Disabled veterans may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits in addition to any Veterans benefits to which they are entitled.
The difference between Veteran’s disability and Social Security disability is that the VA will award disability benefits for less than 100% disability, while Social Security requires that the claimant be totally disabled and unable to work.
Veterans can receive expedited processing of disability claims from Social Security if they become disabled while on active military service on or after October 1, 2001.
Disabled veterans do not always suffer from a physical disability. Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often totally disabling, as is Gulf War Syndrome. Additionally, according to the Dept. of Veterans Affairs, the following diseases are among those presumed to be caused by Agent Orange:
- Parkinson’s disease
- B cell leukemia
- Ischemic heart disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Prostate cancer
- Respiratory cancers