Posted on Feb 27, 2014
PFC Kyle Corcoran
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I have been collecting disability compensation from the VA since October 2012 and I am also using my Post 9/11 GI Bill to attend college. I really miss the camaraderie and brotherhood I felt while in the military. I really want to join the Army reserves or the National Guard so I can still attend college but be part of the military again. Would I have to cancel all of my disability compensation? Is that even possible? Some one help me out. Thanks.
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MSG Carl Clark
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Yes you can in some cases. Go talk to a recruiter. Find one who cares and is willing to do paperwork, waivers, or whatever it takes.
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PFC Kyle Corcoran
PFC Kyle Corcoran
>1 y
Thank you for your input.
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MAJ Patrick Hairston CISSP, AWS Certified Cloud Architect
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The difference between civilian and military disability to me is, in the military, we can't say no to what we are told to do. So if you break me, you need to care for me. I wrote a check to the govt with my life as collateral. That's different than the private sector.
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TSgt Julie Miller
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While I appreciate your desire to serve... please understand this... it took my husband more than 7 yrs to get his military medical records from active duty and another several years before he got his disability rating. He would have dearly loved to have been able to stay in the Air Force and continue his career... There are too many men and women who have been denied any kind of disability and can no longer serve, so my question here... is how is it fair to those who can't get disability and are struggling today while others get it handed to them and manipulate the system to their advantage. I have known too many vets who need their disability ratings to simply get basic medical and health benefits. I am sorry if I come across strong, but I have a husband with disabilities and what we have to go through for one simple procedure gets overwhelming at times. So I am sorry I cannot support this thought or desire.
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SSG Robert White
SSG Robert White
9 y
The problem that most people have is they don't know how to take the C&P exams. What most people do is take the exam the same way they did exams in the military. When on AD, the military want's to know how healthy you are. The VA wants to know how messed up you are. Also, most contract doctors and about half the VA doctors don't do proper exams. Your entitled to a second opinion. All you need to do is get a copy of all the C&P exams. I can provide that to anyone. They VA puts it on their web site, then realizes that people are using them. They then take them off and make it hard for everyone to find them. I have the latest PDF file with all the exams. You need to cite (from the C&P exam requirements) exactly what the examiner didn't do to get a proper exam. Don't wait for an appeal. When you do appeal, make sure you ask for a Decision Review Officer. Don't go to the BVA until you went thru a DRO.
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SSG Sergio Carrasco
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God Damn It PFC....JUST DROP!!!!
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SPC Wade Griffiths
SPC Wade Griffiths
>1 y
Drop deez!
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SFC Carlos Gamino
SFC Carlos Gamino
>1 y
LOL, he can't drop, more than likely he will have a profile.
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SFC Seth King
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After her active duty time, and due to injury, my wife collects 80% disability, uses her college benefits and is still in the reserves. Whatever she makes in drill pay is subtracted from her disability and taxed. She isn't ready to give up and still feels she contributes to the cause, more than some of her counterparts.
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SFC Seth King
SFC Seth King
>1 y
So if you can do it, do it, but do it well!
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WO1 Senior Drill Sergeant
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Yes you can, however, there are limitations to collecting both at the same time. Get in contact with your VA rep. and with retention and they together would be able to not only get you back in, but give you guidance on how to get both disability and BA pay. Good luck
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PFC Kyle Corcoran
PFC Kyle Corcoran
>1 y
Thank you SSG.
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SFC Human Resources Specialist
SFC (Join to see)
>1 y
Great mentoring.,,, with a positive push..
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SMSgt David A Asbury
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I would check and see if the reason you are getting disability pay can or will keep you from joining, deploying and other things like PT in the Reserves or Guard. You can call a Reserve Recruiter and find out if the REC code on your DD Form 214 keeps you from joining. I saw where someone mentioned you can be in the reserves/guard and still draw disability pay. You may keep your disability pay but have drill paydays taken out of it when you drill or do two weeks active. I wish you luck.
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PFC Kyle Corcoran
PFC Kyle Corcoran
>1 y
Thank you!
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SGT Beau Thomas
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The guard seems to be thinning the ranks. Many, many soldiers are getting flagged and booted for such things as failing two PT tests in a row. They are also out of money for schools, at least my battalion. So IMO, it will be difficult for you to get in the guard at this time. No money equals no waivers.
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PFC Kyle Corcoran
PFC Kyle Corcoran
>1 y
Thank you SGT.
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Cpl Lorenzo Goode
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Find a veteran community thru facebook or tweeter. That will bring back the commeradory and brotherhood without the stress of deployments and policies that conflict with your lifestyle. Get a service companion go to your local VFW post and register and you won't miss out anymore. VFW's have daily, monthly, weekly, and yearly events to keep you and others out of that feeling of missing commeradory.
