VA Policy Ideas
1. Expand Integrative and Alternative Medicine Coverage
• Insurance Coverage for Integrative and Alternative Therapies: Ensure VA coverage for treatments like chiropractic care, acupuncture, massage therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and naturopathic consultations.
• Access to Stem Cell and Gene Editing Therapies: Prioritize funding for and access to stem cell therapies and gene editing for eligible veterans, focusing on spinal cord injuries, neurodegenerative diseases, PTSD, and TBI.
• IV Nutritional and Blood Therapies: Cover IV therapies, such as vitamin infusions, blood platelet therapy, and ketamine infusions for pain, depression, and PTSD under VA healthcare.
• Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: Establish research-based access to psychedelic therapies (like MDMA or psilocybin) for veterans with treatment-resistant PTSD and depression.
2. Home-Based Exercise and Rehabilitation Options
• Remote Physical Therapy and Exercise Programs: Provide veterans with telehealth access to physical therapists and customized home exercise programs, including equipment grants for home-based physical rehab.
• Home Fitness Kits and Virtual Rehab: Distribute adaptive fitness kits, such as resistance bands and wearable devices, along with access to virtual classes tailored to individual disabilities and mobility needs.
3. Increased Opportunities for Self-Employment and Purposeful Work
• Veteran Entrepreneur Support Fund: Establish grants for disabled veterans pursuing self-employment or small business ventures, especially in online or freelance fields that can be managed from home.
• Mentorship and Purpose-Driven Roles: Partner with purpose-driven organizations (e.g., environmental conservation, online teaching, or veteran advocacy) to connect homebound veterans with roles where they can contribute meaningfully.
• Remote and Flexible Employment for Veterans and Caregivers: Work with corporations to provide remote job options for veterans and their spouses, especially roles adaptable for those who are housebound.
4. Removal of Incentives and Manipulation Practices within the VA
• Eliminate Performance Bonuses Tied to Claim Denials: Remove any financial incentives for VA staff based on case closures or denials. Bonuses should be based solely on the quality and timeliness of assistance to veterans.
• Establish Accountability for Guideline Manipulation: Implement stricter penalties and oversight to prevent VA employees from using arbitrary guideline interpretations to deny claims, creating a transparent and fair review process.
5. Enhanced Caregiver Support and Spousal Employment Options
• Expand the Caregiver Support Program: Provide caregiver support to a broader range of veterans beyond those who are blind, paralyzed, or amputees, allowing caregivers to access comprehensive mental health and respite services.
• Remote Job Training and Opportunities for Spouses: Offer caregivers remote job training for fields that enable them to earn income from home while providing care.
6. Expanded Home Modification and Home Care Assistance
• Broadened Eligibility for Home Modification Grants: Extend home adaptation grants to veterans with mobility issues, cognitive impairments, PTSD, TBI, and other disabilities that make traditional housing challenging.
• Increased In-Home Care Options for Housebound Veterans: Offer greater in-home support, including integrative and IV therapies, home health aides, physical therapy, mental health services, and virtual medical check-ins.
7. Increase Access to Cutting-Edge Therapies and Research Participation
• Fund Advanced and Emerging Treatments for Veterans: Establish grant funding and access to cutting-edge treatments like regenerative therapies, stem cells, and CRISPR for eligible veterans with chronic pain or severe conditions.
• Clinical Trial Priority: Create expedited access for veterans to participate in clinical trials and experimental therapies showing promise for combat-related injuries and trauma.
8. Access to Psychedelic Therapies and Research Programs
• Psychedelic Therapy Access Program: Integrate psychedelic-assisted therapy, such as MDMA and psilocybin, into VA offerings for veterans with treatment-resistant PTSD, under a supervised and research-backed model.
• Funding for Psychedelic Research: Allocate resources to research the effectiveness of psychedelic treatments for trauma, depression, and anxiety, specifically for veterans.
9. Comprehensive Mental Health and Social Support Programs
• Holistic Counseling and Integrative Support Services: Provide therapy options that include traditional, holistic, and family-centered approaches, such as couples counseling, trauma-informed therapy, and neuro-rehabilitative therapies.
• Peer and Community Support Networks: Establish local and virtual support groups for veterans focused on shared healing practices, meditation, fitness challenges, and online gatherings to reduce isolation.
10. Housing Support with a Focus on Wellness
• Accessible Housing in Natural Settings: Subsidize housing in rural or nature-based communities with therapeutic benefits, including locations near parks or areas ideal for healing and outdoor activities.
• On-Site Wellness Centers: Create wellness centers within or near veteran housing communities, offering access to mental health, physical therapy, and integrative health services, reducing travel needs.
11. Streamlined Access to Benefits and Simplified VA Processes
• Personalized Case Management for All Veterans: Assign each veteran a dedicated case manager to help them navigate medical appointments, benefit applications, vocational training, and other services tailored to their unique needs.
• One-Stop Online Platform for Benefit Applications: Develop a single online platform where veterans can access their benefits, track applications, and contact case managers for support.
These policies, combined with a commitment to proactive healing and quality-of-life improvement, would give veterans the support they need to explore new treatment options, find meaningful work, and live fulfilling lives, even when mobility or severe conditions present challenges. Most veterans want to heal and contribute productively to society.
A Little About Me
I have been housebound for over three years due to a vestibular condition linked to two service-connected disabilities. This situation has not only impacted me but also taken a toll on my family. Despite my VA primary doctor’s recommendations, I have repeatedly faced denials and dismissals for various healing modalities and quality-of-life improvements, including hormone therapy, specialized glasses to address TBI-related vision issues, and equipment for safe home exercise with chronic dizziness. My VA primary doctor has been restricted by red tape and often prevented from making the medical recommendations they feel are necessary.
Shortly before my wife graduated from grad school, I began developing neurological issues. She had to become my caregiver, yet our application for caregiver support was denied simply because I am able to feed and bathe myself, disregarding the broader impact of my condition on our lives. I do not want to be in this position, nor do I want to ask for help. What I truly want is the opportunity to heal, to regain my independence, and to live a productive and meaningful life. These policy ideas reflect my hopes for myself and other veterans who deserve a real chance at healing and purpose.