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

I got out on a medical, so they were doing all of the assessments to get me my rating. I was out of the Army about two months before getting my first month's benefits. The time had passed while I was still in, rather than waiting months AFTER I was out. If you cannot get evaluated while you are still in, then get on it as soon as you can after release. The sooner you're done, the sooner any benefits can be paid out. Trust me! They move SLOW!
DFAS is responsible for paying out my CRSC (Combat Related Special Compensation), which amounts to my retirement pay. The government allows for a "double dip" if the reason for your medical separation is combat related. DFAS took nearly two years after I filed for it. I filed about a year after my separation. They had to calculate how much backpay was owed. I'm quite sure an ancient Chinese person in 1000 B.C. with an abacus could have calculated it faster.

NO! I repeat NO! Do not wait! If you think you are getting out start your filling a few months out with a VSO. Get everything I mean everything that you possibly can from your records before leaving active service! ALL your medical records!
I worked in the hospital and had a sergeant luckily give me some advice in 2002 to see a Veterans Service Officer when I was having to be medically boarded. I was under the impression at that time I had to wait until I got out. Not so. He said if I processed my paperwork early I would get my benefits sooner when I was discharged. The air force discharged me with 0% medical and severance pay. When I was having seizures and bulging disc in my neck, and suffering with migraines daily along with a few others. I was granted 100% smc S by the VA 3 months after discharge. Along with the fact I was able to take my paperwork after getting out to Social Security to file for disability.
So my point.... military won't do anything for your processing but all your documents you need to get, to help you getting out. That's the only way I was able to secure my future going forward. Medical connections and documents from military. Get everything! I don't care if you have the sniffles from allergies get that all in writing when your in active service. It makes your service connection to the VA a much easier transition.

I didn't even file for disability, the American legion apparently got my records and filed for me, out of the blue I got a letter saying I get 20% disability. Never even asked for it

About 20 years. I read in a VFW magazine about soldiers who were in I corps and having diabetes should contact their VSO. He got me in the VA system. I could have gotten in earlier but didn't know about.. it. The VA has been very good to me. The only complaint is the parking really sucks

When I came off active reserve duty (AGR) i was assigned to a TPU. I had already been waiting a year for a MEDBOARD. Just a few months later I got a disability rating of 50%. I took that to the ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS, ABCMR.
The VA and the Army are supposed to use the same criteria for ratings and 30% entitled me to a hearing. It took several years but I was disability retired retro active to my separation date. It was only 30%, a percentage of a percentage, but eventually the VA raised theirs.

I made no claim thru the VA until I was out. However, I could not make a claim unless I had been thru active medical b4 I was out.

I am Rated through the VA. The first time, 30% and filled 33 years after leaving the service. The second time, 100% Permanent and Total 45 yrs. after leaving the service.

Yes I waited until about two years ago! I had no idea I was qualified!!

Like Everyone Is Saying Make A Good Copy Of Your Medical Records Make A Another Copy Of Them So You Have A Copy Also When Your Doing Your Disability Claims Make Copies Of Them Send It 1st Class Mail A Green Card Where They Have To Sign For Your Paperwork The Card Comes Back To You Signed So They Can't Say They Didn't Get It I Was Medically Discharged For My Knees Staring Out I Had 2 Of The Greatest VFW Service Officers It Took Me 7 Years To Get My 100% T/P Just Listen To The C&P Person Tell The Truth And Have The Right Paperwork To Back You Up!!!!

I was on terminal leave back in '94 when I filed my first claim. It was denied.

In 2015, after unsuccessfully trying to file going through VA VSO's (DAV, American Legion, & VFW), County & State Veteran's Commissions, letters to my Governor, US Representative, both US Senators, I filed my own claim. That was finally approved in 2020.
And NO, I did NOT get a huge cheque for retroactive claim back to 1994. The VA had "lost" that paperwork.