Serving with a VA Disability Rating: NOT a Career Killer

2023-06-12T09:38:15-04:00

As a member of the U.S. Army Reserve, you may be eligible for VA benefits. However, there are some myths around how these benefits impact your military pay and career progression. You may have been told you cannot serve in the military with a disability. You may have heard that you will kill your career - or perhaps you will be separated outright with a disability rating. Some may think that a VA disability can only be filed once you separate from the military. These statements are not entirely true and if you have avoided applying for what you’re entitled to because you’re worried about how it will affect your career, this is for you.

You CAN Serve in the Army Reserve with a VA Disability Rating

First, an Army Reserve Soldier can absolutely serve in the military with a disability rating. A disability rating does not explicitly exclude someone from continuing their military service. In fact, there is a process and paperwork (surprise!) to ensure members who collect disability do so in accordance with the 38 U.S. Code § 5304.

It's important to understand that you cannot receive both VA benefits and Army Reserve pay for the same period of time; this is considered “double dipping” and is against the law/regulations.
VA benefits are reduced by the number of days you are paid for Army Reserve duty each year. This means that if you receive a VA disability payment, and you are also paid for 30 days of Reserve duty in a year, your VA payment will be reduced by 30/365 or 8.2% of the monthly rate. However, since you’re getting paid for your service in the Reserve for that time, in almost all cases you’ll get paid more overall with a VA disability rating than without. An exception would be an Army Reserve Solder with a 70% or higher VA rating, which is a rare combination (more on serving with a VA rating, below).

A VA Disability Rating MAY or MAY NOT Impact Your Career Progression

Second, disability ratings can impact your career progression depending on your status within the Reserve, but they do not mean they are career killers. It all depends on your rating percentage, what it’s for, and how you want to continue to serve. If you are in the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR), your disability rating does not affect your ability to be recalled to active duty. However, if you are in the Selected Reserve or on active duty, a disability rating can impact your ability to meet medical readiness standards which could affect your ability to deploy. Additionally, a disability rating could also impact any future plans to commission as an officer. Like everything in the military, do your research on what doors you want to keep open for your career first, then make decisions about what is best for you.

Understand that the Army's Disability Evaluation System (DES) evaluates an Army Reserve Soldier’s fitness for continued military service based on their medical condition and the impact it has on their ability to perform their duties. If an Army Reserve Soldier’s disability is determined to be severe enough to affect their ability to perform their duties, they may be medically retired or separated from the military.

All that being said, having a disability rating does not necessarily mean the end of your Army Reserve career! Many Army Reserve Soldiers with disabilities continue to serve in roles that align with their abilities and limitations. In fact, the Army has programs in place to provide accommodations and support to service members with disabilities, including the Wounded Warrior Program and the Army Career and Alumni Program.

Finally, there are benefits to having a VA rating while serving in the Army Reserve. For example, if you have a service-connected disability, while you may miss out on full Troop Program Unit (TPU) pay, you’ll more than make that up in monthly payments through the VA all while generating retirement points. Additionally, you may be eligible for VA healthcare, which could save you money on medical expenses and provide additional education benefits that may further offset any costs you may have. Again, everyone has a unique situation and goals, and what makes sense for one, may not for another

Knowledge is Power

VA benefits will have an impact on your life while you serve in the Army Reserve, but it's important to understand how they work so you can make informed decisions about your career and benefits. A VA disability rating can affect your career progression, but it can also provide benefits that could improve your overall quality of life. An Army Reserve Soldier with a VA disability rating may make a little less over a drill weekend, but overall may more than make up for it in health and education benefits.

Join the Army Reserve: https://rly.pt/3UT5FZP

File a VA Disability claim: https://rly.pt/3LhlNQD

U.S. Army Reserve

It’s your time. Earn great benefits while serving part-time in the U.S. Army Reserve. You’ll learn valuable skills and train close to home while being able to continue your civilian career or education.

