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

I was told when I was discharged that I needed to be missing arms or legs to get any VA benefits, even though unbeknownst to me I had qualifying SC injuries and were listed on the Report of Medical History AF form 93-102.
The AF Capt/Nurse Practitioner who gave me the exit interview wrote on Clinical Record, AF Form 507 "No Comp" on all of my injuries and prescribed "Fiorinal" for headaches. The medical staff assigned to Loring AFB Hospital didn't know how to handle multiple "TBI" injuries, frozen feet/ankles, fractured wrists.
I believed this inaccurate tale I was told for 20+ years after separation from the Air Force.
I began my initial travails on the VA Hamster wheel in 1999. Always receiving the usual Delay and Deny for any disabilities from the VA.
It wasn't until 2014 after taking over my VA disability claim that I was awarded 100% P+T.
I'm still on the VA Hamster wheel with claims before BVA/VLJ and CAVC.

never had exam nor was I offered one before I discharged

I filed after I'd retired via a VSO with the county.
It was someone I had service with who had retired and taken that job to continue to look after troops.
She helped with the paperwork and made the process smooth..

I retired with 30% and was raised to 60% by VA.

I started the process four months before I retired but after having to reschedule one of my exams, they essentially ignored me for months. I moved and the regional VA didn’t do anything despite multiple calls. I finally sent a letter to my senator and that’s when things started moving. I didn’t get my rating until 2 1/2 months after I retired despite starting the process is plenty of time to have been given my rating immediately.

The dirty little secret with the VA is, no matter how many times you deployed, how badly you were hurt, until you're no longer active duty the VA doesn't consider you a "Veteran." So they will not issue you a % while you're active duty. Now, what you CAN do is file a claim and get the ball rolling. This will expedite the process when you do finally ETS/Retire. I've been working with my local VSO.

While you're on active duty you can get your medical stuff documented. The VA will be able to access your military medical files. Start going to the BHO, physical therapy, etc. Getting to the end and telling the C&P doctor that "you were a leader and didn't want to go to the doctor" doesn't always fly and will hurt your chances at a higher rating.

All of this doesn't matter if you're a traditional Guard or Reservist (e.g. the old 1 weekend/2 weeks lie). You can apply and get your rating right away (took my wife 3 weeks to get her initial rating).

I've been out for 13 years. Registered with the VA to be in their system. Never filed. Figure, if I can work and wasn't a Marine or Infantry, I don't need/deserve the VA. Except for the home loan, since I pay the loan back

I’ve been out since ‘02, I had separated my shoulder and tore my rotator cuff in a training incident. I was medically discharged and sent home with my arm in a sling, apparently my condition existed prior to service and not from falling and tearing my shoulder out of socket. I’ve been fighting the VA for almost 20 years and just got tired of all of the red tape and bullshit. The DAV sucks and Texas Vets is not much help either. I am glad that so many people are taken care of by the VA, but I am not one of them.

I separated from the AF after 6 years. I technically received my rating after my ETS date but my base started the process for me while I was still active duty and they set up the VA appointments before I even started terminal leave. Most of this was taken care of during TAPS. My Grandfather on my mother's side was in the Korean war (also AF) and he has never been rated. I think it all comes down to how proactive you are about it and what, if anything, TAPS did to set you up for success.

Best of luck to you.

I did and have been fighting for 31 going on 32 years for what I was discharged with. I was told in the Army by a psychiatrist that a medical hold would not give him the time needed to figure out how severely I was both emotionally and physically screwed up in 5 months and 18 days of active duty and 6 months of delayed entry. I have managed to get an increase over time from 10% to 50% but only for the physical issues. I have yet to receive a rating for the mental health issues I was discharged for