Should Veterans feel bad about being awarded and receiving VA disability compensation for non-combat related injuries?

at one time I felt bad about it. but as i saw more and more of what i lost due to my injuries, my viewpoint changed. now i'm stuck at 40% disability but walk with a cain, and little use of my hands (both wrists were broken). all from service connected injuries. Take what you can when you can. eventually the cost to you catches up to anything the VA offers you. don't feel guilty. you'll still be paying long after your service ends.

As a former DAV service officer, I've seen combat veterans who are have been separated, awarded and receive VA SC disability for a non-combat related malady although he had combat-related injuries. The subject veteran, a Vietnam vet, had multiple GSW and shrapnel wounds and later in his career suffered a heart attack and was subsequently PEB'd and VA awarded service connection for the heart condition, in addition to the combat-related conditions.

Nope, I broke my back in a helicopter incident while training, why should you feel bad.

A resounding NO SGT (Join to see). They served and paid a price for their service. Remember the 1% who serve and out of that one percent how many of them receive disability?

Absolutely not! As a former DAV Service Officer, I know first-hand that if an individual does not meet the guidelines for service-connected appeal or not there will be no award. If a veteran is found eligible and awarded, believe it the guidelines for award we're met. However, sadly, in the current environment (meaning the last 15 years or so) budget concerns, false claims, an oversaturated system etc., have slown down the process for positive outcomes.

I am going to leave this one alone, Gentlemen. I draw VA compensation for a back injury in 1963. For over 40 years I drew 30%, not much of a check back in the days. Four years ago I got boosted to 60% because of suicide attempts.
Last Sunday I tripped and fell and broke my neck in two places. I know that there is provision for non-active duty injury, but at my age I doubt that I will bother to file. To all you that have been injured on active duty, never stop trying for that increase - you deserve everything they award you. You served your country honorably and you were denied serving to retirement, and I am sure at least half of you would have gone for 20+

The majority of my VA disability is related to Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam. I ran inter-base communications sites so I wasn't running around in the boonies, but was exposed by breathing AO laden dust used around the sites for a clear view. The rest was from damage done to my knees & shoulders from PT and my duties. Just before I retired they figured out that running in combat boots was bad for your knees and back too. My duties at the sites included lifting heavy power supplies which were in the bottom of the racks and working with my arms mid body & higher. I was told by one orthopedic doctor that I would still have had my joint problems but the point I was at then would have been 20-30 years down the road if I hadn't been in the service. That was about 12 years in.

So, no I don't feel badly about receiving VA Disability Pay for my non-combat related disability because they were incurred because of or aggravated more by my service over what they would have been. The same way I don't feel bad about getting Military Discounts because I earned them.

No they should not feel guilty.

Service connected disabilities both combat and non-combat related should never be frowned upon by a veteran if it truly limits his/her normal abilities. I do however growl at those veterans that receive it and display it the DV label on their vehicle and yet nothing is do not appear to be physically limited in anyway. It disgusted me to see sleep apnea diagnosis with huge compensation numbers but a bad knee or back given such little in return. A Veteran shouldn't feel bad but they in return would hopefully not take advantage with bogus claims.

Why, you're a veteran and entitled to the benefits. No where does it state you must go to combat.