In addition, the VA is creating a group of experts who will be responsible for reviewing the current life insurance program. Prudential Financial, Inc. covers the program, which includes accounts similar to money-market accounts that are put in place to help surviving family members of deceased military men and women cover funeral and other costs.

A spokesperson for Prudential says that the company “continues to work with VA to address the concerns that have been raised’ regarding the handling of these accounts.

In July, the mother of a soldier who was killed in Afghanistan went public with concerns that she was being “misled” by the VA, which prompted NY Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to call for further investigation of the current death benefit practices. Right now, Prudential places earnings into money-market-esque accounts belonging to military members and then provides the beneficiary with a checkbook that they can use to withdraw funds. If the beneficiary wants, they can write a check immediately and deposit the money into a different account. Some prefer to receive a check in the mail, but this is only done by request.

Beneficiaries receive interest rates dictated by the money-market industry, and Prudential guarantees a minimum rate of over 0.5 percent per year. They have provided the military with life insurance services for over 45 years. The Alliance Accounts were introduced in 1999. A letter introducing the program promised to “better serve beneficiaries.”

Some critics of the death benefit accounts offered by the VA and Prudential say that they are “deceptive” because they allow the insurers to hold off on paying the benefits while they earn investment gains on the funds.

About 60,000 accounts are currently active, and the money within is guaranteed to be “secure” and “available” at any time to the beneficiary. The military offers coverage up to the amount of $400,000 per military member.

The recent letters distributed to beneficiaries more clearly described the offerings of the Alliance Account and provided additional information to those concerned about their account.

Project Salute has hosted over 65 clinics for vets in 2010, and they have 35 more scheduled for the fall, according to the project’s executive director, Tammy Kudialis.

“More than 36,00 troops have been wounded in action, and all of those veterans need our help,” she says. “You may think of the Veterans’ Administration helping older veterans who served in Vietnam, Korea and even World War II but Afghanistan is the longest running war in U.S. history.”

Kudialis believes that the work of Project Salute sends an important message of support to the veterans they assist,

“They had our back when our country needed defending,” she says, “And now we need to have their back. That’s why we do this.”

As the number of men and women returning home and becoming veteran’s increases, the work of these kinds of veteran-assistance organizations is crucial. Many of the vets that receive help from Project Salute are suffering from various illnesses and require medical help – help that many of them could just not afford without disability and pension checks. Most vets currently receiving aid from the project are Vietnam vets, but Kudialis expects that to change. Often, a veteran becomes ill and needs help maneuvering the VA system in order to obtain the benefits they desperately require, and that’s where Project Salute shines.

The project’s volunteer lawyers and law school students host monthly training programs on the web for other potential volunteers, which provide training on the many ways they can assist the veterans. About one hundred second and third-year law students from the University of Detroit participate in the project, and many handle client cases on their own. Volunteers, though, come from a diverse background: there are corporate attorneys from firms on the Fortune 500 list, and there are lawyers operating their own, smaller firms.

Many of the volunteers are family members of veterans or members of the military who are currently serving. Volunteer training is available online in either eight-hour or three-hour programs. There is undoubtedly a lot to learn about the numerous services offered to vets through the VA.

There are an estimated 90,000 new cases filed by vets seeking benefits annually, and more than 200,000 cases are currently pending. “Seeing some of these cases makes you feel heartbroken,” Kudialis says.

That’s why, this fall, Project Salute will continue its mission to assist Michigan veterans, and will be present at two big upcoming events: one in Kalamazoo in October and another coming up in Detroit next month. A group of volunteers from Ford will also be training new volunteers at the Detroit VA Hospital and Center this fall. Vets will have the opportunity to meet with lawyers who can answer questions about navigating the VA benefits system. The project will also be assisting clients at Highland Park’s Piquette Square, a housing development built solely to house veterans.

The project makes its way across the country in their “Mobile Law Office,” or MLO, a thirty-one foot traveling office donated by General Motors. Since 2008, the MLO has allowed Project Salute to connect with veterans in thirteen states, twenty-two cities, across a 35,000 mile span. Kudialis’s father drives the MLO, and her mother handles the administrative duties. Her husband, a Navy veteran, is also a part of Project Salute.

The MLO allows law students to become directly involved with clients, and now, across the nation, Project Salute has connected with many attorneys who are willing to provide free legal services to the project’s veteran clients. Kudialis hopes to continue establishing partnerships with attorneys willing to work for free.

“It’s a program that is so necessary, and yet you may not think of [it] when you’re looking for pro bono work as a lawyer,” she says.

The next online training seminar for attorneys will be September 23^rd, and those interested can register for this and other webinars by visiting the Project Salute Events page. You can also make a donation by visiting their website.

Thanks to the Traverse City Record-Eagle for sharing this story.

To connect with us, visit our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter for more veteran-focused health news.

