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Posts Tagged ‘Veterans Health Care’
Thursday, February 21st, 2013
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently launched a new phase of its VA Innovation Initiative (VAi2). The new program, the VA Center for Innovation (VACI), will continue to build upon the success of VAi2 by reaffirming the VA’s commitment to innovators in the veterans’ services field.
The program integrates companies and organizations from government and private sectors to develop new technologies, procedures, and solutions focused on improving benefits to veterans.
VAi2, which has been in operation since 2010, built a 120-project portfolio containing initiatives for improving the accessibility and quality of services and care available to veterans. The VA Center for Innovation seeks to continue building this portfolio, starting with 13 new awards to partners across the U.S.
The VACI’s recent awards focus on the Blue Button medical record program, teleaudiology, prosthetic socket redesign for amputees, and automation of the sterilization process for reusable medical instruments. Research in these areas is of specific interest to disabled veterans who may suffer from hearing disabilities or lost limbs.
As more innovations in medical care and electronic record keeping are made, disabled veterans are entitled to benefit from these improvements. By applying for veterans’ disability benefits, a claimant may secure monetary benefits for disabling conditions, and veterans may benefit from enhanced care and opportunities to participate in medical trials through VA hospitals and clinics.
The Law Offices of LaVan & Neidenberg, P.A. can help you develop a claim for veterans’ disability benefits. If you have questions about veterans’ disability benefits, request a FREE copy of our eBook, Don’t Panic: Win Your VA Disability Claim. When you’re ready, contact us today at 888-234-5758 to discuss your case with one of our claims representatives.
Tags: Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Care, veterans services
Posted in VA News, Veterans' Disability, Veterans' Resources | No Comments »
Monday, December 10th, 2012
Veterans’ health care is being improved thanks to the Million Veteran Program (MVP) which has recently enrolled its 100,00th member. The MVP seeks to help those receiving veterans’ benefits by improving the health services offered to veterans.
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) established the MVP initiative in 2011 with the goal of enrolling one million veterans to participate in veterans’ health care research. The program has already exceeded the enrollment numbers of all previous VA research studies.
Veterans’ Health Care Research through the VA
Veterans’ benefits are designed to help improve access to the current veterans’ health care programs available through the VA. These programs are constantly being researched and improved upon, which is where the MVP will be of great help.
Participants in the MVP provide critical information such as genetic analyses, questionnaires, and medical records. The database of information can later be used in studies for projects to better understand the link between genetics and health and improve veterans’ health care and benefits.
Veterans have long been a key population for medical research on health concerns such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and chronic illnesses such as diabetes. Veterans may develop medical conditions like TBI or PTSD due to combat-related injuries or exposures.
Veterans Benefits’ from Disabling Conditions
As more information is gathered about genetics and health, better health care may be developed. The MVP participants help researchers track trends in veterans’ health and disabilities for the conditions that frequently cause disability in the veteran population.
While genetics may play a role in many disabling conditions, it is often a combat-related injury or exposure that causes health issues to arise. When a health condition is service-connected, a veteran may be eligible for veterans’ disability benefits.
Proving that a disability is related to your military service is a process that can be made easier by working with an attorney. Your attorney can assist in gathering the right documentation to show your military service, medical history, and disability rating. Without these key pieces of evidence, your claim may be delayed or denied and require an appeal.
Applying for Veterans’ Benefits for Disability
Seek consultation with a lawyer for help with your case. Access to veterans’ health care through the VA is just one of the many benefits for which you may qualify in addition to receiving veterans’ health care. Contact LaVan & Neidenberg at 1-888-234-5758 to set up your consultation to discuss applying for veterans’ benefits if you suffer from a serve-related disability.
Tags: Veterans Health Care, Veterans' Benefits
Posted in General, VA News, Veterans' Benefits | No Comments »
Thursday, September 13th, 2012
An amputee veteran who lost a limb during combat often qualifies for veterans’ disability benefits. Scientific and technological research and advancements have made life a little easier for some of these vets, and a new simulator being used at the University of South Florida may provide further assistance to individuals requiring prosthetics.
