OEF/OIF/OND combat Veterans can receive cost free medical care for any condition related to your service in your theater of operation for five years after the date of your discharge or release.

For this reason, combat Veterans are strongly encouraged to apply for enrollment within their enhanced eligibility period, even if no medical care is currently needed.

Your 5-year enrollment period begins on your discharge or separation date from Active Duty military service, or in the case of multiple call-ups, your most recent discharge date.

Comprehensive VA health benefits — including preventative care, mental health care, prescriptions, emergency and surgical care — are available to all Veterans (usually with a co-pay).

Register now! http://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/apply/returning_servicemembers.asp

Take a couple moments to visit the website and watch some of the videos. If you find the site valuable, you can help by linking to the campaign. Additionally if you know of a Veteran who is going through any the situations explained, please forward the appropriate video to them so they can view how a fellow Veteran found the care and support they needed to improve their lives.

This is just one of the videos you will find there…

National Veterans Day Program To Give Away 36,000 Canes

Free of Charge to Those Who Served

Small Georgia Based Company Honors U.S. Military Veterans

U.S. Military Veterans will be honored this Veterans Day in a national program in which 36,000 state of the art folding canes will be given free of charge to Veterans in need of mobility assistance. “Hugo Salutes Our Veterans” will give out Hugo^® Folding Canes to U.S. Military Veterans at all U.S. Sam’s Club locations nationwide from November 9, 2011 through Veterans Day, November 11, 2011. Sam’s Club Membership is not required. Proof of U.S. military service may be required to be eligible.

Hugo Salutes Our Veterans is a patriotic annual tradition launched by AMG Medical Inc., an Alpharetta, Georgia headquartered company. AMG Medical started the program in 2007, giving out 5,000 canes to honor the parents and relatives of the company’s employees who served in the U.S. military. Hugo Salutes grew to 25,000 canes in 2009 and 36,000 canes in 2010. This year, with the backing of Hugo, Sam’s Club, Os-Cal, Tums, MegaRed, Move Free, Aleve, Zantac 150, Neosporin, Band-Aid, Gas-X, Centrum Men’s and Centrum Women’s, Hugo Salutes Our Veterans will again give out 36,000 Hugo Folding Canes over three days, November 9, 10 and 11, 2011, while supplies last. Each Sam’s Club location will have 60 Hugo Folding Canes to give out and they will be available on a first-come basis. To find a Sam’s Club near you, visit SamsClub.com.

The Hugo Folding Cane that will be given out retails for $29.99 and is a beautiful patriotic blue. Its ergonomic soft-grip handle provides superior comfort, is appropriate for both left and right hand users and includes a wrist strap for extra confidence. Sturdy, functional and stylish, the Hugo Folding Cane has multiple settings to accommodate people between 5’ and 6’3” in height. The cane automatically unfolds and locks into place for use. To store, the cane conveniently folds into four sections.

Philip delBuey, Global President of AMG Medical Inc., said, “For all of us at AMG Medical, Hugo Salutes Our Veterans is a way to express our deepest appreciation to all Veterans for their selfless contributions to our country. Our company’s mission is all about helping people stay active and connected to family, friends and their community. With this year’s program, we will have given out more than 100,000 canes. We hope that many Veterans will benefit from Hugo Salutes this year.”

“The Department of Veterans Affairs is grateful for the generosity of citizens and businesses that honor the service and sacrifice of Veterans and their families. Actions such as those of Hugo Folding Cane, which has been involved in this effort for a number of years, are appreciated by VA because they support VA’s mission to honor our Nation’s promises to America’s heroes,” said Josh Taylor, Press Secretary for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

AMG Medical Inc., (www.amgmedical.com) offers a wide selection of safe, high quality and innovative durable medical equipment products, including Hugo^® Anywhere, Airgo^® Mobility, AquaSense^® Bath Safety, PhysioLogic^® Fever-Bugz^® Stick-On Fever Indicators, SlumberCare^® Pillows and MedPro^® Personal Care brands, available at retailers nationwide.

For additional information about the Hugo Salutes Our Veterans program, please visit www.HugoSalutes.com.

By Tom Berger

The average age of the Vietnam Veteran is 64.  As we reach 65, we find ourselves eligible for a host of programs tailored to seniors, programs like Medicare.  While those of us who get our health care at Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers or clinics, there is little practical effect on us as we reach this milestone. For the almost 70 percent of Vietnam veterans who do not use the VA for health care services, however, the escalating costs of care is a very real consideration.

