Stiggy’s Dogs Helps Veterans and Dogs Heal Together

Stiggy’s Dogs is a great charity dedicated to helping get veterans – and dogs – back on their feet. Stiggy’s rescues and trains shelter dogs to be psychiatric service dogs for military veterans living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). The service is at no cost to the veterans.

The veteran-dog match making charity scored some nice publicity on Channel 4 recently (you can check out the report online at: http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/live-in-the-d/Live-in-the-D-Stiggy-s-Dogs/26726778).

While the charity has experienced growth in recent years, their mission has always been the same: to reintegrate veterans back into society. Veterans are matched with the dogs, and they train together for six months to one year, with each dog individually trained to meet its veteran’s unique needs.

With recent studies showing that one in eight soldiers returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan will experience some form of PTSD symptoms, the work of Stiggy’s Dogs is becoming even more important and pressing.

Stiggy’s Dogs was founded by Jennifer Petre in memory of her nephew, Benjamin (“Doc Stiggy”) Castiglione. Doc Stiggy dedicated his life to preserving and improving the physical and emotional health of those serving in his unit, and all who serve. He gave his life working as a Hospital Corpsman Third Class (HM3) in Southern Afghanistan, taking care of “his Marines” until September of 2009.

Since its founding, the charity has rescued countless dogs in addition to helping veterans. There are an estimated five million dogs sitting in shelters across America, many of whom will be euthanized. Many of these dogs could make an excellent service dog for a veteran living with PTSD or a TBI.

By uniting these dogs with those who have served our country, Stiggy’s Dogs is “Rescuing One to Rescue Another.”

Brigadier General Carol Ann Fausone (ret.) and the team at Legal Help For Veterans, PLLC has had the pleasure of working with Stiggy’s Dogs and helping them grow over the years. General Fausone currently serves on their board of directors. Please visit www.stiggysdogs.org to learn more about how you can help!

Like Stiggy’s Dogs on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stiggysdogs

And Follow them on Twitter: https://twitter.com/StiggysDogs

VA Research: Diabetes & TBI

Jim Fausone

Veteran Disability Attorney

VA Healthcare does a tremendous amount of research and works to get that information out into the public.

As part of an effort to inform Veterans and others about their risk for developing the disease, Timothy, of VA's Office of Research and Development, appeared on The National Defense, a syndicated radio program provided to radio stations nationwide by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

According to Dr. O'Leary, type 2 (adult onset) diabetes affects nearly 20 percent of Veterans who use VA health care, compared to about 8 percent of the general public.

Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness, kidney, disease, and amputation in the United States, and that up to 80 percent of patients with diabetes will face a heart attack or stroke. Dr. O'Leary said that VA is finding that group therapy is proving to be a successful method to help people control their blood sugar levels; that using pedometers encourages physical activities to help keep diabetes under control; and that coaching and counseling is an important aspect of managing the disease.

If you are a veteran and have diabetes you should get treatment.  The VA may be able to help and you may be entitled to disability compensation.  Do not ignore this condition.

Veterans exposed to blasts may still have brain damage even if they have no symptoms, according to a study led by researchers at VA's Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) in Durham, N.C., and Duke University. The results of the study were reported on in U.S. News and World Report and a number of other publications.

The research suggested that a lack of symptoms of traumatic brain injury after a blast may not indicate the extent of brain damage caused by the blast.

In the study, researchers divided 45 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans into three groups: those who had been exposed to blasts and had symptoms of TBI; those who'd been exposed to blasts and had no TBI symptoms; and those with no blast exposure. The participants underwent scans to look for damage in the brain's white matter, as well as tests to assess their mental abilities. Veterans who were exposed to blasts but had no symptoms had brain damage similar to that seen in those with symptoms of TBI.  So this contradicts a position taken by VA Benefits that a lack of symptoms in service means no injury. 

http://www.research.va.gov/pubs/varqu/spring2014/spr14-11.cfm#3

VA Findings Expand Service-Connected Illnesses

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) linked five more illnesses to traumatic brain injuries (TBI). The good news for veterans suffering from these illnesses, as well as TBI, is that they will have an easier time getting much-needed additional disability benefits.

