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

Of course I waited till I retired. I don't know if you can apply while still on duty even in a terminal leave status. It's one of the first questions on the disability application if you are currently serving.

I had issues when I was in Taiwan, a year later they had to fly me to the States from England aboard a Medical flight to CA. Spent some time in the Hospital at Travis AFB. in 1969.

They wanted to discharge me with no disability rating and only a general discharge. They often try to give you the shaft or did back then. I appealed and got a Honorable Discharge and 10% disability rating from the Air Force and later with VA.

It took me almost 20 years and a couple month stay in a VA Hospital to get it to 30 %. iI was not until 95 when I got so bad enough that they gave me 100%.

It was like they were waiting for a spot to open up, from a dying WWII Vet or etc to add me in, I have talked to other Vets who have wondered the same thing.

It helps to get your Congressman involved besides a Veterans organization I have found

I had issues when I was in Taiwan, a year later they had to fly me to the States from England aboard a Medical flight to CA. Spent some time in the Hospital at Travis AFB. in 1969.

They wanted to discharge me with no disability rating and only a general discharge. They often try to give you the shaft or did back then. I appealed and got a Honorable Discharge and 10% disability rating from the Air Force and later with VA.

It took me almost 20 years and a couple month stay in a VA Hospital to get it to 30 %. iI was not until 95 when I got so bad enough that they gave me 100%.

It was like they were waiting for a spot to open up, from a dying WWII Vet or etc to add me in, I have talked to other Vets who have wondered the same thing.

It helps to get your Congressman involved besides a Veterans organization I have found

I tried when I got out in 1979. After 40 years I finally got 80%. They never cared if the Vietnam and Vietnam era soldiers.

YES, BUT I DID NOT REALIZE THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING "WRONG" UNTIL 18 YEARS LATER. GOT OUT IN 1971 SEPTEMBER.

I retired at 20 from the Army way back in 1997 from Ft Lewis. If I remember correctly the MHS was Madigan. I was given a copy of my med records and was evaluated at the same time for an initial claim. I did have to wait about 6 months for the claim to be processed.
I was taken care of correctly by the service of the military personnel there at that time with no issues.

I think way to many vets have a 'service connected' disability.

18 years. I was having trouble hearing and finally listened to my wife. Got ahold of the local state veterans rep and not only got a rating for my hearing, but for my back, too.

At Fort Knox after Army Physical I give VA rep at FT Knox my medical records the next day. The following month had my VA physical. Got 100%

No. I went through the DAV prior to retirement to file. I felt they did a very good review and returned a disability rating higher then I expected. But I also admit, we don't believe we are as broken as we actually are. My belief is the DAV is an underestimated organization.