Did you wait till you were out to get your disability rating? If so, how long before you made your first claim?

I put my claim in online while I was preparing to ETS, probably a month or less before I left and had my disability evaluation/physical the day after my ETS date. I received my rating about 7-8 months from the date I filed my claim. I would suggest to file your claim sooner rather than later because everything is fresh in your mind and it should be less of a pain to obtain all your medical/military records. Good luck man.

You should have your C & P exam while you’re still on active duty. The burden of proof to show that your condition existed or was caused while on active duty is much lower since well, you’re still on active duty. Waiting to have your exam until you’ve separated will require you to prove via documentation, that the condition existed while on active duty.

10 years.

I have attended tons of pre/during/post deployment events for all branches and components (other than the Coast Guard) as a result of my civilian position. There are rules and regulations as to how soon you can start the claim if you are on active duty. Contact Military OneSource for transition related resources including this topic. If you serve as a drill status reservist or Guard you can file when you return from deployment (Title 10 orders) or get off active duty and there may be other occasions you can do so. If you are a Guard or reservist in receipt of disability pay they will recoup the difference between your service connected disability pay and your drill pay as you cannot collect both for the overlapping days. For example, I usually ended up repaying a couple months a year, the government sent a letter with the number of duty days in the previous year and how much the repayment was. You could dispute the days if they're wrong, but otherwise you just lost the check until recouped. Caveat- If you deploy or otherwise go on active duty, (or go to jail/prison) you must put a stop payment or whatever it is called. Once you return to drill status (or leave jail/prison) your disability restarts although you have to complete an additional form. The rate of disability will determine whether you can collect both retirement pay and disability without penalty (50% and above right now) or your retirement pay is offset by your disability (40% and below), you end up with just the amount of the retirement pay rather than concurrent pay, but the portion of the pay that comes from the disability is tax-free.

Applied before I retired and was a good move. First thing VA rep had me do was to go get my medical records and he copied them and today those records are in my VA file. Got my first check the month I retired.

18 years. Found out that I never should have been retired without one.

I had been hit by high voltage while active. When I was discharged, the dog sit to keep an eye on it and report to the VA if I had problems. 30+years later, I had pain and numbness issues. Initially rated 10%,then rated 30%. All they can do is some pain relief with Lidocaine 5% patches. Doesn't do much and they tell me there's nothing more they can do exploit if i

Still active duty and I highly encourage you to take care of this before getting out.

Of note, however, are consequential personal finance implications connected to your medical diagnosis, so if your life insurance vehicles aren't in place, this is a big consideration ahead of medical diagnosis.

Reach out to learn more.

I knew I was flucked up but, I couldn't find out exactly what was wrong with me so, I just decided that the VA would take care of me in the event I couldn't work any longer. Twenty years later, I finally filed a claim because, I just couldn't take it any longer...the stress and pain had done me in. My wife left me and I had to get to the bottom of what was wrong with me...the VA helped me solve the riddle and for that, I am grateful. There are some good doctors at the VA and some, not so good. The good news is, most of the people working at the VA really do care for you. I think the BONUSES VA employees receive can hamper the treatment one gets. The VA prolly gets bad reviews and I understand that but, IMHO, you have to do your homework...you have to be your own doctor, you have to have private doctors and you need the VA's help as well. Life is a constant battle between good and evil...never give up and fight the good fight...fight to win! Never believe anything you hear and only half of what you see. There must be a reason for this question and I hope I've been of some help...if you want to know anything else, just ask. Peace be to all and God Bless...Sincerely Ken

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