Veterans Blog - August 2009
Douglas Karr, Petty Officer Second Class, United States Navy Veteran
Attention Vets!
Check out our recent press release: Veterans’ Claims Go Unheeded as VA Officials Rake in Massive Bonuses
Here’s a preview:
The backlog of veterans’ disability claims has been the center of a heated debate in Washington, where President Obama has called on Congress to reduce the number of claims which have been held up.
A report issued by the Government Accountability Office noted that 60% more claims were processed in the decade from 1999 to 2008 than it had in the previous decade. The number of pending claims has jumped by 65%, the report added.
Let us know what YOU think about this issue on Twitter: @veteransblog. Or, send me an email: dkarr@mesothelioma.com.
One Veteran's Opinion of the "Death Book"
Writing, speaking or even alluding to death is a pretty touchy situation in any case. The re-emergence of the so-called “Death Book”, titled “Your Life, Your Choices”, is no different. It’s a guide provided by the VA to veterans on end of life planning. Distribution of the book was halted by the Bush administration but recently started again under the Obama administration.
My first glimpse at end of life planning was sitting on board the USS Spartanburg County (LST-1192) in Little Creek, Virginia, preparing to depart for Desert Storm. The galley of our naval ship was filled with legal counselors and sailors. I was a young petty officer at the time – with a wife and son worried about what would happen next.
I made a “Living Will” and got my affairs in order – tough work for a 20-something, young, healthy sailor. However, it was the responsible thing to do and I’m thankful for the United States Navy for providing me both the education and the legal counsel to make those tough decisions. The attorneys and their legal assists were sailors just like me. They understood my situation, empathized and offered me all the options.
It’s probably an understatement to note that any document on planning your death will get a charged, averse reaction from some Veterans. Many of us have made up our minds on politics and religion many years ago. Whether you were drafted or volunteered for service, we also believe in our right to speak our opinion to try to make changes in our government when we see the opportunity.
VA Chaplain Juliana Lesner has stated that the workbook “is not of the official position of the VA. This is just one of many options that could be given to a veteran. This is clearly just an educational workbook. It was never intended to be the decision making tool for veterans.” [Source: CBS News Blog]
Regardless of whether you agree with the content or not, I would recommend that you read the book. (Download at http://www.rihlp.org/pubs/Your_life_your_choices.pdf)
Here’s an excerpt from the book:
If you couldn’t speak for yourself, what would you want done for you?
Think about the following statements. Do you agree with any of them? Discussing your answers with others can help them understand what is important to you and where you stand with respect to health care decisions.
· My life should be prolonged as long as it can, no matter what its quality, and using any means possible.
· I believe there are some situations in which I would not want treatments to keep me alive.
· I'd want my religious advisors to be consulted about all medical decisions made on my behalf to make sure they are in keeping with my religious teachings.
· My personal wishes would not be as important as what my family thinks is best for me.
· I'd want to have my pain controlled, even if the medications make me sleepy or make it difficult to have conversations with my family.
My personal opinion is that the book is well written and delicately approaches the topic at hand without leaning one way or another. I absolutely recognize that, when interpreted with religious beliefs, some of the content could be seen as secular.
Ironically, given strong religious beliefs against ‘pulling the plug’, you’ll find the workbook very easy to work through to prepare your family with that unfortunate decision if the time comes. Read the book for yourselves before you get pulled into this charged debate.
Let us know what you think about the “Death Book” via Twitter: @veteransblog.
Veteran Healthcare at Forefront of President Obama's Recent Speech to VFW
These days, healthcare reform is on the mind of most Americans and the issue didn’t escape attention at the recent National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Phoenix, where President Barack Obama was the keynote speaker.
Though Obama touched on a variety of subjects during his 33-minute speech to about 2,000 mostly-older veterans, including the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, healthcare for veterans was a major issue during the dissertation. “Whether you've left the service in 2009 or 1949, we will fulfill our responsibility to deliver the benefits and care that you earned,” Obama said as he entered into the portion of his speech that centered on improvement of care for veterans of all ages. “We're dramatically increasing funding for veterans health care. This includes hundreds of millions of dollars to serve veterans in rural areas, as well as the unique needs of our growing number of women veterans. We're restoring access to VA healthcare for a half-million veterans who lost their eligibility in recent years...”
While Obama admitted that healthcare reform is at the forefront of discussions in homes throughout the U.S. lately, veterans need not worry that any upcoming changes might affect them, he stressed. “One thing that reform won't change is veterans' health care. No one is going to take away your benefits -- that is the plain and simple truth. We're expanding access to your healthcare, not reducing it.”
Obama also promised to strive to reduce red tape and break through the bureaucracy that often results in backlogs and long waits for benefits applied for through the Department of Veterans Administration. This reform effort involves appealing to those who work with vets each day at the 57 regional VA offices to come up with better and more efficient ways of doing business. The best ideas garnered from these VA employees will then be funded and put into action.