Also on the agenda were discussions about health care and the transition from active duty back into civilian life. The symposium was sponsored by Health Net Federal Services. This year, it was held in tandem with the AMVETS 66^th National Convention, which is attended by veterans of all ages along with their children, spouses and even grandchildren.

The goal of the symposium was to “meet the changing needs of a new generation of wartime veterans.” Steve Tough of Health Net said that “we commend AMVET’s dedication to being a leader in the discussion by recommending opportunities to better serve veterans returning from current conflicts.”

A diverse group of post-9/11 vets were invited to participate in a number of forums in an effort to pinpoint the issues facing the newest group of veterans (the last symposium was held in ’06). The outcome was a report that will serve as a guide for various veteran-support agencies. Vets held discussions in small group settings and focused on issues including the G.I. Bill, PTSD and suicide prevention, and women’s health care.

Many veterans did not have to pay out of pocket to attend the symposium, as their attendance costs were sponsored by donors.

Back in 2006, the report following the symposium revealed much different challenges and issues for veterans, but some recurring issues included struggles to obtain health care benefits, delayed payments for veteran college tuition, pay rate discrepancies following their return to the workforce, and general issues obtaining and keeping a civilian job.

While these are all present issues for post-9/11 vets, the issue of mesothelioma and other cancers that may be tied to exposures sustained during military service may not arise for decades. Mesothelioma cancer is a disease that WWII veterans are especially familiar with (and at least 30% of vets diagnosed happened to be Navy vets!), as asbestos exposure was prevalent during WWII. Mesothelioma takes years to develop and once a vet is diagnosed, treatment options like chemo are just a matter of keeping the patient comfortable and trying to delay the inevitable for as long as possible.

Perhaps at the 2050 symposium, veterans who joined the military following 9/11 and had been living as civilians for decades will be discussing their new concerns about asbestos cancer. For now, veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, where asbestos exposure still occurs, can remain hopeful that by the time they are in their seventies or eighties, there will be a mesothelioma cure. Those who find themselves struggling with this disease now are sadly not as fortunate.

For more information about this year’s symposium, visit AMVETS.org. To learn about the many ways in which military asbestos exposure impacts vets, visit our Veterans and Mesothelioma section.

Almost 700,000 men and women participated in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm between 1990 and 1991, during the Gulf War. Since their return, a quarter of these vets have developed illnesses believed to be related to toxic exposures sustained during the Gulf War conflict. The VA calls these diseases “Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses.”

Vets who suffer from these illnesses are eligible for VA healthcare benefits and disability compensation. Many of the illnesses Gulf War vets face are, according to the VA, unexplainable, but research has shown that exposure to burn pits, depleted uranium, pesticides, biological and chemical warfare agents, oil well fire smoke, petroleum, anti-nerve agents, [Pyridostigmine bromide] and several different vaccinations, including anthrax and botulinum toxoid may be the cause of illness in Gulf War vets.

Gulf War vets can receive a health examination that will determine their eligibility to receive healthcare for illnesses associated with their service from the VA. It’s free of cost, very comprehensive, and following the exam, a VA healthcare professional will discuss the results with you, face-to-face. Illnesses associated with the above exposures include but are not limited to:

Fibromyalgia

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Symptoms of these and other related diseases include weight loss, cardiovascular problems, ongoing fatigue, headaches, muscle and joint pain, respiratory problems, sleep disorders, gastrointestinal problems, menstrual issues in female vets, neurological issues, and more.

As a new category of Gulf War veterans – those who have served in OEF/OIF - the VA is continuing to monitor Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses. Vets in Iraq and Afghanistan endure many of the same exposures mentioned previously, but may also develop illnesses as a result of exposure to CARC paint, chromium, and toxic embedded fragments [including depleted uranium].

In addition, OEF/OIF veterans may have been exposed to carcinogenic asbestos while they served overseas. Asbestos exposure is the only conclusive cause of the fatal cancer known as mesothelioma, which plagues countless veterans [especially WWII vets]. While mesothelioma navy cases are the highest, veterans from all branches may be at risk. Mesothelioma has a latency period of up to fifty years, so veterans may not exhibit any symptoms until their well into their seventies or eighties. By then, it’s often tedious to determine just where they were exposed to asbestos. More information about how asbestos affects those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan may be found by visiting our Asbestos Exposure in Iraq information section.

To learn more about Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses, go to the VA website and search for “Gulf War.”

Make sure to connect with us on Twitter @veteransblog and visit us on Facebook, too, for the latest veteran and military-related news and information.

The new policy does outline several limitations. VA physicians may not prescribe the drug to be used in VA facilities, and the Veterans Association will not pay for the marijuana.

While the new policy does state that no veteran may be cut from VA programs because of their medical marijuana treatments, the Veteran Health Administration reserves the right to alter treatment plans for those prescribed. Such changes will be made on an individual basis.

