Health and Wellness Newsletter – September 2025

Major Breakthroughs in Fitness, Sports Medicine, and Physical Therapy

AI Aids Spinal Injury Prognosis: Cutting-edge research this month revealed that artificial intelligence can glean life-saving insights from routine blood tests for spinal cord injury patientssciencedaily.comsciencedaily.com. A University of Waterloo study showed that by tracking common blood biomarkers over the first few days after injury and applying machine learning, doctors could accurately predict injury severity and even patient survival as early as 1–3 days post-admissionsciencedaily.com. This AI-driven approach, published in NPJ Digital Medicine, may enable earlier interventions and better critical care planning for those with severe spinal injuries, a development especially relevant to veterans recovering from combat-related spinal traumasciencedaily.comsciencedaily.com. The technique is affordable and uses standard hospital bloodwork, potentially making advanced prognostics accessible in VA and military hospitals worldwidesciencedaily.comsciencedaily.com.

Physical Therapy Outperforms Medication: A comprehensive analysis of nearly 10,000 patients has confirmed that simple, non-pharmacological therapies can be more effective than drugs for knee osteoarthritissciencedaily.com. According to a September 20 report in PLOS One, knee braces, hydrotherapy (warm water exercise), and targeted exercise regimens emerged as the top treatments for reducing pain and improving mobility in arthritic kneessciencedaily.comsciencedaily.com. These low-cost approaches outperform common pain medications and high-tech interventions, which often carry side effects or limited benefitsciencedaily.comsciencedaily.com. Researchers conclude that physical therapy and adaptive fitness should be front-line treatments for knee osteoarthritis, a condition affecting many older and disabled veteranssciencedaily.comsciencedaily.com. Embracing braces, water exercises, and strength training could help veterans with chronic joint pain stay active without the risks associated with long-term medication use.

Major Updates in Nutrition and Supplementation

New Oral Weight-Loss Drug Shows Promise: A landmark international trial announced in mid-September demonstrated remarkable results for a new obesity medication, offering hope for safer weight management. The experimental drug orforglipron – a once-daily pill – helped patients lose over 10% of their body weight on average in 72 weeks, with nearly 1 in 5 participants shedding at least 20%sciencedaily.comsciencedaily.com. Unlike most current weight-loss treatments (GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic) that require injections, orforglipron is taken orally, which could make therapy more accessible and preferable for many veterans struggling with obesitysciencedaily.comsciencedaily.com. In the highest dose group, patients achieved an 11.2% average weight reduction alongside improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol, and inflammation markerssciencedaily.comsciencedaily.com. Researchers noted the drug’s side effects (mostly mild gastrointestinal issues) were in line with its medication class. While orforglipron is not yet FDA-approved, experts highlight its potential to expand obesity treatment to more patients – including disabled veterans for whom traditional exercise might be challenging – if it gains regulatory approvalsciencedaily.com.

Exercise Yields a “Hunger Busting” Molecule: Scientists at Baylor College of Medicine uncovered a surprising natural appetite suppressant produced by our bodies during intense exercisesciencedaily.com. The molecule, Lac-Phe (lactate-phenylalanine), was found to directly act on the brain’s hunger centers – quieting neurons that signal hunger while activating those that promote satietysciencedaily.comsciencedaily.com. In mouse studies, high levels of Lac-Phe generated by vigorous workouts led to the animals eating less and losing weight, all without any observed side effectssciencedaily.comsciencedaily.com. These findings (published in Nature Metabolism) illuminate a natural pathway linking physical activity to reduced appetite, helping explain why regular exercise can aid weight control beyond just burning caloriessciencedaily.com. In the future, this discovery could inspire new weight-management therapies that mimic the effects of exercise-induced molecules. For now, it reinforces practical advice for veterans: staying active not only burns energy but may also naturally curb your appetite – a double benefit for managing weight and health.

