Kentucky Veterans! Do You Have a VA Claim or Benefits Question? Need Peer Support? Ask Your Question Now!
You can ask questions to the following people:
» BG Mike Eastman - Advisor, ETS Sponsorship
» Coleton Whitaker - Director of Programs, Elizabeth Dole Foundation
» SGT Lauren Augustine - VP of Government Affairs, Student Veterans of America
» Meghan Williams - Outreach Director, Cohen Veterans Network
» CMSgt Scott Robinson - Director of Military & Veteran Services, Easterseals
» Kacie Kelly - Deputy Director, Military Service Initiative, George W. Bush Presidential Center
» Staci H. - Senior Manager of Volunteers and Partnerships, Blue Star Families
» Melissa Comeau - Director, American Red Cross Military Veteran Caregiver Network
» Maj Bonnie Carroll - President and Founder, TAPS
» PO3 Audri Beugelsdijk - Vice President, Survivor Services, TAPS
» Corey Bowlin - Operations Manager, Veteran's Club Inc.
» Phyllis Abbott - Co-Chair, Veterans Resources United of Central - Southeastern Kentucky
» Anita Vincent - Public Affairs Officer, VA Regional Office Louisville, KY
» SPC Geslia Owens - Public Contact Outreach Specialist, VA Regional Office, Louisville KY
» SN Desley Snyder - Veterans Service Representative, VA Regional Office, Louisville KY
» LCDR Donna Scrivener - Benefits Division Director, Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs
» Jeanette Gilles - Deputy Director of Community Integration, Americas Warrior Partnership
» PO1 Kate Stevens - Operations Associate, Team Rubicon
» LTC Keith L Jackson - Commissioner of Veterans Affairs Kentucky
» Patricia Sweeney - National Director, Peer Support Services, VA Central Office, Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
ETS Sponsorship:
ETS Sponsorship assists in the successful transition of servicemembers into civilian life, pairing them with trained sponsors from their destination community and utilizing a range of digital tools to provide a unique, personalized plan for each transitioning servicemember tailored to their individual needs. http://www.etssponsorship.com
The Cohen Veterans Network:
The Cohen Veterans Network is a nationwide network of non-profit clinics dedicated to providing accessible, low-cost mental health care to active duty service members, post 9/11 Veterans and their loved ones. We believe this most deserving population has earned the right to compassionate, high-quality care and strive to provide that support regardless of role, branch, or time service and regardless of discharge status or one’s ability to pay. Our local clinic serving Kentucky Veterans and their families is the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Centerstone, and although located in Clarksville, TN, we offer all services including individual, family and couples counseling via telehealth, breaking down the distance barrier to care.
Elizabeth Dole Foundation:
The Elizabeth Dole Foundation is the preeminent organization empowering, supporting, and honoring our nation’s military caregivers; the spouses, parents, family members and friends who care for America’s wounded, ill or injured veterans. Our mission is to strengthen and empower American military caregivers and their families by raising public awareness, driving research, championing policy, and leading collaborations and programs that make a significant impact on their lives. The Foundation envisions an America where military caregivers are empowered, appreciated, and recognized for their service to our nation. https://www.elizabethdolefoundation.org/
Student Veterans of America:
Since 2008, Student Veterans of America has worked to inspire tomorrow’s leaders. With a community network of more than 1,500 on-campus chapters, SVA is committed to transforming the current skills and experience of student veterans. Every day, these dedicated chapter leaders work to ensure that yesterday’s warriors have the resources at hand to succeed in their academic journey and beyond.
Easterseals:
We serve veterans and their families in Southwest Ohio, Eastern Indiana and Northern Kentucky. Our Military & Veteran Services team is 100% staffed by veterans with nearly 70 years of combined active duty experience, including deployments and combat tours. With these common core of experiences we share with the vets we serve, we know first-hand the complex challenges they and their families face. In addition, we understand the journey each person who has served our country takes as they transition from Active or reserve status back into the civilian sector because we have also made that same journey. We are proud to provide our services at no cost to the veteran or their family members, and we live by the same ethos we held on the battlefield – we leave no veteran behind – period. Regardless of discharge status, disability, or personal circumstances, we treat EVERY veteran with honor, dignity, and respect. We work with them to identify their needs and empower them to overcome their barriers, and secure sustainable employment to turn their lives around. https://www.easterseals.com/gc/our-programs/military-veteran-services/
American Red Cross Military and Veteran Caregiver Network:
The Military and Veteran Caregiver Network (MVCN) offers peer-based support and services to connect those providing care to service members and veterans living with wounds, illnesses, injuries and/or aging. The mission of the MVCN is to provide our nation’s military and veteran caregivers of all eras with peer support to reduce isolation and increase connection, engagement, knowledge, skills and hope.
