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

It is basically tied in to retirement now. I just retired in Feb and the generic retirement briefs talked about filing for disability and the two methods to do so: concurrent with outprocessing or within a year of ETS (not just retirement).

I was being medically retired so the process was already well underway for me. So, I can't really speak to how much a SPC with three years in felt the impetus to participate; but I do feel it was significantly stressed.

That said, I'm now getting ready to appeal. I feel the VA missed some obvious connections between my PTSD/TBI and some of my symptoms in other claimed areas.

One of the bigger problems when I ETS was that the VA rep said don't worry about filing a claim until you get home. The problem here is that the Dr's that treated you at your last post are then blocked off from aiding in your case. If you know your ETS date, and you've got less than 12 months left, and you're not resigning, get your medical records together and start your claim. VA will ask you to wait until you're 6 months from ETS. That gives you time to get your letters and statements from current service doctors to support your case, which the VA has to accept and work from. The two guys I know that followed this advice, did not struggle or fight for years with their claims, and got better percentages up front than they would have by waiting.
In my own case, I tried to get the doctors to write letters for me, the VA reps I spoke to said they would not be accepted. Military Dr's said I should have been rated at 50% with VA after medical retirement at 30%, VA gave me 20% and it's been a fight ever since. You have friends getting out, do all you can to encourage them to start before they are out instead of waiting.

6 months out from leaving active duty I started the process. Then I got my first rating 2 mo ths after separation.

As I recall you are able to start tapir claim a tear before you separate, it is always better to start important processes as early as authorized. You may complete before final separation and know your path. Waiting a until separation only places more of your life in limbo. I promise there is enough stress associated with separation, don’t add to it.

If it is too late then the answer to your question relays on your tenacity in how you approach the process and your proximity to a VA.

I have found that VA disability is a tricky subject. I was awarded the Purple Heart in 1986 for getting shot off a bulldozer in 1973. I was in Managua, Nicaragua helping with the earthquake. I was shot just below the left knee. The shrapnel traveled under my kneecap and was lucky I didn't lose the kneecap. My leg has never bothered me, but my back is another story because when I was shot, I fell off the dozer when I stood up and woke up in the hospital back in Panama. I had a massive hematoma on my back from the fall. I did try to claim it but their answer was, "not combat-related". Well, they did tell me I have PTSD and that it's from the Fall of Saigon. I do have it good too because loud noises set me off, especially fireworks. So, since I'm going to be 70 years old next month, I'm not going to worry about it. You must fight for everything. By the way, I never had an exit physical either.

Anyone getting out right now can do a BDD 180-90 days before getting out( get a Service Officer). I did a BDD on my own and only went to 50. Supplemental claims for 2 years to get to 70. Got a Service Officer and got to 100. Before any of you naysayers out there think I'm chasing the dollar. I had 5 volumes of a medical record and died twice at 20.
If you do a BDD 89-0 days of discharge, it will process as a regular claim but be backdated to your discharge date. I have had some Veterans that have been in process for 14 years. There are no guarantees in this process.

I finished my enlistment in Yokohama in 1953, taking my discharge in Japan, immediately going to work as a DAC until 1958. I finally filed my disability (40%) in 1998. The VA had no trouble finding my medical records of being wounded in 1951 in North Korea. At 89, I am still functioning, more or less, depending on who you ask.

I did not apply nor have I received a disability rating from the VA.

Like many women, it was many years before I made my 1st claim.

When I got out of the Air Force in 1986, I was stationed in England and pregnant. I stayed there as that was also my ex-husband's base. The only thing I was told at the time was "go see someone at your local VA once you get home". No other explanation. I never did because I always thought it was just health care and my ex had good insurance. I had NO idea there was such a thing as service connect disability. I started working for the VA as a CBOC RN in 2016. I started hearing about it. I finally filed Many 2019. I was sure that nothing would come of some of it since lots of it wouldn't be on records anywhere. Being a female on the flightline starting in 1978, I didn't dare report anything. I only reported one thing and it came back to me as I got an 8 on my first APR because "there's always room for improvement for a 3 level". I was the only female in a group of 17 that went there in a 6-month period. I was also the only one with an 8 even though the one guy had been written up several times. I was an assistant dorm chief. I excelled at my job. I worked hard! When I finally filed, I had a DAV person help. He asked what I did and started rattling off so many possible problems and added them as I answered. After delays because of COVID I was finally given 100% total and permanent. My only regret is that I didn't know about it sooner. I could have filed YEARS ago!