The five conditions linked to moderate to severe TBI were: Parkinson’s disease, certain types of dementia, depression, unprovoked seizures, and certain diseases of the hypothalamus and pituitary glands.

Those secondary illnesses will be considered service-connected and won’t require medical opinions to establish whether there is correlation to TBI. However, the findings come with some caveats to receiving benefits.

The severity of a TBI must be “moderate to severe” and three of the five illnesses need to manifest themselves within a certain length of time from the TBI. Dementia must manifest within 15 years of a TBI. For depression, it’s three years (or 12 months for a mild TBI). For hormone deficiencies of the hypothalamus or pituitary glands it’s 12 months.

Still, the VA encourages veterans to file claims even if they don’t meet the severity of TBI or length of time between TBI and the secondary illness.

Read more here: http://www.sentinelsource.com/life_and_style/lifestyles/va-links-five-more-illnesses-to-traumatic-brain-injuries/article_ac7eb8fb-17ea-5ec4-b4dc-608069279501.html#.UtcpDp9BXsk.gmail

For more information on veteran benefits and answers to FAQs, visit www.legalhelpforveterans.com and be sure to check out our e-books as well.

New Study Suggests Traumatic Brain Injury from Sports May Be Behind Military Suicides

Traumatic brain injury from before combat may be partially to blame for the rise of veteran suicides, according to researchers.

The unusual number of sports players who experienced TBI (traumatic brain injury) and later committed suicide, and the number of military vets who experienced TBI while in combat and later committed suicide may not be a coincidence, say researchers.

"Research on traumatic brain injury is of utmost concern right now for veteran disability advocates," commented veterans disability lawyer James Fausone.  

A new study published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry has proposed a link between multiple concussions or traumatic brain injuries and suicidal actions later. In addition, the researchers found that a significant number of the men who experienced military-related TBI had a sports-playing history, which indicates that they may have experienced TBI on the playing field years earlier, as well.

The study, conducted by an Air Force psychologist, looked at 161 individuals sent to his clinic for suspected concussions. Those interviewed were asked about any history of head trauma, any battles with depression, PTSD or struggling with suicidal thoughts. The study concluded that many of the head injuries referenced by the study participants, in some cases as many as 6 injuries by one individual, were sustained prior to military service. Approximately 20 percent of the study participants reported that they experience concussion during their basic training, and some reports that they had sustained as many as 15 different head injuries during their tour of duty.

Post-traumatic stress disorder and depression are both high-risk factors for suicide, and combat experience typically would only increase their severity, said the researchers. Individuals who already experience one or both of these conditions and then join the service would explain why there are such high levels of suicide in the Armed Forces.

The researchers suggest that head trauma may set up a pre-existing disposition towards suicidal idealization or action which is then exacerbated by additional head trauma during combat. Exposure to an IED (improvised explosive device) buffets the brain within the skull by concussive shock waves, which can cause bleeding in the brain at numerous, hard-to-detect sites, causing damage. Subtle traumatic brain injury can be impossible to detect by an average physical; it is possible that many military personnel entered the service well enough to serve, and then subsequent damage further made them more susceptible to suicidal thoughts than someone who had not sustained sports-related concussions or other head injuries.

Source

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/foreign-affairs-defense/a-new-link-between-traumatic-brain-injury-and-suicide/

Strides in Medical Research

Kristina Derro

Veteran Advocate

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have dragged on for over a decade now. Since 2001, the U.S. has sent more than 2.2 million troops to battle, more than 6,600 were killed, and 50,000 were injured. This is a dismal reality of war.

However, the strides that have been made in medicine as a result of the war are astounding. The signature wounds of both conflicts, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), have led the Department of Defense to apportion hundreds of millions of dollars for research studies and treatment.

In the past six years, the Department of Defense has invested a minimum of $2.7 billion in understanding psychological and neurological injuries. $700 million has been apportioned for TBI research which has included an effort to develop a portable diagnostic tool for TBIs. Additional funding has gone towards researching combat wounds that failed to heal, partly attributable to unique bacteria present in Afghanistan.

