Wondering where to stay in Lisbon? Discover the best neighbourhoods for first-time visitors, couples, families, nightlife, and luxury travellers, along with hotel recommendations and practical tips to help you choose the perfect base.
The post Where To Stay In Lisbon – A Neighborhood Guide With BEST Areas! appeared first on Going Awesome Places by William Tang.
Some soldiers at a Georgia base are being offered the chance to reenlist in exchange for four days of stealing cars, carrying out hits for mob bosses, evading the cops and watching scantily clad ladies of the night prowl street corners — virtually, of course.
According to a memorandum that circulated on social media, eligible soldiers in the 9th Engineer Battalion at Fort Stewart who reenlist by Nov. 14 will be authorized a four-day pass that aligns with the release of Grand Theft Auto VI, or GTA 6, at the end of November.
An Army official confirmed that the document, signed by the unit’s commander, Lt. Col. Ryan D. Hodgson, was authentic.
“The battalion has a new career counselor who approached unit leadership with an idea for an updated creative incentives program to reach FY27 reenlistment goals,” said Lt. Col. Angel Tomko, with the 3rd Infantry Division’s public affairs office.
To qualify for the video game spree, soldiers must re-up for at least two years, Tomko said. So far, 20 out of 130 eligible soldiers have given Uncle Sam a few more years in exchange for 96 hours of simulated criminal bliss.
The video game franchise, which allows players to roam through cityscapes as criminal masterminds, has been a cornerstone of gaming culture for decades. The upcoming edition is highly anticipated, and according to the game’s publisher, Rockstar Games, it will feature an Army veteran named Jason Duval who “grew up around grifters and crooks” and has now “found himself in the Keys doing what he knows best, working for local drug runners.”
First reported by Task & Purpose, the July 28 memorandum says the incentive is for eligible soldiers who sign a reenlistment contract between Aug. 1 and Nov. 14.
“This special pass is specifically designated to coincide with the highly anticipated release of the video game Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6),” it reads. Soldiers who acquire the reward will coordinate days off with their individual unit leadership.
Unfortunately for uniformed GTA fans interested in extended carjacking opportunities, the pass cannot be combined with any other passes to give the soldier an absence of more than four days.
The unconventional incentive comes as the Army becomes more selective with traditional reenlistment incentives, with new guidance tying cash bonuses to soldiers’ physical fitness, job proficiency and command assessments.
Juicy teriyaki chicken, grilled if you want, served over rice with a scoop of bright gingery peaches, and a rich sesame drench getting into every bite.
YES PLEASE I love this meal!
My family’s summer eating has two basic modes:
I truly love both of these categories. But once every few weeks, I start to sense myself going a bit hard into YOLO mode – typically after a road trip or an extended amount of pool days, which is where we’re at here at the end of summer.
This teriyaki chicken with ginger peaches has been my go-to meal for when I’m ready to get back to something a bit fresher.
I’ve made it as a bigger meal for my extended family – nieces, nephews, sibs, parents – where my dad helped me grill the chicken, we sliced up “plain peaches” for the kids, and almost all of us went back for seconds.
And I’ve also made it for a meal just for our family, because 9 out of 10 nights, I am looking for a way to just eat peaches for dinner (or, dessert).
Hope you love it, too!
Juicy grilled teriyaki chicken, bright gingery peaches, and a rich sesame drench all over top! My go-to dinner when I want something fresh!
Teriyaki Chicken
Ginger Peaches
Sesame Drench
Extras For Serving
Prep Time: 2 hours (if marinating)Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: Grilling
Cuisine: AmericanKeywords: teriyaki chicken, grilled chicken, peach salsa, summer dinner recipe
The post Teriyaki Chicken with Ginger Peaches and Sesame Drench appeared first on Pinch of Yum.
In 2026, updates to VA policies and rating criteria make right now the absolute BEST time to seek a VA rating increase.
Changes coming to mental health ratings, stricter guidelines for some other conditions, and potential impacts on compensation highlight the importance of acting now to secure the VA benefits you deserve.
Now is the time to secure the benefits you’ve earned—don’t wait until changes could make it harder to increase your VA rating!
Significant changes to the VA rating system are expected in 2026, affecting:
If you already have a service-connected VA rating for mental health, sleep apnea, or tinnitus when the changes go into effect, you are ‘grandfathered in’ under the old rating criteria. For example, you wouldn’t lose your VA rating for tinnitus if you were already service connected when the tinnitus rating went away!
The updated VA rating criteria for sleep apnea introduce stricter guidelines, making it more challenging for veterans to qualify for disability ratings and potentially leading to lower ratings in the future.
An important update coming in 2026 is the revision of the VA’s rating criteria for mental health conditions.
Previously, conditions like PTSD, anxiety, and depression were rated using subjective assessments of symptoms and their impact on work and social life.
The revised criteria introduces a more objective approach, designed to simplify the process and ensure ratings accurately reflect the true severity of a veteran’s symptoms.
