Posted on May 31, 2016
Is it appropriate for a non-combat veteran to use the Vet Center and/or VA?
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Posted in these groups: 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Disabled Veterans
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Disabled Veterans
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 224
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It's not named the Combat Veterans Administration, it's called the Veteran's Administration because it exists to support all veterans. I am one of the few who served over 28 years, beginning just as the Vietnam Conflict was ending in 1975 and retired two years into the Global War on Terror in 2003, who never served in a declared combat zone. However, I underwent the rigors of basic training, infantry AIT, PLDC, OCS, Infantry basic course, Infantry advanced course, airborne school, ranger school, Special Forces Qualification Course, Air Assault school, participated in nearly 100 static line jumps, deployments throughout the Pacific, Central America, Europe, CONUS, and while never in a declared combat zone, spent time in areas infested by terrorists and hardened criminals. As a result of those 28 years of experiences, the VA declared me 90% disabled, but I was never in a declared combat zone. Would it be fair to exclude me from Veteran's benefits and use of the Veteran's hospital? I say NO. If I felt otherwise I would be embarrassed to walk into the VA hospital. While anyone is free to express themselves as they want on RP, to include asking this question, I am disappointed that the thought of excluding some Veterans was considered.
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SGT Anna Kleinschmidt
SGT Tim Soyars - we are past the transplant. That was 11 years ago. She has repeated infections. She becomes septic at the drop of the hat. She has been in the ICU 4 times now since thanksgiving and once on lifesupport thanks to my father who is now suffering from dementia and waited 3 hours to call me after she told him to call me. His 8 heart attacks have also racked up a pretty penny. I am going to try the means test on them again. Last time he tried he was in priority group 7 but that was several years ago. I tried to get him to sign up before they cut him off but he was too stubborn. Now he can't get in. I am pretty sure adjusted income after deductions he will meet the means test.
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SGT Tim Soyars
SGT Anna Kleinschmidt - if you are referring to the VA system admission mark, that should not be a problem. I get into the system prior to my diagnosis and I am a RN. With my salary, I was able to get in the system.
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SGT Anna Kleinschmidt
SGT Tim Soyars - I don't think it will be a problem either. When he applied before I didn't do it and I think they still had money. They were pretty well off a few years back. Now they are living month to month.
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It's the VETERANS administration, not the COMBAT VETERANS. I am curious about why you are asking this?
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PO3 Michael Huyck
SGT (Join to see) - i worked on M88's, M578's M113's M35's M151a2's M577's M2a1, M3a1, M978's but badically Bradley and M88 TRTC
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I'm a disabled veteran. I did not serve a day in a combat area. But the heart condition I developed while I was in ended my career just the same. Should I not be allowed to collect disability? Should I not be allowed to see the doctors? Just because I happened to luck out and miss being deployed?
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PO3 Glenn Compton
MSG Paul DePrimo - and so because I wasn't deployed to Vietnam I am a noncombat vet but the agent orange that I washed off the airplanes coming home is a real problem and my med insurance is frustrated because I don't qualify for VA help.
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MSG Paul DePrimo
PO3 Glenn Compton - You were not deployed but dealt with the aftermath, of course you should be taken care of! Was this in the states? My reference is a little different than that situation. You deserve the best care and compensation available! Have you put a claim in? and now days you were still denied?
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SGT (Join to see)
MSG Paul DePrimo - Every Veteran's injuries are individually evaluated. There is already a proper differentiation of benefits. You seem to be advocating for a discrimination in benefits.
Let's look at your basketball v IED example to clarify this. IF the basketball injury is the worst possible to the middle finger that has caused a loss of use due to ankyloses then the maximum benefit your non-combat SM will receive is 10%, which is $144.14 per month for a single veteran with no dependents. IF the IED injury is fully considered it will likely include more than just the loss of limb(s), there is a high likelihood of TBI as well as PTSD involved. IF the IED damage is on the light end of the scale, assuming loss of leg below the knee (40% instead of 60% for above the knee), loss of non-dominant hand (60% instead of 70% for hands v 80% for ND Arm and 90% for Dominant Arm), with moderate TBI (40%), and mild, intermittent PTSD symptoms (30%), hearing loss in one ear (0%) with Tinnitus (10%) then the Combat SM will receive a total rating of 91% which rounds down to 90% for the purposes of Disability pay, which results in a check of $1,887.18 for a single veteran with no dependents. Because of the extent of the Combat SMs injuries, should also be rated as UI which will mean he will draw 100% Disability of $3,146.42 until he has been rehabilitated to the point where he can work and make more than $15000 per year from a new job. The 90% Disabled Combat vet will also be getting any of his medical or dental care at no cost (I did not say free, we all know it wasn't free) while he is UI. The Combat Veteran, if they are so inclined, can also avail themselves of VR&E which will provide them with school/re-training where the VA pays for everything while giving them either BAH (if they also qualify for P911GIBill) or $653.96 for subsistence as a Single (if they don't qualify or it has been used up).
Let's look at your basketball v IED example to clarify this. IF the basketball injury is the worst possible to the middle finger that has caused a loss of use due to ankyloses then the maximum benefit your non-combat SM will receive is 10%, which is $144.14 per month for a single veteran with no dependents. IF the IED injury is fully considered it will likely include more than just the loss of limb(s), there is a high likelihood of TBI as well as PTSD involved. IF the IED damage is on the light end of the scale, assuming loss of leg below the knee (40% instead of 60% for above the knee), loss of non-dominant hand (60% instead of 70% for hands v 80% for ND Arm and 90% for Dominant Arm), with moderate TBI (40%), and mild, intermittent PTSD symptoms (30%), hearing loss in one ear (0%) with Tinnitus (10%) then the Combat SM will receive a total rating of 91% which rounds down to 90% for the purposes of Disability pay, which results in a check of $1,887.18 for a single veteran with no dependents. Because of the extent of the Combat SMs injuries, should also be rated as UI which will mean he will draw 100% Disability of $3,146.42 until he has been rehabilitated to the point where he can work and make more than $15000 per year from a new job. The 90% Disabled Combat vet will also be getting any of his medical or dental care at no cost (I did not say free, we all know it wasn't free) while he is UI. The Combat Veteran, if they are so inclined, can also avail themselves of VR&E which will provide them with school/re-training where the VA pays for everything while giving them either BAH (if they also qualify for P911GIBill) or $653.96 for subsistence as a Single (if they don't qualify or it has been used up).
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