The rule only applies to the 14 states where medical marijuana is legal, as it is an illegal drug according to federal law. Such states include California, Colorado, New Jersey and Washington. Further, the use of the drug may only be prescribed for specific conditions including glaucoma, chemotherapy-induced nausea, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and chronic pain.

Vets find themselves suffering from a number of diseases and cancers that can be associated with toxic exposures sustained during their time in the military, including mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure – and there was no shortage of opportunity to be exposed while in the military. Vets may have been exposed while living in base housing [asbestos was found in common materials like floor and ceiling tiles and drywall] or while working and living on board naval ships. In fact, there are hundreds of Navy ships confirmed to have contained asbestos, and as a result, mesothelioma navy cases are the highest. Asbestos may also have been found in military weapons, vehicles, and airplanes. Not to mention that asbestos was found in a brand of cigarettes popular with veterans – any older vets remember Kent cigarettes? There was asbestos in the filters of their cigs manufactured and sold between 1952 and ’56!

While the use of marijuana for medical conditions is still controversial, the VA has decided to address it in an effort to best-serve their veterans. According to the VA, the policy on medical marijuana use will stand until July 2015.

For more veteran news and updates, follow us on Twitter @veteransblog and connect with us on Facebook.

Today I rediscovered one of the coolest military support charities while browsing my Twitter updates – Bunkers in Baghdad (bunkerstweets on Twitter) is a non-for-profit charity based out of Buffalo, NY that collects both used and new golf equipment – shoes, golf balls, clubs, etc. – and sends them over to our men and women protecting our freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan. They have shipped over an impressive 1,000,000 golf balls and over 35,000 clubs in less than two years!

What’s so great about this organization is that their efforts allow wounded soldiers to incorporate the game of golf into the rehab programs. It’s what the organization calls “a slice of home” for the folks who have to be away from home.

Bunkers in Baghdad also provide golf equipment for many Wounded Warriors Programs nationwide.

If you’re interested in supporting this organization, here’s what you can do:

Make a monetary donation: visit their donate page to submit a cash or credit card donation.

Donate golf equipment: send your donations to the following address, or drop it off at the following locations if you happen to be in the area:

Mail:

Bunkers in Baghdad, Inc. Attn: Joe Hanna, President

665 Main Street Suite 400

Buffalo, NY 14203

Drop Off Locations:

The Goldberg Segalla LLP offices at 665 Main Street, Fourth Floor in Buffalo

Storage unit in Grand Island, NY (call Joe Hanna to schedule a drop off time)

Buy a Box:

The Bunkers Buddies program allows students from middle schools in the Western NY area to ship boxes of golf balls right to the troops using a special rate from the US Postal Service. Each box costs $15. Students can fill the box up with 200 golf balls, cards, and letters to the troops. Checks for boxes sent through the Bunkers Buddies program can be mailed to the address above to the attention of Joe Hanna.

To become a Bunkers in Baghdad partner, or for any additional information, you can call President Joe Hanna at 716-566-5447 or email him at jhanna@goldbergsegalla.com.

I love to find out about new organizations that are strictly devoted to boosting the morale of our men and women overseas. Thanks to Joe Hanna and all who support this charity!

Rob Gross, Director of Houston County Veteran Services, says that a large number of vets are eligible to receive hearing aids and eye glasses through a VA medical center. Those eligible must meet at least one of the following requirements:

Must have a compensable service-connected disability

Must have been a former POW

Must have received a Purple Heart service award

Must be receiving benefits under Title 28 of US Code (U.S.C.) 1151

Must be in receipt of an increased pension due to the fact that they are homebound and require regular assistance

Those who have vision or hearing loss or impairment connected to diseases and chronic medical conditions for which the vet is receiving care at a VA medical center, or a condition that occurred following treatment for another illness, i.e. stroke, brain injury, etc.

Those with evident functional or cognitive issues that affect the veteran’s ability to perform daily tasks

Those who have vision or hearing impairments so significant that they interfere with their daily lives, including participation in medical treatment

Those who have service-connected vision disabilities rated zero percent or service-connected hearing issues rated zero percent

For veterans who are interested in learning more about their eligibility, the first step is to verify your enrollment in the VA Healthcare Network. Enrollment permits the vet to receive both inpatient and outpatient services ranging from immunizations to surgery to mental health services.

Vets in Houston County can call 507-725-5805 to enroll or ask questions regarding VA Healthcare Network available services.

Many vets face hearing and vision loss, especially in their older years. But there are also other, perhaps more serious health risks that all veterans face, and that is the development of mesothelioma, a rare cancer that occurs in the lining of the heart, lungs or abdomen. Mesothelioma is caused by previous asbestos exposure, and countless vets were exposed while serving on naval ships, while working on military vehicles or planes, and while living in aging military housing. Many veterans receive a mesothelioma diagnosis each year, and 30% of them happen to be Navy vets.

