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

30 years

When I came back from VN, I had to go to the VA for evaluation of wounds received while there. I was getting the run around from uncaring employees of the VA so I just left and never went back. PTSD was not evaluated or recognized so there was no questions about mental health or adjustments in the real world. It wasn't until the deployments to Irag in 2003 that I filed for disability and when they finally found my medical records and after going through evaluation I was awarded 50%. After the deployments in 2006 and 2009, I finally had time to get the rest of my records together and was awarded 100%.

I took terminal leave to escape going to Crete to lose a competition to fire a live round. During my terminal leave back home I was diagnosed with Crohn's and that started the process, during my last days of active duty. The local VFW helped me kick that off and two years later I was approved at 10% disability.

I filed for several issues (PTSD.....I was an FO with the 173rd Abn; and back) right after I retired. Then as things started showing up later, I filed again for both worsening issues, and new issues (diabetes from agent orange). The VA here is terrific, my claims went through, and I am now 100% disabled. Thats just my experience. Just dont worry about filing claims over time. Just one caution; when you file a new claim they reopen your files and look once again at all your findings. This could result in a downgrade of some claims. This is rare, but could happen. One other thing, work closely with your county VA representative. My guy was terrific in helping me.

I first applied in summer of 2015, they said Agent Orange doesn't cause caner, appealed then they said doesn't cause my type of cancer, appealed , then told it since cancer did not show up within one year of Vietnam it doesn't count, on docket for Board of Appeals since summer of 2019, I think they are waiting for me to die.

Back when I got out I had to wait until I was out to file a claim. I filed immediately but it took five years and a Congressional to get treated seriously (long story). Twenty-three years later after I was forced to retire from my second career I was rated 100% but not for my real medical issue as the VA has no classification for my main condition.

I understand now one can file a claim before one gets out. If so, I suggest doing it. And if you're getting Medically Boarded I would hesitate accepting the first offer; a few years ago it came out there was a letter (1986) instructing the MRB to lowball disabilities on troops being boarded to see if we'd take it. By the time I reached the MRB I was worn out and took it figuring I'd go through the VA. Fact is, I found (it may be different today) the VA Boards stayed close to the MRB. That's what they did and that in part caused my long fight. Hope this helps.

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.