New VA Disability Ratings for Mental Health Conditions
The new rating criteria eliminates the separate standalone 10% rating for tinnitus. However, you still have time to file your VA claim before the changes take effect.
Once the changes are announced by the VA, there’s a 60-day cooling-off period before the rating changes go into effect.
2026 VA Ratings Changes for Tinnitus
You may miss out on vital VA benefits for your family by waiting to file for a VA rating increase.
Remember, VA disability compensation is not considered taxable income, which puts more money in your pockets, especially during uncertain economic times.
Here’s a look at additional VA benefits available to dependents of disabled veterans.
Related: Best Dependent Benefits
The longer you wait to file your VA claim, the more compensation you lose. Failing to update your rating when conditions worsen, or new disabilities arise can leave money on the table. Stay proactive by filing claims, appealing denials, or requesting rating increases to ensure you receive the full benefits you deserve.
Our own Brian Reese lost over $100K by not getting his VA rating sooner!
While you may be eligible for VA back pay, you still must submit your VA disability claim.
Read More: Do I Get Back Pay For a VA Disability Increase?
Do you feel worse than you did when you first applied for VA disability benefits?
Many veterans don’t realize if their symptoms worsen for a condition(s) they have due to their service, they could apply and qualify for a VA rating increase.
Ignoring worsening symptoms not only impacts your quality of life but also delays access to the benefits you deserve.
Have you heard any of these 5 common reasons why many veterans don’t pursue their benefits?
TRUTH: Combat experience is not a requirement for a VA rating.
TRUTH: VA benefits are NOT a fixed pie! Your VA rating doesn’t take away from others, and you are just as deserving as any other veteran.
TRUTH: There is NO TIME LIMIT on filing for VA Benefits. You can file and win a VA claim at any time.
TRUTH: Employers ARE NOT legally allowed to discriminate based on a disability. In fact, a VA rating can give you a 10-point preference when applying for federal jobs.
TRUTH: A VA rating comes with A LOT more than just VA monthly compensation.
If you’re wondering how to increase your VA disability rating, you’re not alone. Many veterans are navigating the journey to a higher VA rating but aren’t sure where to turn.
The simplest way to raise your VA disability rating is to file an online increase claim for conditions already service-connected at 0% or higher.
Regardless of your current VA disability rating, you can always file a new claim for direct service connection and add new conditions.
Remember, there’s no such thing as guaranteed VA disability claims; however, some claims do have higher success rates, so it’s always worth pursuing a higher VA rating.
How does VA Claims Insider help veterans?
We make the confusing and frustrating VA claim process EASY through our 8-step proprietary system and one-on-one coaching; we’re the VA Claim EXPERTS you can trust, and YOU are never alone in this fight against the VA!
You’ll also receive VA disability expert Brian Reese’s SEM Method Blueprint—a proven formula that has helped over 50,000 veterans win their VA disability claims faster:
Strategy + Education + Medical Evidence = VA Rating and Compensation You Deserve FASTER!
Start today and unlock an exceptional level of service you deserve for serving our country:
Click the red button below to start the process of winning your VA claim right now!
The Quality Assurance (QA) team at VA Claims Insider has extensive experience researching, fact-checking, and ensuring accuracy in all produced content. The QA team consists of individuals with specialized knowledge in the VA disability claims adjudication processes, laws and regulations, and they understand the needs of our target audience. Any changes or suggestions the QA team makes are thoroughly reviewed and incorporated into the content by our writers and creators.
Brian Reese is a world-renowned VA disability benefits expert and the #1 bestselling author of VA Claim Secrets and You Deserve It. Motivated by his own frustration with the VA claim process, Brian founded VA Claims Insider to help disabled veterans secure their VA disability compensation faster, regardless of their past struggles with the VA. Since 2013, he has positively impacted the lives of over 10 million military, veterans, and their families.
A former active-duty Air Force officer, Brian has extensive experience leading diverse teams in challenging international environments, including a combat tour in Afghanistan in 2011 supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
Brian is a Distinguished Graduate of Management from the United States Air Force Academy and earned his MBA from Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business, where he was a National Honor Scholar, ranking in the top 1% of his class.
When we add another bolognese to the blog (Yes, we already have versions 1, 2, 3, and 4), you know it’s something special! This newest version is made with EGGPLANT, meaning it’s the perfect bolognese for late summer. It’s light yet satisfying, creamy yet bright, and full of bold Italian-inspired flavor — everyone will be asking for seconds!
Even better? It’s a breeze to make — just 1 pot required!
WASHINGTON – The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Student Veterans of America (SVA) are now accepting applications from student veterans interested in participating in the upcoming 2026-2027 VFW-SVA Legislative Fellowship program. Since 2014, the fellowship has brought select student veterans, who must be VFW members or membership eligible, to Washington, D.C., to meet face to face with their senators, representatives and staff members.
Student veterans interested in applying must complete an application package that includes a 3-5 page essay and a 30-60 second video outlining program interest. Applicants must also submit a resume, proof of current enrollment at an accredited college or university and proof of military service. Candidates will participate in a virtual or phone interview with the selection committee.