The VA has its own set of priorities when it comes to researching. The VA is currently faced with rehabilitating veterans who have suffered complex wounds and are considered “polytrauma”, those who have sustained injuries to more than one organ system, or have severe brain injuries, or are amputees, or were severely burned. VA has worked on improving how it coordinates care to this group of veterans. It’s also worked on developing hearing and vision implants as well as robotic prosthetic devices. It even has pioneered its own TBI program which explores different treatment modalities like personalized medicine and nerve regeneration.

There are challenges in coordinating massive research programs and implementing them for our troops and veterans. A January 2012 report by the Government Accountability Office found that the Department of Defense’s mental health and TBI research needed better quality control mechanisms to report financial data. However, despite these limitations, some of the world’s best researchers and massive amounts of money are being utilized in an attempt to assist our nation’s troops and veterans.

Proposed Veterans Court to Help Vets With Substance Abuse, Mental Illness

Jim Fausone
Veterans Disability Lawyer

Legislators in Missouri want a court created specifically for veterans.
 

Rep. Jay Barnes, R-Jefferson City, has drafted legislation requesting that Missouri circuit courts create a place specifically for current and former U.S. military who are struggling with substance abuse or mental illness issues. Barnes stated that the country owes it to the veterans to get them the treatment they need to get their lives back on track. The idea is supported by Rep. Charlie Davis, R-Webb City, who said the vet treatment court would run like a drug courts, where a judge would have the ability sentence a defendant to a rehabilitation facility or to perform some community service, without mandatory prison or jail time. Judges overseeing a veterans court can use the power of the court to force a vet to get treatment; proponents believe that recidivism rates for vets processed through a specialized vet court are lower than for those vets who do not go through a veterans court.

The court would be well-versed in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) issues as well as Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) issues, two conditions which can lead to law-breaking behaviors among military vets back in civilian life. According to a study in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, vets with PTSD or TBI were far more likely than vets without either condition to be arrested. The bill currently proposed would not only help vets get treatment while taking into count their specific circumstances, the court would also be able to more efficiently deal with the backlog of veterans with court issues.

Objections that were previously raised in the Senate when discussing a veterans court included concerns from some that it would be used for veterans accused of committing violent crimes.

The veteran’s court model includes veteran mentors who assist with the program.  While some systems vary, generally, a collaborative team made up of the judge, probation officers, a public defender, and a Veterans Administration representative get together to review cases to decide which veterans will be admitted to veterans court for a multi-phase, long-term system.

The first veterans court of this type was put into place in Buffalo, New York, in 2008. As of 2011, there were no reports of recidivism among the vets who completed the Buffalo program. There are now more than 70 veterans courts in the U.S.

http://www.ncsc.org/Topics/Problem-Solving-Courts/Veterans-Court/Resource-Guide.aspx

http://ncsc.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/spcts/id/233
http://www.economist.com/node/18775315

U.S. Military Receiving Updated Blast Sensors for Head Injuries

Kristina Derro

Veteran Disability Lawyer

The U.S. Army is currently awaiting the delivery of 1,000 blast sensor packs to help specialists assess how soldiers are affected during and after exposure to explosions. The packs, called Soldier Body Units (SBU), consist of four sensors: the sensors collect data from the head and chest areas when soldiers are exposed to explosions to help determine if the blast could - or did - lead to a concussion or traumatic brain injury.

The SBU, which is worn like a small backpack, weighs a mere two pounds, and is always recording information, collecting data as part of a larger system, the Integrated Blast Effects Sensor Suite (I-BESS), which included sensors that are placed in vehicles for a wider range of blast environment assessment. Previous blast gauge systems recorded data only when sensing "overpressure."

The sensors were developed in a joint project between the Georgia Tech Research Institute and the U.S. Army's Rapid Equipping Force (REF). The goal is to have the new sensor system in place in time to deploy them with troops in Afghanistan before their scheduled withdraw in 2014. The data collected will then be processed by the Joint Trauma Analysis and Prevention of Injury in Combat, and the information examined by medical professionals to help assess when soldiers have had undetected head injuries.

