Should Chemical Dependency Be Considered A Legal Disability?
OPEN MINDS The Behavioral Health & Social Service Industry Analyst
Pro & Con
In April of 1988, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Veterans Administration (VA) could define alcoholism as the result of willful misconduct in eligibility determinations for some benefits. In contrast lower courts have also ruled that alcoholism can be considered a compensable disability under workers compensation in certain circumstances. While the high court did not address the issue of alcohohsm as a disease and Congress subsequently removed the willful misconduct language from the VA benefits provision . . .