“When I say, ‘One team, one mission, veterans first,’ this is what I’m talking about,” said VFW National Commander Cory Geisler. “The VFW-SVA Legislative Fellowship program is a prime example of VFW members stepping forward to rally around a common goal and lead not only on Capitol Hill but also on their campuses and in their communities as they seek to improve the lives of current and future student veterans.”
Past fellows have earned academic credit for their experience, found internships, accepted additional academic opportunities and landed full-time employment because of their fellowship experience. Several fellows have even had their research incorporated into laws, which has a lasting impact on veterans, service members and their families.
VFW-SVA Legislative Fellowship opportunities are open to all enrolled student veterans who are VFW members or eligible for membership. VFW eligibility criteria can be found here. The program is open to all majors, and some students may be eligible for college credit.
“The VFW-SVA Legislative Fellowship gives student veterans the opportunity to turn their lived experiences into meaningful action,” said SVA President and Chief Executive Officer Cory Boatwright. “Through mentorship, advocacy training, community engagement, and direct interaction with policymakers, fellows learn how to transform the challenges facing their communities into meaningful, bipartisan policy solutions. Together with the VFW, we’re developing the next generation of student veteran advocates, strengthening the voice of the veteran community, and ensuring those who have served have a seat at the table where decisions about their futures are made.”
The 2026-2027 VFW-SVA Legislative Fellowship program is scheduled from October 2026 to May 2027. Chosen fellows will work with VFW and SVA staff on a shared policy priority and participate in the 19th Annual SVA National Conference in Grapevine, Texas, Jan. 4 – 6, 2027. Fellows will also travel to Washington, D.C., for the VFW Washington Conference, Feb. 27 – March 4, 2027, where they will join more than 500 VFW advocates to bring veterans’ priorities directly to Capitol Hill.
Travel expenses will be covered for both trips including airfare, hotel accommodations, on-site transportation to/from meetings and a per diem allowance.
All applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sept. 15, 2026. For full details about the VFW-SVA fellowship and to apply, visit VFW.org/StudentFellowship or contact Gabby Kubinyi, VFW, at gkubinyi@vfw.org or Faisal Sulman, SVA, at faisal.sulman@studentveterans.org.
The VFW-SVA Legislative Fellowship is another example of the strong collaboration between the VFW and SVA that resulted from a memorandum of understanding signed by the two organizations at the SVA National Conference in January 2013.
This is the sixth and final post covering the Healthy Aging Checklist, a set of six core activities that will help any older adult maintain the best possible health while aging.
They are:
In this post, I’ll address the last item on the list: advance planning for medical, legal, and financial issues. This includes power of attorney documents, plus much more.
This is a big topic, and it’s not possible to cover everything you could or should do in a single article. You would need a book for that — I suggest three down below — plus it’s best to work with qualified professionals (healthcare providers, eldercare attorneys, and financial planners) before completing any legally binding paperwork.
But every day as I work, I see older adults and families whose health and well-being is being affected by the consequences of their planning — or lack of planning, as the case often is.
So in this post, I will share some practical information that should make it easier for you to address planning that covers some common age-related challenges:
Whether you are planning ahead for medical, financial, or legal issues – and they are often interrelated — there are three components that are part of all aging-related advance planning:
It’s essential to do more than plan for what should be done if death seems imminent. Planning for “end-of-life” situations is important, but it’s probably even more useful to plan for the last years of life.
Specifically, you should plan for the “advanced life events” and decreases in abilities that often disrupt or otherwise profoundly influence the last few years of a person’s life.
Are these guaranteed to happen? Of course not. But planning ahead in case they happen – and these are all likely to happen to many or most people – is smart, because it will enable you and your family to navigate these with less stress and harm.
Remember: we want to hope for the best, but still plan for the likely and quite possible.
Here are five challenges that I recommend every older adult and family plan for:
1. Sudden decline in decision-making ability during hospitalization or due to injury. Many older adults and families don’t realize that this situation is fairly common, but it is. A study published in 2014 found that within 48 hours of hospitalization, 47% of older adults required decision help from surrogates.
Such sudden loss of mental abilities can be due to an event such as a bad fall, a head injury, or a stroke. It is also sometimes caused by delirium, a state of worse-than-usual mental function that is often brought on by illness, and affects about 30% of older adults during hospitalization. (Rates are much higher after surgery or in the intensive care unit.) After delirium, it can take weeks or even months for older adults to recover their usual mental abilities, and some actually never do.
Advance planning can equip an older person’s family or other trusted associates to step in and assist, if there is a sudden illness or other unexpected quick decline in mental abilities.
2. Difficulty managing driving and transportation. This is often related to developing cognitive impairment, but can also affect older adults who do not have Alzheimer’s or a related dementia. This is because vision problems and mobility problems become common in older age. The phenomenon of “normal cognitive aging” can also affect driving ability, because cognitive processing speed and reaction times become slower as people age.
Certain forms of advance planning can enable an older person’s care circle to arrange for and pay for alternative ways to manage transportation needs, especially if the problem is related to cognitive impairment and a loss of mental capacities.
