Legal Help for Veterans blog.
Jan
13

Doctor Looking Outside Pentagon for PTSD Study Funds

PTSD

A Chicago doctor has made advances in a revolutionary treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, but the Army has told him he has to do more thorough research before the U.S. government will help fund the treatment’s clinical trial. Dr. Eugene Lipov believes PTSD can be treated by injecting an anesthetic into a grouping of […]

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Dec
19

Drone Operators’ Mental Illness

Claims Processing, Mental Health, PTSD

After hearing from thousands of veterans, I know that the stress of military life and war impact every veteran. Over the next decade, I can only imagine the disability claims that will be submitted by drone operators.  It is probably predictable that the VA will deny these claims because the service members were not in combat.  […]

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Nov
28

PTSD Controlled by a Shot?

News and Press, PTSD

By Jim Fausone Veterans Disability Attorney The number of troops that return with PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), can range as high as 30% of the force in combat.  Some veterans suffer mild PTSD and with counseling and support can get past it. Many others are debilitated by the effects of war and post-traumatic stress.  A Chicago based […]

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Aug
23

PTSD Drug Fraud

Mental Health, PTSD

by Jim Fausone Veteran Disability Lawyer VA seems to try all kinds of quack medicine to “fix” veterans with PTSD.  Another situation has arisen that an anti-psychotic drug used to treat PTSD has no more effect than a sugar pill.  VA spent $717 million for this ineffective drug over the last decade.  Risperidone is the […]

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Jun
13

Stiggy’s Dogs: “Rescuing One to Help Rescue Another”

News and Press, PTSD

by Kristina Derro Veterans Disability Lawyer The staff at Legal Help for Veterans had some phenomenal visitors this past week! Members of Stiggy’s Dogs came to visit! Stiggy’s Dogs was created in memory of Benjamin Phillip (“Doc Stiggy”) Castiglione, a Marine who dedicated his life to preserving and improving the physical and emotional health of […]

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Apr
28

App for That

PTSD

by Jim Fausone Veteran Disability Lawyer I knew it was coming.  VA now has an app for that.  It recently announced an app for PTSD. The government application for smart phones is called  “PTSD Coach” and users can track their PTSD symptoms, links them with local sources of support, provides accurate information about PTSD, and teaches helpful […]

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Apr
11

TBI & Purple Heart

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

There are two important points here:  (1) you are entitled to a Purple Heart if you suffered a TBI as a result of enemy action and (2) because Purple Heart status entitles you to special treatment by VA, it is important to receive the Purple Heart.  Military Uniform Regulations currently call for awarding Purple Heart […]

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Jan
17

More Depression than PTSD

Claims Processing, Mental Health, PTSD

by Jim Fausone Veteran Disability Attorney Once again showing the differences between men and women in combat, VA recently reported that women appear more susceptible to depression than PTSD. The study looked at 246,976 veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and 246,080 who served elsewhere. Among those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, about […]

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Jan
04

Pregnant Veterans At Risk

Mental Health, News and Press, PTSD

by Jim Fausone Veterans Lawyer A new study may be of help to veterans when making their PTSD claim. Female veterans who become pregnant may be at more risk for mental health disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety, a study finds. VA commissioned a 5 year study. Among the study participants, 32% […]

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Nov
15

PTSD & Physical Ailments

Mental Health, PTSD

by Jim Fausone The VA often funds research that is helpful in understanding complex medical conditions.  VA and Stanford University completed a large study that shows that among younger veterans enrolled in VA health care, those with a mental health condition—especially posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)—tend to have more physical ailments.  The results, published online Sept. 18 in […]

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