Legal Help for Veterans blog.
News and Press
A disabled Army vet from New Jersey will soon be paid $40,000 in back benefits from the Veterans Administration. Ronald Choplinski, 71, was awarded the money after the VA Board of Veterans’ Appeals decided in January 2018 to upgrade the severity of his disability and that he should have been compensated for it earlier than […]
READ MORE
PTSD
A new study recently published by the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation found that veterans and active–duty military personnel with combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder and mild traumatic brain injuries have larger amygdalae than others who only have brain injuries. The amygdala is the area of the brain associated with emotions, especially fear, anxiety, anger and […]
READ MORE
Mental Health
Early April, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie said that the entire government was focused on reducing the rate of suicide among veterans. This statement comes in the wake of several suicides committed outside VA clinics and much turmoil within the agency. Instead of seeing suicide as a stand-alone issue, Wilkie said that the government […]
READ MORE
Medical Issues / Disability
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most common injuries sustained by veterans and it can have a profound effect on their daily lives. Around 384,000 service members and veterans have suffered a TBI and a third of them are left with a disability. Some require regular care from a loved one. A new […]
READ MORE
News and Press
Volunteers are needed to test out a new app designed to support survivors of loss within the military community through their grief. The Department of Defense is seeking study participants who could benefit from the program and provide feedback. The Stepping Forward in Grief Study is being developed by Uniformed Services University and Columbia University […]
READ MORE
News and Press
In a move that could potentially give veterans more choices than ever in their own medical care, the VA has proposed a new set of guidelines that would expand eligibility for health care in the private sector. Under the new standards, veterans who live more than 30 minutes away from a VA facility or who […]
READ MORE
News and Press
Members of Congress have introduced legislation that could push Veteran’s Affairs-conducted research on medical marijuana to treat ailments that commonly affect veterans, like post traumatic stress disorder and chronic pain. The VA has been hesitant to formally study how cannabis could treat these conditions. Officials from the organization claim that the federal classification of marijuana […]
READ MORE
PTSD
New research published by American Heart Association has found that post traumatic stress disorder alone does not cause an increase in cardiovascular disease in veterans with the condition. There has long been an association between the two. Participants in the study were all veterans who received care at VA clinics and were between the ages […]
READ MORE
GI Bill
The GI Bill is one of the nation’s best tools for helping military veterans to successfully transition from active duty to civilian life. Many have used the GI Bill to advance their education and greatly improve their lives and those of their family members. Sadly, a new federal report suggests billions of dollars are being […]
READ MORE
PTSD
Qualifying for VA benefits due to traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) soon might become more difficult. Medical experts say PTSD often reveals itself via emotional responses, including those tied to avoiding situations and experiences that most resemble the prior trauma. Such situations can trigger PTSD flashbacks and emotional outbursts. Frequently, […]
READ MORE