Veterans & Military

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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Publishes Final Rule to Help Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange

Veterans exposed to herbicides while serving in Vietnam and other areas will find it easier to access quality health care and qualify for disability compensation under a final rule published in the Federal Register.  The new rule expands the list of health problems VA will presume to be related to Agent Orange and other herbicide exposures, which will speed up the application process.  VA is adding Parkinson’s disease and ischemic heart disease and expanding chronic lymphocytic leukemia to include all chronic B cell leukemias, such as hairy cell leukemia. 

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Veterans with Disabilities to Learn Life-Changing Skills at Summer Sports Clinic in San Diego

The third National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), will be held September 19 - 25, 2010 in San Diego, CA.  The event will teach recently-injured Veterans adaptive kayaking, sailing, track and field, cycling and surfing. Participation is open to Veterans who are eligible for VA medical care and have orthopedic amputations, traumatic brain injuries, burn injuries, psychological trauma, certain neurological conditions, visual impairment, spinal cord injuries or other injuries.  A fact sheet about this sports clinic can be downloaded in PDF format.

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Blue Star Mothers of America's Guide to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Guide discusses how to identify and deal with PTSD symptoms, which can include excessive anger, depression and suicidal thoughts.

Defense Centers of Excellence (DCoE) for Psychological Health & Traumatic Brain Injury

A collaborative effort toward optimizing psychological health and traumatic brain injury (TBI) treatment for the Department of Defense. The DCoE establishes quality standards for: clinical care; education and training; prevention; patient, family and community outreach; and program excellence.
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Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Services for Blind & Visually Impaired Veterans

The VA provides rehabilitation programs targeting low vision and blind Veterans, and is also aggressively pursuing innovative service delivery models.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) & Employment

Fact sheet for employers and workforce development professionals that provides answers to frequently asked questions about PTSD and employment.
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Invisible Wounds - Serving Service Members & Veterans with PTSD & TBI

This report describes the less visible psychological and neurological injuries associated with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). The report includes recommendations on improving the treatment and rehabilitation of service members and veterans living with PTSD and/or TBI. This link opens a Word document.

Mental Health Resources for Returning Veterans & Their Families

Information for returning Veterans and their families from the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) about prevention, treatment and recovery support for mental health and substance use disorders. Includes resources for military families coping with trauma.

New DoD Retired Benefits Programs

DoD has two programs designed to reduce the reduction in retired pay due to receipt of Veteran Administration compensation, for certain disabled retirees. Concurrent Retirement and Disability Payments (CRDP) provides a 10-year phase-out of the offset to military retired pay due to receipt of VA disability compensation for members whose combined disability rating is 50% or greater. Members retired under disability provisions must have 20 years of service. Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) pays added benefits to retirees who receive VA disability compensation for combat-related disabilities and have 20 years of service.

Rehabilitation Research & Training Center (RRTC) on Community Integration of Persons with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Center provides information and resources to help people affected by TBI, their families and professionals who work with and treat them in order to maximize their access to services and their participation in their communities.
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Systematic Approach to Social Work Practice - Working with Clients with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

A resource for social workers who encounter clients with TBI in their clinical practice. Helps social workers feel more comfortable and confident in their clinical interactions with clients with brain injury, and to increase their knowledge about TBI. This link opens a PDF document.
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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Agent Orange Web Page & Newsletter

Information about Agent Orange, possible health-related problems and VA benefits.  Prior newsletters on Agent Orange, Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses and Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) Hazardous Exposures are also available.  Subscribe to receive future newsletters by e-mail.

VA Makes Access to Health Care & Benefits Easier for Veterans with PTSD

As President Barack Obama announced in his weekly address, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), led by Secretary Shinseki, will begin to make it easier for Veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to receive the benefits they need. Under the new rule, VA would not require corroboration of a stressor related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity if a VA doctor confirms that the stressful experience recalled by a Veteran adequately supports a diagnosis of PTSD and the Veteran's symptoms are related to the claimed stressor. More than 400,000 Veterans currently receiving compensation benefits are service-connected for PTSD.

VA Suicide Prevention Panel Completes Draft Report

The Blue Ribbon Work Group on Suicide Prevention has completed its draft report on initiatives to prevent suicide attempts and completions. The panel's recommendations include designing a study that will identify suicide risk among veterans of different conflicts, ages, genders, military branches and other factors, and improving VA's screening for suicide among veterans with depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

VA Warns Veterans of Telephone Prescription Scam

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is warning Veterans not to give credit card numbers over the phone to callers claiming to update VA prescription information. Veteran Service Organizations have brought to VA's attention that callers are misrepresenting the VA to gain personal information over the phone. They say VA recently changed procedures for dispensing prescriptions and ask for the Veteran's credit card number. Veterans with questions about VA services should contact the nearest VA medical center or call, toll-free, 1-877-222-8387.