Disability Benefits for Former Active-Duty Military Service Members

As noted in a recent Associated Press article, returning veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are among the medically and mentally troubled veterans ever seen. The statistics are staggering: nearly 45 percent of Iraq and Afghan veterans have applied for service-related disability benefits through the Veterans Administration.

Many wounded warriors are unaware that they may dually qualify for both VA benefits and Social Security Disability Benefits if the injuries they sustained as a part of their service render them unable to work for a period of 12 months of more. In addition, the Social Security Administration provides special expedited processing for military applicants who was on active duty at the time they became disabled, so long as the disability began on or after October 1, 2001.

Greeman Toomey works with many current and former members of the military, both as a routine part of our practice and as volunteer attorneys through the free legal clinic sponsored by the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans. If you are a military veteran with a service connected disability that prevents you from working, we want to hear your story. Call us for a free initial consultation at 1-877-332-3252.