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Jun 12 at 2023 9:47 AM

2023-06-12T09:47:55-04:00

I did not know this

Response by CPT David Gowel made Jun 12 at 2023 10:58 AM

2023-06-12T10:58:29-04:00

I'm a firm believer that we should be briefed from Day 1 of active duty that whenever we leave AD, that we should consider the Reserve, Guard, or government service as a our first "transition" employment to civilian life. It just makes sense to keep 1 foot on stable / familiar ground before and while jumping into the unknown civilian employment world. I always assumed that those of us who have a disability status would have to veer more towards a non-servicemember role in the gov't or civilian life upon transition, but this post clearly taught me otherwise. Thanks much for sharing this info (especially the calculations, exceptions, etc. were very helpful) and I'll be sure to share it with people I know who are considering transition to civilian life.

Response by Maj Kim Patterson made Jun 12 at 2023 11:49 AM

2023-06-12T11:49:23-04:00

Things have changed over the years.

Response by CPT Richard Trione made Jun 13 at 2023 10:36 AM

2023-06-13T10:36:47-04:00

Wow! This is certainly news to me! My how things have changed over the past 20 years.

Response by SGT Ruben Lozada made Jun 20 at 2023 4:58 PM

2023-06-20T16:58:12-04:00

Good afternoon. Excellent post. Thank You for sharing this. I wish somebody would have told Me about this when I was in the Army Reserves. I would've filed a claim back then.

Response by SGT Ruben Lozada made Jun 20 at 2023 4:59 PM

2023-06-20T16:59:56-04:00

I am sure a lot of USAR members have been doing this a lot this year.

Response by PO3 Shayne Seibert made Jun 29 at 2023 10:38 AM

2023-06-29T10:38:00-04:00

When I was in, I think you could still serve with a 30% rating, but it depended on what the rating was for.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 13 at 2023 4:13 PM

2023-07-13T16:13:55-04:00

I have been in this situation for over 10 years. It is a fluid system that works itself out each year...Basically, you just get a reduced VA disability check each month to offset what you get for the days you receive drill pay.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 22 at 2023 10:42 AM

2023-07-22T10:42:48-04:00

Great post. As a National Guardman, I have had a VA rating of 70% since 2006. I went to the VA for my knees after I came home from Iraq. The VA outpatient clinic noticed that I was suffering from PTSD. I didn't think I had that. So that is way the high rating. I was an E-5 at the time, now I am a 1SG. I just file a new claim for cancer. I am cautious of the rating and have been though 1 medical readiness board. At this point in my career, 26 years continuous years, if I'm booted of on medical or VA rating, I'm good with it. I have incurred a debit for the difference in pay, not to worried about it yet. I have deployed multiple times, while having a rating. There is extra paperwork for that. So in other words, get your Soldiers to sign up for their entitled VA benefits. It is a pain in the ass going though the process, but it is worth it in the end.

Response by COL David Turk made Aug 6 at 2023 9:22 PM

2023-08-06T21:22:55-04:00

I’d like to add, speaking from experience, that if you transition from the reserves to active duty, your VA disability payments will cease. You should notify the VA immediately when you get your active duty orders. When you are come off your active duty tour, you’ll have to reapply for a VA disability rating. This will be automatic (as part of the process) if you are retiring.

Response by SFC Kevin Childers made Aug 21 at 2023 5:48 PM

2023-08-21T17:48:07-04:00

I work with VA records and see reserve and guard doing this all the time. Seems to involve a little extra accounting, but completely doable. Just remember to keep current with VA on stopping and starting you benefits when you do reserve duty in a paid status. You don't want them coming to you to collect a month or more of your disability because you didn't keep current on your tours of duty.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2024 10:07 PM

2024-01-17T22:07:53-05:00

Very common in the Guard, especially those with extended service

Response by 1SG John Millan made Jan 28 at 2024 12:33 PM

2024-01-28T12:33:49-05:00

I was 10, 20 and finally 30% from the Gulf War and served 25 years, last 16 NCARNG as a 1SG. I was injured in iraq and got 100% VA and 80% Army, so I get both pensions.