Veteran with Multiple Sclerosis explores her world

A multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis often brings with it a wave of logistical, emotional and financial challenges. For Anne Padgett, who had been out of the military for more than five years when she received her diagnosis, turning to VA for care was the furthest thing from her mind. She was busy raising two young children and building a career as an aerobics instructor; it simply hadn’t occurred to her that she, like most honorably discharged active duty Veterans, was eligible for VA services.

Her path to service began while she was pursuing a music degree. After nailing an audition for the Army Band as a flutist and being accepted, she enlisted. Her love of music soon opened unexpected doors. “Music and language are very much related… it’s just imitating sounds,” she said. She passed the language aptitude test, completed training at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, Calif., and went on to spend four years as a Russian voice interceptor, followed by six years in the Army Reserve.

About five years after leaving the Reserve, Padgett felt her left leg go numb in the middle of a busy aerobics season. A friend noticed her unusual gait and suggested a chiropractor, who quickly referred her to a community neurologist. The diagnosis was prompt, as was treatment with a disease-modifying therapy (DMT). “The quicker you can get treated, the better your outcome is going to be,” she shared.

For years, Padgett struggled with the high cost of her DMT. At her stepfather’s urging, she began receiving care at VA but didn’t receive a disability rating for another decade. She tried for many years to establish a service connection, but just “wasn’t speaking to the right people.” Finally, in 2021, Padgett used Disabled American Veterans (DAV), who helped her successfully establish service connection for MS and access the financial support she had earned.

Padgett encourages other Veterans with MS to pursue service connection early on in their journey with the help of a qualified VSO, because with the right support, financial assistance is within reach. If you or someone you know would like to connect with a VSO for help and representation, you can find a VSO based on your location.

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Source: VA News
Website: news.va.gov