By Spring 2020 M-VETS Student-Advisor Katherine Beard Traumatic brain injuries (“TBIs”) impact thousands of military service members every year. With nearly 20,000 clinically diagnosed TBIs each year for the past five years, service members are at a higher risk of injury than members of the general public.[1] TBIs can have long-lasting, severe impacts that can … Continue reading “Scientific Developments in Detecting Traumatic Brain Injuries”

By Spring 2020 M-VETS Student-Advisor Josh Morrow Veteran issues have been a prominent issue in society for many years, so much so that the federal government budgets over $240 billion to help our Veterans combat these issues. Moreover, in FY 2020, Virginia’s Office Of Veterans And Defense Affairs budgeted roughly $70.7 million towards helping Veterans … Continue reading “Small Businesses Supporting Veterans: A Practical Solution To Helping Veterans Within The Community”

By Spring 2020 M-VETS Student-Advisor Holly Kresge Since the introduction of the human immunodeficiency virus (“HIV”) to the United States in the 1970s, the medical field has made significant advancements in the treatment of HIV. Prior to the 1990s, testing positive for HIV almost certainly led to death. However, people living with HIV today can … Continue reading ““Outmoded and at Odds with Current Science:” Updating U.S. Military Policy on Servicemembers Living with HIV”

By Fall 2019 M-VETS Student-Advisor Allison Hemmer The number of homeless veterans has steadily declined, with the most recent Point-In-Time (PIT) Count conducted by the VA showing that the rate of homelessness in veterans has dropped 50 percent since 2011.[1] In addition, the PIT count showed a 2.1 percent decrease since the 2018 PIT.[2] This … Continue reading “Why Increased VA Funding in Mental Health Programs Have Lessened Veteran Homelessness”

By Fall 2019 M-VETS Student-Advisor Cassie Bowns Since 2001, nearly three million United States service members have been deployed to either Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or Operation New Dawn.[1] Of those three million service members, approximately 30% have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress (PTS).[2] Upon returning from service, veterans diagnosed with PTS … Continue reading “The Necessity of Reintegration Programs for Veterans with Post Traumatic Stress”

By Summer 2019 M-VETS Student-Advisor Lillia J. Damalouji Stolen valor, or the act of falsely claiming military service or displaying falsely-earned military decorations, medals, or badges, is an extensive problem throughout the United States that has sparked a myriad of governmental responses. In a year-long nationwide operation jointly conducted by the Department of Justice and … Continue reading “Preserving the Honor of United States Armed Forces’ Awards and Decorations: The Stolen Valor Act”

By Summer 2019 M-VETS Student-Advisor Jacquelyn Cabada Branscomb History In 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt put out a call for Filipinos to fight alongside the American forces against the Japanese invasion of the Philippine Islands.[1] During that time, the Philippines was still a commonwealth of the United States. Under this Presidential Military Order on July 26, … Continue reading “From Corregidor To Congress’ Corridors: The Fight For Filipino WWII Veterans’ Benefits”

Nelson Henry Jr. in his WWII uniform before his blue discharge in 1945. Nelson Henry Jr. on April 25, 2019 contemplating his chances of prevailing at the ABCMR. By Spring 2019 M-VETS Student-Advisor Rachel A. Petrik Red, white, and blue are three powerfully symbolic colors. After the Continental Congress passed a resolution on July 4, … Continue reading “The Blue Ticket Discharge: A Color that has Stained the Lives of WWII-Era Veterans for Over 75 Years”

By Spring 2019 M-VETS Student-Advisor Katie Stegmuller Between 1961 and 1971, more than 20 million gallons of herbicides including Agent Orange were sprayed over Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.[1] The Agent Orange Act extends a presumption of service connection for disabilities that are positively associated with herbicide exposure to veterans who served in the Republic of … Continue reading “Procopio v. Wilkie: Finally a Win for Blue Water Vietnam Veterans?”

By Spring 2019 M-VETS Student-Advisor Problems within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and specifically, the Veterans Health Administration, have received ample amounts of media attention over the last two decades.[1] Following an investigation by the Office of the Inspector General into a scandal involving several senior executives at the Phoenix Veterans’ Affairs (“VA”) Hospital … Continue reading “The Constitutionality of the Veterans’ Affairs Accountability Acts of 2014 and 2017: Reexamining Helman v. Department of Veterans Affairs and its Impact on Legislative Efforts to Hold Veterans’ Affairs Officials Accountable”