WARREN - New federal legislation has been introduced to help veterans with disabilities qualify for benefits by streamlining a cumbersome application process, its sponsor says.

And separately, Vietnam War veterans are now eligible for more compensation.

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown said BRAVE (Benefit Rating Acceleration for Veteran Entitlements Act) would eliminate the repetitive application process disabled veterans must undergo when seeking Veteran Affairs and Social Security benefits.

The initiative was introduced Tuesday.

Now, disabled veterans must apply separately to both agencies despite nearly identical definitions of disability. The measure, he said, would require the Social Security Administration to accept VA medical diagnoses and eligibility requirements of an applicant rather than confirming their own determination.

Doing so, Brown said, would fast-track Social Security disability benefits processing of veterans receiving VA compensation.

Now, nationally, there is nearly a 500-day wait for Social Security disability benefits; in Ohio, it's more than 600 days. Brown also noted that only half of those veterans rated 100 percent by the VA also receive Social Security disability payments.

''It allows SSA to accept a VA determination,'' Brown, a Democrat, said. ''If you can meet VA criteria, you automatically meet SSA criteria.''

In Ohio, there are 935,000 veterans receiving some kind of VA benefit and more than 122,000 veterans and survivors receiving disability compensation. In Trumbull County there are 20,927; Ashtabula, 9,257; Columbiana, 9,483; and Mahoning, 22,402 veterans receiving benefits.

''It makes total sense, if you're approved by the VA, then you're approved by SSA,'' Brown said.

And now separately, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has included three new presumptive conditions to the benefits list available to Vietnam veterans.

Trumbull County Veterans Service Office director Michael Psznick said anyone who served "in country" in Vietnam and develops an ischemic heart condition, Parkinson's disease or Hairy cell leukemia can receive compensation. Some relatives also may be able to receive compensation.

''We're actually researching if we have any widows out there,'' Psznick said.

Psznick is asking Vietnam War veterans to contact the office at 330-675-2585 for more information. The additions make 15 presumptive conditions that make benefits available to Vietnam veterans.

rselak@tribtoday.com