Can you call yourself retired if you just got out on a medical discharge?

2017-02-17T18:29:43-05:00

There is a young cost guard female in my College that tells me she is retired after 3 years in. She sprained her ankle wile she was in and they and she gets 30% disability. I am a 100% disabled Combat Veteran and I am a little curios if she can call herself retired if she is not 100%. She is playing up her retired statice like she did something and I want to make it stop!

Response by SFC George Smith made Feb 17 at 2017 6:31 PM

2017-02-17T18:31:59-05:00

what does you DD-214 say... Retired medically or ETS/discharged Medically

Response by SFC Pete Kain made Feb 17 at 2017 6:33 PM

2017-02-17T18:33:29-05:00

She sounds like is trying to inflate her status and make herself feel better. A quick look at a dd214 should clear things up.
Unless you receive a retirement check you ain't retired.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2017 6:40 PM

2017-02-17T18:40:22-05:00

All depends on what her 214 says.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Feb 17 at 2017 7:00 PM

2017-02-17T19:00:59-05:00

Her ####ing ankle as a boo boo? I should get at least 70 percent when I retire.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Feb 17 at 2017 7:46 PM

2017-02-17T19:46:03-05:00

What does her retirement check look like?

Response by SSG Fernando Caballero made Feb 17 at 2017 8:12 PM

2017-02-17T20:12:00-05:00

What does her DD 214 say? Does she have the magical blue ID card? Cause on the ID card it will say retired

Response by GySgt Melissa Gravila made Feb 17 at 2017 8:17 PM

2017-02-17T20:17:09-05:00

The proof is on the dd214- I was in for 16 years, 70% disabled, but if you notice on my RP I list myself as "veteran" not retired. Tell her the plastic tips on the ends of my boot laces have more time in than she does, and I change them weekly!
S/F

Response by SSG Trevor S. made Feb 17 at 2017 9:14 PM

2017-02-17T21:14:01-05:00

If she has a blue ID card....

Response by PO3 Christopher Jonah Nelson made Feb 17 at 2017 10:22 PM

2017-02-17T22:22:51-05:00

It depends on the actual discharge. My sister was discharged by a medical board after an injury and she's receiving E-5 pay for life because she was med-boarded out. If, however, she's more like me where I was admin discharged due to injury and then later got VA rated, then she's not retired, she's just a veteran.

Response by SMSgt Terry Rider made Feb 17 at 2017 10:30 PM

2017-02-17T22:30:12-05:00

Someone better use spell checker once in awhile. Who care about her retirement?

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Feb 17 at 2017 10:36 PM

2017-02-17T22:36:51-05:00

The only caveat I'd add would be for my retired reserve check that didn't start until age 60. When I transferred to the Retired Reserves, I called myself retired after 32 years, 10 years before the first check. Never felt guilty over that technicality.

Response by SFC John Hill made Feb 17 at 2017 11:27 PM

2017-02-17T23:27:35-05:00

Retired Military and Medically Retired are two different catagories of separation. Retired Military have served over 20 years on active duty and are subject to recall during a national emergency. Their pension check is paid out of the DoD Budget. Medically retired/disabled is less than 20 years of service and their disability check is paid out of the VA budget. The benefits to both groups vary differently also.

Response by Lt Col David Nadeau made Feb 17 at 2017 11:45 PM

2017-02-17T23:45:10-05:00

If she's carrying a blue DD Form 2 (retired ID) she's retired. She may not be collecting a retirement check from the CG but if she has that ID she's considered retired.

Response by SFC Derrick Harris made Feb 17 at 2017 11:59 PM

2017-02-17T23:59:37-05:00

It depend on having the Blue ID card I have the pink retired reserve card awaiting pay at 58 years old and 100% Combat related VA and PT also and 100% SSD so but at the in of the day the Blue ID is What matte thanks everyone for the service.

Response by SFC Derrick Harris made Feb 18 at 2017 12:03 AM

2017-02-18T00:03:06-05:00

Plus also the pay from your service matter also medical Retirement are straight retirement with a Blue ID the VA also give a pink ID when you are a 100% for bases to be use so also think about that also it's depends

Response by SFC Derrick Harris made Feb 18 at 2017 12:05 AM

2017-02-18T00:05:49-05:00

Plus on this site you have to send in retirement orders are paperwork showing retirement

Response by SSgt Jim Gilmore made Feb 18 at 2017 1:24 AM

2017-02-18T01:24:08-05:00

I served back in the 70s and early 80s. I received my 100% over 20 years after that. I call myself retired because it's no one's business but mine that I am 100% DAV or why. So let's keep it simple. If you possess a valid military ID you may refer to yourself as retired. My reasoning is this: Length of service retiree, you have an ID. Medically discharged and have an ID, 100% DAV also has an ID. These persons in my OPINION may refer to themselves as retired. Medical discharge and NO ID, NOT RETIRED.

Response by PVT Ryan P. Quirk made Feb 18 at 2017 1:40 AM

2017-02-18T01:40:12-05:00

Well I would have to say she is not retired.. She could have been medically discharged. But still can obtain work on the outside. I too have a 100% disability. And Not working. So that is my call on her status.... To break it down. If you are not working and receiving a payment. Then retired.. If your working or part time working. Then not retired. To add to that.. If you have a valid Military I.D. that says Expires Indefinitely... then you call yourself retired... Just a thought

Response by CSM Andrew Perrault made Feb 18 at 2017 5:44 AM

2017-02-18T05:44:20-05:00

You will always have those that inflate what they supposedly did while they were in the military......She's the one that has to live with herself......You don't have to be 100% to be medically retired. I highly doubt that the Coast Guard medically retired someone for a sprained ankle my BS meter just went off. Most likely she ETS'd or they separated her and upon her exit she was awarded a disability. Can't see 30% for a sprained ankle......let it go sir she apparently isn't worth your time......... Good luck in college.........

