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

Back in '94 you had to wait until discharge to file unless being medically discharged. I did hook up with a local DAV rep beforehand and that got the process started. Took 24 months for a rating of 30%, another year to get to 50% and 10 more to 80%, and last year 100%.

I was lied to and told that my disability would be off the table if I didn't accept the 100% and they had to do the surgery, and no one told me any different.
Many years later, my Urologist asked me to go into the VA Healthcare system because of kidney stones and informed me that I had at least a 30% rating from my injuries alone, so I filed then.
I'm watching for the SCOTUS decision on the Arellano case to see what their opinion states.

I waited 20 years and 9 months. Don't be like me and listen to those who have been in your "boots". I do regret not filing sooner and have found that most everyone involved with VHA, VBA, providers, etc. all care about veterans.

After my discharge in 1970, I had various physical ailments, but in my mind did not connect it to military service. Until 2012, when I read about Agent Orange use in Korea, during exactly the months when I was there patrolling at the DMZ. I applied for disability and was granted a small disability rating, until I developed full blown cancer, at which time my disability rating went to 100%. Now that the cancer has been eliminated, I still retain a rating of 50% due to related diseases. Lessons Learned: It is never too late.

Back in the "day", we actually used to hide it if we were hurting or our hearing was going bad. We didn't want to get set back in training or get pulled from an assignment. Years later I was told by someone who worked with the VA that I should have gone in for a rating right away, but I still didn't do it until I had been out for 20 years.

when I got out in 1967 I had noted a back problem related to a crash landing in an LOH helicopter while stationed at Carin field, fort Rucker Alabama. the head of the hospital told me if I left it on the physical form, he would freeze me in the Army and fuse my back. I told him to do whatever he wanted so he removed the page and added a blank page. In 1971 I filed for a disability with the VA after an orthopedic surgeon told me I had a compressional fracture of the L-2 vertebrae and from the calcium build up it looked to be 4 to 5 years old. The VA refused the disability claim and because the unit I was in was the USAAVNTsBD a secured base I could not prove it. I also filed for a partial disability for the bullet wound to my right hand but was denied because they could not find my order for the purple heart for over 25 years.

I've been out for 20 years and I just went to the VA to document my disabilities about a month ago. I tried after I first got out but the person who goes though your file was never there, so I let it go. I friend of mine urged me to give it another go, so I did. They did an xray on my back which is my major complaint and I read the summery they sent me. Wow, my back is jacked up, so I guess I'm just waiting on a rating.

Tried right after becoming joe blow citizen VA said they could not find my record. That was 50+ years ago. A.O. and can't hear in one ear and deaf in the other. Been 3 months, can't find my records, they are reviewing my claim. At this rate my wife will have to fight to put me in the ground. Good Luck and more power to you!

I was out nearly 14 years before I applied for VA disability. Due to paperwork at the DA HQ Personel I ending up ETS’s although I didn’t want to. I was very bitter about everything Army. I actually don’t recall in the outgoing briefings about the VA either.
I had several medical issues and I had to hire a lawyer to help with my claims. I initially had 10 claims in and they had denied all but three to give me 30%, then to 50% appeal then 80%, appeal and then 100% it took me ten years

I made my claim nearly 30 years after I was separated. I never knew I was even qualified to make a claim until talking with our local Veteran's Rep. She too was former Air Force and guided me through the paperwork. It took 18 months but I got got my rating.