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

I became disabled in 2016 long after I was honorably discharged.

I filed my first VA claim 40 years after I completed my active duty.

I returned from Iraq in April 2005, put my first claim in in September 2006, it was not resolved until May of 2011.

42 years, 61 now, was 19 when in basic. Got an honorable and had a back injury aggravated during basic. Filed about a year ago and have been through 6 c&p exams so far. Still waiting, never knew I was qualified to apply till talked to other vets recently. I always worked with the disability and did what was needed to survive. Can't do it anymore. Back injury is documented in my VA record, MED board even encouraged me to seek out medical halp in the civilian world in their report. That always bothered me and might be my salvation.

I found out that I had PTSD after I had gotten out the reapplied and got 100 %. I got lucky.

13 years! I didn't trust VA after my first trip to James A. Haley, Tampa, Fl, was terrible. It took me 2 hrs to see the doctor and three hrs to get my meds. After waiting for another 12 years I went back. Dang how that place had changed. I look forward to seeing my doctor now.

I wIted at leadt eight years; thinking i could not stay in the reserves on diving duty. Now 25 years later I filed for sleep apnea. I had heard that divers are subject to sleep apnea; especially when we used my favorite rig the Jack Browne. It came back denied because i did not file when i was on active duty.


Had anyone heard of sleep apnea in the early 1980s?

I made an appointment for physical with VA and had my medical records sent to them. I had set up a job interview about the time VA called me with appointment for physical. I asked to reschedule but they said they wouldn’t have any appointments available for 6 months. So, I didn’t file until 55 years later. They sent me to 6 different places for series of test. I was documented being wounded in right knee. Received PH. I ended up getting 10% for knee pain and 10% for tinnitus but no hearing loss. I have been diagnosed with PTS and treated one on one for 3 months. No rating for that. I’m appealing.

I retired after 26 years and I received my first disability paycheck (100% permanent rating ) at the same time I received my first retirement paycheck. My wife just went on terminal leave (22 years service) she is still trying to work her disability (COVID has played havoc getting her medical records and evaluations) We can only hope she gets her ratings and pay when her terminal leave ends.

No. I started my claim six months prior to getting out. I received my disability letter the same month I retired. I was very fortunate to have a flexible CoC.