Veterans are twice as likely to develop and die from Lou Gehrig's
disease as those who have not served in the military, research shows, but many veterans may not know they qualify for special coverage and care for the condition.
To get the word out, the Department of Veterans Affairs is reminding veterans regulations were established in 2008 that presume military service is linked to any case of ALS. Under the regulations, veterans with ALS and their families and survivors are eligible for "service connected" benefits — regardless of where an individual served (home or abroad, peace or war) from World War I to Afghanistan.
Anyone who served at least 90 days of active duty may qualify for VA benefits. Survivors of veterans may be eligible for benefits, including monthly compensation, regardless of when their loved one was lost to the disease.
Qualifying veterans with ALS are entitled to receive VA disability compensation paid monthly that varies with the degree of disability and the number of dependents. Veterans with ALS may be eligible for additional special monthly compensation.
ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's Disease," is a fatal neurodegenerative condition that progressively paralyzes its victims, attacking nerve cells and pathways in the brain or spinal cord. Patients eventually lose the ability to walk, eat, speak, and eventually breathe.
Most patients live two to five years after a diagnosis.
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