3. Difficulty managing home tasks and home safety. Home tasks include things like maintaining the home, preparing meals, and grocery shopping. (These are also called Instrumental Activities of Daily Living.) Problems doing these activities can be due to cognitive difficulties, mobility difficulties, or both. Home safety can be an issue if a person with dementia wanders, or leaves the stove on. Many older adults are also vulnerable to falls, which can especially problematic for older adults who live alone and may unable to get up or get help after a fall, especially if an injury is involved.
Research has shown that 70% of older adults will need a high level of supportive services for some period of time in late-life. (This research found that on average, the time is 1.5 years for men and 2.5 years for women, but 10-20% of people need a lot of help for five years or more.)
Advance planning can enable an older person to consider ahead of time what kinds of monitoring and supports would be preferred, in the event that he or she later develops difficulty managing at home. Certain types of advance planning can also enable a person’s family or trusted representatives to address safety monitoring, or pay for additional help in the home.
4. Difficulty managing finances and vulnerability to financial abuse. Like the problems listed above, these are especially common when an older adult develops cognitive problems. Research has found that financial difficulties is often the first sign of emerging Alzheimer’s or another dementia.
However, our recently improved understanding of “normal cognitive aging” suggests that all older adults experience some decline in their abilities to manage finances as they age.
Research also indicates that financial abuse of older adults is extremely common, with billions of dollars lost every year. This may involve strangers attempting “scams” or other actions meant to take financial advantage of a vulnerable older person. But it also often involves questionable or frankly illegal activities committed by family members, friends, or others in the care circle.
So it makes sense for all older adults to plan ahead, to minimize their financial vulnerability as they age and also to enable a family member or other trusted person to spot financial problems and intervene if necessary at some point.
5. Alzheimer’s and related dementias. Experts estimate that about 30% of people aged 85 or older have dementia, with the risk of dementia increasing rapidly as people reach age 90 or older. Although encouraging recent research suggests that the risk of dementia at a given older age is going down, this is still going to be a common problem for the foreseeable future.
The possibility of developing dementia is perhaps the most important challenge that older adults should plan for, because it has profound repercussions for financial safety, impact on family caregivers, safety at home, and of course, the ability for the affected person to make decisions.
Although people with mild (early) dementia generally can make decisions about their life and health, I’ve found that most of them are prone to becoming very anxious and/or defensive about their abilities. In fact, some become quite paranoid about others trying to control them. This is a problem because not only does the older person become distressed when a family tries to talk about the future, but in dementia, thinking also usually gets worse when a person is anxious or stressed. So once mild dementia has developed, conversations about their future and delegating authority to others become much more difficult than they would have been before. (And these conversations are not easy even with older adults who have good cognition.)
Planning ahead can enable an older adult’s family or other trusted individual to assist with medical, financial, and legal matters, should an older adult lose mental capacities.
In the absence of durable power of attorney documents, if an older adult develops Alzheimer’s and loses the thinking abilities needed to soundly make decisions related to health, safety, and management of one’s affairs, families and others often must resort to seeking guardianship in court. This is an expensive and difficult process. It’s much better to avoid it by having planned ahead and completed the necessary legal paperwork ahead of time. You don’t have try to map out an entire dementia journey ahead of time, but it’s important to consider what family should do if it does seem that cognition is slipping. A durable power of attorney for healthcare and for general affairs (covering finances) will make a big difference, should dementia ever become an issue.
For the purpose of this post, I will divide advance planning into healthcare and legal/financial, since most states specify that the durable power of attorney for healthcare is distinct from a general durable power of attorney (which often covers finances).
I especially focus on planning that enables others to step in and assist if/when it becomes necessary. More comprehensive financial planning for long-term care and estate planning is beyond these suggestions, but is covered in the books I suggest at the end of this post.
The minimum key steps to take are:
1.Reflect on current health status, values, and preferences.
Why: Experts agree that advance planning works best when people go through a process of reflection and conversation with others before completing any documents.
Note: Most people find it helpful to use one of several existing reflection tools (see below), which are designed to help people think through important issues so that they later feel better prepared to complete their healthcare advance planning.
Resources:
2. Obtain information on what future health declines or crises to expect.
Why: Research has shown that people sometimes change their stated wishes once they better understand what types of health declines to anticipate. Doctors can often advise older adults on what crises or declines to expect, based on a person’s current health state and chronic conditions.
Note: Physician Angelo Volandes has published several clinical studies demonstrating that people made different advance care planning choices once they had seen videos clarifying what to expect in the future. His videos are now available through a number of large healthcare organizations. If videos are not available to you, find other ways to learn more about what to expect in the advanced stages of a disease you’ve been diagnosed with, or in the last stage of life.
Resources:
3. Complete a durable power of attorney for healthcare (DPOAH) and document care preferences in an advance directive.
Why: The DPOAH specifies the surrogate decision-maker for healthcare, and often designates a back-up surrogate as well. This surrogate decision maker is usually a family member, a close friend, or sometimes a professional fiduciary. The DPOAH form is often included as part of an advance directive document (sometimes called a living will) that may include additional information regarding preferences for care at the end-of-life.
Note: These documents are governed by state law, so you should get one specific for your state. Generally it’s possible to find several different versions available online for a given state. Many are in “legalese,” but there are simpler (and more informative) forms available that are just as legally valid. I highly recommend the power of attorney advance directives available at PrepareForYourCare.org; they are freely available for all 50 states here.
It’s always best to get input from a professional before having a form signed and witnessed, and/or notarized (required in a handful of states). That’s because a healthcare professional or other professional can help ensure that an older adult understands the nature of what is being signed.
Resources:
4. Consider a POLST/MOLST (Physician/Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) form.
Why: These are special forms designed to make it easier for a person to get their preferred care, in the event of a medical emergency. These may be suitable for older adults who have limited life expectancy or prefer to be “DNR.”
Note: POLST/MOLST forms require state-level legislation to implement. Find out if your state offers this type of document here.
Resources:
5. Re-assess documents and preferences periodically.
Why: A person’s preferences regarding medical care and end-of-life wishes often change over time, especially if a person has declined substantially, or had difficult experiences as a patient. Sometimes a person also decides they want to designate a different person as their durable power of attorney for healthcare. For these reasons, it’s important to plan on reviewing and revising advance care planning for healthcare regularly.
Experts generally recommend that advance care planning documents be reviewed and revised in accordance to 5 Ds:
Resources:
The key steps an older person should take are:
1.Reflect on current and future care needs, existing documents and plans, financial assets, and the family members and friends within one’s trusted care circle.
Why: Planning should always start with a period of review and conversation. This should include reviewing any existing power of attorney documents, estate planning, financial planning, or trust documentation.
Note: Be sure to discuss reflections and available information with your family and anyone else who qualifies as part of your “inner circle.” Also, consider working with a professional (e.g. geriatric care manager or other expert in aging and family dynamics) to mediate any challenging conversations or family conflicts that may arise during this time.
If possible, obtain information on long-term care options that might be a fit for future care needs and your family’s financial resources. But don’t let yourself get too bogged down by this part. Many families get stuck in the review phase and never move on to completing documents.
Resources:
2. Complete a durable general power of attorney (POA) document and/or a financial power of attorney document.
Why: A legally valid durable power of attorney document is necessary, to enable another person (the “agent”) to manage affairs if the older person ever becomes incapacitated. The document usually specifies whether the agent’s authority is effective immediately or only once the older person has become incapacitated. The POA must be “durable” to remain valid once a person is incapacitated.
In many cases, the authority to manage financial affairs is included in the durable general power of attorney. But in some cases, people elect to complete “special” powers of attorney which cover only specific powers, such as those related to finances. Check with your state laws and an attorney to find out what is required in your state.
It is also possible to designate someone else to help you with your affairs through the creation of a trust, such as a revocable, or living, trust. (Trusts also offer other potential estate planning benefits, such as avoiding probate.) Trusts can designate additional trustees or successor trustees, which creates a legal mechanism for someone else assisting with finances. You can get a good overview of this type of trust here.
Note: For all legal paperwork, especially durable powers of attorneys, I highly recommend you work with an attorney if at all possible, preferably one experienced in elder law. This helps protect older adults from undue influence and ensures that documents are completed correctly. Free or low-cost legal assistance is often available; learn more from the Administration on Aging here, and contact your local Area Agency on Aging to find help near you.
Resources:
3. Simplify finances.
Why: This will make it easier for older adults to safely manage money and avoid being exploited financially. It will also make it easier for one’s agent (the person authorized to manage finances or other non-health affairs on behalf of an older person) to assist if it ever becomes necessary.
Note: Recent research on cognitive aging suggests that the ability to manage finances peaks in one’s mid-50s, and then slowly declines due to normal decreases in cognitive function. Between this phenomenon, the general risk of eventually developing Alzheimer’s, and the possibility of financial abuse committed by scammers or even family members, simplifying finances makes good sense.
Resources:
4. Complete POA forms for the banks and other financial institutions involved in your assets and affairs.
Why: Banks and other financial institutions often will often insist on the use of their own internal POA forms before allowing agents to access information or conduct transactions. They may also resist a POA form that is “too old.”
For Social Security benefits, which cannot be managed with a power of attorney, you can instead complete an “advance designation of representative payee.” This basically means telling the Social Security Administration ahead of time who you think would be a good candidate to manage your Social Security benefits on your behalf, should it ever become necessary.
Note: It may not be entirely legal for them to do so, but in many states, it remains common for banks to resist legally drafted power of attorney documents. Families can save themselves time and hassle by obtaining institution-specific power of attorney forms while an older adult still has the capacity to complete them. Simplifying finances and accounts beforehand will make this process easier. You can also check to see if your state has implemented any laws related to banks accepting power of attorney; here is a post describing such laws in Connecticut.
