Larry Leisher is an 82-year-old U.S. Air Force Veteran who served during the Vietnam era as a cryptologist. Because his brother was already serving in Vietnam, government regulations required Larry to be stationed in Germany instead. He completed four years of active duty and five years in the active reserves, receiving an honorable discharge in 1971 before building a career in the transportation industry until his retirement in 2006.
In early 2004, Larry began experiencing muscle loss and difficulty navigating stairs. After two years of consultations, he was initially diagnosed with ALS. In late 2006, a muscle biopsy revised that diagnosis to Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM). Larry filed his first VA disability claim that year — the first of five claims that would be denied over the next 17 years.
In 2023, Larry connected with the legal firm Hill and Ponton, where attorney Kerry Baker took his case. Following a hearing in August 2023, Larry’s denials were reversed and he was awarded service connection for myositis. The decision brought life-changing benefits, including compensation, housing and automotive grants, caregiver support, and spousal assistance — resources that now help him manage daily life from his wheelchair with full-time care.
Larry is a strong advocate for classifying IBM as a presumptive condition for veterans, working alongside the TMA Military Veterans with Myositis Affinity Group and TMA to ensure that fellow veterans receive the benefits they’ve earned without the years of struggle he endured.