Category Archives: non-va care

When not to “Take the Pain”–New Urgent Care benefit for VA enrollees

Posted on November 25, 2019 by

Bill jargon.  Yawn. But stay with me for a little while because the Urgent Care* benefit is worth knowing about– especially for veterans who only have VA health care. VA > Health Care > Community Care > Urgent Care: LINK. … Continue reading →

Posted in All about Veterans, Food for thought, General Messages, Guest authors, Medical News, non-va care, Tips and Tricks, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Interferon, HCV and Parkinson’s Disease research

Posted on October 27, 2018 by

Two years ago, I was given an abstract for this study:  Parkinsonism in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C Treated With Interferons: Case Reports and Review of the Literature Wangensteen, Kirk J. MD, PhD*; Krawitt, Edward L. MD†; Hamill, Robert W. MD‡; Boyd, James T. MD‡ Clinical … Continue reading →

Posted in All about Veterans, AO, Camp Lejeune poisoning, Food for thought, Future Veterans, General Messages, Guest authors, Gulf War Issues, HCV Health, HCV Risks (documented), Interferon claims, non-va care, research, Uncategorized, VA Agents, Vietnam Disease Issues | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

A Vietnam vet’s letter from rural Vermont

Posted on September 18, 2018 by

I spent some time yesterday in an Urgent Care office about three miles from our house reading a local newspaper (LINK) while my old Marine was getting his broken toe tended to.  A letter authored by Al Walsky of Berkshire … Continue reading →

Posted in All about Veterans, Food for the soul, Food for thought, Future Veterans, General Messages, Guest authors, Inspirational Veterans, non-va care, VA Health Care | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

VA kidney doc refers to shocking chronic kidney disease (CKD) VISN 2 study (New York region)

Posted on July 5, 2018 by

  Sometimes VA emails contain information and news about their research that is valuable for us to read.  For example, 34.3-47.3% of veterans in VISN 2 network have chronic kidney disease (CKD).  The ROs are located in Buffalo and New York City … Continue reading →

Posted in All about Veterans, BvA Decisions, Camp Lejeune poisoning, CUE, Food for thought, Future Veterans, General Messages, Guest authors, Lawyering Up, Medical News, non-va care, Remanded claims, research, Uncategorized, VA Health Care, vA news, VA statistics, VSOs | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

VA Mission Act of 2018–signed–Regulations next step

Posted on June 7, 2018 by

Frank sends us an article from the Washington Post which provides an overview of some of the issues that are involved in the new attempt to “fix” the Veterans Choice Program:  “Congress sends massive veterans bill to Trump, opening door … Continue reading →

Posted in All about Veterans, Complaints Department, Food for thought, Future Veterans, General Messages, Guest authors, Medical News, non-va care, Uncategorized, VA Bonuses, Veterans Choice card | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Potassium conundrum

Posted on March 18, 2018 by

My old Marine has been undergoing various tests to determine the cause (s) of his current gut problems; no answers yet.  Along the way, he has been warned about recent high blood pressure spikes and kidney function problems which include … Continue reading →

Posted in Agent Orange, All about Veterans, Food for thought, General Messages, Guest authors, non-va care, Tips and Tricks, Uncategorized, VA Health Care, Vietnam Disease Issues | Tagged , | 5 Comments

VA ER care: Staab vs Shulkin. April 8, 2016 is the important date

Posted on February 19, 2018 by

The Secretary now has an inkling of what it feels like to have a bucket of  excrément  thrown at him by the VA.  I’ve read the VAOIG’s completely one-sided overblown gossipy report (LINK), and his lawyers worthy rebuttal.  Nevertheless, his Chief … Continue reading →

Posted in All about Veterans, Call David, CAVC/COVA Decision, Complaints Department, Food for thought, Future Veterans, General Messages, Guest authors, Important CAVC/COVA Ruling, non-va care, OIG Entertainment, Uncategorized, VA Attorneys, VA Health Care, vA news | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Prominent NYU nephrologist takes an interest in Agent Orange (AO)

Posted on January 25, 2018 by

The FASEB Journal, 1 April, 2014   April 1, 2014  https://doi.org/10.1096/fj.14-0402ufm  Publisher:  Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology  (The photo below is from a different interesting project.) Dr. Jerome Lowenstein wrote a well-rounded essay, Agent Orange and Heart Disease: Is There a Connection? (LINK to … Continue reading →

Posted in Agent Orange, AO, Food for the soul, Food for thought, General Messages, Guest authors, Medical News, Nexus Information, non-va care, Vietnam Disease Issues, Vietnam War history | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Medical enrollment dates

Posted on October 28, 2017 by

Just a few dates to note: Medicare Part D (and other Medicare plans):  Open enrollment started on October 15 and runs until Dec. 7.   Medicare says that very few people change their plans even if they will save money. … Continue reading →

Posted in All about Veterans, Food for thought, General Messages, Guest authors, non-va care, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and veterans

Posted on September 5, 2017 by

Based on news reports, governmental and community responses to Harvey have been robust so far (LINK).  There isn’t much space between Harvey and Irma, and although Jose may not become a hurricane, it’s still worrisome.  It is no exaggeration or … Continue reading →

Posted in All about Veterans, General Messages, Guest authors, non-va care, Uncategorized, VA Health Care, vA news | Tagged , , | 22 Comments