How a Rescue Dog Changed a Veteran’s Life A WARRIOR’S BEST FRIEND
When Marine William “Bill” Lins returned home from deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, he felt ruined. He wasn’t the same man anymore and felt like he didn’t fit in anywhere. After sustaining multiple injuries and witnessing the horrors of battle, he never thought he would be able to go back to living a normal life.
service dog, he noticed a remarkable change in him and decided to apply for the program.
Bill felt an instant connection to the goofy rescue dog Link, who was recovering from his own trauma after living a rough life in a kill shelter. Bill said his canine companion is his 24/7 therapist, providing him with support and safety at all hours. Link doesn’t just impact Bill’s life; he makes a difference with everyone he encounters, from Bill’s children to the youth athletes he coaches.
That is until the nonprofit K-9s For Warriors helped him find his missing link — a rescue dog appropriately named Link.
K-9 For Warriors has been pairing highly trained service dogs with military veterans suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and military sexual trauma since 2011. The free program strives to better the lives of veterans through special canine bonds and ultimately end veteran suicide, which claims the lives of roughly 20 veterans every day. When Bill returned from deployment, he had to recover from two surgeries and realized he had PTSD. He had developed severe alcoholism, drinking every day nonstop as his only coping mechanism. In a hopeless place, the Marine felt like he was losing every piece of his identity and had nothing left. After seeing a friend at the VA bring in his
“Together, we kind of make each other whole,” Bill said. “He makes everyone’s world better, and he makes it seem effortless.”
Link has inspired Bill to help others and spread a message of awareness that asking for help is not a sign of weakness but a symbol of strength. Bill has since earned his master’s in social work and provides mental health services with his tail-wagging companion by his side for every session.
Together, the pair are showing veterans everywhere that there is hope and that life can get better with a little help from a four-legged friend.
ITS IMPACT ON YOUR ABILITY TO WORK Severe Kyphosis Isn’t in the SSA Blue Book
Types of Kyphosis Kyphosis comes in several forms:
Applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) can be a tricky process, especially when dealing with medical conditions like severe kyphosis. This condition, marked by an excessive curvature of the upper spine, can significantly impact a person’s ability to work. At Keefe Disability Law, we understand the challenges people with severe kyphosis face and are here to help you navigate the SSDI process. What is severe kyphosis? Kyphosis is an abnormal spine curvature, often resulting in a “humpback” appearance. While a normal spine curves between 20 and 45 degrees, those with kyphosis experience a curve of 50 degrees or more. This can lead to chronic back and neck pain, mobility issues, and even problems with other body systems like breathing and digestion. As a result, severe kyphosis can prevent someone from performing certain types of work, but proving this level of disability to the Social Security Administration (SSA) is crucial for SSDI approval.
their condition prevents them from performing substantial gainful activity (SGA) and that it has lasted or is expected to last for at least 12 months. For many, proving the severity of kyphosis and its impact on work can be difficult without legal guidance. Keefe Disability Law can help. Our team works closely with clients to build a strong case for SSDI eligibility. We gather vital evidence, explore secondary conditions, and address every aspect of how severe kyphosis impacts your daily life. If you’re struggling to obtain disability benefits, our experienced attorneys are here to guide you through the process. Call us today at 508-283-5500 for a free consultation, and let’s work together to secure the benefits you deserve.
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Postural kyphosis: Caused by poor posture, it may improve with exercise. Congenital kyphosis: Present at birth, often requiring surgery. Metabolic kyphosis: Caused by nutritional deficiencies that weaken bones. Post-traumatic kyphosis: Results from injuries such as fractures. Scheuermann’s kyphosis: A condition where vertebrae take on a wedge shape, leading to chronic pain and a pronounced spinal curve.
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Kyphosis severity is tough to prove. While the SSA acknowledges kyphosis in its Program Operations Manual System, it is not listed in the Blue Book of qualifying conditions. This makes it more challenging to prove eligibility for SSDI benefits based solely on kyphosis. Applicants must demonstrate that
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