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So I have had talks with others about VA disabilities and some I thought were joking that the VA pays 10% disability for STDs. I did some research and sure enough you are eligible for VA disabilities for STDs. And it is not limited only to those who contracted it through rape or similiar situations.
One law firm states:
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will not grant disability compensation or pension to a veteran for an injury or illness that was the result of willful misconduct, even if the veteran meets the other basic eligibility requirementsfor veterans benefits. Likewise, if a veteran's death is found to be the result of willful misconduct, the surviving family will not be able to obtain disability and indemnity compensation (DIC).
Willful misconduct that causes a disability also prohibits eligibility for vocational rehabilitation benefits. However, if a veteran has another service-connected disability that was not caused by willful misconduct, the veteran may be eligible for compensation or pension as well as educational and vocational benefits based on that service-connected disability.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
Getting a venereal disease or STD, or the disabilities resulting from it, does not constitute willful misconduct under VA regulations. This is true even if the military found that the venereal disease resulted from willful misconduct. Consequently, a veteran can obtain service-connected disability compensation for these disabilities.
This was also in the news:
http://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/health/article/Vets-with-STDs-getting-disability-payments-1236052.php
What do you think? I think we can all agree that if the service member was raped that this one thing and should be covered. If a service member contracted a STD when it was their decision to have sexual relations or through other methods such as sharing needles should they receive disability?
One law firm states:
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will not grant disability compensation or pension to a veteran for an injury or illness that was the result of willful misconduct, even if the veteran meets the other basic eligibility requirementsfor veterans benefits. Likewise, if a veteran's death is found to be the result of willful misconduct, the surviving family will not be able to obtain disability and indemnity compensation (DIC).
Willful misconduct that causes a disability also prohibits eligibility for vocational rehabilitation benefits. However, if a veteran has another service-connected disability that was not caused by willful misconduct, the veteran may be eligible for compensation or pension as well as educational and vocational benefits based on that service-connected disability.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
Getting a venereal disease or STD, or the disabilities resulting from it, does not constitute willful misconduct under VA regulations. This is true even if the military found that the venereal disease resulted from willful misconduct. Consequently, a veteran can obtain service-connected disability compensation for these disabilities.
This was also in the news:
http://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/health/article/Vets-with-STDs-getting-disability-payments-1236052.php
What do you think? I think we can all agree that if the service member was raped that this one thing and should be covered. If a service member contracted a STD when it was their decision to have sexual relations or through other methods such as sharing needles should they receive disability?
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 25
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Oh well, this is something I had never thought about.
So, as a vet, I can march into a VA hospital (**edit, I'm not a guy) and say my penis is falling off because I had sex with a hooker back in the day?
Alternatively, as a female, I can blame my blistering, oozing crotch-rot on a drunken quickie and get PAID? (Not that this is my personal case, I just wanted to throw out that mental image.)
This is setting a precedence, I think.
So, as a vet, I can march into a VA hospital (**edit, I'm not a guy) and say my penis is falling off because I had sex with a hooker back in the day?
Alternatively, as a female, I can blame my blistering, oozing crotch-rot on a drunken quickie and get PAID? (Not that this is my personal case, I just wanted to throw out that mental image.)
This is setting a precedence, I think.
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SSG Maurice P.
damn dude did you see that stuff on that guys face shit...........................i just quit messin with hookers....................Not i haven't messed around in a long time hehehehehehe
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SSG Maurice P.
No shit that was beyond horrible... I love being inside a female more than anything else in life's pleasures it is the closest,
i will ever get to heaven and if god made anything better he kept it for himself...but after seeing that guy with the blue waffle i might have nightmares but i cant quit sex damn hehehehehehehehehehe
i will ever get to heaven and if god made anything better he kept it for himself...but after seeing that guy with the blue waffle i might have nightmares but i cant quit sex damn hehehehehehehehehehe
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I know this is gonna be ugly...but here goes. The VA is not going to rate you for a disability just cuz you got the clap. NOT gonna happen, especially if you are treated and cured properly. It becomes a blip on the radar that is never seen again. However, if the STD becomes an issue that will not go away and requires constant medical attention...just like a broken bone that won't heal or any other wound that won't or can't go back to original form and function. THEN you have an aggravated issue that can be addressed in the same fashion as any other medical condition a veteran has.
Stop with the judgements. It's not on you to judge. I know a guy that reported to the medical department more than a dozen times over the years...STD after STD. Navy thinking of admin separation. Turns out the guys wife just couldn't leave Jody alone - I'm sure all you ARMY guys know Jody right?.....
It's not rape...he's not dipping somewhere he shouldn't....so YOU gonna drop judgement on him?......Methinks you go too far in the making judgements on things that are none of your damned business.
