Legal Help for Veterans blog.
Mar
18
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MSHDA grant offers hope to Detroit’s homeless veterans

Employment, Mental Health, News and Press

One of the biggest problems that veterans face today is homelessness. In an effort to reduce homelessness among the state’s veterans in 2016, the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) approved two grants on January 29. The Michigan Veterans Foundation will receive a Housing Development Fund grant of $2 million. The funds will go toward […]

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Mar
10

Detroit Mental Health Issue Study

Medical Issues / Disability, News and Press

Earlier this year, the RAND Research Corporation published their study on the state of affairs for military veterans in the Metro Detroit area. More specifically, the purpose was to identify and propose solutions to the issues that veterans with mental health issues face when seeking out healthcare. The most common barrier to treatment shared by […]

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Mar
08
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New measure seeks to prevent female veteran suicides

Medical Issues / Disability, Mental Health, News and Press, PTSD

Recent research has revealed female veterans face a higher risk of suicide than their male and civilian counterparts. The House passed a bill on February 9 that aims to address the alarming trend among the nation’s growing demographic. Authored by Rep. Julia Brownley, the Female Veterans Suicide Prevention Act will determine which of the Department […]

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Feb
29
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VA’s new policy on robotic legs to help more paralyzed vets walk

Medical Issues / Disability, News and Press, Veterans Law

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it will pay for robotic legs that could help many paralyzed veterans who have spinal cord injuries walk again. ReWalk Robotics makes electronic leg braces with motion sensors and motorized joints that allow individuals to stand upright and walk. The company said the VA’s decision means that injured […]

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Feb
10
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Veterans Face PTS Years After Combat

Mental Health, News and Press, PTSD, Veterans Law

New research sheds light on the lingering effects that post-traumatic stress (PTS) can have on veterans long after they have returned home from deployment. A study of 1,007 Dutch soldiers has found that PTS symptoms among Afghanistan veterans spiked in the six months immediately after their return and resurfaced with greater severity five years later. […]

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Jan
19

Vietnam veterans with PTS are at a higher risk of death

Mental Health, News and Press, PTSD

Vietnam veterans with post-traumatic stress (PTS) have a twofold higher average death rate than those without the disorder. New research suggests that warzone trauma may still negatively impact veterans’ health more than three decades after the Vietnam War. A study by Abt Associates and the Cohen Veterans Center at New York University Langone Medical Center […]

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Jan
18

Thousands of Veterans Compensation Claim Files Handled Improperly

Claims Processing, News and Press

Kristina Derro, Esq. Veteran Advocate The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) recently began to scan and digitally store the multitude of documents received from veterans during the claims process in order to increase efficiency and reduce paper waste. On its face, this idea of a paperless claims process seems to be one of those rare instances […]

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Jan
12

Detroit named worst city for veterans to live in

Employment, Medical Issues / Disability, News and Press

Detroit, Michigan, received the worst overall ranking in WalletHub’s list of the most veteran-friendly cities in the United States in terms of standard of living. The consumer finance site compared 100 of the nation’s most populated cities against 18 criteria including housing affordability, employment growth, health facilities and the number of homeless veterans. Irvine, California, […]

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Dec
29

Student creates app to improve sleep for veterans with PTSD

Mental Health, News and Press, PTSD

For some veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a basic good night’s sleep can often be elusive. A college student has developed a smartphone and smartwatch application that aims to help veterans by preventing night terrors, which are a major symptom of PTSD. Tyler Skluzacek, a senior at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota, was […]

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Dec
20

Wheels for Warriors program provides Michigan veterans with bicycles

Claims Processing, Employment, News and Press

Wheels for Warriors aims to help Michigan veterans who are in need of transportation. The program provides seriously injured soldiers and their families with adaptive vehicles to improve their quality of life. The program was launched by AmeriCorps and the Michigan Region 10 Veterans Community Action Team. Under the collaboration, 15 bicycles have been given […]

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