Veteran Administration or Overall Military Updates

VA Workforce Changes and Service Impacts: The Department of Veterans Affairs underwent significant organizational shifts in September. The agency is on pace to reduce its staff by up to 30,000 employees by the end of the fiscal year (September 30), mainly through hiring freezes, early retirements, and a deferred resignation programnorthcarolinahealthnews.org. In fact, records show over 10,000 VA employees – including hundreds of doctors, nurses, and frontline staff – opted to resign by this month’s deadline in exchange for incentives, part of a plan to streamline the VA without resorting to formal layoffsnorthcarolinahealthnews.orgnorthcarolinahealthnews.org. VA leaders assert that “mission-critical” positions are exempt from the cuts and insist that veteran care will not be compromised. They argue that many reductions target administrative and duplicative roles, with an aim to improve efficiency in veterans’ servicesnorthcarolinahealthnews.orgnorthcarolinahealthnews.org. However, veterans’ advocates and some lawmakers have raised concerns. They note that the exodus of experienced personnel – even with safeguards – could strain an already overburdened system, potentially lengthening wait times or impacting care qualitynorthcarolinahealthnews.org. Oversight committees are closely watching these changes. As VA Secretary Doug Collins implements restructuring, including centralizing call centers and modernizing systems, the veteran community is hoping to see service improvements materialize despite the reduced workforce. This ongoing transformation will be a critical area to monitor in the coming months, as any impact on health care or benefits delivery will directly affect disabled veterans relying on VA support.

Mental Health and Resilience Developments

PTSD Risk in Younger Veterans – New Insights: A Yale-led study published this month shed light on why younger veterans experience significantly higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder than older veteranspsychiatrictimes.com. Researchers found that veterans aged 22–49 have a PTSD prevalence about three times greater than those 50 and older (approximately 15% vs 5%), and this gap is largely explained by psychosocial challenges rather than combat exposure alonepsychiatrictimes.compsychiatrictimes.com. Factors such as strained personal relationships, loneliness, lack of social support, and unhealthy coping (e.g. substance use) accounted for 90% of the difference in PTSD risk between younger and older vetspsychiatrictimes.compsychiatrictimes.com. The loss of the tight-knit military community and difficulty reconnecting in civilian life seem to leave younger veterans especially vulnerable to mental health strugglespsychiatrictimes.com. Experts involved in the study emphasize the importance of fostering social connections and life skills as part of PTSD prevention and treatment for post-9/11 generation veteranspsychiatrictimes.compsychiatrictimes.com. Programs that combat isolation – such as the VA’s Compassionate Contact Corps (a volunteer buddy program) – and targeted therapies to build healthy coping strategies can bolster resilience in this grouppsychiatrictimes.com. These findings underline that healing in younger vets must go beyond clinical treatment to include rebuilding the sense of camaraderie and support many lost after leaving the service.

Hydration and Stress – A Simple Resilience Tip: New research from Liverpool John Moores University highlighted an often-overlooked factor in mental well-being: hydration. A study in the Journal of Applied Physiology found that people who regularly drank less than about 1.5 liters of fluid per day (approximately 6 cups) had markedly higher stress hormone responses during acute stress tasks than those who stayed well-hydratedsciencedaily.comsciencedaily.com. In fact, under mild dehydration, participants’ cortisol levels spiked over 50% higher during stress, even though they didn’t subjectively feel thirstiersciencedaily.comsciencedaily.com. Elevated cortisol can exacerbate anxiety and is linked to worse long-term health (higher risks of heart disease, diabetes, depression)sciencedaily.comsciencedaily.com. For veterans – especially those managing PTSD or high stress – this finding reinforces a straightforward resilience strategy: drink enough water. Keeping a water bottle handy and maintaining recommended fluid intake (around 2–2.5 liters per day for adults) may help blunt the body’s stress response and protect long-term healthsciencedaily.comsciencedaily.com. Adequate hydration supports physical health and can make a meaningful difference in how one’s body handles stress, potentially complementing other mental health therapies. It’s an easy, low-cost habit that can bolster both mind and body in the face of daily challenges.