TAPS:
The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) provides compassionate care and survivor support services for the families of America’s fallen military heroes. Since 1994, TAPS has offered support to more than 95,000 survivors of fallen military in the form of peer-based emotional support, grief and trauma resources, grief seminars and retreats for adults, Good Grief Camps for children, casework assistance, connections to community-based care, online and in-person support groups and a 24/7 resource and information helpline for all who have been profoundly affected by a death of a military loved one. For more information go to taps.org or call the TAPS National Military Survivor Helpline at 800.959.TAPS (8277).
Blue Star Families:
Founded in 2009 by military spouses with you in mind, we empower military families to thrive by connecting them with their civilian neighbors – both people and organizations – to create strong communities of support.
Team Rubicon:
Team Rubicon is a disaster response organization that serves communities by mobilizing veterans to continue their service, leveraging their skills and experience to help people prepare, respond, and recover from disasters and humanitarian crises. The organization serves a dual purpose: serve vulnerable communities after disasters but also provide a sense of purpose, mission and community to the veteran volunteers serving those populations.
America’s Warrior Partnership:
America’s Warrior Partnership is committed to empowering communities to empower veterans. We fill the gaps that exist between veteran service organizations by helping nonprofits connect with veterans, their families and caregivers. Our programs bolster nonprofit efficacy, improving their results and empowering their initiatives.
Louisville VA Regional Office:
The Louisville VA Regional Office administers a wide array of benefits in the areas of Compensation, Veteran Readiness and Employment, Fiduciary Services, and Camp Lejeune Contaminated Water Special Mission.
Lady Veterans Connect:
Lady Veterans Connect's mission is: "Honoring Lady Veterans by providing Hope - Homes- Healing for women veterans". A primary focus is providing a transitional housing program for homeless women veterans where they can live up to one-year while participating in restoring self-esteem, life skills, financial literacy, job training, resume writing, interviewing skills, nutritional classes, Yoga, art therapy, and restoring relationships with family members. Additionally, we host retreats for all women veterans, lunch and learn events, and our premier event is hosting a women veterans appreciation dinner to honor all women veterans. We opened our first home in 2016 which was a three-bedroom house. We have opened our second home, "Anna's House" in Winchester June 12, 2021 where we can provide transitional housing for 32 women veterans.
Veterans please ask your questions!
https://www.elizabethdolefoundation.org/ OR http://hiddenheroes.org/.
Caring for Military Families: Our Vision is an America where military caregivers are empowered, appreciated, and recognized for their service to our nation.
Veteran’s Club was founded in 2017 by U.S. Army Combat Veteran, Jeremy Harrell. Our primary mission is to provide connection, healing, recovery, housing, and employment for the veteran community. We have several programs that allow us to facilitate each of these key initiatives to enhance the lives of our community’s veterans. These include our nationally recognized Equine Assisted Mentoring Program, Family Outreach Program, Homeless Veterans Housing and Recovery Program, and our Community Outreach Programs.
At Veteran’s Club, we believe that working tirelessly on these issues will not only lower the risk of veteran suicide, lower veteran unemployment, and strengthen military families, but will also benefit the community we live in.
You can get connected with Veteran’s Club at veteransclubinc.org. You can find us on Facebook and Instagram.
https://www.redcross.org/get-help/military-families/services-for-veterans/military-veteran-caregiver-network.html
Military and Veteran Caregiver Network
The Military Veteran Caregiver Network provides our nation’s pre- and post-9/11-era military and veteran caregivers with peer support.
1-800-MyVA411 is a national, toll-free number that serves as a “front door” to VA. You can still reach VA at any other direct or contact center numbers, but 1-800-MyVA411 offers the simplicity of a single number to call when you don’t know who to call. The Veterans Crisis Line is always available 24/7 at [login to see] and pressing 1, by Chat, or by Texting 838255. You can also call the White House VA Hotline at [login to see] to share your compliments or concerns.
Call 1-800-MyVA411 to get information on VA care, benefits and services, such as:
Information on COVID-19 and the MISSION Act, which delivers access to health care – at VA facilities, virtually with telehealth, and in the community.
Health care eligibility and enrollment.
Information on VA benefits, such as disability compensation and pension, education programs, caregiver support, insurance, home loan guaranty, and burial scheduling and markers, among others.
