Veterans & Military Community
2009 Southwest Conference on Disability
Disability in America: Inalienable Rights for All conference to be held September 30-October 2, 2009 in Albuquerque, NM. To address the long-term challenges faced by Wounded Warriors and how to improve quality of life of people with disabilities through evaluating disability programs, policies and services. Call for proposals deadline is May 15, 2009. Conference registration deadline is September 1, 2009.
A new educational video depicting how Service Members and their families may be affected by combat and deployment stress. View it by clicking on this link.
Air Force Palace HART Program Video
Alcohol & Drug Use After Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) - Why Not?
Newsletter about drug and alcohol use in persons with TBI. This newsletter is also available in Spanish.
American Red Cross Counseling Services for Military Personnel
Offers confidential counseling services to all military personnel - Active Duty, National Guard and Reserves - and their families. Find the chapter or office near you.
Apply for VA health care, nursing home, domiciliary or dental benefits by completing VA Form 10-10EZ Application for Health Benefits.
Army Exceptional Family Member Program
Mandatory enrollment program implemented through AR 608-75 EFMP that works in conjunction with other military and civilian agencies to provide a comprehensive, coordinated, multi-agency approach for medical, educational, community support, housing and personnel services to families with special needs.
Army Well-Being Wounded Soldier Information
Links to resources for wounded soldiers, including the CSA Wounded Soldier and Family Hotline, which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-984-8523.
Association for Service Disabled Veterans (ASDV)
Blue Star Mothers of America's Guide to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Congressionally-Chartered Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs)
Disabled American Veterans (DAV) operates a nationwide volunteer transportation network to transport veterans with disabilities to VA medical facilities. See the DAV Hospital Service Coordinator Directory to contact your nearest HSC for help.
Defense & Veterans Brain Injury Center
Defense Centers of Excellence (DCoE) for Psychological Health & Traumatic Brain Injury
Department of Defense Military Health System
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Prosthetics & Sensory Aids Service
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Services for Blind & Visually Impaired Veterans
Directory of Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs)
Disability Compensation Benefits
Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
Information for Mental Health Care Providers on Treating PTSD
Innovative Brain Therapies Offer Hope to Injured Troops
March 24, 2009 news story about innovative therapies that have helped previously comatose patients regain consciousness and that may be incorporated on a greater scale to treat troops diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries.
Invisible Wounds - Serving Service Members & Veterans with PTSD & TBI
This report from the National Council on Disability describes the less visible psychological and neurological injuries associated with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). The report includes recommendations on improving the treatment and rehabilitation of service members and veterans living with PTSD and/or TBI. This link opens a Word document.
Marine Corps Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)
Mandatory enrollment program for all Active Duty personnel to ensure that Marine sponsors are assigned to locations where services exist to support their family members with special medical or educational needs.
Mental Health Resources for Returning Veterans & Their Families
Information for returning Veterans and their families from the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) about prevention, treatment and recovery support for mental health and substance use disorders. Includes resources for military families coping with trauma.
Mesothelioma & Asbestos Awareness Center
National Amputation Foundation
Provides programs and services to help Veterans who lost a limb or limbs in service to their country. Programs include peer counseling, medical equipment donation and recreational activities.
National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
National Resource Directory (NRD) - Health Resources
Navy Exceptional Family Member Program
Navy SAFE HARBOR Command - Severely Injured Support
New DoD Retired Benefits Programs
DoD has two programs designed to reduce the reduction in retired pay due to receipt of Veteran Administration compensation, for certain disabled retirees. Concurrent Retirement and Disability Payments (CRDP) provides a 10-year phase-out of the offset to military retired pay due to receipt of VA disability compensation for members whose combined disability rating is 50% or greater. Members retired under disability provisions must have 20 years of service. Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) pays added benefits to retirees who receive VA disability compensation for combat-related disabilities and have 20 years of service.
Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA)
Works to maximize the quality of life for people with spinal cord injury and disease. Advocates for health care, research, education, veterans' benefits and rights, accessibility and the removal of architectural barriers, sports programs and disability rights. Find a local chapter near you.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Information from Vietnam Veterans of America on PTSD, including how to get help and tips on working with service providers.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) & Problems with Alcohol Use
Fact sheet from the National Center for PTSD on the link between PTSD and alcohol abuse.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) 101
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Information Gateway
Resources for U.S. Service Members Returning from Deployment
Specialized Training of Military Parents (STOMP)
State Veterans Affairs Offices
Systematic Approach to Social Work Practice - Working with Clients with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
TRICARE - Extended Care Health Option (ECHO)
Fact sheet from the National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research includes a description of symptoms and information on evaluation and treatment.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) - An Exploding Problem
Article from the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Magazine discusses complications associated with TBI.
Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Information from the National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) regarding types of treatments that are available.
U.S. House Committee on Veterans' Affairs
U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs
Provides information and support to people living with an upper extremity limb loss or difference and those who work with them. Programs include a Peer Support Network that connects upper extremity amputees, their families and friends with other amputees.
VA Health Care Eligibility & Enrollment
VA provides a Medical Benefits Package, a standard enhanced health benefits plan available to all enrolled veterans. This plan emphasizes preventive and primary care, and offers a full range of outpatient and inpatient services within the VA health care system.
VA Suicide Prevention Panel Completes Draft Report
The Blue Ribbon Work Group on Suicide Prevention has completed its draft report on initiatives to prevent suicide attempts and completions. The panel's recommendations include designing a study that will identify suicide risk among veterans of different conflicts, ages, genders, military branches and other factors, and improving VA's screening for suicide among veterans with depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Veterans Health Administration
An official U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Web site that enables veterans to apply for benefits using the Internet.
Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline (1-800-273-TALK)
Provides immediate, often life-saving, help to tens of thousands of Veterans and their loved ones.
Information on the efforts of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) toward research and support of veterans' health issues.