Today's date: July 31, 2010
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| Department of Veterans Affairs Special programs for returning Veterans |
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January 19, 2007 |
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| Thousands of America’s newest veterans should be receiving their benefits. | |
| Thousands of America’s newest veterans should be receiving their benefits. Those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan have special programs to benefit them at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). For two years after discharge, these veterans have special access to VA health care, even those who have no service-connected illness. Veterans, not only regular active-duty but also Reserve or National Guard members should enroll with VA during this two year period. Hospital care, outpatient treatment and nursing home services are offered at 1,400 locations nationwide. VA's broad range of benefits includes disability compensation and pension, vocational rehabilitation and employment, education and training, home loan guarantees, automobile and specially adaptive equipment grants, home modification programs for the disabled, life insurance and traumatic injury protection, and survivor benefits. VA has launched an ambitions outreach initiative to ensure that combat veterans know about the VA benefits. Because of the large number of reservists and Guard members mobilized in the last four years, VA has made a special effort to work with their units to reach all veterans involved. VA and the Department of Defense have improved collaboration and communication. VA employees are based at military treatment facilities to brief service members about VA health benefits, disability compensation, vocational rehabilitation and employment. Many of the challenges facing the soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq are stressors that have been identified and studied in veterans of previous wars. VA has developed world class expertise in treating chronic mental health problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD involves a reaction to a trauma suffered in war. One scientific study indicated the estimated risk for PTSD from service in the Iraq war was 18 percent, for Afghanistan it was 11 percent. VA research has led to scientifically developed treatment guidelines covering a variety of modern therapies with which clinicians have had success. All these treatments and benefits are available to the newer veterans at their nearest VA medical center. |
©Nobles County Review 2010