Jeffrey Freedman Attorneys at Law

“For years, it was an open secret among missileers that the Cold War-era missile alert facilities and launch control centers where they'd spend days sleeping, eating and staying on alert in case of nuclear armageddon were filled with things that might get them sick -- carcinogens such as PCBs, lead paint, asbestos and tainted water. And every missileer veteran had at least one close friend who was battling a form of cancer.”

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https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/03/07/they-stood-sentry-over-americas-nuclear-missile-arsenal-many-worry-it-gave-them-cancer.html?ESRC=dod_240308.nl&utm_medium=email&utm_source=dod&utm_campaign=20240308

They Stood Sentry over America's Nuclear Missile Arsenal. Many Worry It Gave Them Cancer. For years, it was an open secret among missileers that the Cold War-era missile alert facilities and launch control centers where they'd spend days sleeping, eating and staying on alert in case of nuclear armageddon were filled with things that might get them sick.

Burn pits, areas devoted to open-air combustion of trash, release substances that cause serious health effects when inhaled. After passage of the PACT Act, the VA now recognizes more presumptive conditions for burn pit exposure. You will still have to show that you meet the criteria for one or more of those conditions to receive VA disability benefits, but it will already be presumed that your condition is connected to your military service.

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https://www.marca.com/en/lifestyle/us-news/personal-finance/2024/05/16/66464b55ca4741f95f8b45cb.html

VA Disability Conditions List: What are the 23 presumptive conditions when applying for VA benefits? Burning toxic waste in war zones can cause serious respiratory illnesses. That is why the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is constantly updating the presumptive conditions that

VA benefits can help cover many of the expenses associated with a veteran’s funeral and burial, but they likely will not be able to cover everything. Burial in a national or state veterans cemetery will reduce costs substantially, and options to cover the rest include prepaying funeral expenses, obtaining a life insurance policy specifically for funeral and burial expenses, and/or opening a designated savings account.

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https://www.military.com/money/personal-finance/va-benefits-likely-wont-cover-all-of-veterans-funeral-costs.html

VA Benefits Likely Won't Cover All of a Veteran's Funeral Costs A veteran's surviving family members may be caught off guard if they expect the VA to cover all the costs of a funeral or burial.

The Major Richard Star Act is gaining momentum again after stalling out last year. If the legislation passes, it would allow veterans who medically retire to have full access to the VA’s disability benefits and military retirement pay.

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https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/03/06/supporters-vow-not-give-stalled-bill-let-disabled-vets-collect-full-benefits.html?ESRC=eb_240307.nl&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eb&utm_campaign=20240307

Bill Allowing Disabled Veterans to Collect Full Benefits Gets New Push from Supporters on Capitol Hill The Major Richard Star Act would ensure all service members who medically retire have full access to both military retirement pay and Department of Veterans Affairs disability benefits.

“For many veterans, the VA system requires them to relive past traumas to prove their entitlement to benefits. In many cases, the trauma veterans experience—like sexual trauma or combat trauma—is not officially reported. Some of my clients decide not to move forward on their case because of the repeated requirement to tell another person about their experiences—their advocate, a doctor, in an affidavit, and even testimony—to provide the VA with proof of their experience.”

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https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/4501159-veteran-basic-income-could-be-the-solution-the-va-has-been-searching-for/

Veteran Basic Income could be the solution the VA has been searching for The old adage “delay, deny, wait til I die” appears to be many veterans’ experiences.

SSDI benefits are a lifeline for millions of Americans unable to work due to illness or injury. But they’re notoriously difficult to obtain, and denials are common due to stringent requirements, the burden of medical proof, and a complicated appeals process. But you do not have to navigate the process on your own. Hiring an experienced SSDI attorney will make sure your application and appeals provide the information Social Security needs and are filed on time.

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https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/investing/social-security/ssdi-denials-what-to-do

Why SSDI Denials Are So Common and What to Do if You’re Denied - NerdWallet Thousands of SSDI applicants are denied every year, but you have options if your application isn't approved.

Earlier this year, the VA announced an expansion of health care services for veterans who served in the Gulf War and after September 11. Urethral cancer will now be considered a presumptive condition for those who served in Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, Uzbekistan, and the Southwest Asian theatre. And by the end of 2024, the VA intends to offer screenings for colorectal and genetic lung cancers.

