Posted on Mar 23, 2016
Should veterans and retirees be "Triple Dipping?"
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We hear about how all these Vets are triple dipping, but I don't think people are educated on how hard it actually is to do this, and how very small of a percentage of people can qualify to do this.
You have to meet all of these requirements: Serve over 20 years, receive a 50% or more VA Rating, be deemed unemployable or 100% disabled by the VA, AND qualify for SSI benefits.
You have to meet all of these requirements: Serve over 20 years, receive a 50% or more VA Rating, be deemed unemployable or 100% disabled by the VA, AND qualify for SSI benefits.
Posted in these groups: 
Retirement
Retirement
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 612
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Is it over 20 years? I know SM's who went IDES, are medically retired with ID card, 100% disabled, get CRSC, and get SSDI. My question would be P&T. Does that play a factor?
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SSG (Join to see)
If the injuries are from combat, it is possible to triple dip with less than 20 years Service. The combat related disabilities need to be 50% or more. (the other VA rated items will not count for the base 50% VA math.
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It depends. Sleep apnea gets you 50%. What other 'service related' injuries also can stack it up to 100%.
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SFC Bob Bennett
SN Greg Wright - Surgery doesn't always work. After I had my tonsils removed and uvila removed, it came back. The doctor (a CPT) said after the fact, surgery only works about 50% of the time.
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MSG Berry Miller
SN Greg Wright - I disagree with you. 1. "caused by obesity." Sleep apnea is not caused by obesity in all cases. I was 180 lbs and fit when my sleep apnea was diagnosed. 2. "breathing tube being too narrow." I was a long distance runner with my 20+ year PT run average being about 12:30, so there was nothing wrong with my breathing tubes. 3. "caused by a problem with your brain stem." I am a highly intelligent person that was always at the highest of physical condition and much more than moderate/average intelligence. I was a Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Operations Specialist while in the military, worked computer networking after getting out of the military, and completed an Associates degree AND Bachelors degree in under three years while working full time. Nothing wrong with the brain and brain stem.
Sleep apnea can be caused or related to issues/damages that develop throughout military service (for example, my heart condition that was diagnosed while deployed to Iraq was a contributing factor to me developing obstructive sleep apnea), which can be contributed to by other injuries or complications. Each person's body and health conditions react to different complications or develop from different stimuli or damage. Unless you know all of the facts, injuries, and complications that a person has, you can't assume. Thank you for your service.
Sleep apnea can be caused or related to issues/damages that develop throughout military service (for example, my heart condition that was diagnosed while deployed to Iraq was a contributing factor to me developing obstructive sleep apnea), which can be contributed to by other injuries or complications. Each person's body and health conditions react to different complications or develop from different stimuli or damage. Unless you know all of the facts, injuries, and complications that a person has, you can't assume. Thank you for your service.
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SN Greg Wright
MSG Berry Miller - 1. Since I clearly list other types of sleep apnea, I'm not sure why you're inferring that I am saying it's caused by obesity in all cases.
2. The narrow breathing tube kind of sleep apnea would not effect running, or any waking activity -- it collapses slightly too much when lying prone. It has nothing to do with your fitness level.
3. Erm...your brain stem controls all autonomous functions. It has NOTHING to do with intelligence whatsoever, so while I take you at your word for for your brain power...it has nothing to do with the brain STEM having trouble controlling your breathing while asleep.
Here's more information, better explained:
http://www.medicinenet.com/sleep_apnea/page2.htm
I'm merely trying to educate, MSG...not one-up you. I apologize if it seems like I am. By the way, I have OSA myself, which is why I've researched the subject.
2. The narrow breathing tube kind of sleep apnea would not effect running, or any waking activity -- it collapses slightly too much when lying prone. It has nothing to do with your fitness level.
3. Erm...your brain stem controls all autonomous functions. It has NOTHING to do with intelligence whatsoever, so while I take you at your word for for your brain power...it has nothing to do with the brain STEM having trouble controlling your breathing while asleep.
Here's more information, better explained:
http://www.medicinenet.com/sleep_apnea/page2.htm
I'm merely trying to educate, MSG...not one-up you. I apologize if it seems like I am. By the way, I have OSA myself, which is why I've researched the subject.
Sleep Apnea Symptoms, Causes, Treatment - Sleep apnea facts - MedicineNet
Learn about sleep apnea, including a description of types of sleep apnea, symptoms, treatment (surgical and nonsurgical), causes, complications, diagnosis, evaluation, and importance of treatment.