The nearest VA facilities to where you live or to where you may be traveling; directory assistance, and connection to VA Medical Center operators.
Technical support for http://www.VA.gov.
Financial information, such as debt and payment options.
Referrals during business hours, with an introduction from you and your issue to a VA specialist best able to assist.
Immediate transfer to the Veterans Crisis Line or the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans for services and support from caring and trained responders.
1-800-MyVA411 callers have the option of pressing 0 to be immediately connected with a customer service agent to answer any questions or provide a warm-handoff to the appropriate VA expert.
1-800-MyVA411 ( [login to see] ) is available 24 hours-a-day, 365 day-a-year to serve Veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors.
VA.gov Home | Veterans Affairs
Apply for and manage the VA benefits and services you’ve earned as a Veteran, Servicemember, or family member—like health care, disability, education, and more.
Additional conditions that are not presumptive, but a possible link has been found include esophageal cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, hepatic steatosis/fatty liver, miscarriage during exposure with residuals, female infertility, neurobehavioral effects during exposure, and renal toxicity (chronic kidney disease/CKD, end-stage renal disease, etc.). With these conditions, a SME will be requested to provide an opinion if there is a link based on your dates of exposure for which we can grant service connection.
The SME takes many things into consideration when making their opinion and are specially trained to do so. Factors include, but are not limited to, length of exposure and other risk factors such as family history, age, post-service exposures, etc. that may be more likely to have contributed to the claimed condition.
Through Veterans Health Information Exchange, community providers who are a part of your care team can safely and securely receive your VA health information electronically. We share your health information only with participating community providers via VHIE when they're treating you. Visit the VHIE page here https://www.va.gov/VHIE/ to learn more about how the program helps your providers better understand your health history and develop safer, more effective treatment plans.
Get your VA medical records online | Veterans Affairs
Our online tools can help you review, organize, and share your VA medical records and personal health information. Find out if you’re eligible and how to sign in to start using these tools.
Trichloroethylene
ATSDR
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/trichloroethylene/physiological_effects.html
(Case Study)
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ToxProfiles/tp19.pdf
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ToxProfiles/tp19-c1.pdf
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxguides/toxguide-19.pdf
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/MHMI/mmg19.pdf
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tfacts19.pdf
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/tce/docs/tce.pdf
https://clu-in.org/download/contaminantfocus/dnapl/Chemistry_and_Behavior/tox_profile_tce.pdf
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (cdc.gov)
EPA
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2020-11/documents/1._risk_evaluation_for_trichloroethylene_tce_casrn_79-01-6.pdf
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-09/documents/trichloroethylene.pdf
Final Risk Evaluation for Trichloroethylene CASRN:79-01-6 (epa.gov)
https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/iris/iris_documents/documents/toxreviews/0199tr/Appendix_D_0199tr.pdf
PERC
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/pgms/worknotify/drycleaner1.html
WHO
https://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/123069/AQG2ndEd_5_15Trichloroethylene.pdf
V.A.
https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/solvents/index.asp
NIEHS
https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/roc/content/profiles/trichloroethylene.pdf
https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/materials/14th_edition_of_the_report_on_carcinogens_508.pdf
https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/roc/monographs/finaltce_508.pdf
https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/newhomeroc/other_background/trichl_tce1997_2apps_508.pdf
https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/roc/thirteenth/protocols/tce_protocol12-31-13_508.pdf
https://ntpsearch.niehs.nih.gov/?query=Trichloroethylene+%28TCE%29
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK294285/
Benzene
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiledocs/index.html
https://wwwn.cdc.gov/TSP/ToxProfiles/ToxProfiles.aspx?id=40&tid=14
https://wwwn.cdc.gov/TSP/PHS/PHS.aspx?phsid=37&toxid=14
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/MHMI/mmg3.pdf
https://wwwn.cdc.gov/TSP/MMG/MMGDetails.aspx?mmgid=35&toxid=14
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/interactionprofiles/ip05.html
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/MHMI/mmg3.pdf
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/MHMI/mmg3-handout.pdf#page=1
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/MHMI/mmg3-handout.pdf#page=2
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/mrls/pdfs/ATSDR%20MRLs%20-%20March%202021%20-%20H.pdf
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/SPL/index.html
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/spl/resources/ATSDR_2019_SPL_Support_Document-508.pdf
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0049.html
https://www.who.int/ipcs/features/benzene.pdf
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-09/documents/benzene.pdf
