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

I had a heart attack just prior to retirement and was hospitalized. I filed a month later and received a waiver to retire before my enlistment was up, I still had my 20 years of service. The Transition Assistance Rep reviewed my records and highlighted everything they saw that might qualify in my records. Because I was still recovering I did not file with the VA until almost a year after I had retired, I took my records to the VA officer near me who filed for multiple issues including heart disease, kidney disease, back issues, carpal tunnel, PTSD and depression. He also put in for hearing loss because I worked the flight line, more on that in a minute.

After 2.5 years I was finally approved, was told the wait was so long because VA had just opened up claims for agent orange and there were over 100,000 or more claims to go thru before mine. I was approved on kidney issues and the PTSD/depression issues. Awarded 50% since both the kidneys and depression were the same rate I received the one rate.

Found it odd I had a heart attack, was taken from the base to the local ER, and that ER confirmed and put me on a helicopter to the regional heart hospital in Raleigh-Durham, NC. But the VA claims there was nothing in my records to confirm it. Same with the back and carpal tunnel issues I know I was sent to specialists for care and VA claimed nothing in my records.

Finally, the hearing loss issue, 6 years after I joined I kept failing my hearing tests while working on F117s at Holloman AFB. I then passed a test and asked what the difference was and was told they changed my baseline. I always got perfect or near-perfect results after that. Same when I went to the VA to get tested I was told I had perfect hearing, so how does that explain all the failed hearing tests and the change in baseline in my records, which again they claim to not be able to find? The TAPS officer saw it and reported it.

Finally my dental records, I was cat 3 nondeployable at my last base and had a bunch of dental work needed to be done. I find out after I get out that I only have 90 days after retirement to file a dental claim with the VA. The TAPS officer never told me of the 90-day requirement and had told me the VA would take care of my dental problems since the DD214 shows I did not receive dental care when I was discharged. I have paid thousands getting my teeth taken care of and they are still getting worse and I am facing tens of thousands in dental care to get my teeth back to normal.

The daily pain is what is killing me, and is the one area I found the VA seriously left me hanging!

Seems like now-a-days, everybody gets some form of disability. Almost like you walk of base with your DD-214 right to the VA. Not goin’ through the bullshit we Nam vets have had to contend with for 50+ years.

I messed up somewhat got out in 1995 did not submit no claims until 2016 even though I really should have. in 2016 I did and 9 months later I was 100% Permanent and Total.

I was out over a year but two years after serving in Vietnamese waters during the Vietnam War in 1970; a catastrophic medical event happened that almost cost me my life; this medical event catapulted my claim; I am currently 10%; I now have an additional claim under the the Blue Water Act for exposure to Agent Orange while serving in Vietnam waters during the Vietnam War in 1970.

I first filed in 1975, one yr. after getting out. They told me to go home and there was nothing wrong with me. I did and "tried" to work for many yrs. In 2009 I filed again and finally got it in 2013. My mistake the first time was going to the VA on my own and trying to get it. The last time I went to the DAV and filed with them. That made the difference in it. The VA won't or can't go to bat for you. It's their job to turn you down and say there is nothing wrong with you.

Unfortunately, I waited too long before filing a claim with the VA. I really didn't think it was worth to ask the VA for assistance. Lost a lot of my hearing working next to very loud jet engines, so had a hard time understanding speech after getting out. Rejected for hearing disability and cancer.

Went to college at night and sat in the front row to the left of the instructor as my hearing was worse in my left ear.

Separated summer of 68. Filed about 75, denied, while i was hospitalized for a year at Miami VA. Filed again about 30 years later, 75% increased to 80%.VA sucked then, sucks slightly less now!

When I originally retired, I never bothered with a disability claim, since there was really no benefit, as the amount of any VA disability was simply deducted from my retirement amount. There was only a small tax advantage.
Six years later, in 1996, some VA rep in western PA convinced me that, as a Machinist’s Mate with 20 years aboard ship, if he couldn’t get me rated at >50% he wasn’t doing his job. It took 8 years, lots of lost files, delays, and confusion, but I finally received a 70% rating.
I never saw any sort of increase in actual pay at the time; HOWEVER, I was able to submit amended tax returns for several previous years, and got back all of the money I paid in Federal income tax-YAY!

THEN...the issue of concurrent receipt of retired and disability pay was resolved, and I was glad to have listened to that VA rep!!! My income more than doubled, seemingly overnight...

35 yesrs

I had been out of the Service for many, many years, not knowing that I was legally qualified for disability!! Only a very benevolent Admin Officer picked on that fact!! Because she CARED!! Thank You VA!!