By Jim Fausone
Veterans Disability Lawyer
As a national firm helping veterans with disability claims, we use a lot of different tools to fill in the facts on fuzzy memories. Often the veterans need buddy statements from guys they simply recall by first name “Bruce” or nickname “Curly”, “Lefty” or “Hoosier”. We check unit records and other service records and help the veteran jog their memory so than can find that long-lost friend or that unlucky soul that died in the attack. It is with that experience in mind that an article about Ancestry.com caught our attention. You know Ancestry as the web based company that helps people doing genealogy.
The Provo, Utah, based website has been adding historical records to its site for the past 15 years, accumulating more than 7 billion records. It normally charges a monthly fee to its users but until December 7, 2011 it is free. Of particular interest for those searching veterans’ records are the World War II Navy Muster Rolls, which include 33 million quarterly reports filed from 1939-49, detailing the location, rank and other information about nearly all enlisted personnel who served aboard ships during those years. Previously unreleased draft cards, cemetery records, photos, and information about various ships are also available.
You can read more at http://www.stripes.com/news/us/website-makes-wwii-records-available-for-free-through-dec-7-1.162316
To learn more or to contact a Veterans disability lawyer, Veterans disability attorney, Veterans lawyer, or Veterans attorney call 1.800.693.4800 or visit Legalhelpforveterans.com
By Jim Fausone
Veterans Disability Lawyer
When the Wounded Warrior Project speaks, people listen – even Congress. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) should take immediate action to solve systemic gaps in mental health care for veterans according to WWP. During Congressional testimony, WWP discussed its findings of a survey of over 935 respondents and emphasized the major changes the VA must implement swiftly in order to enact improvements to its responsiveness and effectiveness.
The WWP survey found that 62 percent of respondents requested mental health care through the VA. As reported, 40 percent had difficulty in receiving the mental health care necessary or did not receive treatment needed. The survey found some common and recurring issues:
Lack of available mental health providers;
Not seeing the same therapist twice;
Difficulty in obtaining appointments with flexible scheduling surrounding work/personal commitments;
Distance to available VA clinics or hospitals.
VA and this Country can and must do better. Read more about WWP and this survey at:
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/wounded-warrior-projecttm-testifies-before-us-senate-urges-immediate-va-action-to-improve-access-and-effectiveness-of-mental-health-care-for-veterans-2011-11-30
To learn more or to contact a Veterans disability lawyer, Veterans disability attorney, Veterans lawyer, or Veterans attorney call 1.800.693.4800 or visit Legalhelpforveterans.com
By Jim Fausone
Veterans Disability Attorney
The number of troops that return with PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), can range as high as 30% of the force in combat. Some veterans suffer mild PTSD and with counseling and support can get past it. Many others are debilitated by the effects of war and post-traumatic stress. A Chicago based anesthesiologist has proposed that a shot of a local anesthetic in the neck, a stellate ganglion block, can and will provide relief.
Dr. Lipov explains there is a group of nerves in the neck called a stellate ganglion that is a part of the sympathetic nerve system; which among other things sends pain messages to the brain and controls stress, including the fight-or-flight response. When someone experiences trauma, the stellate ganglion produces an increased amount of nerve growth factor, which causes excess nerves to sprout in the brain, according to Lipov. This leads to overactive stress response and anxiety, Dr. Lipov hypothesizes. By injecting the stellate ganglion with anesthetic, the nerve growth factor returns to normal levels, the excess nerves die off and the symptoms subside. The shot settles down the sympathetic nervous system, resetting the brain to where it was before the trauma. Dr. Lipov has tried this on 12 PTSD patients with success while an Army doctor, Lt. Col. Sean Mulvaney, replicated those same results with 15 PTSD patients at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
But a full scale clinical trial costs money and the DOD (Department of Defense) has not agreed to fund his research. An extensive report on this idea was recently discussed in the attached article. This country owes our veterans to give this research a try and not wait decades as veterans suffer the effects of PTSD.
http://www.stripes.com/doctor-ptsd-injection-can-work-miracles-but-dod-won-t-fund-it-1.156866
To learn more or to contact a Veterans disability lawyer, Veterans disability attorney, Veterans lawyer, or Veterans attorney call 1.800.693.4800 or visit Legalhelpforveterans.com
Today is double your donation day at Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan. Gleaners serve millions of hungry and homeless people in Southeastern Michigan and have been doing so for over thirty years. Ninety-six cents of every dollar you donate goes directly to food purchase. As you may be aware, nearly 1in 5 of our homeless population are veterans. If you donate today by clicking on the link, your donation will have double the impact. Please donate today to help those who have already given so much!
