Episodes

  • Current Insights into PFAS

    Current Insights into PFAS
    Oct 28 2024
    In this episode, Dr. Terra Vincent-Hall, Senior Toxicologist at the Exposure Science Program, Health Outcomes Military Exposures, shares her expertise in per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). She discusses what PFAS are, various ways in which Veterans may have been exposed to PFAS, and steps healthcare providers can take to address any PFAS-related health concerns. This discussion was recorded August 2023.

    RESOURCES PFAS - Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances - Public Health (va.gov): Includes information on PFAS military exposures and associated health concerns

    Guidance on PFAS Exposure, Testing, and Clinical Follow-Up | The National Academies Press: Provides guidance on PFAS exposure, testing, and clinical follow-up

    Learn about PFAS | ATSDR (cdc.gov): CDC website on PFAS and PFAS exposure

    Exposure Ed | VA Mobile: VA’s Exposure Ed App
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    19 mins
  • Addressing Neurocognitive Functioning in Gulf War Illness

    Addressing Neurocognitive Functioning in Gulf War Illness
    Oct 14 2024
    In this episode, Dr. David Litke, Clinical Psychologist, shares his expertise in cognitive rehabilitation and treatment of military exposure related neurocognitive dysfunction as he discusses common neurocognitive concerns for Veterans with Gulf War Illness and possible treatments to explore. This discussion was recorded July 2023.

    RESOURCES

    Gulf War Illness Factsheet for Providers: gulf-war-illness-for-providers.pdf (va.gov)

    Neuropsychological characteristics of Gulf War illness: A meta-analysis (Janulewicz et al., 2017) https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0177121

    Neuropsychological Findings in Gulf War Illness: A Review (Jeffrey et al., 2019) https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02088/full

    eteran Self-Training: https://www.veterantraining.va.gov/index.asp.

    “Moving Forward” Course: Moving Forward: Overcome Life's Challenges - Veteran Training (va.gov)
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    23 mins
  • Radiation Exposure Incidents, Health Risks and Exposure-Informed Care

    Radiation Exposure Incidents, Health Risks and Exposure-Informed Care
    Oct 2 2024
    Listen in to this episode of the Veterans Health Matters podcast to hear Danny McClung, Heath Physicist and Radiological Consultant for VA’s Post Deployment Health Services (PHDS), discuss radiation exposure incidents, the health implications of radiation exposure, as well as exposure-informed care and the resources available to Veterans.

    RESOURCES
    VET-HOME portal https://vethome.va.gov/

    VET-HOME support: 1-833-MEE-VTHM or 1-833-633-8846 Ionizing Radiation Registry: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/radiation/benefits/registry-exam.asp

    About VET-HOME: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/VET-HOME/index.asp

    About Military Environmental Exposures: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/index.asp

    About Radiation: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/radiation/index.asp

    VA Disability Benefits: https://www.va.gov/disability/

    About PACT Act: https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/

    War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC) Website: https://www.warrelatedillness.va.gov/

    WRIISC SharePoint: https://dvagov.sharepoint.com/sites/vawriisc
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    18 mins
  • Radiation Exposure, the Ionizing Radiation Registry, and the PACT Act

    Radiation Exposure, the Ionizing Radiation Registry, and the PACT Act
    Oct 2 2024
    Listen in to this episode of the Veterans Health Matters podcast to hear Danny McClung, Heath Physicist and Radiological Consultant for VA’s Post Deployment Health Services (PHDS), provides an overview of Radiation Exposure, the difference between ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, the Ionizing Radiation Health Registry, as well as specific incidents and clean-up efforts.

    RESOURCES
    VET-HOME portal https://vethome.va.gov/

    VET-HOME support: 1-833-MEE-VTHM or 1-833-633-8846 Ionizing Radiation Registry: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/radiation/benefits/registry-exam.asp

    About VET-HOME: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/VET-HOME/index.asp

    About Military Environmental Exposures: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/index.asp

    About Radiation: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/radiation/index.asp VA Disability Benefits: https://www.va.gov/disability/

    About PACT Act: https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/

    War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC) Website: https://www.warrelatedillness.va.gov/

    WRIISC SharePoint: https://dvagov.sharepoint.com/sites/vawriisc
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    16 mins
  • Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry 2.0

    Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry 2.0
    Sep 30 2024
    Listen in to this episode of the Veterans Health Matters podcast to hear Dr. Patricia Hastings, Chief Consultant for Health Outcomes Military Exposures, highlights the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry 2.0, why it was redesigned, how the redesign impacts Veterans, as well as how the redesign benefits Veterans who may have been exposed.

