Disability Claim Lawyers

Jacksonville, Florida

Veteran's Disability Claim

Our military is entirely volunteer, but nobody is more exposed to severe injury than a military person on active duty during wartime. During the Gulf War in 1990, the survival rate of injured personnel was 78% but now in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts it is 88%. The military has improved body protection and vehicle armor, and delivers faster medical care to injured people.

There is a negative trend too, which is that the percentage of blast-related injuries has increased in Operation Iraqi Freedom. This enemy uses improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), which inflict very severe injuries requiring long-term medical care. Simple gunshot wounds were 27% of injuries during the Korean war but are only 15% of injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Blast-related injuries
The enemy in Iraq uses IEDs which create pressures of more than 60 lb/in and reach their maximum pressure in 2.5 to 50 milliseconds. This is a very high pressure in a very short time. Those who survive often suffer from severe brain injury, loss of limbs, and injury to internal organs. The most common injury from an explosion is a ruptured eardrum which may lead to deafness.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Each TBI is individual. Depending on which exact area(s) of the brain are harmed, the injury manifests in the body differently. There may be paralysis from the neck down, of the lower body, or of one side of the body, and these conditions clearly will require lifelong living assistance. There may be any of dozens of other disabilities also, such as:

• Impaired vision
• Impaired speech
• Loss of memory
• Reduced ability to learn
• Loss of balance
• Headaches
• Seizures
• Loss of coordination
• Chronic nausea or vomiting
• Confusion and agitation

The medical cost and time required to diagnose and treat these conditions can be enormous, and so can the ongoing stress and expense to the veteran's family.

Loss of Limbs
A limb may be lost in an explosion, or may have to be amputated later because of the severe injury to it. Loss of one or both legs calls for extensive re-education in how to accomplish the tasks of daily living. Loss of an arm will severely cut down on the veteran's work options. Loss of any limb requires much physical therapy and psychological support and retraining, and permanently changes the person's life.

Injuries to internal organs
These are different in each case. They may require extensive surgery and treatment, and perhaps also permanent devices such as colostomy bags or oxygen.

Loss of hearing or sight
These are major disabilities and will require extended re-education. They impair communication with others, which can lead to secondary problems of depression or other psychological states.

If you have a loved one who was injured in the line of duty, please contact our disability claim lawyers to learn more about your legal options. We offer our services to military personnel, who have given their services to America. We will be glad to give you a free consultation and assess your situation. If you are in need of help in applying for Veterans' benefits, we can help with that.

Our Military Experience
W. Marc Hardesty, Esq. is a retired Lieutenant Colonel who did active service in the Persian Gulf War. He understands how an injured veteran may be struggling to find support and ways to continue with life.

Frank A. Ashton, Esq. Is a retired Navy Commander who did active duty from 1979 to 1984.

Ken Windle, on our paralegal staff, is a retired Navy Seal and a three-tour Vietnam veteran who was awarded the Silver Star and several Purple Heart medals.

If you are a veteran and wondering how you can qualify for VA benefits, our disability claim lawyers can help. Please email us or call 904-249-9030 (our Jacksonville Beach office) or 904-398-2212 (our Jacksonville office). We look forward to meeting with you.