https://www.nap.edu/read/4795/chapter/16
Tetrachloroethylene
Case Study
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/Tetrachloroethylene_Toxicity/docs/TetrachloroethyleneToxicity-H.pdf
ASTDR
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ToxProfiles/tp18.pdf
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ToxProfiles/tp18-c1.pdf
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/MHMI/mmg18.pdf
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tfacts18.pdf
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/toxzine/tetrachloroethylene_toxzine.html
EPA
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-09/documents/tetrachloroethylene.pdf
CDC
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/tetrachloro/default.html
https://www2a.cdc.gov/nioshtic-2/BuildQyr.asp?s1=Tetrachloroethylene&f1=%2A&Startyear=&Adv=0&terms=1&EndYear=&Limit=10000&sort=&D1=10&PageNo=1&RecNo=3&View=f&
WHO
https://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/123067/AQG2ndEd_5_13Tetrachloroethylene.pdf
Vinyl Chloride
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/VinylChloride_addendum_508.pdf
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ToxProfiles/tp20.pdf
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/MHMI/mmg20.pdf
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tfacts20.pdf
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ToxProfiles/tp20-c1-b.pdf
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxguides/toxguide-20.pdf
EPA
https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi/9101SL6G.PDF?Dockey=9101SL6G.PDF
https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/iris/iris_documents/documents/toxreviews/1001tr.pdf
WHO
https://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/chemicals/vinylchloride.pdf
NAP
https://www.nap.edu/read/4795/chapter/59#801
Trichloroethylene Toxicity: What Are the Physiological Effects of Trichloroethylene? |...
Trichloroethylene Toxicity: What Are the Physiological Effects of Trichloroethylene?
More information on filing a claim can be seen here https://www.va.gov/disability/how-to-file-claim/when-to-file/
Adult leukemia
Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
Bladder cancer
Kidney cancer
Liver cancer
Multiple myeloma
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Parkinson’s disease
Any veteran with a qualifying discharge who served at Camp Lejeune or MCAS New River for at least 30 cumulative days from August 1953 through December 1987 should have no difficulty being service connected for one of the above presumptive conditions. However, we see many veterans with conditions that are not on the presumptive list become frustrated in their quest for service connection. The 38 Code of Federal Regulations makes it clear that presumptive conditions are not intended to be exclusive but (and this is a big but) in order to be successful in a claim for a non-presumptive condition the veteran has to provide a link between the condition that he or she is claiming and their exposure on active duty. We encourage veterans to try and get an opinion from their physician that it is AT LEAST AS LIKEY AS NOT that the exposure is the cause of the claimed diagnosed non-presumptive disability. The opinion must include a solid medical rationale to justify the "at least as likely as not" opinion. As you correctly pointed out, there is a mountain of scientific evidence regarding the damage caused by these chemicals so ideally a physician would be able to cite some of those studies in their rationale. And again, the physician need only justify an opinion that the evidence is equally balanced for and against the exposure as the causative factor. In other words - 50/50 and the tie goes to the veteran. Working with an accredited representative can be a huge help in pursuing these types of claims.
Veteran Peer supporters “offer emotional support, share knowledge, teach skills, provide practical assistance, and connect other veterans with resources, opportunities, communities of support, and other people”
Veteran Peer providers can play many roles in support for vets dealing with a variety of issues, facing barriers to a successful transition back to civilian life, or aiding vets in addiction recovery.
Peers are capable of facilitating education and support groups and working as a bridge linking people to services as they transition from the military back into the community.
Peers also work one-on-one as role models, mentors, coaches and advocates and support veterans in a variety of aspects of dealing with day-to-day life.
Many peers have additional training and certification that demonstrates their skills and knowledge. Combined with their lived experience and ability to engage and connect with consumers, peer supporters are a dynamic and growing group that continue to transform lives and systems.
Veteran’s Club was founded in 2017 by U.S. Army Combat Veteran, Jeremy Harrell. Our primary mission is to provide connection, healing, recovery, housing, and employment for the veteran community. We have several programs that allow us to facilitate each of these key initiatives to enhance the lives of our community’s veterans. These include our nationally recognized Equine Assisted Mentoring Program, Family Outreach Program, Homeless Veterans Housing and Recovery Program, and our Community Outreach Programs.
At Veteran’s Club, we believe that working tirelessly on these issues will not only lower the risk of veteran suicide, lower veteran unemployment, and strengthen military families, but will also benefit the community we live in.
You can get connected with Veteran’s Club at veteransclubinc.org. You can find us on Facebook and Instagram.
https://hopefultransitions.com/blogs/blog-entries/17/Helping-Others-Grieve/118/Foundations-of-Companioning.html
www.veterans.ky.gov