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

When I was discharged from the Army in 1965 I was told that my hearing had deteriorated and if I didn't sign a waiver for the hearing loss they would keep me in the Army. I signed the waiver and went back to school.

I was enlisted '82-'86, Navy sea sailor. I saw and experienced lot of bad things happen. I was 21 when discharged. I chased adrinelene for years. As years passed I became more and more paranoid and experienced horrible panic attacks. I began seeing the VA in 2002, In 2014 I was awarded 80% service connection. I am now 100% through unemployabilty.
The point is a young man can contain emotions but as age and stressors add up things change.

Upon my discharge from the Army & having been wounded in Vietnam I was told by Doctors at Brook Army Hospital when I was being released "don't bother filing a calm for disability because you won't get one". I was figured that was that. I went to see a County Veterans Service Officer in regards to a different issue. Upon him seeing me he said he was going to send me to Minneapolis V.A. Medical center for a disability rating. That was about 6 months after my discharge.

I applied with the VA Vocational Rehabilitation Rep when attending the Tap Program prior to awaiting Navy Medical Board Hearing . I had 17 and a half years in the Navy at the time I was fighting their discharge decision before that but to no avail. I was represented by DAV and Navy Attorney. I won being.placed on Temp Disability Retirement instead of the 20 percent with severance pay and no retirement. Before I was discharged and using my leave time not used Va Voc let me know I was approved for Va Voc training since VA had ratede 40 percent. 1 Year later had First Temp.Disability Retirement Medical Board Hearing.Tried 20 percent severage again declaring my medical conditions from recent physical were new and not present duringy Naval Service. Represented by DAV and Navy Attorney again.
Medical Board day before hearing ask my defense . What the heck is this sailor here for? His records shows his existing medical problems resulted in why he was discharged so you know what the outcome will be. I won.and requested and was granted Permanent Disability Retirement with 30 percent rating and receiving 42 percent disability retirement pay non.service connected they said but VA already had me at 50 rating. 3 years later 60 and after 6 years VA rated me 100 percent total and permanent service connected. Filed form to receive tax refund from my NVy Disability Pay because of ongoing VA appeal. Received VA 100 percent rating letter of service connection and sent.it.to.I.R S but they.refused make a refund saying Navy said my Service Disability pay was not.for.service connection. Finally stopped arguing with them.Their the I R S though right ?!!

40 years. Took 13 months to get rated for 2 issues and denied 3. have a reclaim on 1.

When I was discharged in 1969, they said nothing. I finally got 20% 25 years later, 60% after another 15 years and 100% in 2018. Turned down many times for increases, finally contracted with an outside company and got the 100%. Always got a hard time from the VA, little to no help from PA American Legion, VFW and PA Veteran reps.

I filed under the benefits delivered at discharge program. Filed five months before retirement, had VA physicals while on terminal leave and received my first decision about 60 days into retirement. The good thing about getting the VA physicals while on active duty is that it demonstrated the conditions existed while on active duty. I believe if you file with a year of separation, the rating can be effective the date of separation. After that, the rating becomes effective the date of the filing. File early!

You can get rated before you leave the military because the system has changed.

I retired in 2015 & they did both, rated as well my retirement.

Make sure you have a total copy of your medical history.
Get the VA in out process to rated your conditions.

Take that once you’re done fine a DAV to process your claim & with in your first 90 day you will see a letter from the VA.

Don’t go VA because they are worthless in helping anyone therefore find DAV representatives to help you.

Waited till 15 years.
The I was required by DA to go to a Gulf War physical for Oil Well smoke in 94 or 95.

There is a process to apply prior to discharge. BBD.
https://www.va.gov/disability/how-to-file-claim/when-to-file/pre-discharge-claim/