Policy and Benefits Updates for Disabled Veterans

Legislative Wins to Expand Veteran Benefits: September brought a flurry of activity on Capitol Hill aimed at improving veterans’ services. In mid-September, the House of Representatives passed 14 bipartisan bills addressing various veteran benefits and programsveterans.house.gov. These measures cover a broad range of issues: from enhancing education and job training opportunities for veterans, to expanding access to health care (especially in rural or remote areas), modernizing how the VA outreaches to veterans about benefits, and safeguarding the VA’s medical supply chainveterans.house.gov. Notably, one bill will improve the Veterans Readiness and Employment program’s integrity, while another modernizes claims processing to speed up disability decisionsveterans.house.govveterans.house.gov. There are also acts focusing on telehealth expansion (ensuring veterans can access care via telemedicine without barriers)veterans.house.gov and support for specific groups like women veterans (e.g. the Women Veterans Cancer Care Coordination Act to improve cancer care)veterans.house.gov. Together, these 14 bills signal a continued bipartisan commitment to refine and strengthen the benefits that disabled veterans and their families rely on. As of this writing, these House-passed bills await action in the Senate; if enacted, they will bolster resources ranging from housing and education to healthcare delivery for veterans.

Funding Vital Programs – Avoiding a Shutdown: As the fiscal year closed, Congress grappled with a potential government shutdown that could have disrupted veteran services. By late September, major veterans organizations (such as the American Legion and AMVETS) were urging lawmakers to pass a stopgap funding bill – specifically, the Continuing Appropriations and VA Extenders Act of 2025 – to keep the government open and extend critical veterans’ programswhitehouse.govwhitehouse.gov. This emergency legislation was crucial to maintain support for several lifeline initiatives set to expire. Among them: the Staff Sgt. Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program (which funds community suicide prevention efforts), the VA’s rural mental health outreach (Project RANGE), and the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program that prevents homelessnesswhitehouse.gov. The extenders bill also safeguarded other benefits, including housing assistance for disabled and homeless veterans, educational benefits for veteran families, and even the VA Inspector General’s authority to conduct oversight via subpoenaswhitehouse.gov. By renewing these authorities through the new fiscal year, Congress ensured that veterans continuing to receive care, counseling, and financial assistance without interruption. The stopgap measure was passed just in time to avoid a shutdown on October 1. Disabled veterans can breathe a sigh of relief that their health care appointments, disability checks, and support services will proceed normally while a longer-term funding agreement is hashed out in Washington.

Training Tips and Practical Fitness Guidance

Establish Routine and Set Realistic Goals: One challenge many veterans face after service is maintaining fitness without the structure of the military. Experts recommend starting with attainable goals and a consistent schedule to rebuild a routineusveteransmagazine.comusveteransmagazine.com. It’s important to adjust expectations to your current lifestyle and abilities – for example, if you haven’t run in a while, begin with shorter distances or low-impact cardio and gradually progress, rather than trying to match your active-duty performance. Treat workouts as appointments with yourself, whether it’s a morning walk, a lunchtime gym session, or evening yoga. Consistency is key; even a 20-30 minute daily exercise habit will compound benefits over timeusveteransmagazine.com. Many veterans find that installing a simple home gym or using basic equipment (like dumbbells or resistance bands) helps integrate fitness into everyday life. Remember, the goal is sustainable activity. By setting modest targets – such as a couple of workouts per week initially – and then building on them, you can avoid injury and burnout. Celebrating small wins (like increasing your endurance or flexibility) will keep you motivated on your fitness journey.

Adaptive Training and Self-Care: For disabled veterans or those managing injuries, adaptive fitness strategies are crucial. Don’t be discouraged by physical limitations – there are tailored workouts and sports that can accommodate various disabilities while still improving strength, mobility, and morale. For example, chair yoga can improve flexibility and reduce stress without putting weight on your joints, and resistance band exercises can build muscle safely even if you have limited range of motionusveteransmagazine.com. The VA and veterans service organizations sponsor numerous adaptive sports programs (from wheelchair basketball to guided water therapy) that provide a sense of camaraderie along with physical benefitsusveteransmagazine.com. Engaging in these activities not only aids your rehabilitation but also connects you with fellow veterans in a supportive environment. Equally important is listening to your body: pay attention to pain signals and don’t push through injuries as you might have in the militaryusveteransmagazine.com. Adapt your workouts on days when pain or fatigue is high – it’s okay to swap a run for a stretch session, or take an extra rest day to recover. Rest and recovery are part of training, not a sign of weakness. Consulting with a physical therapist or trainer (especially one experienced with veteran or adaptive athletes) can help tailor a program to your needs and prevent setbacksusveteransmagazine.com. By combining smart adjustments with determination, you can continue making fitness gains safely.

