By Debbie Gregory. A bill sponsored by U.S. Sen. Al Franken and Rep. Tim Walz aimed at tackling the Department of Veterans Affairs benefit-claims backlog that was reintroduced nearly a year ago has passed the House of Representatives. The Quicker Veterans Benefits Delivery Act of 2015 is a bipartisan, bicameral bill that allows local doctors […]
By Debbie Gregory. The good news is that the VA’s claims backlog, a major source of embarrassment for a number of years, has fallen impressively. The bad news is the price tag that goes along with the accomplishment. The cost of VA’s paperless electronic claims network, called the Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS), has already […]
By Debbie Gregory. Family caregivers provide crucial support in caring for veterans. The Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act was signed into law in May, 2010. The law acknowledges the critical role of caregivers for seriously injured post- 9/11 veterans, and establishes a national program that addresses the wellness and training of family caregivers. […]
By Debbie Gregory. “It’s always a good time to hug a veteran. After all a hug is love wrapped up in arms.” So says the Human Hug Project, the vet-hugging team of veterans and volunteers, offering hugs to any fellow Veteran they see. On their mission to spread awareness of PTSD, the vet-hugging team founded […]
By Debbie Gregory. The Defense Department will review more than 1,100 medals issued since the 9/11 terror attacks for possible upgrade to the Medal of Honor, the country’s highest award issued for valor in combat The decision follows a review of the entire military awards process that was started by then-Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel in […]
By Debbie Gregory. The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee has approved the nomination of Washington lawyer Michael Missal to be the new chief watchdog at the troubled Department of Veterans Affairs. The Washington, D.C. attorney, who specializes in government enforcement and internal investigations, was nominated by President in October. Missal would fill a key position at […]
By Debbie Gregory. Practicing transcendental meditation may help active-duty soldiers significantly reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, a new study funded by the David Lynch Foundation’s Operation Warrior Wellness suggests. By reducing the symptoms, soldiers also can reduce their need for medications, the researchers say. The study looked at 74 active-duty service members with PTSD […]
By Debbie Gregory. As man’s best friend, canines provide many benefits to their owners. Besides the physical assistance and companionship, dogs provide many social and emotional benefits to their humans. K9s For Warriors is a non-profit, 501 (c)(3) organization that specializes in obtaining, training and placement of service dogs to our disabled American veterans who […]
By Debbie Gregory. Marine veteran Thomas Brennan, a medically retired sergeant-turned-journalist, wants to ensure that the war stories of his generation are told. To that end, Brennan is launching The War Horse, an independent non-profit journalism site dedicated to chronicling the stories of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The plan for stage one of […]
By Debbie Gregory. While Alaskans technically gained the right to use medical marijuana 18 years ago, there are no state-licensed dispensaries, and only six qualifying illnesses for medical marijuana use, according to NORML. In a bold move to help the state’s veterans, private residents in Alaska are providing cannabis to veterans, free of charge. Alaska Green […]
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