Disability Law Claims Blog

ALL veterans with ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, will qualify for disability benefits, regardless of when or where they served...

Great news for veterans who have been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease!

This is the second article I've read today, although not in the correct order, about the VA deciding to make big changes to its disability compensation program.

First, the VA decides to increase its rating schedule for vets who suffer from mild traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and now, they annouced on Tuesday, September 24th, 2008, that it would make full disability benefits available for veterans who have ALS, regardless of when or where they served. 

Two big strides in the right direction by the VA for the brave men and women that have fought to protect our freedom. Better late than never...

A big thanks to our troops! We appreciate your service and courage.

To read more about the VA's decision, click here. 

If you were approved for disability by the VA, getting approved by Social Security should be a breeze, right? Not really...

The Social Security Administration (SSA) and the VA use similar criteria to evaluate those who file claims for disability benefits. The agencies look at physical impairments, mental limitations and ability to work full-time jobs. Both require medical documentation to support the claims. But the SSA told him he wasn’t disabled, no matter what the VA says.

To read more about Jerry Valentine and his fight with Social Security, click here.

Do you have a story about dealing with the Social Security disability system? We’d like to hear from you. Please join our blog and submit your comments today. 

"Take the war to the enemy, but leave the battle on the battlefield..."

Meditation... just saying the word evokes relaxation, but meditating in a combat zone?? Sounds like an oxymoron. How can one possibly meditate when the eye of war is staring you in the face?
 
Others join me in my skepticism, but the instructors of the "Warrior Mind Training" course say their practices "can treat post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries, improve focus and better prepare soldiers and Marines for the rigors of combat. It can also improve shooting range performance and raise training test scores."

Taking elements from yoga, the Warrior Mind Training course also encompasses ancient training techniques used by samurai, including an emphasis on living in the moment. Sarah Ernst, a senior Warrior Mind instructor, said the samurai handled the carnage on the battlefield by only focusing on it during the fight.

The course is spreading through several military bases and is offered free of cost to service members. 

To read more about the Warrior Mind Training course, click here.

Nepicastat: drug to treat hyperarousal a symptom of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Many of the troops returning from today's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan suffer post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  Since 2003, approximately 40,000 U.S. soldiers have been diagnosed with the condition. And, while PTSD can affect anyone that has lived through a traumatic event, it's particularly common in veterans.

The U.S. Defense Department has funded a study focused on treating veterans suffering from PTSD, and consequently, one of its symptoms: hyper-arousal - a condition that makes it difficult for a person to accurately assess danger, resulting in a constant state of alertness.

Clinical trials have begun on a drug called Nepicastat created to treat hyper-arousal. The trials will be conducted by researchers at veterans’ medical centers in Alabama, Texas and South Carolina. Preliminary results about the drug's effectiveness and tolerability are slated to go public as early as next spring. 

Traumatic Brain injuries: More common than breast cancer, HIV/AIDS, spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis combined!

It was extremely alarming for me to learn that every 21 seconds a person in the U.S. suffers a traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBIs most often occur as the result of a motor vehicle crash, fall, an act of violence, or recreational sporting activity.

Traumatic brain injury can leave victims with long-term cognitive impairments that limit their ability to function in normal daily activities. Many of those who become impaired may have difficulty remembering, learning, controlling their temper, living alone, earning a living, and getting from place to place. 

The vast majority of TBI victims are children 0-4 years, young adults ages 15-24 (mainly males), and adults 65 years and older. It is theorized that young male adults are twice as likely to be injured as females because of the following factors:

• The competitive nature of males
• Their love of the outdoors
• Their willingness to take chances and engage in high-risk activities

Sadly, it is far too common for young adults to fall victim to TBI's. Primarily because of their driving inexperience, an inability to make accurate assessments of dangerous situations, and the pressure to be "cool." Studies show that teens are less likely to wear their seat belts when compared to other age groups, thus increasing their risk of injury. The combination of these behaviors can prove deadly for teens and fellow motorists. Many states have adopted the "graduated driver licensing" law, in which teens are given a learner's permit  which gives them specific priviledges and responsibilities based on their age. Once they have acquired the necessary skills of a safe driver, they must pass a test before being issued an operator's license.