Useful Resources and Tools for Health and Wellbeing

Digital Mindfulness and Mental Health Apps: Technology is making it easier for veterans to access mental health and wellness practices on their own schedule. Meditation and mindfulness apps have exploded in popularity, with the top platforms (like Calm, Headspace, and others) downloaded over 300 million times globallysciencedaily.com. These apps offer guided sessions that can help with stress reduction, anxiety, and even insomnia. Research reviewed by Carnegie Mellon University indicates that even short, frequent sessions – about 10 to 20 minutes of app-guided meditation three times a week – can yield measurable benefits such as lower stress, reduced negative thinking, and better sleepsciencedaily.comsciencedaily.com. For veterans in remote areas or those hesitant to join in-person groups, these apps provide 24/7 access to mindfulness practices right in your pocketsciencedaily.com. They often integrate with wearables (like smartwatches) to track biometrics, allowing for personalized feedback on things like heart rate and breathing during exercisessciencedaily.comsciencedaily.com. One caution is the drop-off rate – studies find up to 95% of people stop using a meditation app within a month if not encouragedsciencedaily.com. To get the most from these tools, try to build a routine (such as a 5-minute meditation with your morning coffee, or a wind-down session before bed). Many apps offer specific content for veterans or stress related to trauma, which can complement therapy or peer support. In summary, meditation apps are a convenient, evidence-based resource to bolster your mental resilience, especially when used consistently as part of a daily self-care habit.

VA Health Apps and Online Tools: The VA continues to expand its suite of mobile apps and online resources tailored for veterans’ health needs. These free tools can be powerful adjuncts to your wellness routine. For instance, the MOVE! Coach app from VA is a personalized weight-management program in your pocket – it lets you track your diet and physical activity, set goals, and even connect with a VA dietitian or coach for feedbacknews.va.gov. Another tool, Live Whole Health, provides a holistic health planner: you can outline your wellness goals (from fitness to sleep to relationships) and access tips and exercises aligned with the VA’s Whole Health approach to carenews.va.gov. This might include guided meditations, stretching routines, or journaling prompts to support both physical and emotional well-beingnews.va.gov. The VA is also leveraging technology to improve care coordination. With the Share My Health Data app, veterans can choose to share data from their wearable devices (like step counts, heart rate, blood pressure readings) directly with their VA healthcare teamnews.va.govnews.va.gov. This enables more personalized care during appointments, as clinicians have a fuller picture of your day-to-day health metrics. Additionally, the VA’s centralized Health and Benefits mobile app (launched this year) allows you to manage appointments, secure message providers, and even file travel reimbursement claims from your phone – making it easier for disabled veterans to handle paperwork without visiting a VA office. All these apps are available through the VA App Store and major app platforms, ensuring they meet privacy and security standards. By integrating VA’s digital tools into your life, you can take charge of your health goals with robust support. Whether you’re pursuing fitness milestones, nutritional improvements, or mental health support, remember that you’re not alone – a wealth of veteran-focused resources is just a click or tap away. news.va.govnews.va.gov

Health & Wellness Newsletter – Aug 2025

Major Breakthroughs in Fitness, Sports Medicine, and Physical Therapy

Recent weeks saw notable advances in rehabilitation science and exercise medicine. Researchers at the University of Minnesota announced a breakthrough 3D-printing technique that restored limb function in paralyzed lab animals by guiding stem cells to regrow severed spinal cord nervessciencedaily.com. Rats with complete spinal cord injuries were able to walk again after receiving a 3D-printed biodegradable scaffold seeded with neural stem cells, a development that could pave the way for future therapies to help veterans with spinal cord injuries regain mobilitysciencedaily.com.

Exercise science is also reinforcing the long-term health benefits of staying active. A new study found that structured aerobic and strength training may actually slow down or even reverse the body’s molecular aging clocksciencedaily.com. By examining DNA markers of cellular aging, scientists observed that older adults who followed a regular exercise regimen showed signs of “younger” biological profiles. This finding underscores how consistent fitness routines can have rejuvenating effects at the molecular level, encouraging aging veterans that it’s never too late to improve health through exercisesciencedaily.com.