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CW5 (Join to see)
MSG Berry Miller "Each person's body and health conditions react to different complications or develop from different stimuli or damage."
Exactly. No one can tell what was truly service related and what the SM was predisposed to develop in the future by bad luck or genetics. What we do know is that the majority of sleep apnea in the world is caused by life choices.
Our clinics, in my opinion, are acting with an abundance of caution and reluctant to say that your smoking, drinking or weight were the factor and not your 7 deployments to the desert.
Exactly. No one can tell what was truly service related and what the SM was predisposed to develop in the future by bad luck or genetics. What we do know is that the majority of sleep apnea in the world is caused by life choices.
Our clinics, in my opinion, are acting with an abundance of caution and reluctant to say that your smoking, drinking or weight were the factor and not your 7 deployments to the desert.
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You said the key phrase, meet requirements. There is no debate, they were injured in service, and retired. If they qualify for any program they deserve it. They served their country, earned their retirement, put money into SS, while qualify for Veterans programs. That’s it, they qualify. This debate has been had in Congress time and again. It should be put to rest. Is it justifiable to exclude someone form something they qualify for based on the fact that they also earned a retirement fair? Why should one Vet who meets a requirement be penalized because they served longer, hence qualifying for more?
Service members earn their retirement and SS by paying into it and sacrificing, they subsequently qualify for other benefits for other reasons, should they be penalized?
Service members earn their retirement and SS by paying into it and sacrificing, they subsequently qualify for other benefits for other reasons, should they be penalized?
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As a triple type, I also find the 50% requirement ridiculous. As long as Congress keeps the VA on a tight fiscal leash, the story will ever be so. Don’t get started on waste fraud and abuse. However there is a nuance not mentioned. The offset of pay is intended as a type of reduction in taxable income. Granted not as good as receiving the money. Every year there is a Congressional bill to drop the 50% requirement. Civil service retirement has no such offset. It wasn’t too long ago that no concurrent receipt was authorized then it was phased in over several years. Another benefit that was a financial life saver for many was the implementation of TRICARE for Life for retirees. Suddenly a good friend crippled in WWII got the equivalent of a $2500/mo pay raise because all his non-service connected meds were covered as in those days VA med coverage was very restricted.
All this to say, today’s benefits need further improvements, but they are a far cry better than several years ago. Sadly, improvements lag the needs of vets. My dad, a wounded WWII POW, didn’t finally get much coverage until about 35 yrs later.
All this to say, today’s benefits need further improvements, but they are a far cry better than several years ago. Sadly, improvements lag the needs of vets. My dad, a wounded WWII POW, didn’t finally get much coverage until about 35 yrs later.
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No brainer brother don't let your hard headed stubborn pride keep you from using your brain and good comman sense. It's not getting any easier out here brother. Ve con Dios!
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SN Johnny Whataman
I didn't put this commet here and I would grately appreciate it if you would take it down please! I am 100% service connected disabled veteran granted through a hearing in Washington, DC. With attornery.reprensentation. Thank you
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All circumstances are different. The one thing that bothers me is that I've encountered situations were veterans who never seen combat and never reached retirement receiving up to 80 % VA disability. Where as I served 35 years with three combat tours served. In 2 different branches and am fighting to get a rating over 50%. All C and P evaluations concour service connected conditions and still am battling to get what I believed I've earned for my sacrifices. Oh did I mention some of the forementioned veterans work as VA raters.
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I’ve never understood why the DoD, the government, whoever, feels that disability pay is a benefit and treated like income. For crying out loud, we are being compensated for something that happened to us while serving, that we can never get back. I think most would agree, whatever we lost or suffer from, that we would rather be whole than get the money, but sadly we don’t have that choice. I think it’s a travesty that some of us (depending on disability rating) have our disability pay subtracted from our retirement pay. It’s time our political leaders end this nonsense and keep disability pay separate from retirement pay. They are two different things for two different reasons.
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That is one sorry-ass comment, that one should not make more in retirement than while serving. You only get paid, if you are entitled to it sir. Seems that you have some jealousy or envy going on here. Look who you are speaking of, these are our your brothers and sisters. The Bible says, you ought to care more about them then yourself. The second of the Ten Commandment is, love other person's as yourself. Would you be speaking this way if you want entitled?. Have a heart and allow our veterans to enjoy that which they are entitled.
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