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

Nobody should feel bad about receiving legitimate compensation. It was part of the deal when we joined.

ABSOLUTELY Not !!!!!

The USMC commissioned me knowing I had a high frequency hearing loss. As a result of 20 years service in the Corps my hearing got substantially worse. Upon retirement but years later, I made a claim with the VA for my hearing. I was approved and all I wanted was hearing aids; however, I also eventually received 20% disability compensation - I certainly believe I merited this non-combat related service connected hearing loss injury!

If the injury was due to service, then NO. The military is a very demanding environment, most people can't sustain the everyday ground and pound. In 3ID, we had people running and rucking 5 days a week on tank trails. The amount of injuries was high, but leaders kept pushing this type of exercise. Some of these injuries are life altering, a broken back will plague you for the rest of your life, damaged knees, will plague you for the rest of your life, ect. I was a Medical Officer and I saw some pretty bad injuries that without a doubt affect those service members for the rest of their life. When people their age who chose not to serve, are living life happy, not injured, can get out of bed every day in no pain. Can walk from one end of the room to another in seconds, they make a lot more money because their healthy. Not to mention these injuries bring more health issues in the future, domino effect, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, possible addiction to medication, ect. Some of these injured veterans even if not from combat will never have that ability and therefore it WILL affect how much income they bring in for the rest of their life. They could have just went to college and not served at all and undoubted wouldn't have those injuries keeping them from achieving their maximum potential.

Feeling badly about compensation for service related injuries is akin to feeling badly about surviving a combat situation where friends did not.
We have no way of knowing what else life will hand us. We have no way of knowing whether those injuries will cause further issues down the road. Make the most of what we have every day and maybe give back to other troops for the rest of the way.

nope, not at all!

No. No they should not.

No. All service members are trained for and subject to serve in combat but most never engage in combat. By some estimates there are 7 service members in non-combat training/support roles for each soldier in combat. These support roles are just as critical to mission accomplishment as those on the front lines.

Why should they feel like they’re undeserving? If you are or were military (any branch) and receive disability, then you deserve it. Stop questioning your worth; and if someone is? Question theirs. Better yet ignore them, they ain’t worth your time.

There is no reason to feel bad about receiving disability.If the injury or cause of the disability happened while serving then it should be received without stigma.