ALS Service Connection

On June 12th this year I had the honor of testifying before the House Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs concerning H.R. 5454. My testimony is available here. The purpose of H.R. 5454 is to make ALS a presumptive service connected disease for all veterans. This means that any veteran diagnosed with ALS would be granted service connection and all benefits.

Shortly after that hearing there were rumblings that Dr. James Peake the Secretary of Veterans Affairs was going to add ALS to the presumptive conditions. Then on July 14th it was released by Representative Henry Brown and Senator Lindsey Graham that his was in fact true. That release also stated that the changes would take effect August 1st. Well August 1st came and went and there was no news concerning service connection and the rumor mill took off.

Although I can't claim first hand information I can say that my sources are reliable. As such I would like to help in dispelling some of the rumors. The movement to make ALS a condition warranting presumptive service connection are still ongoing. The intention is to make this a regulatory statement meaning that it will be included in United States Code and as such it will be binding. It is due to that in part that the August 1st date passed us by with no word. Making regulatory changes requires approvals and time. Although no dates have been given the process is still moving along.