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

It took me 32yrs before I filed my first claim. VA turned me down for lack of medical records. Five years later, I filed again and was approved 100% disabled. They had all my medical records from the beginning.

What came home in 68 heart surgery 20o7still fighting for agent orange cleaned my records out did not put back. They still don’t care

I waited about 16 years. I worked in the engine room of the Nimitz for about 4 years of my 6-year enlistment. I was working for the US Postal service and there were many vets that were there that had ratings. Many years before that I had brought my father-in-law down to the VA hospital for a checkup and while he was waiting, I went and asked about tinnitus, vertigo and high frequency hearing loss. What they told me did not encourage me to file. Maybe it was because it was office types that I was talking to. When I did file I did the initial claim on my own. Of course, it was rejected I filed an appeal to be sure it was timely then went to one of the Reps from the state and continued. I did get the tinnitus approved after 36 months and then the vertigo after 72 months. So, I am rated 20%. When I got the rejection for the high frequency hearing loss I saw their criteria and let that drop.
One reason that I initially filled was I was talking to an Airforce Vet that had a rating for hearing loss. I asked him what he did and he told me he was in the Airforce Band. I told him that I had been doing important work between two 70,000 HP turbine engines.

I injured my back aboard ship in 1965. I never asked for any disability. I remained in the Naval Reserve until 1990 when I was asked to retire because I was not advancing in rate. I made Chief Petty Officer in 1972 and there was not a single billet for an E-8 until 1985. I was the only Chief Lithographer who passed the Advancement exam and was not promoted because of AFFIRMATIVE ACTION and I am white. I had a Physical Exam every year and was asked about my back. I informed the Navy Doctor that it was getting worse and not better. That was written in my exam reports. In 2004 I applied for Agent Orange Disability. I had suffered a heart attack exactly one year and two days after retiring and was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes, High Blood Pressure and Neuropathy in both legs. While recovering I was told that none of those ailments arrive overnight. They take years to develop yet there was nothing in my medical records regarding any of them. My claim was denied because I cold not prove Boots On The Ground. When Blue Water Sailors was passed, I applied again. I was denied because they could not find the Ship's Logs to prove where we were anchored. I followed up with, "being on an Aircraft Carrier, it did not matter where we were anchored because our aircraft, which made daily operations in and out of Vietnam, were flying through the Agent Orange and bringing it back to the ship. I have not heard a single word back from them. In 2020 I filed for Back Injury Disability and after three months I was accepted. Of course, there was no compensation for all the medical charges I paid for my back injury but they did give me three months of 50% disability to cover the period that I applied. YET, still nothing on Agent Orange.

As soon as I got out. Got 10%. 45 years later reached 100%

I was told at my discharge the my hearing loss was non compensated and not a concern so I perused
The claim process went to another medical center where the military doctor said yes you have a legitimate problem but you still get nothing no treatment or compensation
Ten years later i tried again hoping for treatment and still fought another year before claim was approved

Out by 10 days

Had it done before I got out as part of my out processing. Completed about 5 days before I retired, and going sense. After about 15 years saw something in FB about disability if you receive it through retirement from the military. Sent a message now I get SS Disability and my military retired pay part Disability but am also on Medicare which buts me on TFL. My medical bills are basically 0. Both knees replaced on 3 times because parts broke then staph infection 40 days in hospital and nothing out of pocket. Good Luck. Also Happy Thanksgiving

I just filed in Jan 2021 due to Agent Orange presumptive illnesses. I am still waiting!

I got my rating after 50 years out of device. Initially filed in 1972 got the blue card and put it away for later when I thought I would need to go further. In 2010 I filed and got a letter from the VA advising me I was no longer eligible due to my income. It took going through the DAV to get what I was promised those many years ago. I agree with all the other comments that troops Ned to file upon mustering out.