VA
OEF/OIF/OND
Health & Benefits
Overview
Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA)
Department of
Veterans Affairs
(VA)
Veterans
Health
Administration
(VHA)
Veterans
Benefits
Administration
(VBA)
National
Cemetery
Administration
(NCA)
OEF/OIF/OND
Program
Program
Manager
Nurse
& Social Worker
Case Managers
Transition
Patient
Advocate
Other Case
Managers
(VIST, SCI,
Women
Veterans,
Polytrauma)
Program Support
(Clerical)
Programs located at all VA Medical Centers
VISN 11 VA Medical Centers in the “Mitten”
VISN 12 VA Medical Centers in the “U.P.”
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Iron Mountain (Oscar G Johnson VAMC)
Hancock:
Ironwood:
Manistique:
Marquette:
Menominee:
Sault Ste. Marie:
Hancock Clinic
Ironwood Clinic
Manistique Outreach Clinic
Marquette Clinic
Menominee Clinic
Sault Ste. Marie Clinic
Demographics: Michigan
Total Veterans: 658,469
 Total male Veterans: 612,221
 Total female Veterans: 46,249
 Gulf War Veterans: 155, 745
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http://www.va.gov/vetdata/VeteranPopulation.asp
Sep 2014
Characteristics of OEF/OIF/OND
Population
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Younger (18-29)– joined military for reasons of:
Patriotism – post 9-11
National need
Family history
Education and career training
Need for comradeship and guidance
65-70% have had multiple deployments creating major disruptions to
their families and careers
Many come home to experience relationship problems, reemployment problems, financial distress and other domestic issues.
Smaller segment of older (29-50) individuals with similar but different
needs – many have more resources so financial problems and/or
employment issues are not as prevalent – relationship issues exist as
does a powerful desire to maintain military career status
OEF/OIF/OND
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1,791,420 Veterans have become eligible for
VA health care since 2002 -Of the total: 59% are former Active Duty
and 41% are National Guard or Reservists
92% of Veterans seen at VA have been
outpatients and ~7% have been hospitalized at
least once in a VA health care facility
VA Healthcare Utilization – Cumulative from 1st
quarter 2002, to 2nd QTR FY2014
National Data on Diagnoses among
OEF/OIF/OND Veterans
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Diseases of Musculoskeletal System
Mental Disorders
Signs/symptoms of Ill Defined
Nervous system/Sensory
Digestive system
Endocrine/Nutritional systems
Injury/Poisonings
60.0%
56.1%
55.8%
48.7%
37.1%
36.3%
31.3%
National Data on Diagnoses cont.
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Top 7 on previous slide
Remainder of the most common medical problems range from
Respiratory system (28.3%) to infectious/parasitic and
neoplasms that are in lower or single percentages (4.6 to
1.6%)
What we see locally mirrors the national statistics -Muscle/joint problems –
MH problems –
Hard to define or multi symptom presentations
VA Health Care Utilization among OEF/OIF/OND Veterans,
Cumulative from 1st Qtr. FY 2002 to 2nd Qtr., FY2014.
Health Issues
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“Nothing is pure” with this group – very seldom see one stand alone
medical problem Comorbid conditions are the norm -Musculoskeletal Problems + psychosocial or mental health problems
of anxiety, depression and PTSD are very common –(approximately
85% of service members present with this combination)
Musculoskeletal problems of back, hips, neck, shoulders are
believed to be caused by the weight of battle gear + other
equipment
> Mental health symptoms are thought to impact service members for a
variety of reasons: multiple deployments, no or little down time
(constant vigilance), no front line (who is the enemy), different tactics
(IED’s & secondary devices) –Service Members must develop keen
skills to survive and many of these adaptations do not subside when
returning home
Airborne Hazard and Open Burn
Pit Registry
Veterans and Servicemembers who were close to burn pit
smoke or exposed for longer periods may be at greater risk
for health problems.
