently houses 10 veterans in 5 apartments. The Tampa VA Hospital also furnishes the apartments, including all the necessary technology to allow the smart house to function properly . The necessary equipment includes not only the system used to track the veterans around the apartment, but monitors attached to appliances, and screens used for the video prompts.
Every apartment has appliances with attached monitors able to sense if a specific task related to that appliance was correctly performed. If it wasn’t properly performed, the house sends an alert to the veteran to put them back on task. With a primary goal of getting veterans back up to speed and able to function outside of the hospital, the smart home is a good starting point.
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), Smart Home, Tampa VA Hospital, Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs), VA Health Care System, Veterans Mental Health
Posted in Disabled Veterans, VA News, Veterans' Resources | No Comments »
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