When a married Veteran dies due to a condition related to their military service, their surviving spouse (and sometimes their children) is eligible to receive DIC- a monthly payment from the VA for the remainder of their lives. However, where Veterans were exposed to Agent Orange decades ago, yet were only recently diagnosed with cancer, survivors are often unaware of the fact that they may be owed DIC payments from the VA. Continue reading “What Surviving Spouses of Agent Orange-Exposed Veterans Need to Know”
Author: Mike Sepanik
Informed Consent: Did Your VA Medical Provider Warn You of the Risks?
VA Medical Centers provide care to more patients than any other single provider in the United States. Due to the large number of physicians and medical specialists employed by the VA, the VA sometimes fails to obtain a patient’s informed consent prior to performing a proposed medical procedure. Continue reading “Informed Consent: Did Your VA Medical Provider Warn You of the Risks?”
Veterans of Iraq/Afghan Conflicts Get Benefits for Burn Pit and Toxic Air Exposure
Many Veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan have suffered unexplained symptoms of shortness of breath. Until recently, those symptoms were denied by the VA, as oftentimes Pulmonary Function Testing (“PFTs”) for those Veterans returned “normal” results. Recently, however, lung biopsies taken from Veterans have linked constrictive bronchiolitis directly to exposure to burn pits, toxic air and debris, and repeated exposure to sandstorms. (504) 235-4075
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Federal Circuit Rules That Pain Alone Can Constitute a Disability
In Saunders v. Wilkie, 886 F.3d 1356 (Fed. Cir. 2018), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit overturned prior precedent holding that pain alone (without an identifiable condition) does not constitute a disability upon which service connection may be granted. Continue reading “Federal Circuit Rules That Pain Alone Can Constitute a Disability”
What to Do When VA Claims an Overpayment is a Debt
VA issues tens of thousands of payments each month; and sometimes, the payments are miscalculated. If a Veteran is paid more than they are owed by the VA, the VA will claim that the Veteran is indebted to the VA in the amount of the alleged overpayment. Continue reading “What to Do When VA Claims an Overpayment is a Debt”
Don’t Let a Faulty VA Exam Sink Your Claim
It is not uncommon for a VA disability claim to be awarded five, ten, or even twenty years after it is originally filed. It’s no secret– VA claims often take a very long time. However, so long as the “claim stream” is kept alive by meeting all time deadlines for filings and appeals, upon service-connection, a Veteran will receive a back benefits award equaling the monthly payments owed since the time they first filed for benefits. Continue reading “Don’t Let a Faulty VA Exam Sink Your Claim”
VA “Whole Health” Program To Offer Drug-Free PTSD Healing
The Veterans Yoga Project works in concert with the VA, coordinating yoga and meditation classes across the country. Yoga and mindful resilience training is moving into mainstream mental health treatment programs at the VA, which is rolling out a national “whole health” program for veterans, offering tai chi, yoga and other alternative mental health therapies….Please click the link below to access the full article.
http://www.ktvu.com/news/alameda-nonprofit-provides-yoga-for-veterans-with-ptsd
New Report Slams VA Choice Program
About one-third of VA outpatient medical appointments now take place outside VA facilities, but a new report shows that private referrals still involve lengthy wait times….Please click the link below to access the full article.
Veterans Tip: Applying For PTSD Benefits
Veterans commonly apply for PTSD benefits without specifically identifying additional mental health diagnoses and symptoms. Even if certain symptoms among PTSD, TBI and other mental health conditions overlap, the VA is required to consider the additional mental health diagnoses and symptoms; meaning that a claim for PTSD is rightfully a claim for any mental disability that is supported by a Veteran’s symptoms. Continue reading “Veterans Tip: Applying For PTSD Benefits”
Shoulder-Fired Weapons Linked to Traumatic Brain Injuries
Military personnel may be endangering their brains when they operate certain shoulder-fired weapons, according to an Army-commissioned report released recently. These bazooka-like weapons pose a hazard because they are powered by an explosion just inches from the operator’s head… Please click the link below to access the full article.