Changes Coming to the Way Veterans’ Social Security Disability Claims Are Handled

February 19, 2014

Getting a Social Security disability claim approved can be tedious for any applicant. But for those who are disabled due to military service, the bureaucracy of both the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can complicate the approval process.

The problem is the VA may see a veteran as fully disabled and award benefits. The SSA may see things differently though, and issue a Social Security Disability Denial on a veteran’s claim.

One former soldier told how he suffers from anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from his service overseas. His condition prevents him from returning to work as a police officer. He was awarded 70 percent disability by the VA, but his Social Security disability claim was denied.

An article from The Baltimore Sun stated lawmakers are working to correct this problem by allowing veterans to receive expedited benefit processing. Veterans deemed 100 percent disabled by the VA would be put on a “fast track” system through the Social Security Disability process. The changes could affect as many as 360,000 former service members who are considered disabled.

The Social Security Disability Lawyers with Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin applaud these changes and are hopeful it will help ease the suffering of veterans and soldiers struggling to return to civilian life.