Legal Help for Veterans blog.
Employment, Medical Issues / Disability, Mental Health, News and Press, PTSD
Jim Fausone Veteran Disability Lawyer Former President George W. Bush offered an interesting take on erasing the stigma that comes along with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) for military veterans: drop the “D” in PTSD. At a summit convened on veterans’ issues, the former President said that the condition has been mislabeled a “disorder” and […]
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News and Press
In January, scientists at the University of Kansas Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University announced a new device that may one day restore movement for people with a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The invention offers hope for thousands of combat veterans who suffer from TBI (also known as acquired brain injury). The innovative battery-powered […]
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News and Press
Frequent, deafening noise must rank as one of the great downsides of modern civilization. Unsurprisingly, construction sites, rock concerts, and other disruptive sources of sound have contributed to a significant incidence of tinnitus (often identified as a mysterious ringing in the ears) in the U.S. population. Tinnitus can become either an annoyance or a debilitating […]
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Claims Processing, News and Press
The Department of Veterans Affairs is proposing a major change to the benefits process. Currently, a veteran can send any sort of written note to the VA and it starts a claim or appeal for VA benefits. The reason for this is because the VA system is supposed to be uniquely pro-claimant and make it […]
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News and Press
What should have been a mere $200 fine for failing to appear in court, turned into a case that settled for $45,000 in fines. Judge David M. Murkowski, of the Kent County Probate Court, said that typically when someone fails to appear in court without an excuse, a small fine is imposed. In the case […]
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Medical Issues / Disability, Mental Health, PTSD
When Senator Harry Reid requested more funding to the Department of Defense for research on Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), it became a comedic punch-line in the news and in former Defense Secretary Robert Gates’s recent memoir. However, the link between Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the risk of IBS is a real concern for veterans, […]
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News and Press
A recent report that a one-star general and former commander of the Michigan Air National Guard scammed nearly $200,000 represents a stain on the reputation of military officers in positions of power. Brigadier General Richard G. Elliot, Michigan’s former Air adjutant general, is reported by the inspector general (IG) to have used his public office […]
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Medical Issues / Disability, News and Press
Michigan has a significant concentration of resident veterans – around 700,000. However, in December, it was revealed that Michigan also has the lowest percentage of veterans who utilize benefits and services available to them. According to a report released by the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, only 142,260 veterans use services available to them such as […]
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News and Press
A $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill, passed by the House of Representatives on Wednesday this week, continues to punish the pockets of military retirees. I wrote earlier this month about the budget deal that hurt veterans by eliminating Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) from their pensions – resulting in thousands of dollars taken out of […]
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Claims Processing, Medical Issues / Disability, Mental Health, News and Press
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) linked five more illnesses to traumatic brain injuries (TBI). The good news for veterans suffering from these illnesses, as well as TBI, is that they will have an easier time getting much-needed additional disability benefits. The five conditions linked to moderate to severe TBI were: Parkinson’s disease, certain types […]
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