#Middlebury #BlastExposure #HeadTrauma #Toxins
VETERANS POST
By Freddy Groves
The Department of Veterans Affairs has launched a significant outreach to bring more eligible veterans under the VA health care umbrella. The reason: increased concern about the health impacts of repeated blast exposure.
Blast exposure and head trauma can come from any number of situations – anything from heavy fire, IEDs, missile launches, artillery blasts – and can later result in a variety of problems, including thoughts of suicide and mental health concerns.
The VA is reaching out to veterans who served in Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan, and they’re going all-out with public service announcements, advertising and even text messages to veterans. Veterans who served in those locations may be eligible for care, ranging from regular and specialty care, to primary care, mental health care and regular screenings, as well as blast exposure screenings.
Meanwhile, the VA has geared up their research about the health impact of blast exposure and encourages all eligible veterans to sign up for care. The more veterans who sign up, the more research they can do. The more research they do, the better the treatments that can be developed.
Blast exposure isn’t the only concern the VA is looking at. Veterans who were exposed to toxins, whether on active duty or in training, are eligible to enroll in VA health care, even if they never deployed to Vietnam, the Gulf, Iraq, Afghanistan or any combat zone post-9/11.
If you suspect you might have experienced blast exposure, call the VA for a screening. For immediate information, go to va.gov and search for “blast exposure.” You’ll find several podcasts and videos exploring blast exposure and the effects on mental health, how blasts affect cognitive function and more.
If you need to sign up, see www.va.gov/health-care/how-to-apply for the four different ways to apply for care: by phone, by mail, in person at the closest VA center or with the help of an accredited VSO or attorney. For an immediate connection, call them at 877-222-8387.
© 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.