USF in Tampa is home to CAREN, a state-of-the-art simulation system that lets researchers simulate various scenarios while treating or assessing medical conditions. One of the uses for the system has been to study the effectiveness of new prosthetic limbs, which may benefit disabled veterans.
An individual seeking a new prosthetic is placed in a harness and a simulation is run to assess the comfort, fit, and integrity of the artificial limb. Simulations may range from a sandy region of Afghanistan to a cityscape, allowing researchers to assess the prosthetic’s effectiveness in various environments.
Not only may amputee veterans benefit from these tests, but the simulation may also provide a new method of treatment for those suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Exposure therapy may be made easier when the CAREN system helps clinicians introduce disabled veterans to the traumatic event in a safe setting. This may desensitize them to the event and hopefully alleviate symptoms.
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 veteran’s disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.
Tags: Amputee Veterans, prosthetics, Veterans Health Care
Posted in General | No Comments »
Monday, May 21st, 2012
Over the past decade the number of female veterans seeking health care through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has nearly doubled. With the number of female soldiers on the rise – nearly 20% of new recruits are women – the VA health system is stepping up to increase the availability and quality of women’s services at their facilities.
Across the nation, 37 VA health centers are taking part in the Women’s Health Research Network, which studies women’s health care issues. Some of the topics the researchers are focusing on include pregnancy and infant care, military sexual trauma, and how certain service-related conditions and diseases impair women differently than men.
Another main area of focus is heart health, which has been a growing concern for both civilian and veteran women. According to Dr. Sally Haskell, director of comprehensive women’s health for the Veterans Health Administration, female veterans between the ages of 45 and 65 are the most commonly seen age range for heart health issues.
For female veterans facing disabilities due to a combat-related injury or illness, gaining access to the benefit of health care from the VA is made simpler when you file for veterans’ disability. Applying for veterans’ disability benefits can be a long and frustrating process – one that is often made easier by working with a veterans’ disability attorney.
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 veteran’s disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.
Tags: female veterans, Veterans Health Care
Posted in General, VA News, Veterans' Resources | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 16th, 2012
Senator Richard Burr, the ranking Republican senator on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, has proposed a new bill to reduce the administrative overhead he feels is spreading the resources of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) too thinly.
Currently, there are 21 regional medical offices, known as Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN) across the country. Burr’s bill aims to trim that number down to 12, allowing resources to be consolidated and brought to the areas that are in the most need.
VISN offices handle the VA affairs in their geographic region, from budgeting to resource management. They also oversee the operation of all VA hospitals and facilities in their area. The original intent for VISNs was to take over administrative needs so the health care centers could focus on patients; however, Burr feels that their operational costs are detracting from the budget that could be going to medical care.
There are many services and resources available to veterans and military families when they are in need of medical care. Veterans who face disabling conditions related to their military service may qualify for veterans’ disability benefits by filing a claim with the help of a veterans’ disability attorney.
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 veteran’s disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.
Tags: Veterans Health Care, veterans legislation
Posted in General, US Military Legislation, VA News, Veterans' Resources | No Comments »
Monday, May 7th, 2012
While the main source of health care and resources for disabled veterans comes from disability benefits, run by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), there are also additional veterans’ health care programs you should be aware of.
TRICARE is one of the most notable health care programs associated with the U.S. Military. It provides health insurance to servicemembers and certain family members. There are multiple levels of benefits to suit personnel of all levels, from active duty with children to veterans with spouses.
TRICARE allows participants to seek health care at the VA facilities and certain medical networks outside the VA. While there are additional fees for the TRICARE program services, they are often more affordable and flexible to the special needs of military families.
For some veterans they may also qualify for supplemental insurance through their employer or a spouse’s employer. For other types of insurance, such as injury coverage with auto insurance, many providers offer special discounts for military members and veterans, so it is important to ask for these benefits as you buy new insurance policies.
Before you begin the hassle of looking for health insurance to cover a disability, you should consider applying for veterans’ disability benefits. A lawyer can help review your case and determine the best options to provide you and your family with the services you deserve, after providing your own service to our country.
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 veteran’s disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.
