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

I got out shortly after the first gulf war (December 1992), and filed right before Covid this year - 27 years and four months later. They came back with an 80% rating, with three items I claimed listed as “deferred” due to the pandemic limiting availability of examining physicians here in StLouis. Coworkers who were also veterans have been hounding me since about 2008 to do it but this year a guy I work with all but dragged me to a DAV rep to get it done. I work for a contractor on Scott AFB, IL so all the services are within walking distance, even with my ruined knees.
If you’re about to get out, file now!

When I was doing my pre-ETS preparation classes I submitted a request to start a file and continued with it as soon as I got to my destination. Took a couple months to start getting appointments. After that it took about a year to get my first 50% rating and was happy with it. After 6 years I was asked to be re-evaluated on one of my ratings and it went up. After that I submitted for an increase and went to 90%, then hit 100% after getting my sleep apnea linked.

unfortunately I waited almost 45 years to even go to the VA. The first doctor just in the interview portion of my appt she told me i needed to file a claim, my answer was a what. I did and it took about 9 months to get classified but They gave me 50% and it came at a most excellent time in my life. So all you young guns out there the VA is really there to help DON'T BE SHY they are there to help and they are very good at what they do.

As I recall from my experience 7 years ago, the VA prioritizes claims made BEFORE separation above those made by Veterans already separated. Of course you might have to file a new claim later if something crops up. If you've been in a while, you almost certainly have something not working right, so best to get the paperwork started while still on duty.

I was rated before I got out because I was told if I waited to file until after I got out, it would take longer to get my rating back. Because I had my rating before I got out, my payment started within 30 days of my ETS.

I pretty much got off the plane, dropped my bags off at home, and went to the VA to turn in my claim and med records (holding on to two other copies) same day. The folks in our TAP class really helped us with the whole claims process, what to expect, what to have, and made it very clear to go immediately when we got home. The whole process at the time (2005) took about 5-6 months which was faster than I expected.

I did my claims after getting out, didn’t know anything about a VSO so I did it all on my own it took almost 15 years to finish but I’m 100% now

I out processed in March of 1987 and was given papers to sign for a 20% disability and declined it saying “I am not disabled.”. 20 years later I would come to regret doing that. My non disability would affect my daily life very much and make my job more difficult every day. I put in for VA disability in 2007 and was approved in 6 months for 60% but have always wished I had not declined it in 1987.

Many soldiers will start their claim while out processing. It depends on when you get your TAP training. If you have all the necessary information and are in the VA part of your transition many process it then. However if you do not have that. I would make sure you get an entire copy of your military personnel and medical record and take with you. Upon getting out an obtaining your DED214 member 4, go straight to your local County Veteran Service Officer. They can help you process your claim. I would do this within the first year you get out.

32 years