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

I was informed by a buddy of mine that I should look into the VA as soon as possible when I was slated to retire, I gathered all my medical records afer my outgoing physical and made an appointment with the DAV rep on post who reviewed my med records and made a list which he showed me, then with my approval he sent it to the VA, The also set up a follow on medical review with the local VA Medical facility about a month before my retirement, and I received my VA disability letter about 5 Months after I retired. As soon as I received my letter I went to the VA Medical facility and registered , got my ID and Dr assignment, SO all in all about 5 1/2 or 6 Months after retirement I was being seen by my 1st Dr.

I was concurrently rated by the VA whilst being MEB'd. I knew what my rating was going to be prior to my medical separation. Within a year I had it from 90% to 100%.

Yes, and 14 years.

I finally filed with VA 21 years later and got 20% bc those 2 things were in my medical record. Denied for 2 other things saying not service connected bc not in my medical record. Filed an appeal. Go8ng on over a yr since the appeal and all I got so far was a letter saying they can't file it under the latest faster way bc another claim was also filed. So itll be whenever they want to look at the claims. Oh well. 20% is cool with me. Something is better than nothing. I appreciate the 200 and something dollars a month bc it could be nothing dollars a month being that I finally reached out for disability 21 yrs after discharge.

they told me i didnt qualify was treated for depression at ft knox i guess time i went in didn't help any during peace time doesnt count

When I received my discharge evaluation, they suggested should be rated at 10%. I declined as I had hopes of having a position that would require me to be 100% healthy. The decline was maintained in my medical records an might I add, came in very handy a few years later. I started to suffer with chest pain but nothing I felt to be alarmed about. Then one day, it happened. I started to feel badly as my mother had just passed the day before. I asked my wife to drive me to my doctor's office. Just as we arrived, the first "Real Pain" hit and I fell to my knees. My daughter got a wheelchair and took me to my doctor's office. They called for the partner, a ecologist who said I was doing fine and not to worry. My doctor however said that he wanted to be sure and asked for an EKG. It was normal, but the pain was now taking over and I was sure I was about to die. My Doctor decided to call for a medical transport, to make sure I was OK. I was transported to the emergency room as a direct admit. Because it was chest pains, they called for the cardiologist. The nurse identified me as a direct admit, the cardiologist looked at the monitor and declared I was in a full blown heart attack and before I knew anything I was undressed and they were running a line into my heart, all happening in my full view on the monitor. As the tube hit my heart, it felt like cold water was pored over my body. I was ready to jump up and leave. However seven days later, I was released to go home. The Air Force was right, I had heart problems and was granted 40 percent disability. Then came the second and third attack and I was declared 100% disabled. If they say you have a problem, I suggest you take their word and allow them to follow through.

We filed during TAPS which was six months before you got out of service. They sent a VSO to our TAPS and we sat there while he scanned our medical records. He kept mine after making copies of it and I received my first rating notice three months after I got out of service. My DAV VSO told me to appeal the decision which I did. A month later I got a higher rating and was to to except it. I did. Doing it during TAPS was the best decision I could have made. I recommend everybody goes to TAPS at least six months before getting out and turn in copies of your Medical records to the VSO. Don’t be like those who waited until after they got out. Took them longer to get a rating. Just my opinion.....

I signed up while in TAP class. Let me be very clear; get in the system ASAP (IT IS A VERY LENGTHY PROCESS). I received a rating of 0% on my shoulder (I was denied on EVERYTHING else). I didn’t dispute it, because I was going straight into the Naval Reserves (I retired with 25 total). I was hurting, but I love being in the Navy. My last deployment was in 09-10, I could hardly reach across my IBA to close the HUMMER door. My Dr. at the VA didn’t want me to deploy, but I was able to get a Flight Sergeant to sign my medical off. I admit I may have done THE WRONG THING, I could have got someone hurt, BUT who leads from the rear? I got home from that deployment hurting not only physically, but mentally as well. I seen more Purple Hearts, Silver, and Bronze stars coming home than ever. I served in Desert Storm/Shield, and Somalia, and had a few deployments under my belt, but things get different as you get older. “Black Hawk Down” doesn’t get played in my house. I won’t talk about “ Lone Survivor”!
You can’t be the “Tough Guy”! I was on the USS Essex LHD-2, and in 1994 I broke my neck in a motorcycle accident (I didn’t find out until I couldn’t move my neck. That was in 2018). I was up and walking, and I hurt, but ships medical gave me a 800mg Motrin, and I was happy. I woke up one morning and I couldn’t move my neck. The Chiropractor took an X-ray, and a week later (It was Christmas time, short on staff) he called me in his office and asked me when did I break my neck as he showed me the X-ray.
What I’m getting at, DO NOT jeopardize your health by being the “Tough Guy”.
As I said, I was a Reservists and my Civilian job was as a Correctional Officer. Long story short I fell through a “Gun Port” and did major damage to my left ankle. My running days were over because I did a good job on my right ankle while in the desert, so I retired from the USNR, and I was medically retired from CDCR in 2015. Remember the shoulder?I spent 2 1/2 hours on a table at Fresno VA fixing my shoulder I had neglected for so many years. I’ve had 2 ankle surgeries in 3 years. I’ve been lucky because the VA is paying for my injections on my neck (THANK YOU PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP!) even though I’m not rated for it. My rating with the VA changes because of my PTSD rating (I think I’m at 80%, was at 90%), but I get “Unemployability”, I’m trying to get DV plates, but in California you have to be 100% (If I’m wrong please let me know). There are mornings I can hardly get out of bed, and there are nights I can hardly get any sleep. When I do, my wife wakes me up because 1 I’m hitting and kicking her, 2 I’m screaming, and talking in my sleep. Remember, just because you think you’re “OK”, doesn’t represent what others may think. (OR KNOW). Take care of your selves, because others depend on you. You get one shot at this!
My GREATEST job is being a dad to my son, but I can’t play catch with him because I can’t throw a ball. BUT we still go fishing. Check with your state, along with your VA rating you may qualify for discounts on hunting, and fishing license.
To you young guys and gals, GET IN THE SYSTEM! I have a Shipmate who did 5 years FMF, and jacked his knee up while out with the Marines. He has been out for 25 years, lost his medical records (AS A FUCKING HM3 NO LESS). He got his medical records, but he still hasn’t gone in to get put in the VA system. He’s complaining about his knee now. (WTF Darrell)
I’m just a beat up CPO Retired, what in the hell do I know?

I did my claim when I was retiring from the Army.

Claims are processed much faster if you file before you get out, so definitely do that. I would also add, file for every issue you have, not just major ones. The VA has an amazingly bizarre way of rating things. You may get rated well under what you expect on some things, but they may decide others should be rated and it will balance out.