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

I am a USN Chief Hospital Corpsman, Preventive Medicine Specialist and FMF “Doc” (aka - your Combat Medic) by training. CPL Robert Ray is 100% SPOT ON regarding the “Peacetime” military. I can tell you I treated many injuries from training and other activities before Desert Storm. After Desert Storm the same jobs taking care of jets engines, motor vehicle maintenance, range accidents, etc. all generate injuries of either immediate or ‘repetitive exposure that cause permanent limits or disability.
Your commentary – “Even the safest professions in the military carry a level of danger above that of a civilian career. People get hurt in ‘safe’ environments.” PLUS, your words - “Since the military does not have Workers Compensation, the VA's compensation is what's left” – are SPOT ON COMMENTS!


Frankly, I resent the implication that somehow veterans who have a Service Connected Disability (SCD), while minor, is still a disability obtained on active duty, are somehow not worthy of some form of healthcare by the VA. My wife and are both SCD veterans. She is 50% and I am < 20%. We also happen to both be retired USN. When will veterans quit attacking veterans with these “attacking” vets “who are - just asking the question”, asking such a question. They insinuate by asking the question they are somehow entitle to more than other vest who had different sacrifices are now entitled to less. WTFO!!!!!


My job was to preserve, protect and when needed to save life if I could. I get so sick and tired of such questions it frankly, pisses me off!!!


On my second Med Cruise (we were a relatively Peacetime navy at the time, except for harassing Gaddafi) I got an anaerobic infection in my left leg where I still carry the indentation scar where the infection occurred. It nearly cost me my life. I took an unexpected fall that opened a 2-inch hole in my leg. It was healing fine then I took 180-degree DOWN TURN. For > days I had temps of 104 – 108 degrees (including the traditional double spiked temps that indicate a certain from of malaria – which I thankfully did not also have) requiring cooling bed baths and other aggressive temperature management. I was on intense IV antibiotics. I was finally well enough, to take advantage of our final Port Call in Halifax, were I was able to get off the ship for a few hours after being in our hospital ward for > 14 days and then on restricted light duty for nearly as long as I continued to recover. Even, on an aircraft carrier they nearly had to Med Evac me! At the same-time we received a healthy young sailor, who just 24hrs before I turned bad and < 7 days after he reported aboard was placed in our ICU that did not fare as well. He had been on leave before coming to his new command (my ship). He had acquired Legionnaires, but did not get sick because of the incubation time (his transit time from the USA to the ship) and by the time the physicians had tracked down his exposure he was dead 72-hrs later. So, you see, us “Docs” are exposed the bunch of hazards if we want to be or not. Humm!!!

Anyway, my fever finally broke. But, I was very weak. When, the ship returned to Norfolk my family, who was on the pier to greet me, did not recognize me at first because I had lost a lot of weight. Weighing in normally at about 160 lbs then from illness having a 25 lb non-exercise induced weight loss from vomiting and @#%$#@# myself to death was real damn fun!

While, I did not get compensated for that incident I don’t ask for more because, those who lost capabilities (arms, legs, cognitive function, etc.) than I have deserve what they are receiving, and I would argue more. I walked out of military service with all my parts. But, the VA did recognize other exposures that impact me slightly. I have been encouraged to go back and calm other issues, but I don’t care too. I get about 10% of my care at VA and 90% via my civilian provider. I was also recently diagnosed with a condition that is non-life threatening, but I will require surgery in 2019 that the VA has scheduled. The surgery around my neck could leave me mute, if the surgeon screws up!

I wonder, am I, as a result of this question, now not deserving of care VA given the question that was asked and its implication?!?!?!? (The question is of course rhetorical.)

Again, this kind of question REALLY pisses me off!!! Let me be very clear - NO VETERAN deserves less – EVER!!!!!!!! I am not mad at the veteran who asked the question. I am pissed that ANY veteran ever has to entertain even needing to suggest the need to elicit responses.

CPL Robert Ray Thank you for your words and Lt Col Christensen thank you as well!

COL Mikel J. Burroughs; CPT Aaron Kletzing; Nicci Eisenhauer

The military excels in breaking people; and its doesn't have to happen on the battlefield.

Here's the basic test:

Are you--not necessarily you personally SGT--acting in good faith (being truthful & following the rules), while seeking compensation for issues related to your military service?

Has the VA determined your issues are services related?

If the answer to both is "Yes", then you are doing nothing wrong. The system isn't in place to value judge the "morality" behind one's medical issues.

I guess I would have to ask how you define combat-related. In my mind everything we do on duty is combat related - or at least it should be. Either we are IN combat, we are recovering and reorganizing from combat, or we are preparing for combat - even if there is no scheduled deployment, or even an actual combat going on at the time. So.... Yeah, almost all of it is "combat-related" IMHO.

Now, if you get in a brawl at the bar and someone breaks your arm in three places, and it is never the same again, but you just happen to be in the military at the time... Yeah, I think someone should maybe feel bad about getting VA disability for that.

HELL no. I got out in 1994, I had multiple zero ratings at that time. None of my injuries were combat related, but they were service related. Over the years, all of those service connected issues have gotten worse, as well as caused other issues. I'd trade by disability rating in a heart beat to be 100% healthy again, but that will never happen. The system was set up to help all veterans, not just those who served in combat.

NO, they should not feel bad. The military can be and at times a hard life but a good life. Not sure as to why such a question would come up. Never be ashamed because you are getting disability. We give our all to protect this great land and I would do it all over again. I agree with Lt. Col. Christensen and thank all who have served there Country.

No. Getting injured and losing functioning is bad enough without feeling like you do not deserve compensation. I encourage those who feel bad to answer this question: Would you have been injured if you didn't join the military? If the answer is clearly 'Yes, this would have happened to me no matter what profession I would have entered' then maybe you don't deserve compensation. The system doesn't allow us to decide this for ourselves. I think good soldiers struggle with transitioning into a role where they are limited as to what they can do. They would prefer to fight on, push through it and get over it. I'm glad they don't have to decide for themselves if they are deserving of compensation for service connected injuries.

Not at all. I served 31 years in the Infantry both enlisted and officer. The vast majority of my physical issues were caused in the training necessary to prepare for combat. Additionally, they get worse with time.

LTC (Ret) Todd Coulson

Not at all, we as service members do not have the choice as to where we serve. We can fill out a dream sheet, if it coincides with the current need-fine if not the dream sheet goes in the 86 file. The point is, you proudly and honorably served, end of discussion.
S/F

I served as a combat engineer for 20 years, I feel no shame for collecting VA benefits since I hurt my back and blew out my knees doing hard labor for the Marines, but I didn’t get hurt while in combat. It’s not just for combat related injuries. You need to understand it’s not called combat benefits.

No they should not. An example for instance, I server 13 yrs, 1 month. I was awarded a 10% disability, on an on duty service connected back injury. It took me almost 20 yrs to get it upped to 20%. I have days where I can't walk without a walker, but I still almost have to beg in order to see a medical specialist like a neurologist on my service connected injury. I've been trying to see one for almost 3 years. Now my son recently discharged after 14 yrs service received a 100% disability. The doctors seem to fall at his feet to try to get him what ever he needs. This is where the disparity is in the VA system. Every veteran should receive the exact care as other veterans, rating should not have anything to do with it. Me at 20% should receive the same medical care as someone with 100%. Why? Because we all served and completed our commitment and received an "Honorable" Discharge. It should never take over 3 years to get to see a neurologist.