Resources:
If you’re a family caregiver, you will often play an important role in advance planning. Because family caregivers often become involved when there are concerns about an older person’s mental abilities, I address this below.
Depending on the older person’s situation, as a family caregiver you may be involved in advanced planning in one or more of the following ways:
Advance planning is a process that is often emotionally taxing and logistically challenging. Many older adults never start. Others start and never get around to completing the process and signing the necessary documents.
It’s understandable; this is a lot of work. But it’s worth doing, because it’s key to healthy aging.
So make a plan. Do a little piece every week, or at least every month. Get the support of family members and ask them to hold you gently accountable. Talk to doctors about what health declines to anticipate. Get professional help with the legal and financial planning. Consider investing in help mediating family conflicts.
If you keep going, it will eventually be done, and some day you and your family will be very glad you addressed the planning before it was too late.
Original content owned & copyrighted by Green Global Travel.
Thailand has something for everyone, from centuries-old temples and picturesque mountainous areas to bustling cities and breathtakingly beautiful tropical beaches.
Each of these types of Thailand travel destinations offers something unique for visitors of all kinds.
And with so much diversity of natural landscapes, wildlife, and culture to experience, it’s tempting to try to squeeze as much as possible into one itinerary.
But in our personal experience, slowing down and planning your trip carefully often leads to a far more enjoyable holiday.
Whether you visit Thailand for luxury, outdoor adventure, or a bit of both, these 5 Thailand travel tips will help you explore the country comfortably while making the most of every destination along the way!
READ MORE: The 13 Most Beautiful National Parks in Thailand
Since the weather in Thailand changes from location to location, the ideal time to visit your Thailand also varies widely.
Most Thailand travel destinations are great to visit from November to February, as this season is ideal for sightseeing and outdoor activities.
But we always recommend checking the weather conditions at your departure airport.
Try not to visit too many places in one trip: It’s best to relax in each location and at least get a rough idea of the place, rather than just rushing through without really experiencing the culture.
Slow travel in Thailand gives you a chance to discover hidden cafés, local markets, and neighborhoods.
READ MORE: The 10 Best Foodie Travel Destinations for Nature Lovers
Planning a Thailand vacation can often feel taxing and time-consuming, with all the flights, hotels, tour bookings, and destination research to consider.
Travel experts can do all the heavy lifting for you, allowing you to simply relax and enjoy your vacation.
They can create a personalized itinerary based on your interests, recommend unique experiences, and organize every detail before you even arrive in Thailand.
For travelers seeking a premium experience, consulting a team like Black Tomato’s Thailand tours will offer you carefully crafted itineraries, luxury accommodation, and expert local guidance.
With everything organized in advance, you can spend less time worrying about logistics, and more time enjoying Thailand’s incredible scenery, culture, and cuisine.
READ MORE: THAILAND: Gibbon Conservation Center in Phuket
Travelling between destinations is part of the adventure, and Thailand offers several convenient options.
Domestic flights are generally affordable, and will save you a huge amount of time if you’re planning on visiting destinations that are further apart.
Trains provide a slower, more scenic way to experience the pastoral Thailand countryside.
Ride-hailing applications offer a convenient way to navigate around the cities without worrying about language barriers.
But private transfers can make longer drives more relaxing, particularly if you’re traveling as a family.
READ MORE: The 20 Best Cultural Festivals Around the World
Where you stay when you travel in Thailand can have a significant impact on your trip.
For instance, if you want to save time when visiting the local sights, consider a centrally located hotel.
Focus also on the additional perks tied to a particular accommodation, such as nearby road networks and sustainability practices.
Read online reviews (particularly those from top-notch travel blogs who have personally visited the hotels or resorts you’re considering) to get a picture of the accommodations positives and negatives.
A beautiful space, delicious food, and friendly staff are significant for your overall traveling experience.
READ MORE: 57 Simple Sustainable Travel Tips Any Traveler Can Use
Before you travel to Thailand, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the local cultures and traditions, which will make things easier for you when visiting the different destinations.
A little advance knowledge can help you avoid unnecessary conflicts with authorities and local residents.
For instance, be mindful of customs at the temples, and ALWAYS remove your shoes when entering any holy place.
In addition, consider learning a few common Thai phrases, such as:
Knowing some of these simple phrases will make your interactions with the local people more pleasant, elevating your overall travel experience.
READ MORE: 10 Countries That Don’t Celebrate Christmas
KHAO YAI NATIONAL PARK
The third largest national park in Thailand, Khao Yai features stunning grasslands and forests that often remind visitors of safaris in Africa.
This is one of the few places in Thailand where Asian elephants can still be seen in the wild as part of a guided hike. You can even take nighttime wildlife tours, where you might see deer, wild pigs, porcupines, and more.
Khao Yai National Park is also home to the rare Asiatic Black Bear and even Tigers, but note that these more reclusive species are extremely difficult to spot.
Along with a number of surrounding parks (including Cambodia’s Ta Phraya National Park), Khao Yoi is part of the UNESCO-listed Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex.
