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

No the disability is SERVICE RELATED , not combat related

No indeed.

I spent 18 years as a Veterans Service Officer for VVA. I got that a lot. If you were in the military, and you got injured in the military, you are entitled to service connected compensation. Period. End of story. (38 USC 3.1)

No they shouldn't feel bad about receiving disability from VA. Look at it this way. Your a mechanic and while changing a tire on a two and a half ton and it falls off the Jack's breaking your legs. Later your legs begin hurting in the same place they were broken. Don't you think you should be able to get some sort of help and if that pain makes it so you can not walk or work. Isn't it right you be helped?

Not at all. Even though my disabilities may not be combat related, they were caused by the work I did and everything I was exposed to and accidents on duty. No different than a combat realted injury because in the end these are all work related injuries.

No... one who served even if it wasn't combat-related, should not be ashamed for receiving VA disability. We all served and knew the risks.

Its a sign of the times and culture that this is even a discussion. There was a time when military service to your nation was obligatory. You would be paid a salary for time served but when you got out of the service the state owed you nothing. If you were injured lost an eye or leg it was on you. WE THE PEOPLE saw this as a great injustice. The people paying the taxes chose to correct this. when you sign on the line and swear your oath you offer your life to the service of your nation. If you are permanently injured during that service; in combat, training or a support role you should be taken care of. we learned you cant recruit new soldiers if the old ones are sitting or standing on the street corner in their old tattered uniform with a sign that says "Disabled veteran!! Homeless and Hungry!! need help!!"

The military has plenty of dangerous jobs even in peacetime. Anyone that has spent time on a Carrier Deck can tell you this and hundreds of other jobs done in our Military. No way do you feel bad. That is the beautiful thing about vets. We have stuff available to us yet we would rather count on our selves. But there is a point in time when you need to take the help, don't feel bad. We have earned it. Want to feel better about it. Volunteer to help where and when you can. Just an old Navy Corpsman opinion.

Not at all. Should you feel bad about getting disability for being run over by a forklift in the parking lot after work? Either way they’re liable. If you got hurt in the line of duty you got hurt in the job and they’re liable. Also screw the VA. Take them for all you can.

I agree with LTC Christensen and as to "Gaming the system" it has been my experience that VA is now the one playing the game. Hearing loss not allowed even though I served in the Artillery and the Army issued my hearing aids! Two back surgeries caused by 20 years in combat arms and that qualified for 10 percent. It seems the VA is more concerned with keeping the funds rather than compensate the solider.