Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Protecting Veterans Benefits from Scammers
Financial scams are on the rise. Every year, millions of people become victims of these scams. Many of these victims are the elderly. Because of this, many former servicemembers end up losing their veterans benefits because they don’t properly protect their personal and financial information. The Department of Veterans Affairs is aware of these… Read More »
COVID Long-Haulers Seeking Social Security Disability Benefits
The coronavirus has hit this country hard, with 32 million cases in the United States since last year. Of those, 570,000 have died. The remainder have recovered or are still dealing with the effects of the virus. While most people recover completely from the coronavirus, many do not. COVID-19 can ravage the body in… Read More »
Firefighter Killed During Training at Academy
Many of those in specialized occupations, such as police officers and firefighters, have to complete rigorous physical training. This training can be brutal, putting employees to the test. Unfortunately, some people die during this training after suffering medical emergencies. In these cases, workers’ compensation benefits may be available. A firefighter recently died during training… Read More »
Marijuana Legalization to Change Workers’ Compensation Laws
Although marijuana use is illegal under federal law, many states have legalized the drug for recreational use. New York is the most recent state to do so. Marijuana use is controversial in the workplace, though. While there is no evidence that the drug is addictive and can lead to death, it can cause impairment,… Read More »
How an SSDI Claim Can Bar an ADA Claim
If you’re unable to work due to a disability, is that your employer’s fault? Should they be sued for laying you off? One man did so even though he was deemed totally disabled by the Social Security Administration. The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) claim, however, barred him from filing a claim under the… Read More »
Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Hearing Loss
When people think of workplace injuries, hearing loss does not often come to mind. However, it is a common issue in many industries, particularly construction, agriculture, manufacturing, mining and oil/gas extraction. Hearing loss occurs for two main reasons: loud noise and chemicals (such as solvents and nitriles). There are three types of hearing problems…. Read More »
VA Urged to Add Hypertension to List of Agent Orange Conditions
Many veterans were affected by an herbicide called Agent Orange while fighting the Vietnam War. Agent Orange has been associated with a variety of health conditions including leukemia, diabetes, Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, prostate cancer, respiratory cancer, soft tissue sarcoma and multiple myeloma. Now, studies are showing that hypertension, or… Read More »
Obtaining Social Security Disability Benefits for Psoriatic Arthritis
There are many medical conditions that qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. You don’t necessarily need to have a terminal illness, like cancer, but you do need to have a chronic one that significantly impacts your ability to work. One example is psoriatic arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis is a type of medical condition that sometimes… Read More »
State Workers’ Compensation Board Removes Strict Standards
With more and more people working from home due to COVID-19 restrictions, workers’ compensation laws have changed. Until late 2020, New York had strict standards in place for workers, denying claims that did not occur during working hours and while the employee was actively involved in work duties. That changed on October 22, when… Read More »
Legislation Expands Benefits for Veteran Family Caregivers
Veterans deserve as many benefits as possible. Many have been through so much and they have made the ultimate sacrifice to serve for our country. The good news is that lawmakers are recognizing their efforts more and more and passing laws that bring about more benefits, especially ones that focus on healthcare. Veterans benefits… Read More »