This nature-lover’s wonderland covers 615,000 hectares and is home to over 800 different species of fauna. Around 20 of these are considered vulnerable by the IUCN, while several are currently listed as endangered and one is critically endangered.
READ MORE: Saving Endangered Asian Elephants at Elephant Nature Park
Located near the ever-popular island of Koh Samui in southern Thailand, Ang Thong Marine National Park is an archipelago of 42 islands that include karst mountains and other dramatic rock cliffs that rise from the sea.
Ang Thong Park is a protected area with more than 100 square kilometers of land and sea, in which you can explore caves, find hidden lagoons, and go island-hopping to see different white sand beaches.
The park can easily be visited on a day trip from Koh Samui on a speedboat, or you can join group tours on Thailand’s famous long tail boats.
If you want to stay longer, there are simple bungalows and camping tents available on the main island, where the park HQ is located. There are lots of different activities to do there, such as snorkeling, Scuba diving, kayaking, hiking, or just relaxing on one of the beautiful beaches.
Don’t miss an opportunity to climb up to the park’s scenic viewpoint, from which you can see most of the other islands in the area. There are steps for the first few sections of the climb, and some rest areas where you can stop to soak in the fantastic view along the way!
READ MORE: 15 Harmful Traditions & Cultural Practices Tourists Shouldn’t Support
Located near Bang Pae Waterfall in Khao Phra Thaeo National Park (north of Phuket), the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project has been rescuing Gibbons since 1992.
The 18 species of Gibbons found in Southeast Asia are tailless, and form long-term mating pairs. They also boast extremely loud voices and unique ball-and-socket joints in their wrists, which allow them to swing through the trees very quickly.
Unfortunately, most Gibbon species are endangered, primarily due to ever-increasing loss of their tropical rainforest habitat. Many young Gibbons are orphaned by poachers, then captured and put to work posing for tourist photos on the beaches of Koh Samui and Koh Phi Phi.
The Gibbon Rehabilitation Project works to rescue and rehabilitate these animals, and eventually reintroduce them into the wild.
Their facility, which is open to visitors daily, includes the Rehabilitation Site and a Center for Conservation Education. The Wildlife Rest Center Site, where animals who will be released back into the wild are quarantined in order to minimize human contact, is off limits to tourists. –by Alex S. Morrison
The post The Best Ways to Explore Thailand in Comfort appeared first on Green Global Travel.
I’ve been writing UK travel guides since 2010, and Greenwich is one of the places I most often suggest people add to a London trip. It has royal history, a famous sailing ship, the line where east officially meets west, and what I think is one of the the best free views in London, all…
Ask most veterans whether the VA covers dental, and you’ll usually get one of two answers: “only if you’re 100% disabled” or “no.” Neither is the full picture. Dental and oral conditions are a real, ratable category of VA disability compensation — and according to VBA data, it’s one of the fastest-growing categories in the entire system.
Dental and oral service-connected disabilities grew 14.9% among all recipients in FY2025, and new dental claims grew 8.7% year-over-year. Behind both numbers is a single, specific, and rarely-discussed condition that makes up the overwhelming majority of every dental claim on the books.
This article breaks down what’s driving the growth, what limited jaw motion actually means as a VA claim, and how dental fits into the broader disability system most veterans never think to check.
VA dental and oral disabilities are one of the fastest-growing claim categories in the FY2025 data — up 14.9% among all recipients and 8.7% among new claims. One condition, limited motion of the jaw, accounts for 86.5% of every dental disability on the VA’s books (218,603 of 252,697 total). Most veterans assume VA dental benefits are limited to healthcare eligibility — the data says otherwise.
—VA disability expert Brian Reese
Dental and oral conditions cover a specific, narrower slice of the VA disability system than musculoskeletal or mental health, but the growth rate stands out. According to the FY2025 VBA Compensation Report:
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total dental/oral service-connected disabilities | 252,697 |
| Growth among all recipients (YoY) | +14.9% |
| New dental/oral claims, FY2024 | 19,983 |
| New dental/oral claims, FY2025 | 21,720 |
| New-claims growth (YoY) | +8.7% |
Source: VBA Compensation Report, five-year body-system trend tables. Dental’s 14.9% all-recipient growth rate is among the highest of any body system in the FY2025 data.
The dental and oral category includes a range of conditions — missing teeth, gum disease, jaw fractures — but one condition dominates the data by a wide margin: limited motion of the jaw, which covers temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction and related restrictions in how far the jaw can open or move.
At 218,603 veterans, limited jaw motion accounts for 86.5% of every dental and oral disability currently on the VA’s books. That’s not a close split between several common conditions — it’s one condition carrying the entire category.
The VA rates limited motion of the jaw based on how far the mouth can open, measured in millimeters of interincisal range, and on lateral motion. Common causes include jaw fractures from training or combat injuries, TMJ dysfunction from teeth grinding (bruxism) — itself frequently connected to PTSD and stress — and degenerative joint changes over time. It’s rated under its own diagnostic code, separate from the teeth and gum conditions most veterans associate with “dental.”