Another practical sports medicine insight comes from an osteoarthritis study: a simple change in walking form. Clinicians reported that by slightly adjusting their foot angle while walking, patients with knee arthritis reduced pressure on the joint enough to delay the need for knee replacement surgery by yearssciencedaily.com. Such low-cost, adaptive interventions show promise in easing chronic joint pain for many veterans without medication or invasive procedures.

Major Updates in Nutrition and Supplementation

Several high-impact developments in nutrition science emerged in the past month. Notably, chemists at Tufts University unveiled a “4-in-1” weight-loss compound designed to improve upon medications like Ozempic and Wegovysciencedaily.com. This experimental therapy targets multiple biological pathways at once, aiming for sustained weight loss without the common side effects (such as nausea, bone density loss, and rapid regain) seen in current single-target drugssciencedaily.com. Early findings are promising, hinting that more effective and tolerable obesity treatments may be on the horizon.

Diet quality also proved its importance in a new study on food processing and weight management. In a controlled trial, participants who ate a diet of minimally processed whole foods lost twice as much weight as those consuming mostly ultra-processed foods – even though both diets had similar calories and nutrientssciencedaily.com. Researchers noted that the group eating whole foods could eat freely yet still saw better results, suggesting that cutting out highly processed snacks and meals can meaningfully boost weight loss without strict calorie countingsciencedaily.com. For veterans focusing on nutrition, this evidence reinforces choosing fresh, unprocessed foods as a strategy for healthier weight control.

Innovations in dietary supplements were also reported. Scientists developed tiny edible beads made from green tea extracts that bind to fats in the gut, preventing fat absorption in the bodysciencedaily.com. In animal tests, rodents fed these plant-based microbeads absorbed less fat and lost weight without any obvious side effectssciencedaily.com. Unlike some pharmaceutical fat-blockers, the green tea beads are tasteless and easily mixed into foods. Human trials are planned, raising hope that a safe, simple supplement could aid weight management by literally carrying calories out of the digestive system.

Veteran Administration and Military Updates

The Department of Veterans Affairs has reported significant progress in delivering benefits and care. VA achieved a record-breaking pace in processing disability claims, surpassing 2.52 million claims for the current fiscal year by early August – an all-time high reached nearly two months ahead of schedulenews.va.gov. As a result, the longstanding backlog of pending claims has dropped by roughly 37% since the start of 2025news.va.gov. In July alone, VA completed over 300,000 claims (the first time ever hitting that monthly mark), which means many veterans are receiving their compensation and pension decisions faster than beforenews.va.gov. This accelerated effort is part of VA’s push to improve customer service and ensure veterans get the benefits they’ve earned without undue wait.

VA is also expanding access to health services. Sixteen new VA outpatient clinics have opened across the country this year, and the department has offered nearly one million appointments outside normal business hours (early mornings, evenings, and weekends) to accommodate veterans’ schedulesnews.va.gov. In addition, a new policy change announced in August will extend community care authorizations to 12 months for dozens of specialty care services referred outside VAnews.va.gov. Previously, referrals to community providers often expired after 90–180 days and had to be re-approved, sometimes causing care delaysnews.va.gov. Now, when VA refers a veteran for eligible specialties such as cardiology, orthopedics, mental health counseling or physical therapy, that referral will be valid for a full year of treatment before requiring renewalnews.va.govnews.va.gov. VA leadership noted this change will cut red tape so that veterans can continue necessary care without interruption, and community doctors can plan treatment with greater flexibilitynews.va.gov.

On the quality front, VA hospitals performed strongly in the latest Medicare/Medicaid hospital ratings. More than 75% of VA medical centers earned a 4- or 5-star quality rating in 2025, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reportnews.va.gov. This places the majority of VA facilities at or above private-sector hospital quality benchmarks, reflecting ongoing improvements in patient care and safety within the VA health system.

