Many veterans suffer service-related injuries and disabilities that ongoing medical treatment, including lifetime pain management. Even more common than physical wounds are mental health traumas, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression. Powerful, addictive medications, including opioids, are often used to treat these conditions when alternative therapies like medical marijuana could be as effective. Medical marijuana is currently legal in 36 states and the District of Columbia, including in Florida. However, since marijuana is still illegal at the federal level, the VA w ..read more

Beginning on September 1, 2020, the VA moved from TriWest Healthcare Alliance to Optum Public Sector Solutions, Inc., which is part of UnitedHealth Group. While the VA explained that it hopes that veterans’ services will remain uninterrupted, the change will result in many veterans needing to go to a new healthcare provider. While most veterans use the VA for most medical needs, some minor illnesses and injuries may be treated at in-network, non-VA urgent care providers. Learn more about changes and healthcare options here. The post Veterans Administration Makes Changes to Urgent Care Provider ..read more

Measure HB 501, sponsored by state Rep. Mel Ponder, R-Destin, won unanimous support from the Florida House and Senate. The bill was backed by the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs (FDVA) Executive Director Danny Burgess. USF was awarded $200,000 to fund the therapies. Under the bill, the FDVA will be able to partner with Florida universities and other state educational institutions to offer a wide variety of alternative treatments to veterans, including service animal assistance and music therapy. Learn more about the law and read David’s comments here. The post Alternative Therapies for ..read more

Gulf War Veterans, Persian Gulf War, The Global War on Terror (GWOT), Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), Operation Freedom’s Sentinel (OFS) and ongoing conflicts : Gulf War-era II veterans served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces any time since September 2001. In 2015, there were 3.6 million veterans who had served during Gulf War Era II. U.S. combat operations in Afghanistan ended on December 31, 2014. As part of Operation FREEDOM’S SENTINEL (OFS), U.S. forces remain in the country to participate in a coalition mission to train, advise, and assist Afghan Na ..read more

The VA has announced plans to increase its offering of research grants to technology companies in an effort to boost the development of new assistive technology to help disabled veterans overcome the daily challenges they face. The grants, which are termed Specially Adapted Housing Assistive Technology grants, encourage technology companies to develop products that can be placed in veterans’ homes. The grant program was started in 2016 and has already produced several successes. Read the whole release here. The post The Veterans Administration Adds Funding for Adaptive Technology first appeare ..read more

The term “invisible wounds” describes the most common types of injuries those in combat suffer. Rather than obvious physical trauma, which accounts for a small fraction of injuries sustained by service members, invisible wounds refer to injuries like traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder and other moral injuries to the psyche. Advocates believe these injuries help contribute to the rising suicide rate among veterans. Over the last 20 years, over 70 percent of soldiers who have lost their lives have died by suicide, not it combat. Read the full story and Dave Magann’s comments ..read more

Several pieces of legislation are expanding the benefits available to many Florida veterans. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 expanded the covered conditions for veterans to qualify for benefits. The Act, which went into effect on January 1, 2021, allows veterans who suffer from Parkinsonism, bladder cancer and hypothyroidism to be eligible for benefits.  Additionally, the Mission Act extended benefits to certain service members who previously did not qualify because their service came before 9/11. Read about more legislation here. The post Benefits Available to ..read more

A law aimed at expanding benefits for Agent Orange exposure during the Vietnam War will help veterans purchase homes using loans backed by the Veterans Administration (VA). The law took effect on January 1, 2020, and it limits on the amount of VA loans some veterans can get without making a down payment. The law, which is known as the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019, gives VA disability benefits for Agent Orange exposure to veterans who served in ships off the coast of Vietnam during the war. The benefits were previously limited to veterans who served in-country or on island water ..read more

The VA’s general regulations implementing the laws related to Agent Orange are found at 38 C.F.R. § 3.307. Also, specific provisions relating to Agent Orange are found at 38 U.S.C. § 1116. In essence, specific medical conditions are presumed to be related to exposure to Agent Orange in service. The claim will still need to be supported by an adequate medical diagnosis of the condition and proof of those requirements for service location(s) as outlined below. Generally, veterans who served in the Country of Vietnam are presumed to have been exposed, but other types of exposure may require direc ..read more