Male veterans with multiple sclerosis (MS) have a higher prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, coronary heart disease and stroke than the general population.

It might be a case of wishful thinking, but many multiple sclerosis patients use the natural supplement Gingko biloba in hopes that it will help counteract the cognitive problems that appear in half of those with the debilitating disease.

A pair of new studies shows a very high prevalence of bone disease among male veterans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other pulmonary illnesses, raising the question of whether more screening is needed.

Research presented this month at the Second Annual Scientific Symposium on Lung Health after Deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan indicates that some of the lung disease seen in returning warriors may be caused by a surprising and ubiquitous agent - dust.

Lawmakers are demanding answers from VA in the wake of a national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that as many as five veterans may have died over the past two years from Legionnaire’s Disease (LD) linked to the Pittsburgh VAMC.

In 2001, the VA began the process of enhancing services for the approximately 40,000 veterans afflicted with Parkinson’s disease, initiating a plan for setting up six Parkinson’s and Associated Disorders Research, Education and Clinical Centers (PADRECC).

A new VA and DoD scheme to deliver a shared electronic health record solution faster than originally planned is drawing the ire of federal lawmakers.

Servicemembers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are exhibiting symptoms consistent with chronic multisymptom illness (CMI), formerly known as Gulf War Syndrome, according to a recent report from the Institute of Medicine (IoM).

Technology Update: Many of the changes at VA over the last several years have been in furtherance of resource management - finding ways to more efficiently use the money, facilities, and healthcare resources provided to them. This includes one of the most precious of commodities: physicians’ time.

Carlos Bechara, MD, a staff vascular surgeon at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) says his recent development of a new endovascular technique that offers an attractive alternative to the more traditional approach with minimal complications was something he felt he “owed” to his patients.