Mental Health and Resilience Developments

Important developments in veteran mental health care and resilience have taken place this period. On Capitol Hill, there is growing interest in alternative therapies for PTSD and traumatic brain injury (TBI). In early September, a coalition of veteran advocacy groups (backed by lawmakers) launched the Veteran Alliance for Leadership, Outreach, and Recovery (VALOR) to push for expanded research and pilot programs at VA using treatments like psychedelic-assisted therapy and hyperbaric oxygen chambersstripes.comstripes.com. Proponents cite urgent needs: over 185,000 veterans in VA care have a diagnosed TBI, 13% live with PTSD, and an estimated 6,000 veterans die by suicide each yearstripes.com. They argue that innovative approaches are needed because conventional treatments have not fully addressed the mental health crisis in some veterans. In fact, bipartisan legislation has been introduced in Congress (the Veterans National Traumatic Brain Injury Act) to direct VA to conduct a pilot program of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for PTSD/TBI, which is one of the alternatives VALOR advocates forstripes.com.

At the same time, many veterans and experts urge caution and evidence-based evaluation of these unconventional treatments. Some veterans have expressed skepticism about rushing into hallucinogenic drugs or other unproven remedies without solid research backing their safety and efficacystripes.com. “These ideas sound more like fads than cures,” said one Iraq War veteran, emphasizing he would need to see robust clinical results firststripes.com. The Department of Veterans Affairs is proceeding carefully: VA officials note that 12 clinical studies of psychedelic therapies are underway within VA research programs, reflecting both openness to new ideas and a commitment to gather datastripes.com. A VA spokesperson clarified that while exploratory trials are in progress, psychedelic-assisted treatments will not replace standard mental health care; they would be considered as potential complements for tough cases if proven effectivestripes.com. In the meantime, VA has been bolstering traditional mental health services by hiring hundreds of additional psychiatrists and clinicians since last year to improve appointment accessstripes.com.

Suicide prevention remains a top priority. The VA is expanding support to local communities through the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program (SSG Fox SPGP). This three-year grant program (launched in 2022 under the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Act) funds community organizations that provide outreach, counseling, and other services to veterans at risk of suicidementalhealth.va.govmentalhealth.va.gov. For Fiscal Year 2026, VA has made approximately $52.5 million in new grants available, with awards to be announced by the end of September 2025news.va.gov. So far, the SSG Fox program has already distributed about $157.5 million to 95 organizations in 43 states and territories since its inceptionnews.va.gov. These community partners offer programs ranging from peer support groups and emergency housing to financial counseling and substance abuse treatment – all aimed at addressing factors that can lead to veteran suicidementalhealth.va.govmentalhealth.va.gov. By investing in grassroots solutions and extending the reach of suicide prevention resources beyond VA facilities, officials hope to reduce the tragedy of veteran suicide through a proactive public health approach.

Policy and Benefits Updates for Disabled Veterans

Several policy changes and benefits updates took effect recently, directly impacting disabled veterans. Major revisions to the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities were implemented in August 2025 for certain conditions, marking the first overhaul of these criteria in decadesvetcomm.us. One significant change is in how mental health disorders are evaluated. The old system – which relied on subjective descriptors of “occupational and social impairment” – has been replaced with a new domain-based rating model assessing five key functional areas: cognition, interpersonal interactions, task completion, life activities, and self-carevetcomm.usvetcomm.us. Under the updated rules, every service-connected mental health condition now qualifies for at least a 10% disability rating (eliminating the 0% rating that previously existed)vetcomm.us. Even mild symptoms will warrant a minimum compensable rating to acknowledge their impactvetcomm.us. Higher ratings (30%, 50%, 70%, 100%) correspond to the level of impairment across those five domains, aiming to more objectively reflect how conditions like PTSD, depression, or anxiety affect a veteran’s daily functioningvetcomm.us. This modernized approach is expected to grant many veterans fairer evaluations – for example, veterans who manage to hold a job but still struggle in multiple life domains may now receive a higher rating than under the old criteria, which often hinged on employment statusvetcomm.usvetcomm.us.

