Patricia E. Kefalas Dudek
Advocate for Elders, People
with Disabilities
and Their Families
Veterans Issues

Legal Links
(Related to my
practice areas)




Articles

360,000 Veterans May Have Brain Injuries (USA Today - 3/5/09)
Pentagon officials estimated for the first time Wednesday that up to 360,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans may have suffered brain injuries. Among them are 45,000 to 90,000 veterans whose symptoms persist and warrant specialized care.

A Guide and an Ally (New York Times - 1/17/10)
Patti's Comments: Honest and sincere story about the importance of a guide dog to a returning veteran.

Benefit Upgrade for Military Veterans With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (HeraldNet - 1/30/10)
More than 4,300 Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans who were diagnosed while still in service as suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, but got low military disability ratings, have won an agreement to upgrade them retroactively to 50 percent.

Can Virtual Worlds Provide Support to Military Amputees? (Reuters - 11/2/09)
Virtual worlds can provide military amputees with an opportunity to enhance their overall quality of life, expedite their reintegration into society, and improve their physical and mental wellness.

Disability Employment Month: Army Helping Wounded Warriers Find Jobs (Army.mil - 10/15/09)
This month the nation observes National Disability Employment Awareness Month and the Army Wounded Warrior Program is focusing on efforts to help more disabled veterans find employment.

Enabling Veterans to Care for Their Special Needs Children (The Hill's Congress Blog - 4/28/09)
Info from Rep. Bill Foster regarding Survivor Benefits, which typically can be transferred to a child. However, current law does not allow military retirees to designate Survivor Benefits to their special needs children through a “blind” special needs trust fund.

Extra Income for Veterans and Spouses Can Help Pay for Care
Many people aren't aware that the VA has a special program, called "Aid and Attendance," that pays additional income to Veterans and their spouses, and to the widows (and widowers) of Veterans.

Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report
Many U.S. veterans are unaware of health care, tax breaks, and other state and federal benefits they are entitled to, according to local liaisons to former troops.

Learning and Memory in Combat Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (American Journal of Psychiatry)
The authors measured the intellectual functioning of 20 male combat veterans with PTSD.

Many Dying Vets Unaware of End-of-Life Benefits (Reuters - 4/17/09)
U.S. military veterans' benefits include palliative care and hospice care, but a small study of terminally ill vets suggests many don't understand these benefits -- or the nature of their own illness.

Nursing Homes for Veterans (3/6/09)
Nursing home coverage along with other long-term care services, such as home care, and assisted living as well as geriatric care management are available through the Veterans Health Administration for qualifying veterans.

The Effect of Military Survivor Benefits on a Child With Special Needs (Academy of Special Needs Planners - 6/30/2008)
When retirement looms, many military families with children with special needs face a decision about whether or not to choose the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) retirement option. Receipt of SBP payments could jeopardize the child's eligibility for SSI and Medicaid.

Thousands of Vets Could Get Benefits Upgrade (New York Times - 1/25/10)
A military review could bring millions of dollars in benefits to thousands of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans discharged with post-traumatic stress disorder.

VA Hospital Upgrades Care for Female Vets (NPR - 2/8/10)
More than 230,000 women have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, but many report that when they return from war, they face another battle at home: getting the care and respect they need at VA hospitals.

VA to Reimburse Vets Who Paid for Nursing Home Care (Newsday.com - 3/3/09)
The Department of Veterans Affairs, stung by criticism that its slow action has forced some severely disabled veterans to spend themselves into poverty, has moved to implement a two-year-old law requiring it to reimburse such veterans for the cost of care at state-run nursing homes.

Veterans' Benefit for Long-Term Care Revealed (Secret Dollars)
One of the Veteran Administration's best-kept secrets, which is an excellent potential source of funds for long-term care (either at home or in an assisted living facility) are veteran's benefits for a non-service connected disability.

Veterans Turn to Online Strangers for Financial Help (NPR - 1/23/09)
A seriously burned veteran posted his story on the web when government compensation wasn't enough.

Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress are at High Risk of Dementia (USA Today - 7/09)
Veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have a significantly higher risk of developing dementia compared with veterans who don't have the disorder, a study reports

Publications

Survival Guide for Veterans (New York Times - 12/18/08)
From Veterans for America, a 599 page guide to veterans' issues, from educational help to vocational rehabilitation: The American Veterans' and Servicemembers' Survival Guide.

Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents and Survivors - 2009
Info on the programs and services provided by the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs.

Organizations & Services

Disability.Gov
Connecting the Disability Community to Information and Opportunities.
Much information about services, benefits and opportunities for affected veterans.

Military.com
This free membership connects servicemembers, military families and veterans to all the benefits of service — government benefits, scholarships, discounts, lifelong friends, mentors, great stories of military life or missions, and much more.

National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs)
Aims to advance the clinical care and social welfare of U.S. Veterans through research, education and training on PTSD and stress-related disorders.

National Resource Directory
An online partnership for wounded, ill and injured service members, veterans, their families and those who support them.

National Veterans Legal Services Program
A nonprofit organization dedicating to ensuring that the government honors its commitment to veterans.

Telemedicine & Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC)
Cutting edge medical technology for soldier healthcare. Since its inception, TATRC has played a prominent role in developing advanced technologies in areas such as: health informatics; medical imaging; mobile computing and remote monitoring; and simulation and training.

Today's GI Bill
Service members and veterans deserve access to high-quality, postsecondary education. It eases the transition into civilian life and ensures lifelong economic and social benefits. Today’s GI Bill is designed to help you make the most of your education benefits by providing clear yet comprehensive guidance.

TriCare
The health care program serving active duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, retirees, their families, survivors and certain former spouses worldwide. As a major component of the Military Health System, TRICARE brings together the health care resources of the uniformed services and supplements them with networks of civilian health care professionals, institutions, pharmacies and suppliers to provide access to high-quality health care services while maintaining the capability to support military operations. TRICARE beneficiaries can be divided into two main categories: sponsors and family members. Sponsors are usually active duty service members, National Guard/Reserve members or retired service members.

Understanding TriCare
As a member of the military community, one of the most important benefits you've earned is comprehensive health care coverage. TRICARE is the Department of Defense's health care program for members of the uniformed services, their families and survivors.

USA Together
A site to bring together injured service members who need assistance and the people who want to help them. Many other links found here offer aid for veterans.

VA Watchdog.org
Keeping an eye on the VA because somebody has to!

Veterans for America
Also known as Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation (VVAF), is uniting a new generation of veterans with those from past wars to address the causes, conduct and consequences of war.

Veterans Resource Center - from National Alliance on Mental Illness

Websites, Blogs, Newsletters

Veterans Family Matters
A newsletter to keep you updated on VA related issues, to provide interesting articles concerning veterans, and to share information relevant to Veterans and to their families.

Veteran's Traumatic Brain Injury Family Caregiver Panel to be Established - Brain Injury News and Information Blog
The Department of Defense gave notice that it intends to establish the Traumatic Brain Injury Family Caregiver Panel as a subcommittee of the Defense Health Board.

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