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

I held onto everything, original documents. The week I left, I made copies and turned the copies into the personel department. Each time I had a visit to a neurologist, I had them scan my original into the EMR. This creates a backup of a backup in records. I was raised that if you were under 50, not missing a limb from combat, you didn’t file for disability. The baby boomers of my parents generation who fought in Vietnam. I knew my back would get worse, but I documented every time. It was 15 years after I left that I filed my claim. All my military medical records and imaging in conjunction with all my civilian visits brought me 80% rating without a lawyer involved.

My advice is to type out a timeline of events to include location, treatment rendered, and any negative affect in employment that your medical condition involved. This timeline of events along with your imaging reports and summary of care documents will streamline the review process. The key is to eliminate any guesswork on the review board. Think of it as if you are on the witness stand, leave no gaps in your case and definitely eliminate any doubt as to how badly your quality of life is suffering. I even included that I treated myself with alcoholism for the first few years as a way of self medication. I was honest about how bad my pain was and I could not afford civilian health insurance.

My discharge was Aug 1964 I tried to collect in about 1980 but became disinchanted and quit . Then in 2013 I developed cancer of the vocal cords and was treated with radiation,in 2017 it reoccurred and had a total Laryngectomy. While at church one day a friend asked me if I was receiving VA benefits ,which I wasn’t. He said I will take you down to:the VA advocate and register to get benefits . After a year I had received no word and applied through a legal firm that specializes in VA benefits . If they lost ,I would owe then nothing . In about 2017 was receiving some benefits then in 2020 I was declared 100% permanent and total and received back benefits for 3 years for the total 100%.
If you have a legitimate claim seek a legal firm to handle your case . If they don’t win you owe them nothing . If they win the max. They can charge against the award is 20%. Wish you the best .

Went to VA 6 months out. Got my first check from VA first month after I retired.

I got out in April 1972 I filed my first disability claim in July 2011 and by September 2014 I was rated 100percent

I made an appointment while I was on terminal leave

Well, you should receive a letter from Branch that you’re retiring from US Army. By then, you have 18 months going thru a transition period. I believe by 3-4 months out before retirement period I made an appointment with VA VSO for claims after the physical results. After the Army transition and being retired it took 6-month when I received a letter of the outcome for disability rating. Because the DoD and VA may have to a retrograde toward your pension and your C&P Disability pay by percentage, plus back pay. Make sure you personally contact a local Veteran Service Officer (VSO) so you will receive your Disability Rating Letter along with benefits.

When I got out on a medical in ‘96, the Army gave me 0%. As in ZERO. The VA gave me 20%, which over time has grown to 70% due to problems arising related to the original rating. I don’t know ANYONE who got a rating from the military, unless it was 100% or so obvious that they had to give them a rating.

Retired in 2011. At that time the policy had recently been changed from requiring separation or retirement to apply for a VA rating to being able to apply 6 months prior to exit, which is what I did. Acquired TWO copies of my medical records (one of which I keep handy) and gave the other one to the VA. Rated at 60% (sleep apnea and other stuff) and was receiving VA pay something like 3 months later. So if you think you have a rating, go as soon as possible.

I messed up and did not get a physical when I ETS'd, then filed a couple of years later. I have since filed 3 times, each time I have been turned down. My wife is not a happy camper and wants me to try again, but I think now that I am in my mid 70's and have a battery in my back to control my pain, and have been turned down 3 times, I am thinking that it will be an automatic turn down so have put off doing anything now.

I started a out six months out getting all my docs together and got it turned into DAV as soon as I could. Had my initial 90% rating immediately upon separation. Don't wait, work on it as early as you can. Also, don't feel like a dirt bag for making your way to sick call if there's something you feel is wrong - document ALL issues, no matter how small you think they are.