Sleep apnea and tinnitus, two extremely common service-related conditions, also saw rating rule changes that became final in August. For sleep apnea, VA will no longer award an automatic 50% rating solely because a veteran uses a CPAP machine at nightvetcomm.usvetcomm.us. Instead, the rating will depend on how well symptoms are controlled: a veteran whose apnea is well-treated (rendering them asymptomatic) could receive 0% or 10%, whereas a 50% rating will be reserved for more severe cases where symptoms persist despite treatment (or if CPAP cannot be tolerated)vetcomm.usvetcomm.us. This change aligns compensation with actual health impact rather than treatment modality. Meanwhile, tinnitus – long rated at 10% for any veteran who reported constant ringing in the ears – is no longer recognized as a stand-alone disability under the new rating schedulevetcomm.us. Tinnitus claims now must be tied to an underlying service-connected condition (such as traumatic brain injury or hearing loss) to receive compensationvetcomm.us. In practical terms, veterans will not receive a separate 10% just for tinnitus alone; however, tinnitus can still increase the evaluation of the related condition causing it. Veterans already receiving tinnitus compensation will be protected under current rules (no reductions for existing beneficiaries), but new claims going forward face this updated standard. VA’s goal with these updates is to prioritize the most disabling effects and modernize an outdated system – though veterans’ advocates have cautioned those changes may reduce certain individuals’ future benefitsvetcomm.usvetcomm.us. Disabled veterans are encouraged to learn how these rating revisions might affect any new claims and to seek guidance from a Veterans Service Officer if needed.

In other benefits news, the VA has expanded certain end-of-life benefits. As of July 2025, under the newly enacted Senator Elizabeth Dole Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, VA temporarily widened eligibility for burial expense reimbursementnews.va.gov. Now, veterans who were discharged from a VA hospital or nursing facility and transitioned to hospice care at home will qualify for a full VA burial allowance if they pass away at home (this applies to deaths between July 1, 2025 and October 1, 2026)news.va.gov. Previously, some of these terminally ill veterans did not meet criteria for burial benefits because they died outside a VA facility. The Dole Act fixes that gapnews.va.gov, ensuring families of veterans who choose to spend their final days in the comfort of home can still receive VA assistance with funeral and burial costs. Families and caregivers are advised to contact their VA regional office for guidance on claiming this benefitnews.va.gov. This compassionate policy change recognizes the service of our most vulnerable veterans and provides their survivors one less burden during a difficult time.

Training Tips and Practical Fitness Guidance

Achieving and maintaining fitness after military service is a challenge many disabled or older veterans face, but adaptive training strategies are helping veterans stay active and healthy. Experts emphasize the importance of starting slow and listening to your body when beginning or returning to exercise with disabilities or chronic injuriesreemedical.com. Instead of jumping into high-intensity workouts that could lead to setbacks, begin with low-impact activities such as walking, swimming, cycling on a stationary bike, or gentle adaptive yogareemedical.com. Gradually increase your activity level as endurance and strength build. Setting realistic, achievable goals is key; for example, if you haven’t run in years, start by walking or wheeling a manageable distance and progress incrementally. Consistency matters more than intensity at first – stick to a routine (even just 10–20 minutes a day) to rebuild the habit of exercise in everyday life.

Veterans with mobility limitations are encouraged to leverage adaptive equipment and modified exercises to make workouts accessible. There are many tools that can help. Resistance bands, for instance, enable strength training from a seated position or wheelchairreemedical.com. Chair-based fitness routines, such as seated aerobics or chair yoga, can improve cardiovascular health and flexibility without putting weight on injured limbsreemedical.com. Hand cycles (hand-powered bicycles) provide an excellent cardio workout for those who cannot use traditional bicycles or treadmillsreemedical.com. It’s also important to focus on core strength and balance, as a strong core helps prevent falls and supports almost every movementreemedical.com. Simple exercises like seated torso twists, modified planks (if able), or even engaging your core while sitting upright can make a difference. Balance exercises should not be overlooked – activities like standing heel raises or using a balance board (with support as needed) can improve stabilityreemedical.com. Flexibility training through gentle stretching is equally beneficial, helping to reduce stiffness and pain. Always adjust any exercise to your personal abilities; if unsure, consult a physical therapist or certified trainer knowledgeable in adaptive sports for guidance tailored to your needs.