    RESOURCES
    VET-HOME portal https://vethome.va.gov/

    VET-HOME support: 1-833-MEE-VTHM or 1-833-633-8846 AHOBPR 2.0: https://veteran.mobilehealth.va.gov/AHBurnPitRegistry/#page/home

    About VET-HOME: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/VET-HOME/index.asp

    About Military Environmental Exposures: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/index.asp

    About Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pits: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/burnpits/index.asp

    VA Disability Benefits: https://www.va.gov/disability/ About PACT Act: https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/

    War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC) Website: https://www.warrelatedillness.va.gov/

    WRIISC SharePoint: https://dvagov.sharepoint.com/sites/vawriisc
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    19 mins
  • Health Impacts of Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pits

    Health Impacts of Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pits
    Sep 30 2024
    Listen in to this episode of the Veterans Health Matters podcast to hear Dr. Patricia Hastings, Chief Consultant for Health Outcomes Military Exposures, provide an overview of Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pits, where and when these exposures are most likely to occur, how they are detected, what mitigation or protective measures are taken, the health effects of exposure, and the resources available to Veterans who may have been exposed.

    RESOURCES
    VET-HOME portal https://vethome.va.gov/

    VET-HOME support: 1-833-MEE-VTHM or 1-833-633-8846 AHOBPR 2.0: https://veteran.mobilehealth.va.gov/AHBurnPitRegistry/#page/home

    About VET-HOME: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/VET-HOME/index.asp

    About Military Environmental Exposures: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/index.asp

    About Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pits: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/burnpits/index.asp

    VA Disability Benefits: https://www.va.gov/disability/ About PACT Act: https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/

    War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC) Website: https://www.warrelatedillness.va.gov/

    WRIISC SharePoint: https://dvagov.sharepoint.com/sites/vawriisc
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    11 mins
  • Recent History of Military Environmental Exposures – The Cold War to the PACT Act

    Recent History of Military Environmental Exposures – The Cold War to the PACT Act
    Sep 30 2024
    Examine the recent History of Military Environmental Exposures from the Cold War to the PACT Act Listen in to this episode of the Veterans Health Matters podcast to hear Dr. Eric Shuping, Director of Operations for Health Outcomes Military Exposures, discuss the recent history of Military Environmental Exposures, including the Cold War, Vietnam, the Gulf War, the War in Afghanistan, and the War in Iraq as well as the current initiatives to help those Veterans.

    RESOURCES
    VET-HOME portal https://vethome.va.gov/ VET-HOME support: 1-833-MEE-VTHM or 1-833-633-8846 About VET-HOME: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/VET-HOME/index.asp About Military Environmental Exposures: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/index.asp VA Disability Benefits: https://www.va.gov/disability/ About PACT Act: https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/ War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC) Website: https://www.warrelatedillness.va.gov/ WRIISC SharePoint: https://dvagov.sharepoint.com/sites/vawriisc
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    28 mins
  • History of Military Environmental Exposures – Early Examples and Technological Advancements of World War I

    History of Military Environmental Exposures – Early Examples and Technological Advancements of World War I
    Sep 30 2024
    Explore the History of Military Environmental Exposures from the early examples of infectious disease to the technological advancements of World War I Listen in to this episode of the Veterans Health Matters podcast to hear Dr. Eric Shuping, Director of Operations for Health Outcomes Military Exposures, provide an overview of Military Environmental Exposures, some early examples of infectious disease, and technological advancements of World War I that led to further environmental exposures.

    RESOURCES
    VET-HOME portal https://vethome.va.gov/ VET-HOME support: 1-833-MEE-VTHM or 1-833-633-8846 About VET-HOME: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/VET-HOME/index.asp About Military Environmental Exposures: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/index.asp VA Disability Benefits: https://www.va.gov/disability/ About PACT Act: https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/ War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC) Website: https://www.warrelatedillness.va.gov/ WRIISC SharePoint: https://dvagov.sharepoint.com/sites/vawriisc
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    21 mins