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Military Records Will Now Show Service Member’s Blast Exposure
U.S military medical records will now document service member’s blast exposures in an attempt to aid and inform future medical treatments and VA benefits eligibility. According to an article published by Connecting Vets, “Troops are often exposed to explosions and the concussive wave that they produce. This can include soldiers who work around artillery, infantrymen…
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Malaria Drug Research Expected to Release Results in March
This year, a panel of researchers and scientists plan to publish the results of a year-long study that looked at anti-malarial drugs given to U.S. troops suspected to have caused serious mental and physical health symptoms. These results are greatly anticipated by former service members and Peace Corps volunteers who claim that their debilitating health…
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Solid Start Program Launched for Newly Separated Veterans
A new initiative launched by the Department of Veterans Affairs promises to contact troops recently separated from the military in order to educate them about benefits and support services available to them. According to an article published by MilitaryTimes.com, “The Solid Start program, which began earlier this month, includes three calls from VA officials to new veterans…
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‘Healing PTSD’ Stamp Raises Funds for Veterans
This month, the United States Postal Service (USPS) released a new commemorative “Healing PTSD” stamp to help veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. The proceeds will be donated to the National Center for PTSD and the Department of Veterans Affairs. According to an article published by the MilitaryTimes, “The image on the stamp, created by Mark…
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New Funding Bill Demands VA to Reveal Plans for Adding Agent Orange Diseases to List
A federal funding bill that was introduced this month will require Veterans Affairs leaders and lawmakers to reveal plans regarding the addition of new diseases to the Agent Orange presumptive conditions list. According to an article published by the Military Times, “The legislation includes a provision requiring VA to report to Congress within 30 days…
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Disabled Vets Exposed to Radiation from 1966 Nuke Disaster Can Sue for Benefits
Last week, an appeals court ruled that disabled veterans exposed to radiation while cleaning up a 1966 nuclear bomb disaster are now eligible to sue for disability benefits for their related illnesses as part of a class-action suit. According to an article published by the AirforceTimes, “The U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims issued…
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New Burn Pit Maps Show Exposure Risk
A new project by the Center for a New American Security and the Wounded Warrior Project is aimed at helping troops calculate their burn pit exposure risk according to their location. According to an article published by MilitaryTimes, “Using the Defense Department’s own records, a team put together two maps, broken down by location, time period…
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New Bill to Recognize Oil Fires and Burn Pits as Health Hazards
In an effort to help ill veterans apply for VA benefits, a bill was introduced last week that would recognize the health hazards that oil fires, burn pits, and other pollution sources pose. According to an article published by MilitaryTimes, “The “Veterans Burn Pit Exposure Recognition” bill, S. 2950, would declare that service members who…
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New Bill Proposes Service Dog Training For Veterans
Two months ago, a bill was introduced that would allow veterans the opportunity to train service dogs to reduce the distress that mental health issues may cause. According to the Military Times, the bill has not yet been voted on however, Republicans have expressed their unanimous support by saying that the bill is a “no-brainer”.…
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New Toxic Exposure Research Initiative to be Launched by the VA
In 2021, a large-scale and extensive research initiative that will focus on environmental exposures in the military and their relation to illnesses affecting veterans will be launched by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). According to an article published by MilitaryTimes, “VA researchers have been speaking with veterans about the environmental toxins they think encountered…
