Legal Help for Veterans blog.
Mental Health
A new series of mental health clinics for veterans have opened in an effort to fill a perceived gap in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) system. Over the past three years, the VA has been criticized for long appointment wait times for veterans seeking care and other shortfalls. The new network of clinics seeks […]
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News and Press
Around 600 veterans were told they may have been exposed to hepatitis or HIV while receiving dental care at the Tomah VA Medical Center in Wisconsin. According to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) officials, a VA dentist at the facility failed to properly sterilize his equipment. He re-used his own dental tools instead of following […]
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Employment, News and Press
The House recently passed a bill that would make it easier for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to fire problem workers for misconduct or poor performance. Unlike past VA accountability legislation, the latest proposal would fast-track discipline against all department employees, especially senior executives. House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Miller, R-Florida, introduced the […]
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Mental Health, News and Press
Around 20 veterans nationwide committed suicide each day in 2014, according to new statistics released by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in July. The information highlights the mental health crisis facing veterans today. The veteran suicide rate in the United States has commonly been quoted as an estimated 22 per day. Although the figure has been […]
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News and Press, Veterans Law
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is facing criticism for a controversial proposal that would allow highly trained advanced practice nurses to treat veterans without a physician’s oversight. The agency said the plan is part of an overall effort to improve veterans’ access to VA health care by reducing long wait times. Patients have […]
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PTSD
Counseling and medication may not always be effective treatments for every veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many have found the companionship of a service dog beneficial for managing symptoms. A new bill introduced in the House on March 16 aims to provide wounded warriors with service dogs. Under the Puppies Assisting Wounded Service […]
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Mental Health, PTSD
More than 75 percent of wounded veterans are battling post-traumatic stress (PTS), according to the Wounded Warrior Project’s 2015 Alumni Survey. PTS and traumatic brain injury (TBI) are two of the biggest mental health issues facing veterans today. The organization estimates that over 400,000 veterans suffer from PTS while around 320,000 are dealing with TBI. […]
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Claims Processing, News and Press, Veterans Law
U.S. Senator Gary Peters has introduced legislation to help veterans who may not be receiving all the benefits they are entitled to as a result of being improperly discharged from the military due to behavioral changes. Peters, of Michigan, said the bill would ensure the fair treatment of veterans who were discharged because of behavior […]
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News and Press, Veterans Law
A simple rule change by the Department of Veterans Affairs resulted in a roughly 100 percent increase in the number of veterans eligible for the Veterans Choice Program. The Veterans Choice Program allows eligible veterans to receive health care outside the VA system. One of the criteria for eligibility is living more than 40 miles […]
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News and Press, PTSD
New research published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress suggests that the practice of yoga could help combat veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study examined the effects of Sudarshan Kriya yoga on PTSD patients over the course of one year. Sudarshan Kriya focuses on breathing-based meditation. Twenty-one male Iraq/Afghanistan veterans diagnosed with […]
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