Response by GySgt John O'Donnell made Feb 18 at 2017 10:26 AM

2017-02-18T10:26:55-05:00

Only if an individual has a "blue" military ID card their military service branch, rank, and the word "Retired" can they claim the title of Military Retiree.
On other note, having a service connected rating whether 10% or 100% only means you are a service connected veteran, retirement only factors in if they served 20+ years (e.g. CRDP, CRSC).

Response by SSG Vance Conyers made Feb 18 at 2017 10:34 AM

2017-02-18T10:34:19-05:00

I just was med boarded in Sept 16. I am 70% army and 100% VA. I served 15 years and I am considered retired. Sure I don't get the retirement check, but I get all of the same benefits that 20-year retirees get. If you are 30% army you are considered retired

Response by PO3 John Wagner made Feb 18 at 2017 10:41 AM

2017-02-18T10:41:18-05:00

Well, if she wants to call herself retired then it seems that she kind of gave up on living the rest of her life

Response by SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA made Feb 19 at 2017 2:26 PM

2017-02-19T14:26:19-05:00

I believe 30% is the minimum for medical retirement.

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Feb 21 at 2017 2:58 PM

2017-02-21T14:58:48-05:00

This is what I pulled off the DOD website ; Disability Retirement
Disability retirement is sometimes called Chapter 61 retirement, since the law governing such a retirement is in Chapter 61 of title 10 United States Code. Members who have been determined to be unfit for duty with a disability rated by the military Service as 30% or greater are eligible for disability retirement. A member whose condition is not stable may be placed on the temporary disability retired list (TDRL) for up to five years at which point they must be either discharged, retired or returned to duty. Members whose condition has stabilized at a disability rating of 30% or higher may be placed on the permanent disability retired list (PDRL).
The basic retirement formula is:
Retired Pay Base X Multiplier %
The retired pay base for a qualified disability retirement is determined under either the final pay method or the high-36 month method depending upon when they first entered military service. See Retirement tab for details.
The multiplier percentage is at the option of the member who may chose either the percentage of disability assigned or the years of creditable service times 2½%. In either case, the multiplier is limited to 75% by law.
In the case of a member on the TDRL, the minimum percentage is 50% while on the TDRL.
Years of Service
The years of creditable service for computation of the retired pay percentage multiplier include all active duty and all credited reserve points divided by 360.
That said, tell her to show you her Blue card or dd214.

Response by Sgt John Koliha made Feb 22 at 2017 6:29 PM

2017-02-22T18:29:39-05:00

If you received orders to Retired status then you are Retired. If you receive a Discharge, you are not retired. All retired are discharged also, but not all Medically Discharged are retired.

Response by PO2 Terri Myre made Mar 2 at 2017 8:09 PM

2017-03-02T20:09:34-05:00

Call her out on it in front of everyone. She's NOT retired unless her DD-214 states it and she's got that sacred blue ID card in her possession. I was medically retired at my 11 year mark but had to go through a process that took about a year and a half to complete. And I wasn't retired for a sprained ankle. More like PTSD and cancer. You really should put this girl in her place. But that's just my opinion.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Mar 11 at 2017 3:18 PM

2017-03-11T15:18:30-05:00

Does she get 30% from the Coast Guard or from the VA? If it is from the Coast Guard I wold probably agree with her. If it is from the VA, no.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Jan 1 at 2022 3:12 PM

2022-01-01T15:12:02-05:00

You can be medically retired without serving 20. The VA disability rating is relative. The Medical Retirement comes with a percentage retirement of their service base pay, which may be where the 30% comes from. If she has a DoD ID card it will show as retired if medically retired.

If you were just medically separated , then no ID card. Different than medical retirement.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 31 at 2023 10:36 PM

2023-05-31T22:36:22-04:00

VA disability and Army (DoD) disability aren't the same. You must have 30% or more on from the Army (DoD) in order to qualified. Otherwise, you are medically separated no retire.

"VA disability ratings are based entirely upon the severity of the injury. DoD disability ratings are given only for conditions occurring from the injury a service member is claiming, while the VA will take your entire medical condition as a whole into consideration in making a rating decision." (statesidelegal.org, 2023)

"To qualify for disability retirement, the Soldier must have completed at least 20 years of creditable service , in accordance with 10 USC 1208, or have service-connected disabilities that caused the Soldier to be unfit for duty and amount to a combined disability rating of 30 percent or more." (myarmybenefits.us.army.mil, 2023)

The basic retirement formula is:
YOS x 2 ½ % x retired base pay, OR
% of disability (not to exceed 75%) x retired pay base.

References:

DOD Disability Retired Pay. MyArmyBenefits. (n.d.). https://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/Benefit- Library/Federal-Benefits/DoD-Disability-Retired-Pay?serv=121#:~:text=To%20qualify%20for%20disability%20retirement%2C%20the%20Soldier%20must%20be%20deemed,of%20the%20retired%20member%27s%20lifetime.

What are the major differences between DOD and VA disability benefits?. What are the Major Differences between DoD and VA Disability Benefits? | Stateside Legal. (n.d.). https://www.statesidelegal.org/what-are-major-differences-between-dod-and-va-disability-benefits#:~:text=VA%20disability%20ratings%20are%20based,in%20making%20a%20rating%20decision.

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