Veterans Hopeful For MMJ

How we doing hard-chargers!!

I have news about the possibility of medical marijuana being issued to veterans as there is word of its healing properties.

Members from democratic side on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee requested the committee’s officials to research medical marijuana for issues like post-traumatic stress disorder. Many believe there is HUGE potential for veterans’ health through this plant.

In a letter signed by every Democratic member of the panel, lawmakers requested that VA Secretary David Shulkin challenge his department’s Office of Research and Development to “fulfill its stated mission” by looking into the value of cannabis medication as an alternative to addictive prescription opioids.

The letter stated. “VA is uniquely situated to pursue research on the impact of medical marijuana on veterans suffering from chronic pain and PTSD. Given its access to world-class researchers, the population it serves, and its history of overseeing and producing research resulting in cutting edge medical treatments.”

As of now Cannabis is still illegal under federal law, but 26 states (and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico) allow access to the drug for medical needs.

At a White House press conference in May, Shulkin said federal law does not prohibit his department from looking at marijuana research as an option for veterans, but not to prescribe the substance.

VA officials have been reluctant to move ahead with assisting in outside research projects. An Arizona study lauded by the American Legion, which has repeatedly petitioned local VA facilities to help find participants.

Department of Justice officials have made very clear verbally that they do not support loosening rules on marijuana research and have looked into expanded authorities to go after cannabis dealers and companies even in states where the substance is legal.

American Legion officials last year passed a resolution calling for expanded research into medicinal use of marijuana, noting that opioid abuse presents a serious health threat to the veterans community and any alternatives should be considered.

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America released a new survey indicating that 63 percent of their members support legalization of the drug for medicinal purposes. Only 15 percent opposed the idea.

64 percent of Americans favor making marijuana legal, the highest figure researchers have recorded in nearly 50 years of polling on the issue.

In addition, one of the letter signers — Rep. Lou Correa, D-Calif. — introduced a House resolution on Thursday calling for VA to recognize “the urgency and importance of finding alternative successful treatments to opioids” and conduct cannabis research to compare the side effects with current treatment methods.

This may come into fruition after all, we'll have to keep our eyes open to see. I've seen many veterans who unequivocally stand on this and it may be that time for everyone to listen. May the research taking place find new grounds in order to better treat that veterans of this country.

Isaac Hall
#SemperKill

Ms. Kemp

Good day hard-chargers, today we have un-fortunate news.

Dr. Janet Kemp, a longtime Veterans Affairs administrator who established the Veterans Crisis Hotline Line, passed last week.

Kemp had an illustrious 30-year career at the department which featured numerous honors for her mental health work, including a 2009 award, Service to America Medal for her work on the veterans suicide prevention hotline.

Since the initial launch ten years ago, the Veterans Crisis Hotline has answered over 3 million calls and initiated emergency intervention in almost 75,000 cases.

It's become the keystone of the department’s efforts, and employs more than 500 specialists.

Kemp oversaw much of that expansion, growing the program from small offices at the Canandaigua VA Medical Center.

In 2011, during a military suicide conference in Washington, D.C., Kemp admitted she did not initially think the hotline would be such a critical tool.

“I said, “I don’t think veterans will call ... We have (other) crisis lines in the country. Why don’t we use those?’”. “And I have never been so wrong about anything in my entire life.

“Veterans do call. All genders, all ages, people with all sorts of needs. If the services are there and help is there, people are reaching out to get them. Now our main task is being available for the veterans in need.

At this point it’s working in all sorts of ways and shapes that we didn’t imagine.

Kemp worked as VA’s National Mental Health Program Director for Suicide Prevention from 2007 until 2014. From there she was Chief of Education for the VA Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention until retiring in 2016.

She was the lead author on numerous reports on mental health and suicide prevention at the department. Kemp earned nursing degrees from SUNY Plattsburgh and University of Colorado-Denver before starting her work with VA in 1986.

Ms. Kemp, thank you for your unwavering support and dedication to veterans. You've saved more lives than people can actually comprehend and for that you will never be forgotten.


May you rest in paradise ma'am...


Isaac J. Hall II
#SemperKill

VA Reevaluations

How we doing hard-chargers, today I thought we’d spend a bit of time speaking about the VA reevaluation process. The Department of Veterans Affairs has the ability to reduce or terminate ones disability benefits under specific circumstances. Most of the time the VA will not do this unless you are first asked to show up at a specific date for a reevaluation.

Understanding VA Reevaluation

A reevaluation can be a medical examination or, if the VA feels necessary to evaluate the severity of ones disability. The VA is legally entitled to require an exam or hospitalization, therefore it would behoove of you to comply with a reevaluation request in order to preserve your benefits.

Scheduled Reevaluations

Once you are awarded disability compensation benefits, the VA will evaluate whether ones disability is such that you should be scheduled for a future reevaluation to determine if ones benefits need to be adjusted. So types of disabilities subject to reevaluation are those that can be expected to make an improvement. If the VA determines that ones disability requires a future reevaluation, the first reevaluation will be scheduled five years from the date of the decision to grant you benefits.

Change in Condition

The VA may also order a reevaluation at any time if there is medical evidence showing that ones disability has improved. If the VA decreases your benefits, you can request an increase if your condition worsens again. 

To request an increase in your rating after disabilities, worsen all you need to do is write a letter to the VA regional office stating you believe an increase is needed, from there provide medical evidence to support an increase.

I wanna advise you though, there are times when you request an increase, you will actually end up getting a decrease in benefits. If that happens, you can appeal this decrease the same way that you can  appeal a denial of VA benefits.

Notice of Reevaluation

The VA is required to send you advance notice of a reevaluation. If you receive a letter from the VA asking you to attend a VA examination for the purpose of evaluating your disability rating.

This could mean the VA may have decided there is medical evidence on file does not support a continuation of your benefits at your current rate. From there you have 60 days from the date you receive this letter to submit evidence showing a reduction is not warranted.

If the VA fails to send you a notice and decides to reduce or terminate your benefits because you didn’t show up for the exam, you have every right to have your full benefit rate reinstated.

Show Up For Reevaluation

It is imperative that you show up for this examination. If you do not show up, don’t call to reschedule or explain your absence, you are at risk of having your benefits automatically reduced or terminated.

Don’t freak out though as there are times where a reevaluation could actually lead to an increase in your ratings/benefits, BUT this is a rarity, however, this does occasionally happen when a veterans disability has gotten much worse.

When Not to Expect a Reevalutaion

The VA will not ask you to come for a reevaluation, If you are part of one of the groups below. However, should you receive a letter asking you to show up for a reevaluation, call the phone number on the letter you receive to explain why you think you should not have to appear.

VA does not schedule reevaluations for the following veterans:

Over 55 years of age

Static disabilities, such as loss of a limb

A disability resulting from disease that is of a permanent nature

Have been assigned the minimum rating for their disability

Have a combined disability rating, and the individual ratings that were combined are so high that even if one or two of these ratings were reduced, the combined disability rating would remain the same.

If you are not subject to reevalutaion, your disability rating cannot be reduced.

If you do have to attend an examination, the VA can only reduce your benefits in some situations.

Keep your records and be sure to show up to the necessary examinations. I would also ask that you all become a bit more knowledgeable in this area as it could help you greatly.

Isaac J. Hall II

#SemperKill