Disability, General

Social Security and Veterans Affairs Partnership Speeds Disability Decisions for Veterans

November 9, 2016 • By

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

Last Updated: August 19, 2021

vaSocial Security is with you throughout life’s journey. For the millions of individuals we help each day — including Veterans, widows and widowers, retirees, and people with disabilities — our priority is to help you secure today and tomorrow. In our efforts to improve the quality of service we provide to Veterans, we’re proud to announce our partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to use health IT to help Veterans and their families.

This partnership between Social Security and the VA allows for the expedited processing of disability cases. It enables us to receive medical records electronically from the VA through the eHealth Exchange.  This process saves time and money for both partners and allows Social Security to make decisions faster for Veterans and their dependents who apply for Social Security disability benefits.

Medical documentation is essential to making a disability determination. Before using this new capability, we obtained medical records through a manual process. When eligible Veterans apply for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, it might have taken weeks or months for Social Security to receive paper records from the VA. This new partnership lets Social Security obtain the VA Veterans’ health information electronically within minutes. Through this new national initiative, we can obtain Veterans’ medical records electronically without human intervention. It’s easy, convenient and secure, just the way we like it.

Currently, Social Security can receive electronic health records from over 50 other health IT partners and the Department of Defense in about 7,000 facilities across the United States.  Our goal is to continue expanding our network of healthcare organizations and federal agencies that provide electronic health records to us within a safe and secure environment so that we can secure today and tomorrow faster for our Veterans.

To learn more about the health IT initiative, please visit our website at https://www.ssa.gov/disabilityssi/hit/.

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About the Author

Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications

Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications

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Comments

  1. Dennis L.

    I have had a claim in for exposure to agent orange tot over six years. I have complied with every aspect that the VA requested and more. The VA hospital at Mountain Home James H. Quillen in Johnson City Tn. Did all the testing and told me that I qualify for exposure to agent orange and advised me to file a claim regarding my heart disease. I have provided. Newspaper articles. Military orders. A certified letter from my mother that I called home collect from Vietnam, my mother has now past away 3 years ago. I even was able to locate a fellow airman who wrote a buddy letter for me. As we crossed paths in Vietnam. I have produced everything that the VA requested but I still wait. I even have been before the travel review board judge that wanted my case reviewed further that was back in July of 2014. I don’t have another decade I can wait for justice to be done. Please help me regarding my claim, as I would like closure on this matter before I die. Like the saying goes “I came home from Vietnam, and I brought death with me “Agent Orange.

    n who wrote a buddy letter tot Mr as we crossed paths st Da Many sir base

  2. Antonio

    I don’t even know how I ended up right here, however I thought this publish was good. I do not realize who you’re but certainly you are going to a well-known blogger if you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!

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  3. Merisa M.

    Hey Jim quit erasing my comment what are you afraid of THE TRUTH….Hey everybody GOOGLE JUDGE GARY SUTTLES OF HOUSTON TX . That’s how social security treats Navy Veterans.

  4. Merisa M.

    My husband has been waiting for 4 years
    He was in a catrostrop motorcycle accident in 2012 not of his fault. I took him to see ALJ Gary Suttles and he bashed
    my husband for serving his country in the first gulf war. What does my husband’s honorable service have to do with him getting hit by a truck 23 yrs later. YOU CAN GOOGLE JUDGE GARY SUTTLES AND READ THE STORY……

  5. Tony G.

    I hope this helps with some of the VA malpractice. Without human intervention of the medical records, less people may die because they actually get a chance to get diagnosed.

  6. Christine

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  7. Walter B.

    Hi
    I would like no WHY would Social Security will HOLD 3 MONTHS on your PAY IT WAS DONE TO ME THANKS IN ADVANCE
    AL

    • Ray F.

      Hi Walter. Unfortunately, but for security reasons, we do not have access to personal records in this blog. Please contact your local Social Security office. If you are unable to visit your local office, you can call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213, representatives are available Monday through Friday between 7:00a.m. and 7:00p.m. Generally, you will have a shorter wait time if you call later in the day or later in the week. Thanks.

  8. DL

    I’m curious as to why “veteran” is capitalized throughout. It is not a proper name.

    • Yvette H.

      It stands for Veterans Administration DL not just veteran.

  9. Inocencia

    Thanks for another informative site. Where else could I get that type of info written in such a perfect way? I have a project that I am just now working on, and I’ve been on the look out for such information.

    http://salonandspacommunity.com/blogs/3015/19573/the-prime-features-of-trying-to

  10. Dennis L.

    I have had a Agent Orange claim in with the VA for over 6 years. The VA has stalled and used every excuse not to honor my claim. I have supplied more than enough evidence, yo approve my claim. They still try to avoid my claim. I even have Bern told by a DOD employee, that the VA is just putting me off, waiting for me to die do they can trash my claim. I will not go away until I die, The VA id a disgrace.

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