A disabled veteran with lasting physical and mental impairments from a severe TBI may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits. Veterans with brain injuries or related illnesses that resulted from military service have more chances of getting disability compensation, often within a 100 days of applying for disability insurance. 

Thousands of returning service men from war suffer from traumatic brain injury (TBI). There have been so numerous that TBI has been dubbed the "signature injury" of these conflicts. This has been ascribed in part to frequent use of roadside bombs (IEDs), fire bombs, and other explosives.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) for Veterans

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an interruption in normal brain functioning can result from a blow to the head; a penetrating wound, head injury; or pressure waves as a result of exposure to an explosion, commonly referred to as a blast injury The Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) estimates

that there have been 294,172 TBI medical diagnoses among Americans Military forces from 2000 to 2013. The majority of the cases (242,676) were classed as moderate (concussion), with the majority of military men returning to duty in a 7 to 10 days on average Mild TBI, on the other hand, can still be fatal.

Sometimes a TBI can cause long-term health issues such as headaches as well as difficulties with attention, memory, and mood swings.

TBI-related cognitive symptoms include focus, memory, and judgement problems in thinking and learning new ideas, Behavioral Depression, anxiety, and paranoia are all possible symptoms. Anger, aggressiveness, bewilderment, emotional outbursts as well as sleep issues This list is an example of

signs that a person may have but is not complete list of all symptoms that may appear with TBI. Furthermore, TBI has been linked to secondary Dementia, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, and other neurological disorders, depression.

How Does SSDI Work to TBI in Veterans?

When examining for SSI/SSDI claims, disability examiners assess how these cognitive as well as behavioral signs influence the Veteran. They will investigate any sensory or limitations in motor function or epileptic seizures that have occurred as a result of the TBI.

Extreme Cases of TBI for SSDI

Sometimes a veteran may not qualify for SSDI for TBI due to there not being sufficient evidence proving that the blast or concussion followed by the incident actually led to a permanent disability. Nonetheless, PTSD can be brought on by being exposed to a distressing incident, such as severe harm or real or death threats, or sexual harassment violence. A diagnosis of PTSD necessitates the existence of symptoms for more than a year or at least 12 months in four areas: invasive or intrusive thoughts, sentiments or ideas concerning the trauma; deliberate avoidance of potentially triggering events, distressing recollections; a rise in unpleasant thoughts and feelings, distressed attitude; and more aggressive or risky behavior, hypervigilance, erratic conduct, or sleep disturbances.

SSI/SSDI veteran applicants are evaluated for PTSD followed by a TBI according to the mental health impairments in the Social Security Blue Book of Impairments.

Some of the most common qualifiable claims post TBI for veterans include:

  • - Parkinson's disease that is diagnosed following moderate or severe TBI
  • - Seizures for which no cause has been established following moderate or severe TBI
  • - Certain dementias if diagnosed within 15 years after moderate or severe TBI
  • - Depression that is diagnosed either:
    • within three years of moderate or severe TBI, or
    • within one year of mild TBI
  • - Hormone deficiency diseases that are diagnosed within 12 months of a diagnosis of moderate to severe TBI.

It is necessary to meet the criteria for anxiety-related disorders to record how a Veteran's symptoms, such as panic attacks, compulsions, social isolation, or paranoia are examples of symptoms making it difficult for him or her to operate at home and work.

How to Qualify for SSDI for TBI in Veterans?

If you are applying for SSDI based on your TBI, the Social Security Administration would expect you to be able to provide enough evidence to prove your disability. Documents may include psychiatric information, hospital assessments, neurological test results or clinic records, as well as assessments from programmes for vocational rehabilitation.

It may also be beneficial to collect statements from previous employers, family members, and members of the community workers, and anybody else who may be involved understand the Veteran's emotional and physical state. Moreover, evidence of all health issues limit his or her capacity to work may also be useful in your application.

Finally, the military discharge must be include documents (DD214) together with the application, especially if the Veteran is eligible for SSA-accelerated processing. It is critical to understand that, while the DD214 may include a basis for discharge based on mental or physical health.

Note: DD214 is not a medical document or an indication of a patient's health treatment.

What it your claim is refused?

If the claim is refused, the claimant may file a disability appeal and request a reconsideration review. After a lengthy delay, the claimant might request a hearing with an administrative law judge (ALJ). Setting a hearing date might take a very long time. Depending on where the claimant lives and how busy the local hearing office is, it might take a year or more to schedule a hearing. Requesting that Social Security expedite your case for a service-connected disability can assist in ramping up the process. 

Applying for SSDI is a complicated process and must not be left to non-professionals. For assistance, you can also consult our expert disability attorneys for legal help.