March is National Nutrition Month. Since its inception, the purpose of National Nutrition Month has been to promote balanced nutrition as a key component to a healthy lifestyle. This year’s theme – “Bite into a Healthy Lifestyle” – promotes the importance of making informed food choices, developing healthy eating habits and getting regular physical activity. A healthy lifestyle incorporates everyday lifestyle choices, routines and habits – it goes beyond eating choices. However, making healthier food selections is an excellent first “bite” in developing healthy habits for life. As part of National Nutrition Month, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day was celebrated on …

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With the goal of making the application process easier and more efficient for our Veterans, VA now requires Veterans seeking disability benefits to use standardized claim and appeal forms. These standardized forms guide Veterans to clearly state the symptoms or conditions for which they are seeking benefits and provide the information necessary for VA to start processing their claims and appeals. “This change will help VA provide faster and more accurate decisions to our Veterans, their families and survivors,” said Under Secretary for Benefits Allison A. Hickey. “Standard forms are essential to better serve Veterans, build more efficiency into VA’s …

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Veteran homelessness in Florida is down by 59 percent in the counties of Orange, Osceola and Seminole since 2011, and those being helped by VA and HUD are speaking up about their transition off the streets. “I’ve been here a year now, and I’m still tickled pink,” said U.S. Army Veteran Michael Bailey during an interview with the Orlando Sentinel in his one-bedroom apartment. “I thought I’d never make it back.” Michael was homeless for 16 years before learning of VA programs that could get him a home first and then treat his medical issues  – the opposite of how …

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