Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are among the most common and devastating diseases that affect a person’s memory. The VA recognizes a veteran’s Alzheimer’s or dementia can be service connected and therefore offers disability benefits for the conditions. Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia, can lead to a total inability to take care of oneself. Compared to the general population, veterans are more at risk of developing dementia due to increased risk factors like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and depression.
VA disability for all forms of dementia depends on the severity of a veteran’s symptoms. The VA grants veterans who apply for disability for dementia or Alzheimer’s a rating between 0% and 100%.
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In this article about VA disability for Alzheimer’s and dementia
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by plaques and tangles in the brain. Alzheimer’s is a brain disease that destroys brain function over time, making daily living and simple tasks, like brushing your teeth, more difficult. For some, the effects of Alzheimer’s leads to being completely unable to take care of oneself.
Symptoms of Lewy body dementia
Lewy body dementia is a type of dementia associated with abnormal deposits of an alpha-synuclein protein in the brain. Lewy body deposits affect chemicals in the brain that can lead to problems with thinking, movement, and behavior.
Typical characteristics include feet shuffling, muscle rigidity, sudden changes in alertness, and poor judgment. Memory loss, unlike with Alzheimer’s disease, shows up later as Lewy body dementia gets worse.
Symptoms of dementia
Dementia is a life-altering disease that causes memory loss, difficulty making conversation or solving problems, and loss of coordination. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. Symptoms of dementia affect everyday life, making it difficult to handle normal tasks like speaking, driving a car, or organizing. Memory loss on its own does not mean you have dementia, but it could be an early sign that you may develop dementia in the future.
Other signs and symptoms of dementia:
- Difficulty with visual and spatial abilities
- Difficulty handling tasks
- Decreased coordination
- Changes in personality
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Inappropriate behavior
- Paranoia
- Agitation
- Hallucinations
Alzheimer’s and dementia in veterans
Research shows PTSD, TBI, and depression, along with vascular issues and obesity-related diseases, are common risk factors for developing dementia.
Additionally, risk factors include some degree of exposure to combat, Agent Orange, or Gulf War Illness.
As a result of military service, the veteran population is two to five times more likely than non-veterans to suffer from PTSD, TBI or depression, putting them at a higher risk for developing dementia and losing their ability to work.
Traumatic brain injury and dementia
TBIs can cause significant changes to the brain, negatively affecting a veteran’s mental, physical, and emotional health. Veterans with service-connected TBI who later develop dementia or Alzheimer’s could receive VA disability benefits for their dementia.
Dementia and Alzheimer’s are presumptively connected to TBI because TBI has been associated with an increased risk of dementia in veterans and non-veterans alike. Due to the nature of combat, research shows that veterans are at a higher risk of TBI compared to civilians.
Other studies have found that older adults with moderate TBI had a 2.3 times greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease compared to older adults with no TBI history.
PTSD and dementia
Civilians and veterans may develop PTSD after experiencing a traumatic or life-threatening event. The veteran population is even more likely to have PTSD that can interrupt daily life and affect ability to work.
Studies show that veterans with PTSD are more than twice as likely to develop dementia compared with those without PTSD. Seeking treatment for your PTSD may help decrease your risk of developing dementia later in life.
Depression and Alzheimer’s
After you leave the military and return to your family and friends, it’s difficult to feel normal.
In the early and mid stages of Alzheimer’s, depression is very common. Depression can be a symptom of Alzheimer’s and dementia but has also been studied as a risk factor for developing dementia.
Additionally, if you have PTSD, you are more likely to develop both dementia and depression as a result.
Agent Orange and dementia
Veteran exposure to Agent Orange has also been identified as a risk factor for developing dementia.
If you were exposed to Agent Orange, an herbicide containing dioxin used during the Vietnam War, studies suggest you are nearly twice as likely to develop dementia compared to veterans not exposed to the herbicide. While neither dementia or Alzheimer’s are currently considered presumptive conditions of Agent Orange exposure by the VA, you may still be able to build a case showing the connection between the two.
VA rating for Alzheimer’s and dementia
If you are experiencing symptoms of Alzheimer’s or dementia that are connected to your military service, you may be eligible for VA benefits.
The VA rates all forms of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease under the same rating criteria as a mental health condition using the General Formula for Mental Disorders.
Alzheimer’s and dementia, including Lewy body dementia, are given a rating of 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, or 100%, depending on your level of impairment.
Even if your dementia is not rated 100 percent, you might have other service-connected medical conditions that can combine to increase your overall disability rating and monthly veterans’ benefits.
Applying for VA disability for Alzheimer’s and dementia
To apply for VA disability benefits for dementia or Alzheimer’s, you need to file a claim through the VA.
When you apply for VA benefits, you will most likely be asked to undergo a medical exam, called a compensation and pension exam (C&P exam). This exam helps the VA determine if you are eligible for compensation and at what level. Remember, it’s important to be completely honest during this exam.
After the VA reviews your claim, you will receive a decision, and a rating if you are granted disability benefits. If you disagree and feel you are owed a service connection or should get a higher rating, a VA disability lawyer can help you appeal.
TDIU and dementia
Total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted to veterans that are unable to work or earn an income as a result of their service-connected health conditions.
Memory loss, disorientation, and coordination problems in veterans with dementia or Alzheimer’s could make keeping a job difficult, especially as the condition worsens.
To be eligible for TDIU, a veteran must have at least one service-connected disability rated at least 60%, OR two or more service-connected disabilities with a combined rating of 70% or more, including one single disability rated at 40% or more. This means a VA rating for dementia at 70% could receive TDIU and bring in monthly checks that pay $3,938.58 — the same as a 100% rating.
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Frequently asked questions
First, be sure your PTSD is diagnosed and documented by your doctor. Next, you can apply for VA benefits for PTSD to see if you qualify for compensation for your mental health disability. If you develop dementia later in life, it will be easier to prove a secondary service connection due to your former PTSD diagnosis. A medical professional may also be able to help show how your PTSD and dementia are linked.
In order to receive TDIU, you need to apply for VA benefits for dementia through the VA. Depending on how severe your symptoms are, the VA will assign a rating between 0% and 100%. A rating of 70% for dementia qualifies you for TDIU or you may have a lower rating for the condition and other service-connected disabilities that make you eligible.
Neil Woods
Neil Woods is a VA disability attorney and the owner and president of Woods & Woods. He received his law degree from Western Michigan University.
