If you are a Veteran Living with ALS is Connecticut, Please Read:

On September 23rd, 2008 the United States Congress passed a provision approving 100% service connection (disability) benefits to Veterans diagnosed with ALS. This provision was passed because Veterans have an increased risk of being diagnosed with ALS, according to multiple studies, including a 2006 National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine (IOM) study.

The VA Connecticut (VACT) Health Care System’s Interdisciplinary ALS Clinic, located in West Haven, CT, was established in 2009. A team of clinicians meet every Thursday to discuss patient needs and coordinate discipline-specific interventions for every Veteran. Two to three Veteran patients are evaluated every Thursday after the team meeting. The team consists of a neurologist who works both at the VA and at Yale (Huned Patwa MD), a palliative care nurse practitioner, a primary care nurse practitioner, a speech language pathologist, a registered dietician, a health psychologist, a nurse case manager, a physical therapist, an occupational therapist, a respiratory therapist, and a licensed clinical social worker. The VACT ALS Clinic regularly collaborates with the Hospital for Special Care’s neuromuscular clinic – many Veterans attend both clinics.

Every Veteran with ALS followed by the VACT ALS Clinic receives monthly tax exempt monetary compensation ($3000-$5000/month), durable medical equipment (including wheelchairs and ramps), home care supports (including visiting nurses and home health aides), caregiver/spousal supports (including spousal health insurance), and assistance with accessing a multitude of VA benefits such as home modifications grants, automobile grants, and life insurance benefits . The VACT ALS Clinic team highly encourages every Veteran to connect to the VA early, shortly after their diagnosis.

Veterans or families can contact the VACT ALS Clinic directly to receive expedited assistance in registering for VA health care and VA service connected compensation benefits.

Please contact the following for more information: