The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has recognized ALS as a service-connected disease, which means that the VA provides financial and medical support to veterans with at least 90 continuous days of active duty.

If you qualify for these benefits, they can provide significant assistance in obtaining medical care, assistive devices and financial support.

The ALS Association is an excellent resource that can make applying for military benefits easier. We’ve worked closely with Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) who’ve walked hundreds of veterans through the process and can help you ensure that you have all the paperwork and information necessary to receive benefits as quickly as possible.

Local VSOs like Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the Paralyzed Veterans of America or the American Legion, can help you navigate this process. If you need help finding a VSO in your area, you can find local contact information here.

We also encourage veterans to get involved in advocacy efforts that are searching for new treatments and a cure for ALS, along with efforts that are improving the lives of all people living with the disease, such as the National ALS Registry.