Author Archives: ron
• Lawmakers worry none VA Private care program could be a ‘train wreck’:
Lawmakers from both parties cautioned the Veterans Affairs Department to tread carefully in enacting a law President Trump signed last year to give more veterans access to private sector health care, suggesting the current trajectory could sabotage the entire program. … Continue reading
• 115th Congress – Veteran legislative summary:
Congress was able to send several bills to the president before it concluded the 115th Congress. These included: • S. 2248, a miniature omnibus package, which improves programs for homelessness veterans, transition assistance, veteran-owned small businesses, student veterans, and also … Continue reading
• Legislation (Veteran tax legislation – H.R.1 |-Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Reform Issues):
For the final few months of 2018, Republican lawmakers have built and rebuilt legislation to expand or extend provisions and fix certain flaws in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act which was signed into law by President Donald Trump … Continue reading
VA’s public health approach to suicide prevention focuses on high-risk individuals, emphasizes community-based engagement:
VA’s Suicide Prevention Program recently released this video explaining how the organization is leveraging a public health approach to prevent Veteran suicide. “We often receive questions about what exactly the public health approach is,” said Wendy Lakso, deputy director, partnerships, … Continue reading
Veterans Benefits and Transition Act:
On December 20, 2018 Congress passed the package of veterans bills late Wednesday, known as the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act. The legislation garnered bipartisan support in both chambers. President Trump is expected to sign it into law in coming … Continue reading
After listening to veterans, VA put all its services on one website:
Wednesday, December 19,2018, night, the tech team at the Veterans Affairs Department launched their latest effort to improve the quality of services for former military personnel with the relaunch of VA.gov. Not long after the U.S. Digital Service team at … Continue reading
New research could lead to disability benefits for Vietnam veterans with high blood pressure:
from an article by Leo Shane III New research linking veterans’ high blood pressure with wartime exposure to chemical defoliants could dramatically expand federal disability benefits for tens of thousands of Vietnam-era troops. The findings, from the National Academies of … Continue reading
Gulf War syndrome:
Gulf War veterans with unexplained illnesses that cause fatigue, headaches, respiratory disorders and memory problems can improve their balance with a device developed by Rutgers University researchers. The study is the first to examine how Gulf War illnesses affect veterans’ … Continue reading
New review finds ‘Sufficient’ evidence linking Hypertension to Agent Orange exposure
Researchers with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine found for the first time that enough evidence exists to link hypertension to Agent Orange exposure during the Vietnam War. The finding, announced Thursday, bolsters the case for veterans with … Continue reading
VA claim filing – suggestions for a possible beneficial outcome:
Many Veterans filing a disability claim with VA simply fill in the 21-526EZ, Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits, list the disabilities they are filing a claim for, cross their fingers and hope for the best. Here are … Continue reading