09.02.10

Veterans exposed to herbicides while serving in Vietnam and other areas will have an easier path to access quality health care and qualify for disability compensation. The new rule expands the list of health problems VA will presume to be related to Agent Orange and other herbicide exposures to add two new conditions and expand one existing category of conditions. Veterans who served in Vietnam during the war and who have a "presumed" illness don't have to prove an association between their medical problems and their military service. By helping veterans overcome evidentiary requirements that might otherwise present significant challenges, this "presumption" simplifies and speeds up the application process and ensure that veterans receive the benefits they deserve. Veterans who served in Vietnam anytime during the period beginning January 9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 1975, are presumed to have been exposed to herbicides.

08.26.10

The Department of Veterans Affairs is partnering with the National Institutes of Health to award $6 million in grants for
research examining the link between substance abuse and military deployments and combat-related trauma. NIH agencies taking part in the initiative are the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and the National Cancer Institute. Several studies will look at treatment seeking patterns -- why and when veterans ask for help, and why many don't. Scientists will also explore treatment strategies, including cognitive behavioral therapy and web-based approaches, as well as the most effective therapies for soldiers who have other disorders, such as depression and substance abuse. Researchers will also determine if early intervention can improve
outcomes. Other projects will focus on how veterans readjust to their work and families after returning from war.