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Social Security: Burn Pit Lung Illness is a Disability

Today’s post was shared by Jon L Gelman and comes from burnpitclaims.blogspot.com

The Social Security Disability program has listed Obliterative Bronchiolitis as a disability under its Compassionate Allowances Conditions (CAL). Obliterative Bronchiolitis is a pulmonary/lung disability causally connected to exposure to burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In addition to Social Security benefits, the pending Burn Pit Lawsuit seeks compensation, medical care and future medical monitoring for those veterans, private military contractors and civilian employees who have been exposed. The case is now pending in US District Court and the Court has permitted people to be added to the case (see below).

Social Security Compassionate Allowances (CAL) are a way of quickly identifying diseases and other medical conditions that invariably qualify under the Listing of Impairments based on minimal objective medical information. Compassionate Allowances allow Social Security to target the most obviously disabled individuals for allowances based on objective medical information that can be obtain quickly. Compassionate Allowances is not a separate program from the Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income programs.

“Obliterative Bronchiolitis (OB) is a rare, irreversible, life-threatening form of interstitial lung disease that occurs when the small airway branches of the lungs (bronchioles) are compressed and narrowed by scar tissue (fibrosis) and inflammation. Extensive scarring results in decreased lung function. Causes of OB include collagen…

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