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Veterans can complete an online questionnaire about
burn pit exposures and request an in-person exam. The
registry can be accessed at:
http://veteran.mobilehealth.va.gov/AHBurnPitRegistry
Additional information can be accessed at:
http://www.publichealth.va.gov or call 1-877-222-8387
Airborne Hazards
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Veterans of Southwest Asia theater of operations after
Aug 2, 1990 (Operations Desert Storm and Desert
Shield)
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OEF/OIF/OND: Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain,
Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Oman, Qatar, United Arab
Emirates, waters of the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, and
the Red Sea, and airspace above these locations.
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Djibouti, Africa after Sep 11, 2001
Burn Pits
Basic Healthcare Eligibility
 24
continuous months (unless
discharged for hardship, injury)
 Discharged
under conditions other
than dishonorable
Enrollment Requirements
What We Need From You
 DD-214
 VA
copy
Form 10-10EZ
Veterans of Operations
Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom,
& New Dawn
VA provides enhanced
enrollment opportunity and five
years of cost-free health care
to veterans who served in a
theater of combat operations,
for any injury or illness
associated with this service
Veterans of Operations
Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom,
& New Dawn
The five year window of care
starts over with each additional
deployment to a theater of
combat operations
Non-Service Related
Issues
Veterans who experience NonService related illness/injuries Post
Deployment may be charged a copay at VA for treatment of these
conditions i.e. flu, colds, auto
accident
Women Veteran Programs
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Women Veterans may receive
 full
continuum of medical benefits package
 women’s family planning and birth control, genderspecific health care, e.g. hormone replacement
therapy, breast and GYN care, maternity, limited
infertility
 Special considerations
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Each VAMC has a Women Veterans Program Manager
Medical Benefits
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Combat Deployment Screening
Primary Care Services
Prescription Services
Mental Health
Optometry
Audiology
Speech Pathology
Neurology
Dermatology & Wound Care
Physical Medicine & Rehab (KT, PT, OT,
Spinal Cord Injury)
Serving Combat Veterans
www.vetcenter.va.gov
VET CENTER SERVICES

Vet Center Staff include Combat Veterans
(Veterans serving Veterans)
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Individual Counseling
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Group Counseling
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Military Sexual Trauma Counseling
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Marital/Family Counseling
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Bereavement Counseling
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Drug and Alcohol Referral
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Liaison with VA & Community Resources
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Benefits Assistance Referral
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Community Education and Career Referral
Michigan Vet Centers
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Dearborn Vet Center: 313-277-1428
Detroit Vet Center: 313-831-6509
Escanaba Vet Center: 906- 233-0244
Grand Rapids Vet Center: 612-285-5795
Macomb County Vet Center: 586-412-0107
Pontiac Vet Center: 248-874-1015
Saginaw Vet Center: 989-321-4650
Traverse City Vet Center: 231-935-0051
VBA Benefits & Services
• Compensation
• Education
• Vocational Rehabilitation &
Employment
• Life Insurance
• Home Loan Guaranty
National Cemeteries
• Burial for Veteran and Spouse
• Headstone, Flag, and perpetual
care
• Nationwide Gravesite Locator
• 800-535-1117 or www.cem.va.gov
Local VA Contacts
VA Medical Centers:
Ann Arbor VAMC: 1-800-361-8387
OEF/OIF/OND Program 734-845-3787
Battle Creek VAMC: 1-800-214-1247 Toll Free
OEF/OIF/OND Program 269-966-5600 x35308
Detroit VAMC: 1-800-511-8056
OEF/OIF/OND Program
Saginaw VAMC: 1-989-497-2500
OEF/OIF/OND Program 989-497-2500 x11794
Iron Mountain VAMC: 1-800-215-8262
OEF/OIF/OND Program 1-906-774-3300 x32708
VA Regional Office (VBA):
Detroit Regional Office: 1-800-827-1000
www.va.gov