Author Archives: Laura

Unknown's avatar

About Laura

NW Vermont.

Veteran in hospice: HCV stage 4 liver failure

Posted on July 27, 2015 by Laura

We know HCV-infected veterans are suffering all over the country.  One, Mike Blackburn, was not tested for HCV until last year.  His story is told in an official military e-newsletter (Redstone Arsenal, AL).  Blackburn, 62, has hepatitis C virus with stage 4 … Continue reading →

Posted in All about Veterans, General Messages, Guest authors, HCV Health, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Dry mouth? VA Formulary has artificial saliva

Posted on July 23, 2015 by Laura

My old Marine has been spending a small fortune on Biotene products to deal with dry mouth, a condition that probably began during HCV treatment (PDF download –12 page report) and worsened due to two medications he takes and needs.  He’s … Continue reading →

Posted in All about Veterans, General Messages, Guest authors, HCV Health, Uncategorized, vA news | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

About those urine samples

Posted on July 14, 2015 by Laura

It’s hard for my old Marine not to get offended when every year his VA doc tests him for illicit drug use.  (His private docs NEVER test him for them.) The screening panel is extensive:   Amphetamines; Barbiturates; Benzodiazepines; Cannabinoids; … Continue reading →

Posted in Guest authors, Gulf War Issues, Medical News, VA Medical Mysteries Explained, vA news, VA statistics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Board of Veterans’ Appeals Annual Report 2013

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Laura

A few notes about what veterans are up against at the BVA. (PDF LINK: BVA2013AR). The Office of Veterans Law Judges (OVLJ) “consists of two Deputy Vice Chairmen (DVC), 10 Chief VLJs, up to 78 VLJs, and approximately 400 attorneys who prepare … Continue reading →

Posted in BvA Decisions, Lawyering Up, Uncategorized, VA Attorneys, VA BACKLOG, Veterans Law, VSOs | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Rescue at sea: Makassar Strait

Posted on June 12, 2015 by Laura

The DoD has released a photo essay of distressed mariners, small children to the aged, that received humanitarian aid recently. The caring attitudes and competent skills of our active duty sailors and Marines are evident in the photos (PD). “Distressed … Continue reading →

Posted in Food for the soul, Food for thought, Future Veterans, General Messages, Guest authors, Inspirational Veterans, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Our right to petition the government

Posted on June 11, 2015 by Laura

…”the right of the people . . . to petition the Government for a redress of grievances” is a protected activity and liberty.  It applies to local, State and Federal governmental bodies (executive, legislative,courts, and agencies).  The Petition Clause could … Continue reading →

Posted in Complaints Department, Food for thought, General Messages, Guest authors, research, Uncategorized | 5 Comments

Easier cheaper blood testing on the way

Posted on June 10, 2015 by Laura

A positive story from Zina Moukheiber in Forbes (July 21, 2014) features innovator Elizabeth Holmes. She left Stanford to begin a company that only needs a micro-amount of blood for many types of tests.  Her company, Theranos, has attracted capital from many areas, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Blood info, Food for thought, Future Veterans, Guest authors, Medical News, research | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

New free release: Post-Vietnam Dioxin Exposure in Agent Orange-Contaminated C-123 Aircraft

Posted on June 7, 2015 by Laura

The VA ordered this study and it is now available as a free download (pdf link)–or it can be read online. In short, the findings state:  “Post-Vietnam Dioxin Exposure rejects the idea that the dioxin residues detected on interior surfaces … Continue reading →

Posted in AO, Guest authors, Medical News, Vietnam Disease Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Free veterans’ law clinics at top universities

Posted on June 7, 2015 by Laura

Alternatives to VSOs are cropping up.  There’s Yale Veterans Legal Services Clinic in Connecticut.  Now New Yorkers are stepping up.  “When a veteran is assisted by an attorney when applying for benefits or upgrading their military discharge the impact can be … Continue reading →

Posted in BvA Decisions, Guest authors, Lawyering Up, Tips and Tricks, VA Attorneys, VA statistics, Veterans Law | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Proposed amendment to the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014

Posted on May 29, 2015 by Laura

This hopeful update is brought to you by frequent commenter Hepper.   On May 22, 2015, the Senate passed an ACT to attempt to reform the restrictive way the VA and Secretary McDonald is interpreting the 40-mile rule.   Click … Continue reading →

Posted in Guest authors, VA Health Care, vA news, Veterans Choice card | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment