Maryland area veterans may be interested to know that a government agency is currently working to cut down the waiting time for veterans - many with service-connected disabilities - who are applying for veteran's disability benefits.

Hopefully, the agency is working very fast as the wars wind down in Iraq and Afghanistan and more veterans will need this compensation. More than 1.5 million American veterans are currently awaiting disability benefit approval and the U.S. House Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies is reportedly looking for a way to expedite claims.

A recent news article profiled a Vietnam War veteran who was battling cancer of the larynx and esophageal cancers, which doctors said was related to Agent Orange exposure during the war, last fall. He and his wife were struggling to pay their bills and were worried about waiting a year or longer to receive disability benefits. Luckily, a U.S. Representative intervened and his case was expedited.

However, the typical veteran waits six months to receive service-connected disability benefits and appeals can take up to two years. To help the process go as quickly as possible, it is very important to fill out the claims properly the first time, and a veteran's disability attorney can assist with this.

Service-connected disability benefits are awarded for physical and psychological impairments, including even a partial disability. In order to qualify, you must have a discharge other than dishonorable as well as a diagnosis of a service-connected disability. A service-connected disability does not need to have been incurred during combat.

Sometimes, veterans' disability benefits can be coupled with Social Security disability benefits. Legal counsel can tell you what you may qualify for, and what applications you may want to file. Legal counsel can also help with the appeals process if your application is denied.

Source: Dayton Daily News, "Veterans' wait for benefits is lengthy," Mary McCarty, Jan. 8, 2012