The implantation of these new ideas, Obama told the veterans in attendance, will be funded by the largest increase in the Department of Veterans Administration budget in more than 30 years. The current proposed budget includes a 15 percent increase over last year’s funding and an additional $25 billion over the next five years.
“America's commitment to its veterans is not just lines on a budget. They are bonds that are sacred -- a sacred trust we're honor bound to uphold,” Obama concluded. “These are commitments that we make to the patriots who serve -- from the day they enlist to the day that they are laid to rest.”
For veterans with life-threatening diseases, like mesothelioma cancer, the issue of healthcare is even more pressing. Countless veterans are diagnosed with diseases that developed as a result of certain exposures during their time in the military [for example, Vietnam vets who were exposed to Agent Orange; Navy vets who inhaled asbestos while working on a U.S. naval ship during WWII]. For these ailing vets and their families, quality healthcare may lead to an increase in quality of life, and the potential for more time together as a family.
What about Veterans' Healthcare?
With the country in a frenzy about what might happen to the healthcare industry, changes to veterans haven’t been discussed too much. It appears that current veterans may have some protection and additional options under the proposed bill. As for future Veterans, the jury is still out.
In the proposed bill, 102 (a)(1)(A), “Protecting The Choice to Keep Current Insurance” has been confirmed to cover Veterans who utilize VHA benefits. Veterans need not change their benefits under this bill.
What is interesting is, along with the largest VA budget in 30 years, there has been some progress for Veterans. Along with the healthcare proposal, the budget:
- Sets aside $25 billion over 5 years for diagnosis and treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury.
- Includes opening more Veteran Administration clinics in Rural Areas
- Hiring additional claims adjustors to catch up on disability claims.
- An aggressive “outreach” effort to educate Veterans on benefits.
- Advanced funding to end budget delays that have been requiring the VA to operate facilities short-handed.
- Implementation of the Post-9/11 GI Bill
While this is great news for Veterans, opponents are still concerned at how the American people are going to be able to foot the bill. We all know that coming up short usually impacts Veterans first.
One amendment that was refused was a third amendment proposed by Rep. Buyer to ensure veterans in the VA healthcare system would not be subject to a tax for uninsured or underinsured individuals. Hmm, that doesn’t sound good.
The future isn’t as clear for those in uniform now. It appears that the protections under the current bill only apply to current Veterans – but there are no details on the table for future Veterans. In my humble opinion, I’m guessing they’ll fall into the general healthcare coverage.
The good news is that Veterans’ groups are staying on top of lawmakers, including:
-Disabled American Veterans http://www.dav.org/news/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=167
- Veterans of Foreign Wars stated they “will continue to work closely with Congress to ensure that neither VA nor TRICARE are adversely affected under the national health care reform proposal.” (Washington Weekly http://www.vfw.org/washingtonweekly/2009/ww08072009.pdf)
- American Legion http://ourvoice.legion.org/story/2111/obama-agrees-exempt-va-health-care-plan
In a recent news release, the American Legion states: “President Obama, meeting privately with the leader of the nation's largest veterans service organization this morning, pledged to keep the medical care system administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs essentially as is - quelling fears that VA healthcare would be absorbed into a national health care system.
What do YOU think about the current healthcare debacle? Let us know on Twitter @veteransblog.
Acupuncture for the Military Community
As a follow-up to our recent post highlighting acupuncturist Elizabeth Peterson of Acupuncture for Soldiers, I wanted to share a video about acupuncture and the military community. This video highlights the benefits of acupuncture for servicemen and women.
Military Medical Acupuncture
[thanks to the Military Health YouTube channel for this great video]
Acupuncturist on a mission to "nourish the soul" of fellow veterans
As a veteran myself, I can tell you that there is an unexplainable and unbreakable bond between veterans. This bond is present no matter what branch of the military you served in: Navy vets feel a connection to former Marines; those who served in the Army have a bond with Air Force Vets, and so on. Veterans are always willing to help out a fellow vet, no matter what.
This generous spirit and willingness to assist fellow veterans is embodied by a Texas-based acupuncturist and Army veteran named Elizabeth Peterson. Elizabeth started Acupuncture for Soldiers with a goal: to “provide affordable alternative health care to soldiers, veterans, and their families.” I had an opportunity to interview Elizabeth via email, and I am encouraged by her giving spirit, and humbled by her dedication to her fellow veterans and members of the military community.
Doug Karr: Tell us more about Acupuncture for Soldiers – what is your mission? Who are your clientele?
Elizabeth Peterson: Acupuncture for Soldier's mission is to provide affordable alternative health care to soldiers, veterans, and their families. My clientele includes all divisions of the Armed Forces. Those eligible include soldiers, veterans, and immediate family members (spouses and children), along with the immediate family of fallen soldiers.
DK: Talk a bit about your own military experience and explain how that experience led you to open Acupuncture for Soldiers.
EP: I served eight years as a Combat Medic in the Army National Guard. During my service, I was able to experience firsthand what the soldiers go through after returning from deployments. I want to assist the VA with helping the soldiers recover from their mental and physical injuries. In conjunction with Western treatment, acupuncture has proved successful in treating several combat-related injuries by treating chronic pain, anxiety, insomnia, and many other ailments/disorders.
These brave young men and women need as much assistance as they can get to help them adjust back into their daily civilian lives. I have several buddies in the military who have a hard time going to counseling to talk about their problems. While on duty, soldiers I have never met before would come sit in my ambulance and want to talk about their PTSD. Several of these soldiers said they did not feel comfortable talking to their spouses about it, much less civilian doctors. During treatment, I allow my patients to open up to me, but I do not force conversation. I provide a nice, relaxing non- judgemental atmosphere where soldiers can just "be" whoever they want to be in my office. If they want to talk about their experiences in war, I listen. If they want to just relax in silence, then I am quiet with them. I find that this is nourishing for their spirit.
DK: Tell us how members of the military community can benefit from acupuncture and other alternative therapies.
EP: In many extreme cases, soldiers are prescribed medication, which does not always treat the root of the problem. Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine can treat the root of the problem which, in time, alleviates all of their symptoms. In one acupuncture treatment, numerous ailments can be addressed. During one acupuncture session, for example, a practitioner can treat stress, chronic pain, insomnia, and digestive issues. Herbal therapy is also beneficial for soldiers for a whole range of ailments--without the extreme side effects which may hinder everyday life.
DK: Your website indicates that you have a special interest in treating vets who have sustained combat injuries and are suffering from PTSD [Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder]. Tell us why these are areas of interest for you and how acupuncture and alternative therapies can benefit individuals who are dealing with these issues.
EP: Recently, there have been some remarkable strides in realizing just how effective acupuncture is in the treatment of PTSD. Acupuncture, combined with other forms of standard and alternative therapies can reduce PTSD-related issues, such as anxiety, insomnia, eating disorders, tachycardia, nightmares and flashbacks, muscle tension, paranoia, and pain. It is very important that soldiers returning from combat seek therapy immediately; the sooner they receive treatment, the less likely that their PTSD will turn into a life-long condition. I have seen with my own eyes what combat-related PTSD can do to a person, and I also know how successful acupuncture can be in its treatment. Events like PTSD can leave your brain in a state of hypervigilance. Living in a constant "state of emergency" can create an array of health issues including high blood pressure. Acupuncture can subdue the sympathetic nervous system and direct your body into a state of relaxation.
Soldiers with combat injuries can get relief with Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine as well. During a treatment our bodies release opiate-like substances (endorphins, enkephalins) that help to mediate pain. Whether it is phantom pain or a head injury from a blast explosion, acupuncture is beneficial in it's healing process.
DK: If you will, share with us a “success story” of a patient who has truly benefited from acupuncture or alternative therapy in general.
EP: I treated a veteran who served 10 years as a military police officer. She served six deployments, and left pieces of her behind during each tour of duty. She had several complaints, but never mentioned the most obvious one directly. She was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma two years after her last deployment. She came into my office completely fed up. She suffered from severe digestive issues, Insomnia, paranoia, anxiety, and chronic pain. She claimed that no doctor was able to help her with her problems. This led her to thoughts of suicide. Into the third treatment, she was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer. After a couple of more treatments she began to open up about her PTSD. During a couple of treatments she would have flashbacks and day terrors with no memory of them once the session was over. After the Acupuncture sessions, she would claim to feel very relaxed and have virtually no stress. I treated her at least once a week and had her on an herbal prescription. After several treatments her digestion and insomnia improved greatly. Her stress level decreased and she stopped having day terrors and flashbacks. Her paranoia decreased drastically. She went from sleeping on her couch literally with her rifle to sleeping in her own bed in a matter of days with Acupuncture and Herbal therapy. Unlike before, she was able to shop in a regular grocery store with no fear that someone was going to attack her. She claimed that Acupuncture literally changed her life, and probably saved it. She is doing very well today.
As you can tell, Elizabeth is dedicated to “nourishing the spirit” of veterans and their families. I am confident that I speak for all veterans and folks in the military community when I say that Elizabeth is doing an incredible service to veterans, and I am proud to call Elizabeth my “sister” in service to our country.
It is important to note that vets are not just suffering from combat-related injuries, or from PTSD. An outrageous number of veterans have been diagnosed with cancer related to asbestos exposure during their time in the military. Asbestos cancer, or mesothelioma, claims the lives of many veterans each year, and while there is no cure for mesothelioma, the World Health Organization [WHO] and oncologists like Dr. Anne Tsao, a leading physician in the field of mesothelioma research, agree that acupuncture is successful in treating mesothelioma patients who are experiencing side-effects as a result of their treatment.
In a world where there is often unrest, conflict, and disagreements, it is a beautiful thing when one person dedicates their life to serving the lives of others, especially the lives of the men and women who have served our country. What more can you say? Thank you, Elizabeth, for your work.
To learn more about Acupuncture for Soldiers, please visit Elizabeth’s website: http://www.acupunctureforsoldiers.com/.
To connect with me on Twitter, visit http://twitter.com/douglaskarr.