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

No you've earned it.

is it my fault that my body is broken from all the training? carrying 100lbs for miles just to prepare for combat, constant PT to keep my body in shape regardless if i'm injured or not to be ready for combat. we all went into service as healthy individual, that's why we had to pass an intensive medical evaluation to qualify. only job i had, where i had to spread my butt to get a job.

Awe hell no I don't feel ashamed. Never been anywhere near combat and I receive over $3000 a month in service connected disability. The vast majority of it comes from tackling an E-6 who was on fire just feet from what is left of this Sheridan and being blown over a small fence just seconds later in a massive explosion that totally destroyed the tank. I was recommended for the Soldier's Medal but never received it because nobody saw what I did.

Not at all. You were wherever you were solely because the military put you there is that position at that time. I was hit by a drunk driver in Italy while serving. Should I not receive my 10% for the destroyed knee it left me with.

I have voiced my opinion on this and it remains the same. The military is the only occupation that does not require some for of worker's compensation insurance. If you are injured on the job there is no financial protection for the employee. Being a member of the military, you are, in a lot of aspects, an employee. VA disability is that worker's compensation. If you are injured on any other job, worker's compensation takes care of you and can do so quite possibly for the rest of your life. If you are killed on the job, worker's compensation provides burial benefits and will most likely provide a very large check to your family. The VA provides many of these benefits. If you stop looking at the military as so special institution and another employer that puts the VA in an entirely different light.

My personal story is this, I am a non-combat injured vet with a disability rating. I collect a fairly large check from the VA every year. I had multiple injuries when I got out, knees and a very damaged shoulder amongst them. My knees can't be repaired so I live in pain everyday till they are severe enough to replace. That may be 20 years or more. My shoulder was so severe that it finally had to be operated on. The VA refused to do it and even tried to say it wasn't injured (sometimes they are idiots). I proved it to a private doctor, that I had never seen, in 5 minutes and had surgery a month later. I will still have nerve damage in the arm, probably for the rest of my life, but at least the shoulder works. Keep in mind, these are all from training and work incidents. None are combat related. You tell me, should I, or anybody in my situation, feel bad about compensation for what the military took away? I get to deal with pain and future medical problems, not the military. In my opinion disability compensation is the least I am owed.

As I understand it, the ratings are designated as "service related" not "combat related". To me, this says ANY injury/disability caused by direct performance of military duties is eligible for compensation. Why would someone feel guilty for that? You got hurt while in the performance of official duties. The exact manner/nature is irrelevant in my opinion. Hurt is hurt and should be compensated as appropriate.

It’s interesting. I felt that way. I didn’t think my problems were all that serious when I went to the VA and saw combat related injuries. But the way it was explained to me was, I am not taking away from anyone. If I had a problem caused by the military I was just as deserving as any other vet. I have only a 10% but it has opened the doors to even better care at the VA

ABSOLUTELY NOT when you raised your right hand you wrote a blank check to the government
They don't give disability away if you don't deserve it You don't get it. I have been 100%SC FOR 24 YEARS

Why? I draw a modest VA disability pay for injuries I suffered from military service. I've got arthritis, and trust me, it hurts. There are already measures in place to pay more compensation to service members for injuries suffered in combat and during combat training, and in most cases that compensation is tax-free. I am entirely in favor of service members disabled in battle to get as much compensation as they can - they have earned it. That doesn't mean the rest of us who suffer from medical conditions related to our military service shouldn't get disability pay. We're not competing with one another for disability pay. Anyone who tries to compel us to make that false choice should be set straight.

No, you were working for the Department of Defense when injured.