Legal Help for Veterans blog.
Mar
20

New Bills Would Give Blue Water Navy Vets Service-Connection for Agent Orange Diseases

Medical Issues / Disability, News and Press, Veterans Law

We want to thank the Blue Water Navy Awareness group for sharing with us two critical pieces of legislation that were recently introduced in Congress. The pair of bills relate to Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans and their ability to get service-connected disability benefits for diseases associated with Agent Orange and other herbicides used during […]

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Mar
11

VA Health Care Investigations Left in the Dark

Claims Processing, News and Press, Veterans Law

The Department of Veterans Affairs picked up another notch on their belt of scandals and mishaps earlier this month. USA Today recently reported that the VA has not publicly released the findings of 140 health care investigations going back to 2006. And so more problems for our veterans continued to fester without proper oversight, leaving […]

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Mar
03

VA Looking at Potential Closure of Out of Date and Half-Occupied Hospitals and Clinics

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 […]

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Feb
27

Veterans Should Sign Up for Medicare When Eligible, Even With Good VA Benefits

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 […]

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Feb
24

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Renews Push for Reform of Military Sexual Assault Prosecutions

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 […]

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Feb
23

New Hepatitis C Cure Could Strain VA Finances

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 […]

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Feb
20

For Nearly 35 Years, Volunteer Jackie Knapp Serves Michigan Veteran Community

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 […]

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Feb
19

The General Encourages Kids to be Inventors

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 […]

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Feb
11

Vietnam Veteran Dies Following Do Not Resuscitate Error

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 […]

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Feb
09

VA Settles on a Single Map of the US in an Effort to Simplify the Agency

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 […]

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