Sept. 23, 2008

VA Confirms ALS Disability Benefits for Vets

As reported on this site in July, the Veterans Administration was planning to broaden its compensation for all ALS-affected vets. That information was issued by both Sen. Lindsey Graham and Rep. Henry Brown.

Now, in an Interim Final Rule (38.CFR 3.318) published today, the VA affirms that, “The development of ALS at any time after discharge or release from active military, naval, or air service is sufficient to establish service connection for that disease.”

Prior to this time, only veterans with ALS who had served in the Gulf War (August 1990-February 1991) were accorded "service-connected disability" status by the VA. It's the agency's highest disability rating, and it makes the greatest degree of no- or low-cost VA medical care available.

The latest rule provides that the rating of ALS in the VA’s disability rating system will depend on the severity of the disease. The minimum rating will be 30 percent disability.

MDA Vice President of Advocacy Annie Kennedy said the decision was one the Association has been hoping for. "The VA made its initial decision to fully compensate Gulf War veterans with ALS in 2001," she said. "For seven years, the ALS advocacy community has pushed to get all ALS-affected service people included in that package of care. This is wonderful news for the ALS community."

The ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI) in Cambridge, Mass., an MDA partner in the fight against ALS, took a leading role in advocating this policy change.

MDA also acknowledges Brig. Gen. Tom Mikolajcik, USAF Ret., for his tireless efforts in making this exciting announcement possible.