NYU Langone Leads Clinical Evaluation of Study on Effects of PTSD on Veterans

Newswise — NYU Langone Medical Center announced that Charles R. Marmar, MD, the Lucius N. Littauer Professor of Psychiatry and chair of the Department of Psychiatry, was selected to lead the clinical evaluation component of a national survey — the National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study (NVVLS) — on the long-term effects of combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other related health conditions on Vietnam veterans.

The three-year NVVLS is being directed by William Schlenger, PhD, a nationally recognized expert in behavioral health and a principal scientist at Abt Associates, a leading global health and social policy research and international development firm. Abt was recently awarded $6.7 million in funding by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct the research. As part of that funding, Abt has provided $1.6 million to NYU Langone Medical Center to lead the clinical evaluation component of the study.

NVVLS will serve as a follow-up to a landmark investigation conducted nearly 25 years ago called the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study (NVVRS), for which Dr. Marmar was a member of the study’s research team. The NVVLS provides an unparalleled opportunity to determine if war-zone related PTSD could potentially lead to physical problems such as hypertension, adult onset diabetes, high cholesterol, premature morbidity or death due to cardiovascular complications, as well as the risk for early onset dementia. Experts also believe complementing NVVRS findings with new information from the NVVLS will provide valuable insights into the long-term readjustment needs of U.S. veterans, and the psychological impact on the spouses, partners and children of war-zone deployed veterans.

The timing for the follow-up investigation is critical. “It is imperative that VA clinicians and health service delivery planners have information about the veterans who participated in the original study to identify needs for future health and mental health services for aging Vietnam veterans,” said Dr. Marmar. “Additionally, the survey findings will be especially important for helping us to better understand the long-term mental and physical impact on the health of service members diagnosed with war-zone related PTSD and to better plan the readjustment needs for those currently serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.”

http://www.newswise.com/articles/nyu-langone-leads-clinical-evaluation-of-study-on-effects-of-ptsd-on-veterans

Retroactive Traumatic Injury Benefits No Longer Just For OEF/OIF Injuries

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is extending retroactive traumatic injury benefits to Servicemembers who suffered qualifying injuries during the period Oct. 7, 2001 to Nov. 30, 2005, regardless of the geographic location where the injuries occurred.


“Now all of our nation’s Servicemembers who suffered severe traumatic injuries while serving their country can receive the same traumatic injury benefits, regardless of where their injury occurred,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “We at VA appreciate the efforts of Congress and the President to improve benefits for our troops.”


Effective Oct. 1, the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) Traumatic Injury Protection benefit, known as TSGLI, will be payable for all qualifying injuries incurred during this period.  This retroactive benefit is payable whether or not the Servicemember had SGLI coverage at the time of the injury.  


The Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2010, passed by Congress and signed by President Obama in October of 2010, removes the requirement that injuries during this period be incurred in Operations Enduring or Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF). This is welcome news for the many Servicemembers who suffered serious traumatic injuries while serving stateside or in other areas outside of OEF/OIF during this time period, but until now have not been eligible for TSGLI.  


TSGLI provides a payment ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 to Servicemembers sustaining certain severe traumatic injuries resulting in a range of losses, including amputations; limb salvage; paralysis; burns; loss of sight, hearing or speech; facial reconstruction; 15-day continuous hospitalization; coma; and loss of activities of daily living due to traumatic brain injury or other traumatic injuries.  


http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2169