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

I got medically discharged .. I was offered retraining to ride a desk but I didn't take the offer. So my separation rating was only 10%. I shortly turned around and pushed for a new claim for rating within the first 6months after getting back to where I settled. Got bumped to 20%.

A few years after RVN I filed due to pain since 68, got 20% for my PH. In 2000 when both my union and S.S. listed me as totally disabled and couldn't work at my trade (calcified spinal cord) I went after the VA. I was a life member of both the DAV and the Military Order of the Purple Heart. Who helped me the most was Congressman Peter King.

I filed a few years after I was discharged, the reason I filed was that a co-worker was bragging about his disability. Turns out he broke his leg jumping over the posts fence after visiting a house of ill repute. That pissed me off and I filed as I was in pain since 68 when I was wounded. I received 20% and then we got a new President Carter and I was cut to 10% where I stayed till 2000 when my disability got so bad I couldn't work my trade (calcified spinal cord). I was a life member of both the DAV and Military Order of the Purple Heart. Who helped me the most was my Congressman Peter King.

I waited 42 years, because I wasn't aware of a claims process. My wife forced me to go to the VA because of some health related issues.

When I was about to retire our service counselor told me to accumulate all my medical records from everywhere I'd served and then go to a VA counselor at Fort Meade MD and apply. They told me that the physical you get upon retiring is not used to determine disability. After 25 1/2 years I had a really thick sheaf of records. These were reviewed but I was instructed to see four separate physicians and/or clinicians about my health claims. Some were considered valid but not service related, like my depression and anxiety. Some were service related but they were rated zero, like my tinnitus. But many of my long term health issues were ascribed to my PTSD and after all was said and done I was 100%, permanent and total. My advice is apply just before your retire and make sure you keep all the appointments they make for you. The VA counselor said that was the number one problem with delays, improper evaluations and denials of disability claims. Veterans were not cooperative. The other bit of advice the counselor gave was be honest. These doctors do this for a living. They've evaluated hundreds, sometimes thousands of vets for disability. So I was honest and let the chips fall where they may. And whatever you do, don't fake records. Turns out they had access to everything already anyway. The uniformed services medical services share everything with the VA because we're eligible for care there. In the end I did OK. Not everyone gets such a high rating but being uncooperative or lying only hurts you. Not filing at all is a fool's errand. I know so many who said they didn't need any help and they'd simply live with their infirmities. You served and you sacrificed. This was created to make your retirement years easier. To me it is completely silly not to apply.

Released with a small percentage in 1992 went to VA denied assistance. Return 13 years later still no improvement, 2018 I believe I got an increase.

I put my claim in about 60 days. The VA at the time I retired gave you a complete physical to address each of the injuries that I claimed. Do not be hard core and say I am in good shape if in fact you are not. If it hurts then let the VA know how it hurts and to what extent. I have centeral nerve disorder from jumping and a bunch of bad falls. So who tho ask you what pain level you are then be truthful but remember the VA is asking about the present not the past.

I got out in 1997. Filed in 2019, and am currently at 20%. The Dr at Bragg when I got out told me to tell him all things I was seen for while in, but I’d it wasn’t bothering me that day, he didn’t want me to tell him about it. So, I didn’t. Until I told a VSO in 2019.

29 years. didn't realize I had PTSD. Just figured I was F$%#@d up. :-)

I was still in the service when I filed my claim. I started my claim about 6 months before I retired. Received a rating approx. 3 months after I got out. So, a total of 9 months.....