Limited motion of the jaw is rated under 38 CFR § 4.150, Diagnostic Code 9905, based on two separate measurements: interincisal range (how far the mouth opens, measured in millimeters between the upper and lower front teeth) and lateral excursion (how far the jaw moves side to side). The VA rates whichever measurement is more disabling — the two aren’t combined.
Because the rating is based on an objective, measurable range of motion rather than a subjective symptom description, a thorough C&P exam — one that actually measures and records both interincisal range and lateral excursion — matters more for this condition than for many others.
VA dental benefits split into two entirely separate systems, and the confusion between them is likely a major reason dental disability claims are under-filed relative to their actual prevalence:
Most of the confusion lives in the first category. Veterans who look into VA dental care and find limited healthcare eligibility often assume the same limits apply to disability compensation — and stop looking. The FY2025 data suggests that assumption is leaving a real, growing, and specific condition unclaimed for some veterans who have it.
It doesn’t help that dental conditions rarely come up in the standard advice veterans hear about filing a claim. Guides on service connection tend to focus on the big, obvious categories — back pain, hearing loss, mental health — and dental gets treated as an afterthought, if it’s mentioned at all. That gap between how the data actually looks and how the topic gets discussed is exactly why this category is worth a dedicated look.
Like most body systems in the VA disability schedule, dental and oral conditions aren’t limited to direct service connection. Jaw clenching and teeth grinding (bruxism) are well-documented physical responses to chronic stress and PTSD, and veterans with a service-connected mental health condition sometimes develop TMJ symptoms as a downstream effect years after their primary diagnosis. Medications used to treat other service-connected conditions can also contribute to dental and jaw issues over time.
None of that means a dental condition is automatically secondary to something else. It means the same evidence standard applies here as anywhere else in the VA system: a current diagnosis, a service-connected primary condition, and a medical opinion connecting the two.
If you have jaw pain, clicking, limited range of motion when opening your mouth, or a documented jaw injury or TMJ diagnosis connected to your service, it’s worth confirming whether that condition has ever been evaluated for disability compensation — separate from any conversation about VA dental treatment eligibility.
As with any claim, the strength of the outcome depends on the quality of the evidence, not just the existence of a diagnosis. A dentist’s note that simply says “limited opening” carries far less weight than one that records the actual interincisal measurement in millimeters — because that’s the exact figure the rating schedule uses.
For a full breakdown of VA dental healthcare eligibility versus disability compensation, see Does the VA Cover Dental?. For the specific rating criteria dental and oral conditions are evaluated under, see What VA Disability Rating Qualifies for Dental and VA Disability Rating for Dental Conditions. If TMJ or jaw-joint symptoms are your primary concern, see TMJ VA Rating.
Dental and oral conditions are growing faster than most veterans would expect, and the reason is concentrated almost entirely in one condition most people have never heard described as a VA disability: limited motion of the jaw.
If you’ve written off dental as a healthcare-only benefit, the recent data is a good reason to take a second look.
Yes. Dental and oral conditions can be rated as service-connected disabilities, separate from VA dental healthcare eligibility, which has its own rules. As of FY2025, 252,697 veterans have a service-connected dental or oral disability.
Limited motion of the jaw, which covers TMJ dysfunction and related restrictions in jaw movement. It accounts for 218,603 of the 252,697 total dental disabilities in the 2025 data — 86.5% of the entire category.
No. VA dental healthcare eligibility (access to dental treatment) is governed by separate rules from VA dental disability compensation (a monthly payment for a rated dental condition). A veteran can qualify for one without the other.
Dental and oral service-connected disabilities grew 14.9% among all recipients in FY2025, and new dental claims grew 8.7% year-over-year — among the faster growth rates of any body system in the VBA data.
Bruxism (teeth grinding), a common contributor to TMJ dysfunction, is frequently associated with PTSD and chronic stress. Whether a secondary connection applies depends on the specific medical evidence in your case.
No. The data confirms the growth rate but does not identify a specific cause. This article does not speculate beyond what the data shows.
The Quality Assurance (QA) team at VA Claims Insider has extensive experience researching, fact-checking, and ensuring accuracy in all produced content. The QA team consists of individuals with specialized knowledge in the VA disability claims adjudication processes, laws and regulations, and they understand the needs of our target audience. Any changes or suggestions the QA team makes are thoroughly reviewed and incorporated into the content by our writers and creators.
Brian Reese is a world-renowned VA disability benefits expert and the #1 bestselling author of VA Claim Secrets and You Deserve It. Motivated by his own frustration with the VA claim process, Brian founded VA Claims Insider to help disabled veterans secure their VA disability compensation faster, regardless of their past struggles with the VA. Since 2013, he has positively impacted the lives of over 10 million military, veterans, and their families.
A former active-duty Air Force officer, Brian has extensive experience leading diverse teams in challenging international environments, including a combat tour in Afghanistan in 2011 supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
Brian is a Distinguished Graduate of Management from the United States Air Force Academy and earned his MBA from Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business, where he was a National Honor Scholar, ranking in the top 1% of his class.