Stop with the judgements. It's not on you to judge. I know a guy that reported to the medical department more than a dozen times over the years...STD after STD. Navy thinking of admin separation. Turns out the guys wife just couldn't leave Jody alone - I'm sure all you ARMY guys know Jody right?.....
It's not rape...he's not dipping somewhere he shouldn't....so YOU gonna drop judgement on him?......Methinks you go too far in the making judgements on things that are none of your damned business.
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SSG (Join to see)
Veterans willful misconduct is, generally defined, “an act involving conscious wrongdoing or known prohibited action.” This includes acts with a “deliberate or intentional wrongdoing with knowledge of or wanton and reckless disregard of its probable consequences.”
If the VA wants to bar veterans benefits based on a death or disability, the VA has to prove by a “preponderance of the evidence” that it was caused by willful misconduct. It's not a high bar to meet, the VA just has to show that most of the evidence supports willful misconduct in their findings.
In PO1 (Join to see) example above, yes it can happen. The spouse is doing Jody and the husband comes home after some deployment and then finds out he's got HIV or Herpes being home for awhile, how is it his fault? It surely wasn't willful misconduct on his part. Those are long term STDs and since he was in the service at the time of the occurrence it most certainly is service connected. Now if he was out doing Jane Doe and he got an STD which couldn't be 'cured' and considered a long term STD, then by all means he did commit willful misconduct; its willful misconduct anyways even it was just a case VD and a few shots got rid of it. So should he get VA rating for it, no, not at all, but does that alone doesn't stop him from receiving other ratings for service connected disabilities he may have? Oh females aren't excluded here.
SSG Lawrence Crow, please tell a female/male veteran/service member that their STD as a result of MST isn't service connected, as by your statement above "getting a VA Pension for an STD is WRONG!!!!". I doubt anyone is willingly allowing themselves to be raped to get a service connected disability.
What do you tell the veteran/service member who contracts HIV because of blood transfusion or a sex partner who didn't realize they had it. During the window period(approx 3wks to 6 months), an infected person can transmit HIV to others although their HIV infection may not be detectable with an antibody test because not enough antibodies have been made.
Here's a scenarios, you get HIV and your VA claim was denied because you abused drugs during your service on active duty and you go to court for your appeal, the courts will likely say that if drugs are used to enjoy or experience their effects and a disability occurs, then that disability is willful misconduct.
But hold your horses, lets couple that with PTSD, depression, anxiety, as a result of MST or combat or both and you were using alcohol, using drugs via needles to cope and they were contaminated and you got HIV, HEP-C or other disease, and let's be honest here you weren't of sound mind, guess what, now there's a case of service connection because of PTSD, depression, anxiety.
I'm sorry SSG Lawrence Crow, you saw someone die while trying to get their compensation, but can you honestly say it was a result of those "who have STDs" that are the scammers, whiners, slackers that caused that individuals death? No it was a result of an antiquated system fraught with deceit and plagued with problems at all levels. Ask any Vietnam Vet of the BS they're still going through. I used the BDD(Benefits Delivery at Discharge) program, which is a fail, 2nd notice received in mail saying my claim is still pending, DD-214 has been uploaded and my VSO sent it in yet the VA can't find it. I've sent my VSO an email and it been a month with no response. I can guarantee you my claim wasn't STD related.
This thread just done pissed me off.
If the VA wants to bar veterans benefits based on a death or disability, the VA has to prove by a “preponderance of the evidence” that it was caused by willful misconduct. It's not a high bar to meet, the VA just has to show that most of the evidence supports willful misconduct in their findings.
In PO1 (Join to see) example above, yes it can happen. The spouse is doing Jody and the husband comes home after some deployment and then finds out he's got HIV or Herpes being home for awhile, how is it his fault? It surely wasn't willful misconduct on his part. Those are long term STDs and since he was in the service at the time of the occurrence it most certainly is service connected. Now if he was out doing Jane Doe and he got an STD which couldn't be 'cured' and considered a long term STD, then by all means he did commit willful misconduct; its willful misconduct anyways even it was just a case VD and a few shots got rid of it. So should he get VA rating for it, no, not at all, but does that alone doesn't stop him from receiving other ratings for service connected disabilities he may have? Oh females aren't excluded here.
SSG Lawrence Crow, please tell a female/male veteran/service member that their STD as a result of MST isn't service connected, as by your statement above "getting a VA Pension for an STD is WRONG!!!!". I doubt anyone is willingly allowing themselves to be raped to get a service connected disability.
What do you tell the veteran/service member who contracts HIV because of blood transfusion or a sex partner who didn't realize they had it. During the window period(approx 3wks to 6 months), an infected person can transmit HIV to others although their HIV infection may not be detectable with an antibody test because not enough antibodies have been made.
Here's a scenarios, you get HIV and your VA claim was denied because you abused drugs during your service on active duty and you go to court for your appeal, the courts will likely say that if drugs are used to enjoy or experience their effects and a disability occurs, then that disability is willful misconduct.
