Legal Help for Veterans blog.
Oct
26

Michigan agencies get $8 million in grants to combat veteran homelessness

News and Press

Homeless veterans in Michigan and other states across the country are getting additional help from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in the form of more than $300 million in federal grants. Twelve nonprofit veteran organizations in Michigan are sharing around $8.1 million of the fiscal 2017 grants to help end homelessness among low-income veterans […]

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Oct
14

22 Pushup Challenge raises awareness for veteran suicide

Mental Health, News and Press

Veteran suicide has captured the attention of social media users in a form of viral online activism that mirrors the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge of 2014. The goal of the 22 Pushup Challenge is to raise awareness about veteran suicide and programs that support the mental health of former service members and their families. The […]

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Oct
03

VA workers turn entrepreneurs to improve veterans health care

News and Press

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees pitched ideas for improving veterans health care services nationwide during the VA Innovation Demo Day in Washington, D.C., on August 15. They hoped their projects would win support and funding for widespread adoption across the VA system. A panel of department leaders, including VA Undersecretary for Health Dr. David […]

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Sep
26

Uncertainty looms over future of VA health records

Medical Issues / Disability, News and Press

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) faces uncertainty as it assesses the best way in which to meet long-term needs for its electronic health record system (EHR). One option is developing a shared system of military health records with the Department of Defense (DOD) in order to allow faster access to veterans’ records. However, efforts […]

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Sep
19

Veteran homelessness slashed by half in six years

News and Press

The number of homeless veterans in the United States has been reduced by 47 percent since 2010. Data indicates an overall decline of 17 percent in veteran homelessness in 2015 alone. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) annual estimate, there were under 40,000 homeless veterans on a given night in January. […]

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Sep
12

Michigan veteran treks 1000 miles to raise awareness for PTSD

News and Press, PTSD

A Michigan veteran completed a cross-country walk in a mission to raise awareness for veteran suicide and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Fruitport native Marty Wills trekked 1,000 miles to Camp Lejeune, a Marine Corps base in North Carolina. He began the two-month journey in Muskegon on Memorial Day. Wills carried with him an American flag […]

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Aug
31

Virtual reality opens up world of possibilities for PTSD treatment

News and Press, PTSD

Veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may find relief with a new and surprising form of therapy. A clinical psychologist at the University of Southern California Institute of Creative Technologies is using virtual reality to treat the condition. Dr. Albert “Skip” Rizzo spent over a decade designing 14 virtual reality worlds to help veterans […]

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Aug
29

VA study reveals reality of veteran suicide rates

Mental Health, News and Press

Around 20 veterans nationwide committed suicide each day in 2014, according to new statistics released by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in July. The information highlights the mental health crisis facing veterans today. The veteran suicide rate in the United States has commonly been quoted as an estimated 22 per day. Although the figure has been […]

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Aug
26

Sleep disorders are on the rise among veterans

Medical Issues / Disability, News and Press

Sleep is an essential part of a person’s wellbeing. However, many veterans are not getting the sleep they need. Recent research shows sleep disorders have increased six-fold among former service members over the past decade. The largest rise in sleep problems has been linked with patients who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), combat experience or […]

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Aug
24

VA under fire for plan to promote advanced practice nurses

News and Press, Veterans Law

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is facing criticism for a controversial proposal that would allow highly trained advanced practice nurses to treat veterans without a physician’s oversight. The agency said the plan is part of an overall effort to improve veterans’ access to VA health care by reducing long wait times. Patients have […]

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