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

(I'm a combat vet but I don't have any combat-related injuries) When I was going through my retirement process, a retired SGM who was helping me encouraged me to apply for VA disability. He said go to the VA, answer their questions, get evaluated. I did, and got 20% disability for things that were military-service related. And so 20% of my military retirement pay is now tax-free. An injury is an injury, whether at garrison or on a battlefield.

No way, you incurred the disability on the job, you should be compensated for your loss.

As a twenty year plus NAVY veteran, I don't feel bad at all for getting Disability C&P from the VA; it's no different then "Workman's Comp" for service connected injuries. Just because we didn't get injured in direct action combat doesn't mean that we didn't get injured in the line of duty. I'm 70%+ for back injuries, PTSD, and other health related issues. Everything that is in my service record and medical record was because of doing something that was dangerous or harmful which our command ignored and bypassed safety regulations to get the job done. The universal theme of "Arrogance and Stupidity" are common problems; since our upper leadershit tread the enlisted as disposable cogs that can be easily replaced vs actually bothering to understand the over all cost of time, training, and ability that goes into getting people into those positions in the first place. Which is why the shift in safety protocols happened after I left since several SENIOR NCOS including myself documented the failures of leadership in safety and the correct measures were put in place to prevent future EPIC fuck ups by the Khaki Corps that often were the root cause of 80% of the incidents to begin with.

In fact in two cases I almost got killed because of other people's stupidity and Maintenance Control's near criminal negligence in pushing people beyond mandated safety guidelines. Had I died it would have been "Oh, well!" and investigation and then another body into the grinder to be a replacement. If anything the failures of leadership by CO downward in following orders is why accidents happen and Operation Tempos turn into accidents because of shitty training and cutting corners. As an enlisted instructor; I grilled into my newbies "Safety first" vs "What they want!" to make sure they come back with their limbs vs nearly loosing mine. I saw enough non-direct combat related deaths from incompetence and recklessness. I wasn't going to be on that KIA roster from someone else's stupidity and arrogance.

We PROPERLY TRAIN to FIGHT to AVOID FUCK UPS at all levels the problem is that shitty leadership above us is often times pushed by those who think we can be "miracle workers" and don't have any grasp about real time tables and logistics are running the show. They're so disconnected from the real world it's like Jeff Bezos and the daily Amazon day laborer in comparison. The problem is the levels of disconnections that happen and myriad of idiots in between who want to please the boss at the cost of the workers lives... This is why we have such a shitty return rate of progress that has pushed for the change to alternative choices for future warfare of robotics vs humans in combat in all branches of the military.

The key word is on the JOB. I know of no one that picked the job site location except for those of us who volunteered for second tours in Viet Nam and some who also volunteered for other campaigns. It takes each of us to care for all of us.

No way They were sent to other county somenever returned.They served their country they should not be ashamed. It would help if the Dr. did not treat the vets as they were faking every thing some do most do not. I have listen to some of the Dr., Or PA tell the patience that they were hurt in a war and having pomblems too. How I feel they are there to get help . not listen to their problems.
To get help you have to almost beg for it. That not right either.
They need help with every thing they have done for the our country.

No. Some injuries in the course of service ARE non-combat, but ARE service-related. The service IS responsible, by commission or omission, due to the service-related aspect. They are not responsible for my broken back (hypothetical) due to surfing off-duty, but for the same back injury due to helo-rappelling.

Not if the accident itself was happened during ones military service, Your Gov property as long as your enlisted, 24, 7.

No, they should not. Service injuries are just are real and debilitating regardless of when, where or how. Compensation is based on service not combat.

No, they should not. As pointed out, it is service NOT combat related compensation and there are a tremendous number of armed forces personal injured in non-combat and/or in peacetime time. They are all service related regardless of when, where or how and the injuries are just as real and debilitating.

No, not in anyway. When one is serving their Country, getting lifelong injuries that follow one all of their lives , it does not matter how, where, or under the circumstances the injury’s occurred. I’ve experienced Service Members badly hurt in life fire exercises. The injury is the same.