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https://www.aarp.org/home-family/voices/veterans/info-2024/va-expands-health-care-benefits.html

VA Expanding Cancer Screenings, Health Care Benefits Plans include offering genetic lung and colorectal cancer screenings

If you have attorney representation for your Social Security Disability claim, you can easily call their office and ask for a case status update. But if you are on your own in the process, you can check by logging into your my Social Security account. Go to the “My Home” page, scroll down to “Your Benefit Applications,” and click “View Details” under the heading titled “More Info.” From there, click on “Current Status” to see the latest updates on your application.

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https://www.marca.com/en/lifestyle/us-news/2024/05/04/6636a6e846163f60058b45a6.html

Social Security Claim Status: How can you check your application status? Navigating the complexities of Social Security claims can often feel overwhelming, but keeping track of your application doesn't have to be. If you've recently applied for disabili

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is considered a presumptive service-connected condition for veterans, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Presumptive conditions are specific chronic illnesses that start within a year of discharge from active military service, and you do not have to prove to the VA that your service caused the disease.

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https://myastheniagravisnews.com/columns/navigating-va-healthcare-system-presumptive-conditions/

Navigating the VA healthcare system with presumptive conditions Columnist Shawna Barnes shares tips for other veterans seeking care from the VA for presumptive service-connected conditions.

Although not as well-known as its Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program, the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Ticket to Work (TTW) Program offers the possibility of returning to work for some SSDI recipients. TTW is not intended for every beneficiary—it is only for those whose illnesses or disabilities are stable enough to explore the possibility of rejoining the workforce for personal and professional satisfaction.

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https://www.forbes.com/sites/dianewiniarski/2024/02/19/ssdi-and-ticket-to-work-open-possibilities-for-people-with-disabilities/?sh=2f77231f3943

SSDI And Ticket To Work Open Possibilities For People With Disabilities While you were working and paying F**A taxes — you are covered for Social Security disability benefits should you need them. AES is an SSA's EN -Ticket to Work Program

A new blood test to detect concussions has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It could expedite treatment for servicemen and servicemen who suffer traumatic brain injuries because the test’s results are available in minutes rather than hours.

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https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/04/03/newly-approved-rapid-blood-test-traumatic-brain-injury-could-speed-treatment-troops.html?ESRC=eb_240404.nl&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eb&utm_campaign=20240404

Newly Approved Rapid Blood Test for Traumatic Brain Injury Could Speed Up Treatment for Troops The diagnostic test was developed by Abbott Laboratories and an arm of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command.

Urgent reforms are needed as underfunding of the Social Security Administration causes significant delays in disability benefits. These delays have a major impact on the lives of disabled Americans.

Insufficient funding of the SSA deeply hurts disabled Americans - Jeffrey Freedman Attorneys PLLC By Jeffrey Freedman The personal stories never end: six years to get approval for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits for a client who was declared 100% disabled by the Veterans Administration; six years for a client with chronic pancreatitis, anxiety, depression, and PTSD; and five years for....

As part of Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Equity and Outreach initiatives, the agency mailed informational letters to inform people of their potential eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. This outreach is likely to increase the individuals’ lifetime SSI payments by $530 million.

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https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/4622268-thehill-com-opinion-white-house-4622268-social-security-government-can-help-poverty-elderly/

The government can help people in need —and the Social Security Administration just proved it It turns out simply using the U.S. mail is a powerful way to help vulnerable Americans.

Since March 2022, “Operation Ring the Bell” has enrolled almost 6,000 troops as bone marrow donors in Salute to Life, the Department of Defense’s official marrow donation program.

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https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/01/30/meet-soldiers-who-have-created-lifesaving-network-of-bone-marrow-donations-army.html?ESRC=eb_240131.nl&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eb&utm_campaign=20240131

Meet the Soldiers Who Have Created a Lifesaving Network of Bone Marrow Donations in the Army Spc. Christian Sutton and his team of nearly two dozen other young soldiers have signed up nearly 6,000 troops as potential bone marrow donors since March 2022.

At the end of March, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that the PACT Act increased enrollment in VA healthcare in the last year by 30 percent. In just the last year alone, 340,000 veterans have had their PACT Act-related claims approved due to the newly expanded program.

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https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/4564261-pact-act-drives-30-percent-increase-in-va-health-care-enrollment/

PACT Act drives 30 percent increase in VA health care enrollment The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced Friday that the PACT Act has increased enrollment in its health care system by 30 percent in the last year. The department announced that over the …

In the beginning of January, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) issued a request for applications from academic institutions and researchers to study the efficacy and safety of psychedelic substances to treat post-traumatic stress disorder and depression in veterans.

