During the height of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, it was impossible to watch the news without seeing the consequences to brave men and women of our armed forces. Many were killed, and even more were sent home with serious disabilities caused by improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and other combat-related injuries, including traumatic brain injury (TBI).
According to a recent news article from Forbes, wounded service members have been sending open letters to their respective Congress members asking for help with the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits application process. One of those letters was from a medically discharged U.S. Army soldier. He describes how he became disabled and what has happened since getting back to the United States.
After he completed his last combat tour, he was assigned to the Army’s Wounded Warrior Program at Fort Knox. Medical professionals at the program evaluated claimant and had him undergo two surgical procedures. He also went to physical therapy and received treatment to manage his pain. He applied for SSDI benefits in May of 2013. It took them nearly an hour to verify he was even eligible to apply for SSDI as a member of the Wounded Warriors, despite him immediately showing them a Social Security Administration (SSA) publication about Wounded Warriors’ right to SSDI benefits. Once he was allowed to apply, SSA denied his application, finding he was still employable. He had to file an appeal to this denial.
SOURCE: Massachusetts Social Security Disability Lawyers Blog – Read entire story here.
