military

Art workshop offers vets with PTSD an outlet for peace and creativity

Posted on November 7, 2017

Navy veteran Scott Beaty hosts an art workshop every Friday night and Saturday morning at Fontbonne University in St. Louis, Missouri. Many of the veterans who attend experience symptoms of PTSD and appreciate the opportunity to express their feelings in a creative medium. The class is sponsored by Vision for Vets and the coordinators are hoping to expand to more locations. “Everybody here has some kind of disability, but we don’t give a damn,” Beaty said. “It doesn’t matter. We’re family. We’re all in this together. We help each other with our issues.”

Check out this article in the local Illinois paper Belleville News-Democrat to learn more.

 

 

Washington Post

Posted on October 3, 2013

VA Warns Disability Claims Progress “At Risk”

The Department of Veterans Affairs warns the longer the federal shutdown drags on, the more its progress on the backlog of veteran disability claims is hampered. According to this report from the Washington Post, the VA warned Tuesday evening that it can no longer pay overtime to claims processors, an initiative officials credit with decreasing the backlog by 30 percent in the last six months.

In a statement, the VA said, “Due to the government shutdown, this clear progress for veterans and their families is at risk without immediate action by Congress to make fiscal year 2014 funding available.” Read more.

Washington Post

Posted on October 1, 2013

Veterans’ Benefits Will Be Disrupted By Extended Shutdown

Veterans groups are concerned a prolonged government shutdown in Washington could disrupt disability benefits and pension payments. Although the Department of Veterans Affairs has exempted its claims processors from the shutdown in order to deal with the large backlog, the VA confirmed the department will run out of funding by the end of October if a resolution is not passed, according to the Washington Post.

An official with the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America organization said losing the payments would have a devastating impact on severely wounded and disabled veterans whose livelihoods depend on VA benefits.

CBS News

Posted on September 20, 2013

Veterans Dying From Overmedication

The number of pain killers and narcotics being prescribed to veterans returning home has skyrocketed, according to a CBS News report that found some veterans are dying of accidental overdoses at a higher rate than the general public. Meanwhile, VA physicians said they felt pressured by administrators to prescribe narcotics and were concerned patients were not being properly monitored.

According to VA records, the number of narcotic prescriptions written to veterans is up 259 percent over the past 11 years. Read more.

Wall Street Journal

Posted on September 17, 2013

More Details Emerge in Washington Navy Yard Shooting

The suspect in Monday’s deadly shooting at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., had sought treatment for mental health problems from the Department of Veterans Affairs, according to investigators.

Officials said Aaron Alexis, a 34-year-old former Navy reservist, sought treatment for paranoia and told others he had been “hearing voices.” Navy officials also reported behavioral issues, citing up to ten conduct offenses over the course of the four years Alexis spent in the Navy.

Monday’s shooting left 13 dead, including Alexis, and eight wounded. Read more.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

Posted on September 6, 2013

Ignoring Private Ryan

Several directors of VA hospitals around the country were awarded thousands of dollars in bonuses in 2012, all while veterans were exposed to debilitating ailments such as Legionnaire’s disease, hepatitis and mental health issues, some cases resulting in death.

“Going to an American hospital, for a veteran, shouldn’t require more courage than storming the beach at Normandy,” said “Daily Show” host Jon Stewart. Watch now.

News21 ‘Back Home’

Posted on September 6, 2013

Veterans at Greater Risk for Homelessness

Veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are, on the whole, younger than other vets who served prior and they may be at greater risk for homelessness, according to a report from the News21 program.

In particular, post-traumatic stress disorder as well as other mental and behavioral health issues are some of the leading causes of homelessness among post-9/11 veterans. Groups such as Vet Hunters and various shelters are working to find vets and address their issues in an effort to curb homelessness. Read more. 

The Associated Press

Posted on August 30, 2013

Labor Rules to Boost Employment for Vets, Disabled

The national unemployment rate for disabled workers is nearly 15 percent, almost double the rate for the general public. New rules announced by the Labor Department this week could help disabled workers land more jobs, according to the Associated Press.

Under the new requirements, most government contractors will have to meet certain employment standards, having disabled workers make up at least 7 percent of their workforce.

News21 ‘Back Home’

Posted on August 30, 2013

VA Workers Rewarded for Avoiding Difficult Disability Claims

Despite a growing backlog of disability claims and appeals, the Department of Veterans Affairs gave workers millions in bonuses through a system that values quantity over quality, according to an investigative report from the Carnegie-Knight News21 program.

VA claims processors said they were encouraged to avoid complex claims that needed extra work to verify veterans’ injuries and disabilities in order to meet performance standards. As of September 2012, veterans injured on duty waited more than 429 days on average for their claims to be handled while those appealing decisions often waited for years to receive help.

The New York Times

Posted on April 22, 2013

“War and Sports Shape Better Artificial Limbs”

Tremendous advances have been made in the medical field within the past decade, thus making it easier for those who lose limbs either in war or for another reason to regain their physical abilities. James Dao talks with veterans who have lost limbs in various wars, as well as experts and others who emphasized the importance of adaptive sports and other support systems to help those with injuries.