Perhaps most importantly, try to make fitness enjoyable and build social support around physical activity. Many veterans find success by joining groups or programs where they can exercise with fellow veterans or friends. Consider participating in adaptive sports clinics, local VA fitness groups, or community events like wheelchair basketball, adaptive rowing, or simply group walks. Making exercise a social activity provides a sense of camaraderie similar to the military experience and can boost motivation on days when you’re tempted to skip a workoutreemedical.com. There are organizations devoted to veteran fitness and sports that welcome all ability levels – for example, VA’s Adaptive Sports Program and groups like Team Red, White & Blue offer inclusive fitness meet-ups and events nationwidereemedical.com. These programs not only accommodate physical disabilities but also foster the mental well-being that comes from being part of a team or a shared mission. Listening to your body is critical throughout; rest when needed, celebrate small improvements, and remember that progress might be slow but every effort counts. With patience, the right tools, and supportive peers, disabled veterans can achieve meaningful gains in strength, mobility, and overall wellness.

Useful Resources and Tools for Health and Wellbeing

Today’s veterans have access to a growing array of digital tools and community resources to support their health and wellness. One of the most convenient is the VA’s official Health and Benefits mobile app, which has been a game-changer for managing VA services from home. This free app (launched in 2021) has already been downloaded over 3 million timeslegion.org. It lets you do things like refill and track prescriptions, check upcoming VA appointments, view your claim and appeal status, download benefit letters, and even access your VA vaccine records and veteran ID card right on your phonelegion.orglegion.org. You can also use it to securely message your VA health care team and to locate nearby VA facilitieslegion.orglegion.org. Essentially, the Health & Benefits app consolidates many VA online services into one easy interface. As VA’s CIO recently noted, it’s part of VA’s push to meet veterans “where they are” and make it simpler to stay informed and in control of your benefitslegion.org. The app is available for both Apple and Android devices; veterans enrolled in VA care are encouraged to download it and use its secure login for convenient access to their information.

For those focused on self-improvement in health, the VA has also developed a suite of mobile health apps targeting specific wellness needs. One highly regarded tool is the PTSD Coach app, created by the VA’s National Center for PTSDplay.google.com. This app provides education about post-traumatic stress, a self-assessment checklist, step-by-step coping skills, and direct links to support resourcesmyhealth.va.govmyhealth.va.gov. Veterans can use PTSD Coach anytime to help manage anxiety, insomnia, anger, or triggers. It includes guided relaxation exercises and techniques like deep breathing and positive self-talk to ground users during distressing momentsmyhealth.va.gov. Many veterans have reported it as a valuable lifeline between therapy sessions – one veteran’s review noted the app “significantly helped in the heat of the moment,” reducing panic attacks and helping him feel less lost when PTSD symptoms flare upmyhealth.va.gov. Another great resource is MOVE! Coach, a weight-management app that complements VA’s MOVE! program for healthy eating and exercisenews.va.gov. MOVE! Coach lets veterans set weight loss goals, track their daily nutrition and physical activity, and receive tailored guidance on diet and workoutsnews.va.gov. It even offers coaching feedback and progress charts that can be shared with your VA dietitian or clinician for support. By using tools like PTSD Coach and MOVE! Coach – both free from VA’s App Store – veterans can take an active role in their mental and physical health with proven strategies right at their fingertips.

In addition to apps, there are online communities and media that can enrich veterans’ well-being. The VA Podcast Network hosts over 60 veteran-led podcasts covering topics from mental health and personal resilience to career transitions and VA benefitsnews.va.gov. Tuning into these podcasts can be both informative and empowering, as they feature stories and advice from fellow veterans who have faced similar challenges. For example, the podcast “Veterans’ Health Matters” (sponsored by VA’s War Related Illness and Injury Study Center) brings on experts to discuss complex post-deployment health issues and holistic healing approachespodcasts.apple.com. Episodes have covered subjects like managing chronic pain without opioids, environmental exposure concerns, and integrative therapies such as meditation and acupuncture in VA carepodcasts.apple.com. Listening to such content can keep veterans up-to-date on health research and VA programs, while also reminding them they are not alone in their struggles. Beyond VA offerings, many veteran service organizations provide free wellness resources: the American Legion and DAV have webinars and articles on healthy living; Wounded Warrior Project hosts a Resilient Warrior stress-management workshop series; and libraries (including the VA’s online Veteran Training portal) offer self-paced courses on everything from sleep improvement to anger management. We encourage readers to explore these tools – whether it’s downloading a new app, subscribing to a veteran podcast, or contacting a local Vet Center for a mindfulness class. Harnessing these resources can make the journey to better health and well-being a little easier and more connected.