Flu Immunization Milestone Reached Ahead of Schedule
FALLS CHURCH, VA — An unusually early start to the influenza season propelled the DoD to reach its milestone of 90% vaccination of all uniformed personnel and required civilians two weeks ahead of schedule.

I believe it is healthy and proper to reflect on the past year, as the new year dawns. As I ponder this editorial, the specter of the impending “fiscal cliff” looms large in the news, following, perhaps, one of the more contentious presidential elections in history.

FORT LEONARD WOOD, MO-Rise and shine may not work as well with young military recruits awakened too early.

FORT SAM HOUSTON, TX --Even though spinal injuries can be extremely disabling for wounded servicemembers, exactly how the injuries occur and what damage they cause has not been fully understood.

HOUSTON — Wounded patients with battlefield chest injuries sustained in Afghanistan and Iraq had higher mortality rates than did patients during the Korean and Vietnam wars, but that likely was because better transport and triage got more of the severely wounded to trauma centers for treatment than in the past conflicts.

Water Supply Investigated
PITTSBURGH - An outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease at a VA hospital in Pittsburgh has led to at least one death and sent hospital administration searching for the source of the contamination.

Most Vets Now Settle in Only a Few States
BELLINGHAM, WA — Changing demographics for veterans in United States, with most now settling in the South and the Southwest, often in rural areas, has potentially profound implications for how and where VA offers services.

BOSTON - For the first time, researchers have categorized chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), the degenerative brain disease associated with repeated brain trauma in military combat and contact sports, into four stages of severity.

MINNEAPOLIS — In a rare study that looked at optimal treatment of urinary tract infections (UTI) in men, researchers from the Minneapolis Veterans Health Care System found that treating the condition for more than a week does not appear to reduce risk of recurrence. In fact, they found, when compared with a shorter course of treatment, the longer course can sometimes have some significant downsides.

WASHINGTON - The VA published a proposed regulation in the Federal Register last month that would make it easier for veterans with certain diagnosable illnesses associated with brain injuries to claim benefits.