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

I actually applied during my ETS but was subsequently denied because they rubber stamped my medical forms. I didn't know of any outside help at the time, 1972, so I went without. Come 35-40 years later I find my local County has a VA rep NOT paid for by the VA and they work for you, I applied again and was basically given 10% for Tinitus without question. They also did 30% for PTSD. I have since been re-evaluated for PTSD and the 30% was upped to 50%.

I submitted a copy of my medical records to a DAV representative at my retirement briefing, several months prior to my actual retirement. Had a decision within six months of retirement.

I was out for over 30 years. Good advice. I should have signed up immediately.

I started mine while I was still in. Good thing as it’s taken 14 years to get part of it approved. Still fighting for the others. I’d get with a rep (don’t use the VA but find someone else like the DAV or American Legion) to help with your claim!

I did mine on my way out a few months before eas. I think it greatly helped me compared to everyone that didn't i knew.

I never even considered doing a claim while still serving. I didn"t even realize it was possible until I found out one of the Airman was receiving 10% for tenitis and had only been in the ANG for 4 years and still serving ( he was a bit older than your average first term member he was 37). I was in 34 years and just recently retired and have started the process for disability benefits. I don"t think it should be something you should get until your out honorably or retired. Not while your still serving.

I was actually told to check in at my nearest VA center once I established residency while I was in out processing at Ft. Hood. So once I returned home I checked in with VA and filed a claim for my service connected disability. Out processing actually game forms to give to VA, plus I had copies of all my medical records from the Army.

41 years.

I didn't know I even had any benefits through the VA when I got out of the military. When I finally found out I did have benefits and that I was also able to file for disabilities that I incurred while in the military, I filed shortly thereafter. My first rating for military connected compensation was 20 years after I got out for 20%.

I have a non-military connected rating of 100%, and am currently on full disability. I want to get off of it and not be so dang poor, but that's taking more time than expected. Meanwhile, I'm still waiting on my original compensation claim, it's been 4.5 years so far, and I expect it will take at least another 12 months before I get a hearing. But we'll see.

My original claim was during the old VA Compensation process, while my second claim much later claim that was filed, was with the new VA Compensation process. In the new process it surprisingly went super quick, it took a total of about 3 months to get my rating, which as stated above was over 20 years after getting out (actually about 20.5 years).

During final out processing from USAF when I retired VA rep was required to sign off. Started the process then and was initially rated at 10%. Had it reevaluated every 5 years and increased as my body breaks down. Do it as soon as possible if for no other reason than to get in the VA system.