Currently, the sensors cost approximately $2,500 each to produce - a steep climb from just $75 per unit to manufacture the old blast gauges, but the hope is that the cost will drop as SBUs are mass produced and the design is streamlined. The Army also is working to install floor-and seat-mounted accelerometers in more than 40 vehicles, to measure blast impact on soldiers who are inside vehicles when hit by improvised explosive devices. Engineers plan to install I-BESS sensors into vehicles currently in Afghanistan, rather than ship new vehicles there.

http://www.dailytech.com/US+Military+Receiving+Updated+Blast+Sensor+for+Head+Injuries/article25286.htm

TBI Ages Brain

James G. Fausone
Veterans Disability Lawyer

Modern science is finding out traumatic brain injuries may age the brain faster.

Many of the veterans returning home from the war have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury, as a result of being exposed to concussive shock waves from IEDs.  Like football players, and other athletes that sustain multiple concussions, war veterans are at risk of facing long-term cognitive difficulties as a result of being in combat.

University of Michigan researchers are finding differences in electrical activity in the brains of college students who had suffered concussions prior to the testing.  Their control group had not sustained head injuries.  Along with the differences in electric activity, researches also found a change in balance and gait.  The interesting thing is that the research team was still able to identify differences for up to six years after a concussion, or concussions, had occurred.

The observed changes were subtle, meaning the study participants did not look or act differently, yet the changes were still detectable.  However, this does not mean the individuals had Alzheimer's or would suffer from early onset dementia, just that the changes were a possible portent of things to come later in life.  The results of this study are still being correlated, but are exciting, as earlier detection of brain anomalies would help veterans returning from overseas.

The researchers also suggest their findings are predicated on a "dose dependent response".  The more head injuries a person sustains over their lifetime, the higher their risk of aging the brain faster, along with the slow disintegration of the brain's signaling pathways.  For those who had a few minor head impacts and one diagnosed concussion, the risks may be low.  If you play football or hockey, or have done several tours of duty in the war in Iraq or Afghanistan, your risks are infinitely higher, with the cumulative effect of multiple concussions taking a toll on the brain.

Mild concussions may manifest symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness and difficulty concentrating, for up to a year in children.  No one is absolutely certain how long the effects of mild concussion will last in adults.  The real question is how to effectively identify traumatic brain injury in athletes and military personnel, and from there, determine how they may be treated.  If electrical abnormalities are a precursor to more significant damage if brain trauma is repetitive, and those changes may be caught at an early stage to commence treatment, this can only bode well for veterans.

Nurses to Assist

Brig. General Carol Ann Fausone (Ret)

In the coming years, veterans suffering from PTSD, TBI, and other unseen war wounds can expect 3 million more helping hands in their fight towards normalcy. White House Officials announced in early April that a coalition of nursing schools and medical organizations will begin to train their nurses on how to recognize and respond to veterans, and their specialized needs.

Although the veteran-savvy nursing infusion reported at 3 million strong, might be a couple years off, chief nursing officer of the American Nurses Association, Amy Garcia, views the announcement as having an immediate positive impact. Garcia believes that with this news, medical officials will be able to introduce lessons into professional development courses and medical journals, which can be published in weeks, not years. Garcia also noted that many nurses are already working with veterans in their communities and can put their new knowledge into practice immediately.

“Our goal is to raise awareness of these issues, teach nurses to recognize the signs and symptoms, and help reduce the stigma of seeking care,” Garcia stated.

The announcement comes in the midst of multiple events marking the first anniversary of the White House’s Joining Forces campaign, launched to bring attention to the sacrifices and struggles of returning veterans.

As officials from the campaign estimate that roughly one in six veterans returning from duty suffers from PTSD or TBI, the importance of these pro-educational steps cannot be understated. The American Psychiatric Nurses Association has already developed online continuing education courses that focus on PTSD, pain management, sleep disturbances, and issues related specifically to female veterans. 