Tags: Veterans Health Care, Veterans' Benefits
Posted in General, Veterans' Benefits | No Comments »
Thursday, March 29th, 2012
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has released the second in a series of reports published annually by the Gulf War Veterans Illnesses Task Force (GWVIT). This report contains input from hundreds of Gulf War veterans and hopes to serve as a plan of action for enhancements for care and services provided to this specific population.
Gulf War veterans are from an era where many of the combat-related exposures are just now manifesting as disabling diseases and conditions. The term “Gulf War Syndrome” was coined from these seemingly unconnected ailments and has been a subject of extensive research for several years.
The GWVIT focuses their concerns on providing health care and services to Gulf War veterans who may now be experiencing service-connected disabling conditions and need good quality care. A new clinical care model is detailed in the report, as well as the need for creating better links to specialized care and treatment methods for illnesses developed from that war era.
It’s important for Gulf War veterans to keep a good record of their health after service, as many new illnesses have been connected to exposure to the combat conditions in these areas. Regular checkups from your VA clinic can help with early detection of some of the illnesses that may qualify you for veterans’ disability benefits.
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 veteran’s disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.
Tags: gulf war veterans, Veterans Health Care
Posted in Disabled Veterans, General, VA News, 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 »
Thursday, February 17th, 2011
A year ago it was dirty dental equipment that put the John Cochran Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital in the news. Improperly sterilized dental equipment lead to the John Cochran VA possibly exposing 1,800 veterans to HIV with their contaminated equipment. Now, the John Cochran VA Hospital is in the news again because of another potential contamination issue. According to the hospital’s medical director, surgical tools that appeared to be dirty forced the VA hospital to cancel and reschedule 35 surgeries.
The canceled surgeries were the last, although very necessary step. The John Cochran VA has been suffering a series of complaints focusing on the hospital’s allegedly unsanitary and detrimental conditions. Once the potentially contaminated surgical equipment was discovered, hospital personnel examined and tested all the other surgical equipment throughout the entire facility as well as any piece of equipment that could even come into contact with a surgical environment.
There have been hundreds of complaints made about the hospital, and a full investigation is planned concerning the possibility for infection the dirty surgical tools caused. Although VA hospitals boast of their superior health care, two contamination issues under a year in the same hospital scream of incompetence. Guaranteeing top-ranked health care for veterans is something for which every VA medical center should always strive.
It is not known how many veterans could have been affected by this latest possible contamination issue. The VA is working with those veterans whose surgeries needed to be rescheduled to make sure everything is as smooth as possible. There is no indication as to when the hospital will be back to performing surgeries.
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: Contaminated Surgical Equipment, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), John Cochran VA Hospital, VA Health Care System, VA hospital investigation, Veterans Health Care
Posted in General | No Comments »
Monday, November 1st, 2010
Keeping soldiers healthy and combat ready while in combat is a very delicate balance commanders must maintain. New protocols that have been initiated place parameters on how commanders must maintain their soldiers’ health. New rules mandate soldiers within 165 feet of a blast, to include any soldier in buildings and vehicles hit by bombs, must be removed from the battlefield for at least 24 hours. During that time, they will be examined for concussions.
The result? Hundreds of soldiers are being diagnosed with concussions where they would not have been without the new rules being put in place. If soldiers suffer a second concussion before the first one is completely healed, the chances that soldier will develop permanent brain damage is increased.
This means for the last 8 years, potentially thousands of troops have suffered unnecessary brain damage. The new rules were implemented in July, and the amount of soldiers diagnosed with concussions rose to 370 from 62 in June. July to September produced over 1,000 soldiers diagnosed with concussions. By means of comparison, that is over double the amount of soldiers diagnosed with concussions the entire 4 months prior.
While knowing that thousands of soldiers are sustaining concussions on a regular basis is unsettling, it is much better to know of the conditions, treat them, and be able to prevent more severe brain damage from occurring. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) need to be given this type of attention considering the long-term damage they can cause.
The most frequent source of injury for soldiers are roadside bombs. They have become so commonplace, however, that most soldiers are just told to drive after suffering the blast. More studies must be completed in order to determine if a person’s brain is completely healed in the absence of symptoms.
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: brain damage, Concussions, Disabled Veterans, Traumatic Brain Injury, VA health care, Veterans Health Care
Posted in General | No Comments »
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