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

During my discharge physical in 1986 I was put on a medical hold. 6 months went by still on hold. I contacted by Senator on a Monday that next Friday I got a call and told to report for duty to be discharged. I reported and was discharged to the VA with 30 percent. I've never met another service member who was discharged to the VA. Ofen think I should have been given a medical discharge

10yrs

When I was processing out of the Army, there was a gentleman who represented the local american Legion Chapter who approached me and aske if he could ask me a couple of questions. He found out I had concerns for which a claim could be filed. I sign a paper so they could file on my behalf. 90 days later, I got a letter from the VA in the mail. It was a rating decision granting me 10%. I was amazed.

I waited until my civilian Dr. told me I had Cancer, then I applied and received 100% disability. Just a bit over 50 years. Thank you Agent Orange.

Approx. 40 years

Here is another perspective. Find out the totality of what is wrong with you before you ETS because you might get care at the MTF. If you pursue this route, then you might as well apply for the military and VA disability ratings.

One, don’t wait until you get out. Every service member is authorized to begin the physical requirments and paperwork a year prior. I was lucky, I had a hospital near by with a standofish, but helpful rep. Then my tenacity of tracking my packet by phone, politley asking what was next.

I was lucky, from soup to nutts in about 100 days.

Start early, stay on top of your packet and contact at least weekly.

I waited until I retired then filed a claim in three months. In the 90s the VA facility and medical personnel in Orlando, FL were not very interested in my physical health and did not hide this fact. I did get a disability because of an artificial joint in my foot while in the service. I used VA facilities in numerous states mostly to get hearing aids. Some were atrocious facilities with horrid conditions in some of the hospital wards and a few places treated me with respect and common courtesy. With my limited contact with VA facilities today I can only say their past was horrible in most places but hope they did improve how they treat and care for people who deserve the best after serving their country.

They are not allowed to give a rating until after you're out. In fact, I believe they can't even submit the paperwork for disability until your discharge date.

When I retired, in 1999, I was rated at 20%. Ten percent for OCD and 10% for folliculitus (some kind of skin issue). Twenty three years later, 2022, I contacted one of those Facebook VA claim assistance companies, provided the information they requested and my disability rating went from 20% to 60%. I am currently working on claims for type II diabetes, hypertension, skin cancer, and AFIB. We'll see how that goes.
Now some advice to those still on active duty. Make sure that all of your medical visits are documented. I am not familiar with other services, but in the Navy advancement to Chief Petty Officer (E7) places you in a position where many things are dealt with "off the record" by your fellow chiefs. I tell you this because only one of my cardiac complaints made it to my medical record over a 10 year period. My irregular heartbeat was thought to be caused by large volumes of coffee (and some soda) and the obvious treatment, quit drinking so much caffine..
Take away here is if it's not in your record, it's not an issue. Just passing along what I learned.