To learn more and see the original article, please visit: http://www.stripes.com/blogs/the-ruptured-duck/the-ruptured-duck-1.160117/nursing-groups-promise-ptsd-tbi-training-1.174103#.T5yaalTophQ.email

If you have questions on VA disability claims, contact Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC at 800-693-4800.

MPOH Priorities

Jim Fausone

Veterans Disability Attorney

We work with Veteran Service Organizations every week.  We help their members.  We attend their functions and fund some projects.  So it is in that spirit that we want to acknowledge the Military Order of Purple Heart and its commander's recent testimony before Congress. 

Bill Hutton, National Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, testified before a joint hearing of the Senate and House Committees on Veteran’s Affairs on the priority veteran issues that the organization believes the Congress needs to address in the 112th Session of Congress. The issues that deserve priority include:  TBI, PTSD, VA backlog, elimination of offsets like DIC and concurrent benefits, and VA funding.  I would encourage you to read more about MPOH's proposed priorities because they are our priorities as veteran advocates. 

 http://www.marketwatch.com/story/moph-national-commander-testifies-on-veteran-priorities-for-2012-2012-03-22

TBI Rehab in Michigan

by Jim Fausone
Veterans Disability Lawyer

VA has initiated a new program to help veterans with TBI. DOD has proven that cognitive rehab helps servicemen with TBI. VA is now conducting a pilot program pushing that rehab out to recent veterans using the private sector. The program helps veterans with moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries who need long-term residential care by placing them in high-quality rehabilitation facilities that are closer to their homes and families. This avoids the cost and trauma of an institutional or hospital setting.

Michigan has great rehab facilities because of its long history of supplying health care to automobile accident victims under its unique no fault insurance programs. Origami Brain Injury Rehabilitation Center, a Mason Michigan facility, was selected by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to take part in a cutting-edge pilot program. Origami is one of 21 facilities in the nation to launch the Assisted Living for Veterans with TBI pilot program.

This is a great idea of using existing resources to medically service our veterans. VA does not have to re-invent the wheel and more people can be helped by the private sector's ability to scale up or down as needed. Read more at:

http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2011/09/greater_lansing_facility_treat.html

To learn more or to contact a Veterans disability lawyer, Veterans disability attorney, Veterans lawyer, or Veterans attorney call 1.800.693.4800 or visit Legalhelpforveterans.com

Stiggy’s Dogs: “Rescuing One to Help Rescue Another”

by Kristina Derro
Veterans Disability Lawyer

The staff at Legal Help for Veterans had some phenomenal visitors this past week! Members of Stiggy’s Dogs came to visit!

Stiggy’s Dogs was created in memory of Benjamin Phillip (“Doc Stiggy”) Castiglione, a Marine who dedicated his life to preserving and improving the physical and emotional health of those serving in his unit. He gave his life working as a Corpsman in Helmand Province in Southern Afghanistan, taking care of “his Marines” until September 3, 2009.

Stiggy’s Dogs is an extraordinary non-profit organization aimed at assisting veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). The organization takes shelter dogs and rehabilitates them, training them and turning them into Psychiatric Service Dogs for veterans who suffer from PTSD and/or TBI. The dogs are ADA compliant and as service dogs, are able to go with their veteran into any building!

The Psychiatric Service Dogs are each individually trained to meet their veteran’s specific needs. They are taught to perform tasks ranging from reminding veterans to take their medicine, waking them up from a nightmare, and directing them through a crowd. Research has shown that 82% of veterans with PTSD who were assigned a dog had a decrease in his/her symptoms, and 40% of the veterans had a decrease in the amount of medications that they had to take!

Speaking with a veteran who was given a Psychiatric Service Dog, he discussed how he is now able to leave his house with his dog without constantly fearing panic attacks, and even recently rode on an airplane—a task he previously thought impossible due to his severe psychiatric symptomatology.

It is estimated that there are currently 5 million dogs sitting in shelters across America waiting to be euthanized. Stiggy’s Dogs goal is to rescue shelter dogs, train them to be Psychiatric Service Dogs, and pair them with a well-deserving veteran! By uniting the military hero and the shelter dog, Stiggy’s Dogs is “rescuing one to help rescue another”.