Gleaners Community Food http://www.gcfb.org
To learn more or to contact a Veterans disability lawyer, Veterans disability attorney, Veterans lawyer, or Veterans attorney call 1.800.693.4800 or visit Legalhelpforveterans.com
by Kristina Derro
Veteran Disability Lawyer
With unemployment rates for veterans well-above the national average of 9 percent, President Obama announced three more executive actions to help veterans to find work. This piggybacks on two tax credits that are part of the President’s proposed jobs bill. The Returning Heroes Tax Credit provides firms that hire unemployed veterans with a maximum credit of $5,600 per veteran. The Wounded Warriors Tax Credit offers firms that hire veterans with service-connected disabilities a maximum credit of $9,600 per veteran.
The three executive actions include making a new online service to help veterans find work, creating a veterans job bank, and a veterans’ “gold card” which grants them special services and care at career centers. Unemployment for veterans stands at 11.7 percent, versus the national rate of 9.1 percent. With the remaining 40,000 U.S. troops being pulled out of Iraq by the end of the year, and some of them being discharged and returning to the U.S. job market, something needs to be done to help our most deserving population.
To learn more or to contact a Veterans disability lawyer, Veterans disability attorney, Veterans lawyer, or Veterans attorney call 1.800.693.4800 or visit Legalhelpforveterans.com
by Chandra Briggs
This November 11th reminds us to give thanks to the brave soldiers that have fought to keep America the land of the free. Companies across the United States are showing their appreciation by offering freebies to Veterans. Keep in mind, you’ll have to bring along proof of military service such as a U.S. Uniform Service ID card, U.S. Uniform Services Retired ID card, current Leave and Earnings statement, photograph in uniform, be wearing your uniform, a veteran’s organization card such as American Legion or VFW, or a DD214. Also note that the offers may vary by location, click on the link of the Company to verify for your locale.
Bed & Breakfast (Free night’s stay Thursday Nov. 10)
- Outback Steakhouse (A week of Free Bloomin’ Onions and Cokes, Monday Nov. 7 – Friday Nov. 11)
- Uno Chicago Grill (19.43% Discount off food bill, Monday Nov. 7- Friday Nov. 11)
- Famous Dave’s (Free meal or discount, Friday Nov. 11 At participating locations, please call ahead)
- Applebee’s(Free meal, Friday Nov. 11)
- Chili’s(Free meal, Friday Nov. 11)
- Texas Roadhouse(Free meal, Friday, Nov. 11 At participating locations, please call ahead)
- Hooters(Free Meal, Friday, Nov. 11)
- Denny’s(Free Grand Slam Breakfast, Friday, Nov. 11 from 6am-10pm)
- Subway(Free 6inch Sub, Friday, Nov. 11 At participating locations, please call ahead)
- T.G.I. Friday’s(Buy one meal get one free, Nov. 11 At participating locations, please call ahead)
- Tim Horton’s(Free doughnut, Friday Nov. 11)
- Krispy Kreme(Free doughnut, Friday Nov. 11)
- 7-Eleven(Free small Slurpee drink, Friday, Nov. 11 from 11am-7pm)
- Amazon(Free MP3 Album Download of “Veterans Day Honor” Friday Nov. 11)
- McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants(Free lunch or dinner, Sunday Nov. 13)
- Golden Corral(Free meal, Monday Nov. 14 from 5pm-9pm)
- Colonial Williamsburg(Free Admission for Vets & their Families, Friday Nov. 11 – Sunday Nov. 13)
- National Parks Service(Free Admission for Vets & their Families, Friday Nov. 11 – Sunday Nov. 13)
- Anheuser-Busch Parks(Free night’s stay, Thursday Nov. 10)
by Jim Fausone
Veterans Disability Lawyer
We hear from over 400 veterans a month seeking our help; not knowing where to turn. Often it is on disability matters that we can help with – such as obtaining VA disability benefits. Some of the email requests are simply matters we do not work on – such as educational or home loan matters. We also hear tragic stories where the system has failed our veterans. Here is an email request we just received:
“I’m not sure I am at the right place, but I will tell you my story and let you decide. My nephew John Saxon served 4 years in the US Army spending 1 tour in Iraq for 18 months. He was honorably discharged after his 4 year commitment was finished. After 3 years of inactive duty he was recalled to spend another 1 year tour in Iraq. John has battled PTSD since his return over a year ago. He was seen by a VA doctor in Dallas approx. a month ago and was advised to see a psychiatrist and was put on psyche meds. This morning John snapped and killed his mother by shooting her and setting her house on fire. John now sits in the Grayson County(TX) jail on murder charges. My question is what if anything can your organization do and if nothing can you suggest any places I can contact for further help.”