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https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/01/08/va-fund-research-using-mdma-psilocybin-address-mental-health-disorders-veterans.html?ESRC=eb_240109.nl&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eb&utm_campaign=20240109

VA to Fund Research on Using M**A, Psilocybin to Address Mental Health Disorders in Veterans The Department of Veterans Affairs is soliciting applications from researchers to study the use of M**A, psilocybin and other substances to treat PTSD and depression.

The outcry over how the Social Security Administration (SSA) has addressed improper payments is receiving attention and a plan of action from the agency. As of March 25, SSA will withhold 10% of monthly benefits until the total amount owed has been recouped, rather than the prior practice of 100%. The burden of proof will shift away from the claimant in determining who was at fault in causing the overpayment. The agency will approve repayment plans of up to 60 months. And SSA will make it easier for overpaid beneficiaries to request waivers of repayment if they believe they are not at fault and/or do not have the ability to repay.

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https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/releases/2024/?utm_content=pressrelease&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_source=NOSSCR+Members&utm_campaign=e22fcdc76b-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2024_01_20_03_16_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-58173cf0f6-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D&utm_source=NOSSCR+Members&utm_campaign=e22fcdc76b-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2024_01_20_03_16_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-58173cf0f6-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D&utm_source=NOSSCR+Members&utm_campaign=e22fcdc76b-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2024_01_20_03_16_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-58173cf0f6-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D #3-2024-3

Press Release | Press Office | SSA 2020 Press Releases

A study recently published by the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences found that veterans who had suffered a moderate or severe traumatic brain injury were at a 90% increased risk of developing a brain malignancy at 90%, and those with a penetrating injury were more than three times as likely to develop one compared to those who had never suffered a brain injury.

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https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/02/15/risk-of-brain-cancer-higher-troops-moderate-severe-brain-injuries-large-study-shows.html?ESRC=eb_240216.nl&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eb&utm_campaign=20240216

Risk of Brain Cancer Higher in Troops with Moderate to Severe Brain Injuries, Large Study Shows But the retrospective study of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans found no association between brain cancer and mild traumatic brain injuries.

In January, Senators Jon Ossoff and Rick Scott initiated a bipartisan inquiry into the delays that veterans face between referral dates and scheduled medical appointments at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) community care locations nationwide. They are recommending that the VA implement the U. S. Government Accountability Office’s recommendations to improve efficiency and timeliness.

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https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/sen-ossoff-launches-bipartisan-inquiry-into-va-community-care-wait-times/

Sen. Ossoff Launches Bipartisan Inquiry into VA Community Care Wait Times  - U.S. Senator for Georgia Jon Ossoff Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is pressing the VA to reduce wait times for community care appointments.  Today, Sens. Ossoff and Rick Scott (R-FL) launched a bipartisan inquiry into delays veterans are facing between referral dates and scheduled medical appointment at VA community c...

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is facing a lawsuit regarding racial and gender inequities in medical treatment and claims approval rates revealed through outside studies and internal audits. The VA released a plan in early February to address these disparities.

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https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/02/14/va-issues-road-map-address-inequities-health-care-and-benefits-minority-vets.html

Unequal Treatment of Black, Minority Veterans Triggers New VA Plan to W**d Out Disparities The move aligns with the White House's effort to ensure that all eligible Americans have access to federal services and benefits.

Many veterans benefits expire, including health and disability benefits. While the deadlines are fixed, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will often waive them if the veteran has a legitimate reason for failing to apply for them in time.

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https://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-benefits/veterans-benefit-expiration-dates.html?ESRC=mr_240101.nl&utm_medium=email&utm_source=mr&utm_campaign=20240101

Do Veterans Benefits Expire? Did you know that many of your VA benefits have an expiration date? If not, you are not alone. Most veterans aren't aware of their benefits, let alone that many of them can expire.

Federal health officials released a study in January about contaminated drinking water in Camp Lejeune that revealed that military personnel stationed at the base from 1975 to 1985 had a 20% higher risk for numerous types of cancers than those stationed elsewhere.

