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

I delivered my claim on my first of retirement.

Been out for a while and recently filed a claim.

I didn't even apply the American Legion apply for me and I got a letter saying I was 20% disabled do to blowing out my knee
I never even asked them to apply I guess they got my medical records on there own

I was on terminal leave and joined the US Foreign Service a month before my official retirement date in 1982, so I didn't get rated by VA. Because I was sent overseas for several years right away, I thought I'd missed out on it and thought that was that. I retired from the Foreign Service in 2012 and in 2019 an army colonel moved next door to me and informed me that there was no expiration date and that I should apply. I did and was given a 20% disability rating in December 2020. I'm registered with the VA health system but because I'm a retiree I can use active duty health clinics which are still easier and give quicker appointment times and access.

I LOVED the Army & planned to stay in for 20+ years. I planned to become a Warrant Officer (Signal) but got out after 9 years because of the final blow, a traumatic event I couldn't push past. I refused my ETS physical & have never had another physical to this day. When I started filing for disability, all of my claims were denied for 25 years because of that refused ETS physical--see...I was made to sign off on a form & say nothing was wrong with me & then wrote a statement saying nothing was wrong with me. I was in a blind panic over the thought of ever having a physical again & being subjected to that kind of vulnerability & humiliation. 25 years after first filing for disability, I had a hearing with a VA judge (via video) and my representative, a total ROCK STAR with the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) explained why I'd refused the ETS Physical. The judge's eyes got big, but my rep, Steve said we'd address that later. And we certainly did. That was Valentine's Day in 2014, by November of 2014, I started going to Comp & Pens (Compensation & Pension exams) and in January 2015, I had my first rating. By 2020, I hit 100%. During my long, LONG battle with the VA, I can't tell you how many of my fellow veterans had my back & gave me great advice. I've tried to pay it forward & help every veteran I meet who is dealing with the struggle.

I had to wait until I was out to file a disability claim. The Agent Orange claims weren't available for years after I got out in 1971. I waited about 20 years until I found out about the claims for Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam. I am curently getting good VA care for those disibilities incured while as an Army grunt in Vietnam in 1970.

I waited 8 years as I had no idea my health would decline so much.
What I should have done is looked through my medical records and been prepared when I went in for the post physical at discharge.
With that being said you have 1 year from the time you exit the service to file your claim and have the backpay retro back to when you left service, if you do not do it within that year then it will be when you started your claim.
Also if you wait and something happens to you then your family will have no chance at DIC benefits.

My ETS was in 1986 and in 1988 I attempted my first claim. The biggest problem was they disregarded the fact that I was treated for the injury to my left knee while I was active, I was also treated for a stomach issue that never was documented in my medical record, and my sleep apnea was not documented. I can no longer eat Beef and I had to go outside of the VA for treatment for that and he sleep apnea. I have had both of my knees replaced as a result of them not fixing my left knee many years ago. The saddest part is that my rating for my knees is only 30% for each!

My ETS was in 1986 and in 1988 I attempted my first claim. The biggest problem was they disregarded the fact that I was treated for the injury to my left knee while I was active, I was also treated for a stomach issue that never was documented in my medical record, and my sleep apnea was not documented. I can no longer eat Beef and I had to go outside of the VA for treatment for that and he sleep apnea. I have had both of my knees replaced as a result of them not fixing my left knee many years ago. The saddest part is that my rating for my knees is only 30% for each!

I waited about 4 yrs before I filed. And about a year going through the process before I got paid. But my experience went pretty well. I was a first time go and got 90%. It was a great day! They will back pay you a year.