It’s crucial that vets – as well as active military personnel – monitor their respiratory health. Mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases have long latency periods, as long as fifty years, and symptoms often mimic those of other illnesses like lung cancer or even the flu, so diagnosis can be tricky.

All vets should call their local VA with questions they may have about medical issues and their health.

The late Jack Perry Harrison of Woodstock, Georgia not only fought for his country but he fought for his fellow soldiers long after his time in the military. Perry was known state wide for his volunteer, dedicating his time to veterans and their families. Full military burial was given Monday to the Vietnam veteran at the Georgia National Cemetery in Sutallee. The service was officiated by the Rev. Claude Smithmier.

The 61-year-old served in both the Army and Air Force. He was a door gunner on a Huey helicopter and combat medic during his tour in Vietnam. After his service he owned and operated Jack Harrison Contracting Company.

During retirement, Jack became a full time advocate for veterans and their families. He provided much needed support and spoke up to ensure veterans received adequate medical care. He worked closely with those who experienced service related injuries and made certain their widows were cared for. Harrison is estimated to have helped nearly 4,000 Veterans Administration claims during his seven years as a veteran advocate.

His familiarity with military induced injuries and illnesses grew when he himself applied and learned the process. Harrison was exposed to Agent Orange during Vietnam and was declared 100 percent disabled when he began receiving benefits in 2003.

Serving in the military has proven to have its fair share of health risks. Like Agent Orange, asbestos use also caused detrimental effects to soldier’s health. Heavy use of asbestos products in the military has lead to many mesothelioma cancer cases among U.S. veterans.

Appreciation for Harrison’s work has been continuously commemorated. He was elected twice by 850 wartime veterans and American Legion Post 201 in Alpharetta and was also given the American Legion’s highest honor- “Legionnaire of the Year’- at both the state and district level.

We mourn the death of a truly incredible individual but celebrate his life and the thousands of lives he has touched.

The study focused on veterans of all ages and revealed that in terms of emotional and physical health, work environment and access to basic necessities, war veterans were drowning.

Veterans like Justin Youse, identify with the study’s findings. At 29 years old, Youse is a young Veteran. After breaking his back in the Iraq War, he was discharged and sent home to a life he has found to be lonely and difficult. Experiencing sleepless nights, unemployment, addiction, divorce and frustration with the VA system, Youse fits the mold of many veterans who return home to a life riddled with pain and obstacles.

Its stories like Youse’s and results from new studies like the Gallup Organization, which have sparked a need for reform in the Veterans Association. VA secretary Eric Shinseki has a plan.

Shinseki has a long list of goals for war veterans, but topping his agenda is bettering mental health treatment and improving access to healthcare facilities

Those returning from war are often wounded in more ways than one. Many return with post-traumatic stress disorder; others find themselves filling prescriptions for hard-to-treat diseases.

One such disease is mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Veterans, especially those hailing from the Navy, are diagnosed with the fatal cancer years after completing their service, as it can take decades for the disease to manifest.

The Veterans Association aims to help those suffering from mesothelioma, and all other illnesses. Shinseki and other members of the VA are determined to take care of veterans the way they take care of the rest of the country.

VA secretary Eric Shinseki addressed state officials, VA executives and veterans from every war since World War II Friday, promising that the new complex will prove to be worth the wait. Shinseki then broke ground with a ceremonial shovel.

The new hospital, sized at over 30 acres, will stretch between South Rocheblave Street, Canal Street, South Galvez Street and Tulane Avenue in Mid-City New Orleans. At 1.7 million square feet, the complex will be 70 percent larger than the current facility, Charity Hospital. The facility will be complete with outpatient exam rooms, 200 hospital rooms, 20 intervention and surgery rooms, an emergency department, a research facility, rehabilitation services and a mental health division.

A 1,000 space- parking garage is included in the construction as well.

The state of Louisiana is supporting the project with funds from federal hurricane recovery reserves.

Also in the project plans is an expansion of primary care services available to veterans in the New Orleans area. The $30 million expansion includes five new outpatient clinics, two dental facilities and a mental health clinic. These facilities will allow veterans outside the city to receive more complete, basic care.

For many veterans, healthcare is a hurdle. Facilities such as this allow veterans to receive every type of care they need, which is be crucial to good long-term health, as early diagnosis can be life-saving.

One such disease is mesothelioma. This aggressive form of cancer attacks the mesothelium, or lining, of the stomach, lungs or heart after asbestos exposure. Veterans, especially those who served in the navy, are prone to this fatal disease. Early diagnosis and care increases the chance of a good prognosis in diseases like mesothelioma, which is why veterans should take advantage of the VA medical facilities in their area.

The complex is New Orleans is slated to be completed in 2013 and employ over 2,000 people.