The Army failed John when it discharged him without proper care. The VA failed John when it did not get him immediate help but simply said see another doctor. The Country failed John when we asked him to defend our values but we did not defend him from the demons that resulted. Although it may be too late for John & his mom, we did not want to fail this family one more time. We pointed them to a group in Texas that should be able to help. The importance of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and psychiatric care for our veterans cannot be overestimated. John is a statistic of the war and now so is his mother. We have seen veteran suicide, criminal activity and homelessness rise. Many of these problems are rooted in mental illness that needs treatment. As we pull troops out of Afghanistan and Iraq; the Department of Defense (DOD) assists the VA in taking care of the troops after discharge. So much more needs to be done for our returning veterans.
http://www.heralddemocrat.com/hd/News/-Homicide-MaryLeeSaxon-10-28-11-
John’s sad story is reported in the article above. You will note that they don’t make the connection to his PTSD with his service. Maybe we can ignore it if it’s just a deranged son and his mom in a trailer. We should be outraged and the reporter should tell the real story.
To learn more or to contact a Veterans disability lawyer, Veterans disability attorney, Veterans lawyer, or Veterans attorney call 1.800.693.4800 or visit Legalhelpforveterans.com
Kristina Derro
Veteran Disability Lawyer
The U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court) orders oral arguments on certain cases which present an area of law that is considered “unsettled”. The judges request oral arguments so that they can ask questions of both sides and have the attorneys present their views on why the judges should decide in their favor.
On October 26th, three judges, including the Chief Judge, came to Detroit, Michigan to hold a session of the Court at the University of Detroit-Mercy School of Law. The law school offers a Veterans Disability Clinic as part of its practicum experience that its students can take, allowing the students to represent veterans in their service-connected disability claims before VA. The event allowed the students to experience an oral argument and witness how to fully prosecute claims against VA.
The visit by the Court was a two-day event. The first day, the judges’ law clerks lead a class and instructed students on how to prosecute VA claims. The second day was the oral arguments held on an actual case, followed by a question-and-answer period by the three judges. A lunch was then held, during which the law clerks also answered any questions posed to them by the students.
Positive feedback was given from the students. Since the event was open to the public, even local attorneys who practice veterans law were able to sit in on the arguments.
To learn more or to contact a Veterans disability lawyer, Veterans disability attorney, Veterans lawyer, or Veterans attorney call 1.800.693.4800 or visit Legalhelpforveterans.com
We are delighted to share a happy ending to a long battle with the Veterans Administration (VA) for one of our clients. We will refer to her as “Cindy” and her husband “Max”.
With the death of her husband Max, an Army veteran of Vietnam, in March of 2001, Cindy began the long process of making a claim for dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) benefits. She filed her first claim with the VA for DIC in 2002. After many denials of service connected death she sought out our representation in April of 2006 where our claims developer Peter Worthington began research of information that would be submitted to the Regional Office (RO) with the hopes of a new favorable decision.
Our firm was successful in obtaining a remand from the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (USCAVC). We submitted additional evidence; including a medical opinion in February of 2010 to the RO where the claim was once again denied. The medical opinion noted the veterans heart murmur in service was not related to the veteran’s cause of death. However, it did note the cause of death was due to Ischemic heart disease. We appealed the denial from the RO to the Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA). Subsequently, Ischemic heart disease was added to the list of disabilities recognized by the VA as being related to Agent Orange Exposure.
The out-come of the review by the BVA constituted a full grant of DIC benefits for the issue on appeal of service connected cause of death. This month, over 10 years after her initial claim to the VA, Cindy received over $130,000.00 in retroactive benefits; effectively changing the course of the rest of her life.
We hope this gives those fighting for their benefits a glimmer of light at the end of a long tunnel.
To learn more or to contact a Veterans disability lawyer, Veterans disability attorney, Veterans lawyer, or Veterans attorney call 1.800.693.4800 or visit Legalhelpforveterans.com
Every year the City of Wayne through its “Friends Project” helps a low income resident by providing necessary home repairs and maintenance. This project is successful through the generous donations from local businesses and community volunteers. Approximately 70 volunteers assisted in providing a fresh coat of paint on the exterior of the home and shed, repairing the gates, as well as miscellaneous yard work to the residence of this year’s recipient. Fausone Bohn, LLP, and Legal Help Veterans, PLLC, were large supporters of this project, and through their efforts this project was a huge success. Plans are already in the works for next year’s event.
To learn more or to contact a Veterans disability lawyer, Veterans disability attorney, Veterans lawyer, or Veterans attorney call 1.800.693.4800 or visit Legalhelpforveterans.com