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https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/01/31/camp-lejeune-water-contamination-tied-range-of-cancers-cdc-study-says.html?ESRC=eb_240201.nl&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eb&utm_campaign=20240201

Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Tied to a Range of Cancers, CDC Study Says Federal health officials called the research one the largest ever done in the United States to assess cancer risk by comparing a group who live and worked in a polluted environment to a similar group that did not.

Over 30,000 veterans and service members have agreed to 3M’s settlement over the company’s alleged faulty earplugs, which forced 3M to issue over $250 million in payments earlier than anticipated.

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https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/01/17/3ms-earplug-settlement-track-veterans-and-service-members-opt-6b-deal.html?ESRC=mr_240122.nl&utm_medium=email&utm_source=mr&utm_campaign=20240122

3M's Earplug Settlement on Track as Veterans and Service Members Opt in to $6B Deal More than 30,000 military veterans and service members have formally agreed to 3M's settlement over allegedly faulty earplugs, prompting 3M to issue $253 million in payments earlier than expected.

There is no set amount of time you must serve in the military to qualify for disability benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), but you must have served in active duty and received something other than a dishonorable discharge.

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https://www.marca.com/en/lifestyle/us-news/personal-finance/2024/02/04/65bf9889ca4741e72d8b4588.html

How long do you have to be in the military for to be eligible for VA disability benefits? To be eligible for VA disability benefits, there isn't a specific length of time you must serve in the military. However, you must have served on active duty and been discharged un

If you suffer from headaches and migraines, you may qualify for benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), depending on how your condition affects your daily ability to function. The VA often assigns a higher disability rating to migraine sufferers because they often have more severe symptoms, including nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to light or sound, and debilitating pain.

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https://www.hillandponton.com/do-my-headaches-qualify-me-for-va-benefits/

Do My Headaches Qualify Me for VA Benefits? Do you suffer from headaches that impact your life? In this guide, we'll discuss types of headaches and what qualifies for VA benefits.

In fiscal year 2023, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provided more than 84,000 in burial benefits, which, in addition to traditional burials, includes burials at sea, cremation, and donating of remains to a medical school.

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https://www.marca.com/en/lifestyle/us-news/personal-finance/2024/01/03/659552b722601df04f8b459d.html

VA Death Benefits Cremation: Do VA death benefits cover cremation and what else can the government provide? The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is offering burial benefits for Veterans, families, caregivers, and survivors to alleviate end-of-life expenses related to a Veteran's grave

“Across the country and around the world, environmental pollution at active and former U.S. military sites has created the specter of potential health threats for former service members and their families who worked and lived in places now known to have been contaminated.”

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https://www.military.com/daily-news/2023/12/19/millions-of-vets-got-health-care-and-benefits-under-pact-act-thousands-left-out-want-same-chance.html

Millions of Vets Got Health Care and Benefits Under the PACT Act. Thousands Left Out Want the Same Chance. Legislation passed in 2022 expanded benefits for former troops sickened by burn pits, Agent Orange and contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, but others still wait.

A variety of factors can influence how long it takes to receive approval for veterans benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), but the average timeline is between 120-150 days. Respond quickly to requests for additional information and updated medical records to put yourself in the best position to receive a decision as soon as possible.

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https://www.marca.com/en/lifestyle/us-news/personal-finance/2023/12/21/658458be22601dd52f8b45af.html

VA Disability Claim Status: How to know if your application was approved? A common concern among veterans seeking Veterans Affairs benefits is the duration of the claims process, prompting the question, "How long do VA claims take?" The timeline for rece

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers a program called the Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) which extends educational and training opportunities to spouses and dependents of veterans who are totally disabled due to a service-related condition.

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https://www.marca.com/en/lifestyle/us-news/personal-finance/2023/12/15/657c52ac22601da8778b45bf.html

VA Education Benefits for Dependants: How much can it help you pay for college? For dependents or surviving spouses of veterans, navigating educational benefits can be crucial for pursuing academic goals. The Veterans Affairs (VA) offers valuable programs su

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently unveiled plans that would make veterans exposed to Agent Orange while serving in the military eligible for fast-track disability benefits. This expansion in access will make it easier for those exposed to herbicides outside of Vietnam to receive the benefits they deserve.

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https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2024/02/09/va-to-ease-benefits-rules-for-vets-exposed-to-agent-orange-in-the-us/

VA to ease benefits rules for vets exposed to Agent Orange in the US The move follows several years of expanded benefits for veterans who suffered toxic exposure injuries while in the military.