Legal Help for Veterans blog.
News and Press
VA Secretary Bob McDonald testified to the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee that the department has 336 buildings nationwide that are less than half-occupied, many of which are completely unused. The combined maintenance cost for such sites totals above $24 million each year. Secretary McDonald also pointed out that 1,300 of VA facilities are at least […]
READ MORE
Medical Issues / Disability, News and Press
Many veterans who qualify for health coverage from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) do not see the benefit in enrolling in Medicare when they become eligible. In the first place, some parts of the Medicare plan require the payment of a monthly premium. Additionally, many veterans have found their healthcare coverage from the VA […]
READ MORE
News and Press
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) has told Politico that she is planning to push for a new vote on her military sexual assault reform bill. Last year, the senator’s bill was defeated in Congress. Gillibrand’s bill sought to put the decision to prosecute sexual assault cases into the hands of prosecutors, not commanding officers. But those […]
READ MORE
News and Press
The high cost of Sovaldi, a new drug that cures Hepatitis C, could cost the Veterans Administration (VA) $1.3 billion in the next two years. The high cost of the drug could force the agency to make budget cuts in other areas. Chronic Hepatitis C infections can destroy the liver. Eventually, sufferers will require a […]
READ MORE
News and Press
Jackie Knapp has volunteered at the Battle Creek Veterans Affairs Medical Center for nearly 35 years. Knapp offers her support and time to veterans who need someone to talk to about their emotional, physical and economic problems. She has helped veterans from every war since World War II, right up to veterans of the recent […]
READ MORE
News and Press
Brigadier General Carol Ann Fausone (ret.) got involved in the Livonia Public Schools “Inventor’s Contest” – one of the largest partnerships between local businesses and the schools yet. Fausone spoke with contest organizer Chuck Dardas, firing up middle school students for the month-long contest. Chuck Dardas, president of Alpha USA manufacturing facility in Livonia, invited […]
READ MORE
News and Press
A Vietnam veteran died at the Sacramento VA Medical Center in October. A “do not resuscitate” (DNR) armband was incorrectly placed on the patient, but the Veterans Administration (VA) said that the error did not contribute to the death. Family members stated that the patient was Roland Mayo, 65. Mayo was a Vietnam veteran and […]
READ MORE
Claims Processing, News and Press, Veterans Law
After several reports on the horrendous customer service of the Department of Veterans Affairs toward veterans in 2014, the VA is now celebrating some “good news” on that front for 2015: VA officials have settled on a single map of the United States. Pop the Champagne for bureaucratic progress! It should be noted, the Department […]
READ MORE
News and Press, Veterans Law
A new report from Disabled American Veterans has found that female veterans face additional challenges when transitioning to civilian life. According to the report, female veterans are more likely to be unemployed than male veterans or non-veteran women. They are more likely to be homeless than non-veteran women. In addition, fewer resources are available to […]
READ MORE
News and Press
We Veterans had a tough news year in 2014: from the VA hospital scandals and questionable scheduling practices for appointments, to increasingly severe health problems, to rising reports of sexual assault in the military. Yet, despite this seeming roller-coaster of bad news, I am hopeful for our Michigan Veterans in 2015. The two year old […]
READ MORE