Veterans Resources

We have created a helpful listing of Veterans resources to help those living with Myositis get started receiving benefits for which they may qualify. This is not a full listing of Veterans services.  You can visit the Official VA website here for further information.

At MSU, we want to take a moment to thank you for your service to our country.

The Veterans Administration offers a wide variety of benefits for Veterans. These VA benefits include disability, medical treatment, education, training, vocational rehabilitation, employment, home loan guaranty, dependent and survivor benefits,  life insurance, and burial benefits. The information provided is a guide to help Veterans receive possible health and rehabilitation benefits.

Every veteran should register with the VA and get an ID card. You can get started by visiting www.VA.gov.

After enrollment, every Veteran seeking VA help should contact a Veteran’s Service Organization. These organizations are nonprofits and assist the veteran in navigating the VA. There is no charge to the veteran for this service. Veteran Service Organizations are helpful, especially when dealing with individual state benefits that are separate from the VA’s benefits.

Environmental Risk Factors for the Development of Myositis in Military Personnel

This study attempts to determine if environmental and geographic exposures may be related to the development of myositis during military service and to obtain an initial understanding of the possible mechanisms involved.  Subjects diagnosed with myositis [Dermatomyositis (DM), Polymyositis (PM), or Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM)] while on active duty, and normal volunteers matched to myositis subjects may enroll by completing questionnaires, a physical examination, and donating blood samples.

We recommend that all Veterans enroll, if they quality.

Although a direct link to Myositis through Agent Orange exposure has not been identified, Veterans who are able to establish their exposure to Agent Orange would receive service-connected status for diseases on the Agent Orange presumptive diseases list. View the list here.