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

I got a medical discharge back in the 80's with a percentage and felt ashamed for many years. I felt a failure and the whole process reinforced the feeling. Alcoholic and suicidal I bounced around for years. Went to the Va for help after 15 years and was given pills and shoved out the door. I feel all that crap coming back with this covid19.

VA Disability compensation is for "SERVICE RELATED" disabilities, not just combat related. No service member should feel bad about receiving disability compensation, the disability occurred as a result of in service activities, therefore it is SERVICE RELATED.

If you receive an injury while serving and the injury results in you not being able to perform your duties in service, there is nothing to be ashamed of. Accidents happen to many people in life whither in service on not. Never be ashamed of what happened and the results.

No if it’s service connected you deserve treatment and compensation

Not even a little bit. I broke my ankle while in Germany in Hohenfels (which is german for "Colder than a witches T*t!) and my ankle got messed up afterwards. I am now receiving $140.00 a month tax free for the rest of my life (BTW, that amount is pulled from my retirement pay-I'm kinda loosing money) but I earned every penny of that. Anybody who says otherwise never had it happen to them and should shut the h**l up! Please pardon the language.

The VA was setup to treat all SERVICE connected medical problems. Nothing says you problem must be combat related

Why should they? Part of the promise made to us at our enlistment is that the military would take care of us if we took and put our lives on the line for our country. We paid the price and earned the benefit.

I am unfortunately a perfect example of what happens if you don't complain to the VA after injuring myself while serving. It was the last few days at my last base and for whatever reason, I was put on a base work detail instead being home and packing with my ex along with helping out with 11month old. That detail of shifting 50 metal beds for 50 wooden, included myself and one other Airman.. This bleep told me right from the start, I'm being booted(dishonorable for dealing drugs), so why should I bother helping. In hindsight, I probably should have gone to HQ and asked for somebody else, but I was quite honestly pissed off and just wanted to get it done and get home. Huge mistake.. Some beds later, I strained my back and carried on. Struggled with cases over the next few days arriving at Maguire and carried on struggling for guessing a week or so after(this was July 84')

Never thought, I should've gone to the base docs(very small base with tiny medical station and rarely seen anyway). I was raised like most of us in the military to just get on with it and not complain. That and well, it wasn't a combat situation so ignorantly thought it would be lame to complain..Eventually finally hired for first job as civilian and my back was not playing ball. Docs treated me as if I didn't want to work which hit my pride hard as worked through HS and then volunteered for military. Lost several jobs, until my last job which finally blew out my L5/S! disc and well work comp bs and welfare. The humilation over the years added up, and decided to move to the UK with ex as she was British. Moronic really as impossible to hide from yourself.

From 84' to that last job in December 92' it never occurred to me that I was entitled to ask for help from the military where I originally had the injury and now no real proof as never went to that base Dr and ex now claims she doesn't recall. I now have a VSO helping but not holding my breath. yeah I know, boring long story but it proved to me that pride can kick your butt and take away a considerable amount of your life away. During that time I thought heavily about how to not exist, gathered my meds, and prepared with razor blade for bath. Final humiliation was daughter finding out and hell that put her through...and she made me promise to get help and never put her through that again. I haven't and hopefully never will again but I really did not give a flock at the time as living sucked more.. So please brothers and sisters, if dealing with mental trauma, ask for help and keep asking until you find the right person or place as they do exist and one day you will be glad you fought for you...

No we should not, as a matter of fact we should have better benefits then the people who claim to love us in the house and senate for life.

I hope I can weigh in. after being enlisted 1a I served time until I had a major medical issue. this point changed every direction I intended and it is still with me medically. After serving I had many jobs but not a great deal of knowledge. Well fuck. So short story the military said not to any issue they that they say is from an out side source. My lungs collapsed and they said I had the problem prior to their accepting me and now its all on me. so after a time I did learn things. attn: while you are serving, NOT after discharge. you need a full medical work up. Prior to discharge! When I found out that my sleep apnea was a disability" only if it were diagnosed while in service" that explained why I mostly had a barracks room to my self. Its worth about 50% for those getting older. My issues should have been covered but there are no docs to challenge the treasonous democratic party. just get the know prior and present it BEFORE your discharge. you are aslo and should be in position of your medical jacket. I had mine for years. ….. ex wife.... another story