Please visit Stiggy’s Dogs’ website to learn more about the non-profit organization: http://stiggysdogs.org/ Although based in Michigan, they pair both veterans and dogs from around the nation.

As a non-profit, Stiggy’s Dogs relies solely on donations in order to keep its program running. A local news channel recently profiled Stiggy’s Dogs and discussed the need for donations. View that video here: http://www.clickondetroit.com/video/28175414/index.html If you can donate money, dog toys, dog bedding, dog crates, dog food, or even your time, it would be much appreciated.

To learn more or to contact a Veterans disability lawyer, Veterans disability attorney, Veterans lawyer, or Veterans attorney call 1.800.693.4800 or visit Legalhelpforveterans.com

Sleep and Combat

by Jim Fausone
Veterans Disability Lawyer

The research continues on veterans and sleep apnea. A study presented in May 2011 at the American Psychiatric Association's annual meeting suggests that sleep disturbances like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), excessive awakening and insomnia, may be a normal result of combat experience and not specifically related to PTSD or TBI.

However, the sleep study participants did not have a higher rate of OSA than non-veteran sleep clinic participants, calling into question the commonly held view that sleep apnea and related sleep disorders are a function of PTSD and TBI. Rather, they appear to be a function of experiencing stress under combat conditions, even if that stress does not rise to the level of PTSD.

As we have written before, OSA is an increasingly approved rating by VA. You may find the article on the study of interest.

http://www.healthnewsdigest.com/news/Research_270/Sleep_Disruptions_May_Be_a_Function_of_Combat_Not_Specific_to_PTSD_or_Other_Medical_Disorders.shtml

To learn more or to contact a Veterans disability lawyer, Veterans disability attorney, Veterans lawyer, or Veterans attorney call 1.800.693.4800 or visit Legalhelpforveterans.com

TBI & Helmets

Jim Fausone
Veteran Disability Lawyer

We all know the IEDs and TBI are the signature problems of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. Battlefield doctors in Afghanistan diagnosed more than 300 troops per month with concussions or mild traumatic brain injuries last summer. A recent study suggested an eighth of an inch of padding would decrease injuries by 24%. Could it be this simple. Yes. DOD needs to implement this idea ASAP. Lets avoid the problems down the road with VA claims processing, by implementing this simple idea. Read about this study below.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-04-17-army-helmets-brain-injury.htm

TBI & Purple Heart

by Jim Fausone
Veteran Disability Lawyer

There are two important points here: (1) you are entitled to a Purple Heart if you suffered a TBI as a result of enemy action and (2) because Purple Heart status entitles you to special treatment by VA it is important to receive the Purple Heart. Military Uniform Regulations currently call for awarding Purple Heart medals for "concussion injuries caused as a result of enemy-generated explosions". At the start of these wars, a decade ago, confusion existed about TBI and Purple Hearts but DOD has made it clear that TBI's are eligible.

Read http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2011-03-17-purpleheart17_ST_N.htm

The VA gives special status to Purple Heart recipients. Veterans who have earned the Purple Heart medal now receive faster service and save money when they access Department of Veterans Affairs health care. So don't just walk away from this medal. It may be important decades from now when you need to access VA health care.

To learn more or to contact a Veterans disability lawyer, Veterans disability attorney, Veterans lawyer, or Veterans attorney call 1.800.693.4800 or visit Legalhelpforveterans.com

Specialty Veterans’ Treatment at Local Courts

Cooperative efforts between the VA and several local state courts have allowed for the implementation of a specialty court. These specialty courts around the state of Michigan (with many others in different states as well) give service members from World War II up through the recent Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts rehabilitation from drug addition, alcohol abuse, theft, vagrancy, and other nonviolent crimes that stem from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), or other war-related symptoms.

It is up to the local court, through its judges, staff, and probation department, to adjust their dockets to allow for the program. However, the treatment itself is paid for entirely by the VA. It is a unique way of handling non-violent crimes instead of the usual jail-time or probation. It allows the veteran to be treated for the underlying conditions leading to the commission of these crimes in the first instance.