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VA Programs: Health Resources Injuries and medical issues (whether service-related or not) can have a huge impact on the lives of veterans, as can the process of finding and paying for healthcare services.  Fortunately, for veterans who qualify, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers extensive resources and support. However, navigating the eligibility requirements, determining what services are covered, and figuring out how to apply can often be a confusing process. Here, we've compiled a one-stop, brief overview of veterans' health care through the VA:  What Healthcare Services Do [...]

  Veteran Experiences: Vietnam Veterans In many ways, the Vietnam War was a formative part of United States history. For example, it was the first widely televised war, meaning that the American public had unprecedented access to the conflict. Further, despite the many years and lives lost to the war, its outcome remains hotly debated to this day—while many American consider the war a failure, there never was (and likely never will be) any kind of clear consensus on who won the war. And, finally, the Vietnam War occurred during [...]

Resources for Veterans Whether you're a veteran in need or a Good Samaritan looking for ways to provide help for homeless veterans, these resources are a great starting point for some of veterans' most common needs: Department of Veterans Affairs. As an institution, the VA is contentious, not least for its recent history of scandals and its reputation for being weighed down by bureaucracy. In spite of all that, however, it's important to remember that the VA does provide help and resources to veterans who qualify, and is still widely [...]

The Dangers of Homelessness for Veterans Previously, we've written about many of the factors that are known to cause and/or perpetuate homelessness among veterans. In this article, we'll shift our perspective slightly to talk about the disadvantages and dangers that homeless veterans face, as well as the effect it has on their health (both physical and mental) and overall well-being.  Violence. There's a prevalent stereotype that homeless people are dangerous, unpredictable, or violent. In fact, homeless individuals are more likely to be victims of violent attacks than perpetrators. According to [...]

Veterans and Burn Pit Exposure In recent years, burn pits have emerged as one of the most widely publicized topics in conversations around veteran health. Open-air burn pits were commonly used by the military in places such as Iraq and Afghanistan, and many former servicemembers are still reaping the consequences of being exposed to the toxic smoke produced from burning chemicals, paint, human and medical waste, metal, petroleum and plastic products, rubber, munitions, and more.  The Impact of Burn Pit Exposure Research on the long-term health impacts of military burn [...]

Veterans and Sexual Trauma One in four female servicemembers (25%) and one in one hundred male servicemembers (1%) can expect to experience sexual trauma or assault at some point in their military career. In total, that comes out to an estimated 20,000 people each year. And yet, experts warn that even that staggering number might be an underestimate, with many more cases of sexual violence in the military going unreported entirely. Understanding Sexual Assault in the Military The reasons behind the prevalence of sexual assault in the military are complex, [...]

Veterans and Legal Aid In 2015, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) conducted a survey to identify and prioritize the top unmet needs of homeless veterans. The results were surprising. On average, the things veterans needed the most weren't food or medical treatment—rather, it was legal assistance.  The Need for Veterans’ Legal Aid Veterans who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness often find themselves facing an impossible paradox. Many of the issues that contribute to poverty, housing instability, and homelessness among veterans could be solved with the help of [...]