Veterans Affairs & Benefits
Military veterans, regardless of the branch of service, era in which they served, or whether they served during a time of peace or a time of war, are at a greater risk of being diagnosed with ALS than if they had not served in the military.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has recognized ALS as a service-connected disease, which means that the VA provides financial and medical support to veterans who have completed at least 90 continuous days of active duty and been honorably discharged. If you qualify for these benefits, they can provide significant assistance in obtaining medical care, assistive devices, and financial support.
ALS in the Military
Existing evidence supports the conclusion that people who’ve served in the military are at a greater risk of being diagnosed with ALS and dying from the disease than those with no history of military service.
As outlined in the paper below, study after study continues to demonstrate this to be true: If you serve in the military, regardless of the branch of service, regardless of whether you served in the Persian Gulf War, Vietnam, Korea, or World War II, and regardless of whether you served during a time of peace or a time of war, you’re at a greater risk of dying from ALS than if you hadn’t served in the military.
We’re asking these questions today:
- Why is there a greater risk of ALS with military service?
- What are we, as a nation, going to do about it?
It’s our goal that this paper raises awareness of the important work that’s been done so far on discovering the relationship between ALS and military service. In this effort, we hope to impress upon Congress, the Administration, and the American public the seriousness of this issue and the need to act now.
Even though a diagnosis of ALS is presumed to be service connected the veteran must still apply for benefits and enroll in the VA health care system. It is important that this be done as soon as possible after diagnosis as benefits, including compensation, are retroactive to the date of application for new applicants.
When applying for either VA Health Care or service-connected benefits, we encourage you to contact a veteran service organization (VSO) such as Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA). Your Care Coordinator can assist with this process. PVA will help ensure that the required information and forms are properly completed and submitted so that your claim can be processed as quickly as possible. They are also up to date on the latest requirements and benefits available and can help guide you through the application process.
For more information on home care benefits for veterans, refer to this information:
As the disease progresses, home modifications can be important to maintaining independent living and easing the burden of caregiving – for example, you may need to adapt your home to make it wheelchair accessible. The VA’s Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grants are available to veterans living with ALS and can help facilitate home modifications or purchases.
Having a wheelchair-accessible van makes getting to and from appointments and other outings easier for all. The VA’s Automobile Grant provides financial assistance to help purchase a new or used automobile to accommodate a disability for a veteran.
If extra help is needed to care for a veteran living with ALS, the Aide and Attendance Allowance will assist in helping to cover the cost to hire in-home caregivers.
If you need assistance accessing these benefits, we encourage you to contact your VA clinic team, or the veterans' service organization of your choice (e.g., Paralyzed Veterans of America, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans).