Legal Help for Veterans blog.
News and Press
A common chemical firefighting foam used since the 1970s by the military to extinguish fuel fires has been linked to numerous cancers and other conditions. Many veteran firefighters who now suffer from health problems potentially related to exposure to this foam have been denied disability benefits from the VA despite evidence that supports a link […]
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Medical Issues / Disability
Unlike Social Security, the Department of Veterans Affairs does allow disabled veterans to work while receiving benefits in some cases. As long as you are not receiving Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) benefits, you may be employed and still entitled to pay based on your disability rating. 100 Percent Disability Rating The VA […]
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News and Press
On June 7th, the Supreme Court announced it is up to Congress on deciding whether to change the draft registration law requiring only men to register for the draft. It’s one of the few areas of federal law where men and women are still treated differently. In recent years, bills to require women to register […]
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PTSD
As the national mental health crisis among veterans becomes increasingly dire, researchers are looking for new ways to offer relief. Scientists and politicians alike have recently begun advocating more seriously for psychedelic drugs like “magic mushrooms,” ketamine and ecstasy (MDMA) as viable treatment options for conditions that overwhelmingly affect veterans like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), […]
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Medical Issues / Disability
Legislation recently introduced to Congress would give another group of long-denied veterans healthcare and disability payments from the VA. Should it pass through Congress, the bill would classify the cleanup of the 1966 plane accident over Palomares, Spain, as a “radiation risk activity” and finally grant those involved with VA benefits. The accident occurred when […]
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Medical Issues / Disability, News and Press, Veterans Law
On May 27, 2021, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that they would be adding three new presumptive conditions to the list of Agent Orange exposure disability. The three conditions; Bladder Cancer, Hypothyroidism, and Parkinsonism were added as provisions under the Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116-283). Bladder cancer is a […]
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News and Press
Honey bees and veterans might seem like a bit of an odd couple. Still, according to several programs designed to teach former military members about beekeeping, they might be perfect for one another. Whether as a new hobby or a full-time business, beekeeping can be an excellent opportunity for veterans, especially disabled ones. As far […]
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News and Press
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) recently unveiled the new “Go For Broke” commemorative stamp honoring World War II veterans representing the all-Japanese American 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442 Regimental Combat Team from Kauai. The “Go For Broke: Japanese American Soldiers of World War II” stamp honors the second-generation Japanese Americans, or Nisei, who fought […]
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Veterans Law
A Tennessee senator has blocked the confirmation of four nominees to Veterans Affairs leadership posts. The move comes over lingering comments about the department’s lack of response on the cost and scope of a pending toxic exposure bill that would grant more generous benefits to victims of toxic exposure. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., made the […]
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Medical Issues / Disability, News and Press
On May 14, 2021, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced they would be readjudicating disability claims that were denied prior to the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act, which went into effect on January 1, 2020. Previously, a veteran would have had to serve boots on the ground in Vietnam or on the inland […]
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