The good news for those who use the VA is that the funds Congress had appropriated for VA health care will not take much of a hit this fiscal year.  For those who have not enrolled in the VA health care system and who take a variety of prescription drugs, Medicare average prescription drug premiums will not increase in 2012. New data from the Department of Health and Human Services indicate that 900,000 Medicare beneficiaries who hit the prescription drug “donut hole” have received a 50 percent discount on their prescription drugs. In addition, 17 million Medicare beneficiaries have received free preventive services this year.

Under the Affordable Care Act, people with Original Medicare can receive preventive benefits and a new annual wellness visit at no cost.  And the Affordable Care Act is closing the prescription drug donut hole by providing increasing discounts on covered brand-name drugs. In fact, according to HHS, the dollar amount of out-of-pocket savings on drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries has risen to $461 million saved through this past June.

HHS also announced that the cost of the average Medicare prescription drug plan premium in 2012 will be about $30. The average premium in 2011 is $30.76.  The announcement was based on bids submitted by Part D plans for the 2012 plan year.

National and regional premium data on drug costs can be found online at: www.cms.gov/MedicareAdvtgSpecRateStats/RSD/list.asp.

For state-by-state information on the number of Medicare beneficiaries who have seen lower out-of-pocket costs in the donut hole, you can go to www.cms.gov/newmedia/03_partd.asp.

And for state-by-state information on utilization of free preventive services and the annual wellness visit, you can visit http://www.cms.gov/newmedia/02_preventive.asp.

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has embarked on a major initiative to reach out to women Veterans in order to solicit their input on ways to enhance the health care services VA provides to women Veterans.

“We are taking a proactive approach to enhancing VA health care for women Veterans,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “We are seeking the input of women Veterans so that VA can continue to provide high quality health care to the growing numbers of women Veterans.”

Representatives at VA’s Health Resource Center (HRC) are placing calls to women Veterans nationwide, asking them to share their experiences with VA and suggest potential enhancements that will further VA’s mission to provide the best care anywhere.

Women Veterans are one of the fastest growing segments of the Veteran population. Of the 22.7 million living Veterans, more than 1.8 million are women. They comprise nearly 8 percent of the total Veteran population and 6 percent of all Veterans who use VA health care services.

VA estimates by 2020 women Veterans will constitute 10 percent of the Veteran population and 9.5 percent of VA patients. The HRC, which started placing calls on June 1, is contacting women Veterans who have enrolled, but have not begun using VA services.

“Through this contact center, we are placing friendly, conversational calls to women Veterans,” said Patricia Hayes, chief consultant of the VA’s Women Veterans Health Strategic Health Care Group. “We want these Veterans and their caregivers to talk candidly about why they are not using VA, whether they are aware of the gender-specific services we offer, and what additional services they would like to see VA offer.”

The HRC representatives making the calls are also informing women Veterans about the services VA offers and quickly connecting them with appropriate departments if they are interested in trying VA health care. Veterans who have complaints about VA are connected to a patient advocate who helps resolve issues.

VA has trained professionals in all aspects of women’s health, including general primary care, osteoporosis management, heart disease, mental health care, menopausal services and obesity-related issues, such as diabetes. Preventive screenings for breast and cervical cancer are also areas in which VA excels. Soon, all VA facilities will offer comprehensive primary care for women from a single provider.

The Women Veterans Health Care program has made significant changes in the last few years to enhance the health care offered to eligible women Veterans. This progress includes:

• Adopting key policies to improve access and enhance services for women Veterans;
• Implementing comprehensive primary care for women Veterans;
• Conducting cutting-edge research on the effects of military service on women’s lives;
• Improving communication and outreach to women Veterans; and
• Providing mental health, homelessness and other services designed to meet the unique needs of women Veterans

Marc Whitehead is the founding partner of Houston disability law firm, Marc Whitehead & Associates. His lawfirm helps with Long Term Disability & ERISA, Bad Faith Insurance, Social Security (SSI) and Veterans Disability law.

The Department of Veterans  Affairs (VA) has added Parkinson’s disease and ischemic heart disease to  the list of “presumptive illnesses” related to Agent Orange exposure.  In addition, VA expanded the presumption for chronic lymphocytic  leukemia to include all chronic B-cell leukemias, such as hairy cell  leukemia. These conditions are presumed to be service-connected to  herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

Vietnam Veterans with these illnesses are able to claim VA disability  benefits and health care services without having to prove that their  conditions are connected to Agent Orange exposure. The new policy, took  effect in late 2010, and applies to Veterans who served in Vietnam  anytime during the period beginning January 9, 1962, and ending on May  7, 1975. It does not apply to Veterans who only served on “Blue Water”  Navy ships in the region.

