37-year-old former Special Forces veteran Justin Yaassoub. He’s not alone in his concerns either as a number of veterans are alarmed at the upcoming Veterans Affairs Canada decision to stop covering shock-wave therapy. Following 16 years of active military service, Yaassoub transitioned from the military in 2023. His body paid the grave price of his service, frequently with 80 pounds of gear strapped on his back.
Shock-wave therapy, in particular, has been key to Yaassoub’s recovery. As an orthopaedic surgeon, he originally used it to relieve debilitating back and shoulder pain from two slipped discs and degenerative disc disease. At first, he was getting treatments once a week and is now down to every other week. While he’s spoken publicly about the challenges he faced, he credits VAC for helping veterans like himself make a successful transition to civilian life.
“It’s a blessing to have Veterans Affairs be beside us, to support us postservice,” – Justin Yaassoub.
The upcoming changes to VAC’s coverage are a major worry for him and his peers. Under the new proposal, the department would limit shock-wave therapy reimbursements to a maximum of three sessions per instance of tendinopathy. This new policy is a radical departure from the status quo, which has no limit on treatments. This limitation does create large concerns about access to a therapy that so many veterans have received great benefit from.
Yaassoub communicated that shock-wave therapy gave him a “glimpse of hope” for healing. He is far from the only one that appreciates this therapy. Many of his friends have used it to treat erectile dysfunction, an epidemic among veterans that’s often linked to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Studies show veterans suffer from high rates of sexual dysfunction, pointing to the clear need for effective treatment options.
“I know how it’s changed people’s marriages and sex life and dignity,” – Justin Yaassoub.
Shock-wave therapy—often used to treat chronic tendon injuries—has grown in popularity since its first inclusion under VAC coverage in 2017. Advocates say it’s the catalyst to initiate phase two—rebuilding blood vessels. This multistep process can go a long way to improving erectile function. These proposed revisions would substantially reduce the number of veterans able to access this groundbreaking treatment. Millions of Americans, including millions of children, rely on it for their physical and emotional health.
Yaassoub made it clear that people should continue to have access to shock-wave therapy. He challenged the logic of restricting an effective treatment that has clearly served millions of beneficiaries well.
“This is one of the support tools that they provide that has been really beneficial. So it just puts into question, why would they remove it?” – Justin Yaassoub.
VAC spokesperson Robbi Henderson-Canning stated that the department is consistently looking at new medical information. This vigilant and ongoing work makes both safety and effective new treatments possible. She noted that this approach is especially relevant when therapies are first released for new indications.
These changes would have a huge impact on the veteran community. Our nation’s veterans are deeply worried about potentially losing access to critical treatments that allow them to manage the effects of their military service.
