However, the veteran is still eligible to claim compensation or pension for disabilities not related to the misconduct. Filing a claim for compensation can help provide options for veterans with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. First, a medical evaluation can be conducted to determine the extent and primary diagnosis. An independent medical exam can often be utilized if a VA C&P examiner decides that the veteran’s substance use disorder precipitates their mental health disorder. The Maddox Firm can provide you with comprehensive legal advice, answer your questions, and address any concerns you may have.

Health risks of alcohol use

Alcohol and many other drugs of abuse can cause severe liver problems, from cirrhosis, fatty liver disease, alcoholic hepatitis, and even liver cancer. Second, once compensation has been awarded, the veteran is entitled to health care treatment as well as monetary compensation. Most veterans with a co-occurring disorder https://palopototo.site/actors-who-tragically-passed-away-from-overdoses/ have difficulty finding or keeping a job so financial stress is important to address. This would imply in most clinical areas that the alcohol abuse was secondary to the depression, in other words, the depression caused or led to the alcohol abuse.

How to Determine if Substance Abuse is Secondary to Mental Health

Some veterans may turn to substances, including alcohol, when they return home from service. Alcohol can help numb the pain of a mental, emotional, or physical injury, and this can eventually lead to dependence and additional health issues. By presenting comprehensive vocational evidence, you can establish how alcoholism significantly impairs your ability to perform the essential functions of your occupation, further supporting your disability claim.

Alcohol Abuse & Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorders

Michigan has a slightly higher rate of alcohol-related deaths and female drinking deaths. Massachusetts has one of the nation’s lowest rates of under-21 alcohol-related drinking deaths. Kentucky is a statistical anomaly with a low rate of underage drinking deaths and a low rate of chronic causes.

• While Younger individuals have the burden of proving they are unable to perform any type of work, the burden is lessened in the more advanced age categories.
• Drug addiction and alcoholism are serious problems that can profoundly affect every aspect of your life.
• According to the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 29.5 million people were classified as having an alcohol use disorder (about 10% of the population).
• Since then, alcohol addiction has actually become a hurdle to obtaining disability benefits.

The answer to this question depends on several factors, including the severity of your condition and whether you can maintain employment while receiving treatment. Social Security Administration previously considered addiction disorders to be disabling. However, the rules changed and alcoholism and drug addiction are no longer considered disabling by themselves. In fact, to be approved for disability, you need to prove that your underlying disabling conditions would persist even if you were not alcoholism statistics abusing drugs and alcohol. For example, if someone has cancer and also has a drug addiction problem, the cancer might persist even if the person stopped using drugs.

It’s essential to review your drug addiction treatment policy details or consult with an experienced ERISA attorney to determine if alcoholism-related disabilities are covered. Alcohol abuse, alcoholism, and alcohol use disorder (AUD) kill over 3 million people each year, accounting for up to 6% of global deaths. Years ago, you could qualify for Social Security disability benefits if you were an alcoholic.