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LTC Thomas Tennant
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Tennant's Rule #1 - Always refer to the regulations....having said that....as a general rule you can. However, I have to caution you that it all depends on the disability and the percentage you have been given. Tread carefully because if you do join because you will end up drilling for free or giving all or part of your VA disability back.
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LTC Charles T Dalbec
LTC Charles T Dalbec
>1 y
Hooah and you might not want to give back a tax free disability for taxable drill payments
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MSgt Airborne Mission Systems
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A letter just came out by the secretary of defense on 12 Feb. It seems they are now flagging members in the reserve with disabilities through the VA. This can definitely change how things are right now. A pilot in our unit was just grounded even though he has waivers, passing fit scores etc... FYSA.
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SSG Mike Merritt
SSG Mike Merritt
>1 y
Can you get a copy of that memo? I would love for them to go ahead and medically retire me and let me get on with my life. LOL
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MSgt Airborne Mission Systems
MSgt (Join to see)
>1 y
Believe only way they can medically retire you is if you have over 20 years and your disability is from a line of duty and they find it is over 30%. You could just end up with a severance, no retirement, happened to someone in my unit with 19 years in.
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PO2 Steven Moses
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I did. At age 45. I carry a 20% disability... I had to get a waiver to rejoin... I didnt rejoin for college money or benefits.... MY thought process was: if they'll take me at age 45, then maybe it will save a family somewhere losing an only son or daughter.... but even more, at age 56 now, I'd do it all again tomorrow. But thats just me. Thanks for reading.
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Cpl Lorenzo Goode
Cpl Lorenzo Goode
9 y
Way to go Steven hells yeah. My question to you were you able to get pot 9/11 after rejoining.
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Melea Miller
Melea Miller
8 y
That
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Maj Marty Hogan
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Edited 8 y ago
Short answer is yes. You have to report how much you get from the VA and your pay may be offset. I can't answer to what the VA does. The caveat has to be if your disability excludes you from obtaining a waiver to be in the Guard or Reserve. We have some people with huge disability ratings serving. Again the trick is you need to get a waiver and without knowing your circumstance would be hard to advise you. You can pm me if you wish.
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SGT Joseph Johnston
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ALCON, please remember that VA disability is figured differently than something like Social Security disability. SS grades based on your ability to do a job that you should be able to do, considering your age, education, skill, etc. Example: my son was born with his left arm truncated at mid forearm, but he is not disabled in the eyes of SS because he can still do everything a two year old would normally be expected to do. VA looks at the whole wide world of jobs and gives you a rating based on your inability to do any of them. Suppose you were badly disfigured in an IED, but your body is functional. There are civilian jobs that this would severely hamper your performance, but there are a lot of Army jobs that the veteran could still perform completely.

To answer the OP: you keep your rating but cannot collect disability for any calendar day that you are on active status. When you ETS, you could resume collecting disability pension. However your disability rating is still subject to re-evaluation by the VA from time to time, and your active duty status might affect their assessment.
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1SG First Sergeant
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To suggest that Mr. Corcoran could not contribute to any service though disabled is absolutely ridiculous and deplorable. I invite any of you who feel this way to watch my friend MSG Cedric King speak about his experiences and then take a look at what contributions he has made to society since, all while still serving.
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MAJ David Labrie
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I was in your position. I was at like 10% disability with the VA for my hearing. I just needed to report to the VA once per year what I was doing in the National Guard, so they could adjust my "disability compensation" accordingly. In addition, when I deployed, I notified the VA and my compensation was stopped while on active duty.
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1LT Operations Officer
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Please don't. A quarter of my unit is broken and they just sit around at drill holding up their profile. They are killing our unit and holding up others from promoting. CO is about to make a "broke" platoon. The really awful thing is that alot of these cats are 20 years old with no combat time. I know thats not you, but please don't come back to be the "broke" guy.
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LTC Andrae Evans
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Yes you can join or continue to serve. Va Disability has nothing to do with your ability or willingness to work. There are rules if you have received 100% or have accepted medical retirement from the military. As long as you can pass the APFT with or without profile, and perform your duties as a soldier.
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CSM Tony Simpson
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You should talk to a recruiter who can best explain the current situation
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SSG Robert White
SSG Robert White
9 y
Finally someone who knows what their talking about!!!!
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SGT Nicholas Lusby
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What could you have possibly be getting disability for being a PFC that had only been in for no more then 18mo and that's including basic/AIT? State side injury? Service connected? I would just look into volunteering at your local VAMC or VFW instead of the Reserves or Guard
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