The VA has announced plans to increase its offering of research grants to technology companies in an effort to boost the development of new assistive technology to help disabled veterans overcome the daily challenges they face. The grants, which are termed Specially Adapted Housing Assistive Technology grants, encourage technology companies to develop products that can...

The term “invisible wounds” describes the most common types of injuries those in combat suffer. Rather than obvious physical trauma, which accounts for a small fraction of injuries sustained by service members, invisible wounds refer to injuries like traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder and other moral injuries to the psyche. Advocates believe these injuries...

Many veterans suffer service-related injuries and disabilities that ongoing medical treatment, including lifetime pain management. Even more common than physical wounds are mental health traumas, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression. Powerful, addictive medications, including opioids, are often used to treat these conditions when alternative therapies like medical marijuana could be as effective....

Several pieces of legislation are expanding the benefits available to many Florida veterans. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 expanded the covered conditions for veterans to qualify for benefits. The Act, which went into effect on January 1, 2021, allows veterans who suffer from Parkinsonism, bladder cancer and hypothyroidism to be eligible...

The federal government provides a variety of benefits to veterans that are commonly known to former service members like VA education and healthcare benefits. However, there are many additional benefits available to veterans that are not as widely known. Some lesser-known types of benefits available to veterans include caregiver support, long-term care, employment programs and...

Beginning on September 1, 2020, the VA moved from TriWest Healthcare Alliance to Optum Public Sector Solutions, Inc., which is part of UnitedHealth Group. While the VA explained that it hopes that veterans’ services will remain uninterrupted, the change will result in many veterans needing to go to a new healthcare provider. While most veterans...