The VA already presumes that the following conditions are Agent Orange related:

Adult Fibrosarcoma

AL Amyloidosis (also known as Primary Amyloidiosis)

Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma

Angiosarcoma

B-cell Leukemias

Birth Defects

Cancer of the Brochus

Cancer of the Larynx

Cancer of the Lung

Cancer of the Prostate

Cancer of the Trachea

Chloracne

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Clear Cell Sarcoma of Aponeuroses

Clear Cell Sarcoma of Tendons

Congenital Fibrosarcoma

Dermatofibrosarcoma

Ectomesenchymoma

Epithelioid Malignant Leiomyosarcoma

Epithelioid Maligent Schwannoma

Epithelioid Sarcoma

Extraskeletal Ewing’s Sarcoma

Hairy-cell Leukeima

Hemangiosarcoma

Hodgkin’s Disease

Infantile Fibrosarcoma

Ischemic Heart Disease

Leiomyosarcoma

Liposarcoma

Lymphangiosarcoma

Lymphoma

Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma

Malignant Giant Cell Tumor of the Tendon Sheath

Malignant Glandular Schwannoma

Malignant Glomus Tumor

Malignant Hemangiopericytoma

Malignant Mesenchymoma

Malignant Schwannoma with Rhabdomyoblastic

Multiple Myeloma

Non- Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Parkinson’s Disease

Peripheral Neuropathy

Porphyria Cutanea Tarda

Proliferating (systematic) Angiendothelimatosis

Rhabdomyosarcoma

Sarcoma

Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Spina Bifida

Subacute Peripheral Neuropathy

Synovial Sarcoma

Type 2 Diabetes (also known as Diabetes Mellitus)
For more information on the Veterans Administration Disability  Compensation Program and how to pursue your VA claim visit our website  at<strong> </strong><a href=”http://www.disabilitydenials.com/”><strong>www.DisabilityDenials.com</strong></a>

Through the Department of Veterans Affairs family caregivers of seriously ill and/ or injured veterans may now be eligible to receive new and enhanced benefits. The Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 was signed in May 2010 by President Obama which established new supporting services for caregivers of certain Post 9/11 veterans.

“Caregivers make tremendous sacrifices every day to help Veterans of all era who served this nation,” stated Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “They are critical partners with the VA in the recovery and comfort of ill and injured veterans, and they deserve our continued training, support, and gratitude.”

Under the new and enhanced available benefits granted by the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act, caregivers of Veterans will be able to gain access to:

• The VA toll-free Caregiver Support Line 1-855-260-3274
• Education and training programs regarding caring for Veterans at home
• Counseling, support groups, and referral services
• A caregivers’ website

Caregivers of the most severely ill and injured Post 9/11 Veterans may be eligible for additional benefits. These additional VA benefits include:

• A monthly stipend
• Health care
• Respite care
• Counseling and other mental health services
• Travel expenses accrued while accompanying veterans during treatment

Although some of the benefits are available now, the benefits exclusive to caregivers of the seriously injured and ill will require the issuance of regulations. Because these benefits are designed to prevent the institutionalization of a veteran if possible, they will require stricter requirements for caregiver eligibility as stated by law.

“DAV is happy to hear that caregivers of Veterans are getting additional support and services to care for our Nation’s heroes and unprecedented new services for our most recent severely ill and injured,” stated David W. Gorman, the executive director of the Washington Headquarters of the Disabled American Veterans. “We understand there are challenges to implementing the new law; including ensuring that critically ill and injured Veterans of all eras are similarly supported.”

For caregivers interested in applying for the new or enhanced benefits while caring for their ill or injured veteran, they are advised to speak with a knowledgeable caregiver support coordinator designated to their local VA medical center.

H.R. 1, the full-year Continuing Appropriations Act of 2011, is set to eliminate $75 million for approximately 10,000 new permanent supportive housing vouchers for homeless veterans.

These HUD-VA Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers represent a collaboration between the Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) to help chronically ill veterans who are not able to obtain and maintain housing without assistance. A vote on this bill is expected by the end of the day.

The vouchers were approved by both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees in the 111th Congress, and would bring the HUD-VASH program to the 40,000 voucher level.

The VASH program is one of the most critical elements of the Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness among veterans by 2015.

VA had included funding for program expansion in its FY 2011 budget, and the Senate Appropriations Committee inserted funding for 10,000 new vouchers in its HUD funding bill. Both actions spurred hope that the number of homeless veterans – estimated at 107,000 – would continue to decline.

Vietnam Veterans of America urges you to contact your senators and representatives NOW and object to any move that would eliminate approved HUD-VASH program funding for new vouchers from this years continuing appropriation act for 2011 and all future budget proposed by the 112 Congress.

We must all do our part to protect these brave soldiers please contact your member NOW and object to any cuts in services for our homeless veterans.