But hold your horses, lets couple that with PTSD, depression, anxiety, as a result of MST or combat or both and you were using alcohol, using drugs via needles to cope and they were contaminated and you got HIV, HEP-C or other disease, and let's be honest here you weren't of sound mind, guess what, now there's a case of service connection because of PTSD, depression, anxiety.
I'm sorry SSG Lawrence Crow, you saw someone die while trying to get their compensation, but can you honestly say it was a result of those "who have STDs" that are the scammers, whiners, slackers that caused that individuals death? No it was a result of an antiquated system fraught with deceit and plagued with problems at all levels. Ask any Vietnam Vet of the BS they're still going through. I used the BDD(Benefits Delivery at Discharge) program, which is a fail, 2nd notice received in mail saying my claim is still pending, DD-214 has been uploaded and my VSO sent it in yet the VA can't find it. I've sent my VSO an email and it been a month with no response. I can guarantee you my claim wasn't STD related.
This thread just done pissed me off.
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PO1 (Join to see)
@ssg lawrence crow your interpretation is not supported in law...trust me - you are incorrect.
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SSG Lawrence Crow
I wish you well on your claim, SSG Joe Garza. And obviously, people who are sexualy assaulted in the military should receive compensation, STD or not. I am just saying, that paying long term for EVERY case is wrong... You will have to admit that MOST cases come from poor moral choices, and YES, I said poor MORAL choices... As a result, there are consequences to our choices and our actions... But my tax dollars should not pay for them, via the VA.
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PO1 (Join to see)
As a great man once said: "let he who is without sin..cast the first stone" - Anyone running for the position of "he who is without sin"? Jesus couldn't find one, even among his religion's own priests......
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I think we tend to judge STDs as a negative against those who get them, but it often isn't the result of risky behavior. People contract STDs even with proper precautions so it wouldn't be appropriate to deny health care to someone who caught one. They require medical treatment like any other disease regardless of how they were contracted. When we judge the victim on how they caught a particular disease, we are treading down a slippery slope.
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There are some STDs that although treated have long term physical effects so I can see why some are compensated. Hell I feel as though I should be compensated for having worked the STD clinic. The trauma alone should be 30%
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PO1 (Join to see)
PO3 Shaun Taylor between your comment and SGT (Join to see) 's vivid description...I think I've been injured and I'm gonna apply for at least 50% based on the extended trauma being forced upon me and then another 50% for having to endure all this hyper-religious zealotry.
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I think something like 80% of males carry HPV. If a female soldier gets cancer due to it, not sure I can really blame her. It's everywhere.
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SGT (Join to see)
Most females are as well. Almost 80 million Americans currently have HPV. Because they are asymptomatic, most people pass it on, unaware that they are infected. There are millions of new cases per year because if this.
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MAJ (Join to see)
SGT (Join to see) I have a 13 yr old daughter, and I'll definitely be getting her the HPV vaccine. These silent killers are the most dangerous and, sadly, often the most preventable. MILLIONS might die from something like HPV, but 10,000 w/ ebola get the headlines.
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SGT (Join to see)
MAJ (Join to see), yes, sir. Me too. I have three daughters myself and they are almost to that age. I'll definitely be in line with them.
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I'm not voting due to the nature of the work that I do, but I can confirm that you CAN receive disability compensation for disabilities resulting from STDs if the disability(s) is/are CHRONIC in nature. Just having acquired a STD is NOT a disability and no compensation would be awarded.. I know of more than one veteran drawing service connected compensation for conditions resulting from HIV/AIDS that was acquired on active duty (and the HOW portion is irrelevant).
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Suspended Profile
MSG Wade Huffman I would think the "how" is important. For instance, a whole bunch of folks got Hepatitis from immunizations using the air injectors, which were not cleaned properly between injections. If the injector picks up a virus or bacterium from some other disease in the same process, then the VD infection is due to medical malpractice, and has no bearing on the conduct of the member.
This is just one example. The Hepatitis issue is now a presumptive for people who went to Boot Camp during the prescribed period.
BTW, I was lucky, the air injectors weren't dirty the day they hit me...
This is just one example. The Hepatitis issue is now a presumptive for people who went to Boot Camp during the prescribed period.
BTW, I was lucky, the air injectors weren't dirty the day they hit me...
PO1 (Join to see)
LCDR Rabbi Jaron Matlow I believe, if one were to dig deep enough, you will find the VA ruling and thought pattern is thus on any injury (and STD's are considered injury by definition): if the injury occurred during military service and there is no finding of NOT in the Line of Duty AND the injury is present and aggravated / continues AFTER military service then it is possible to assign a disability, thus compensation can be assessed. Basically it means the VA is not going to get into the "why" or "how" the injury occurred as long as the military did not place blame on the service member. Most STD's are cleared before the servicemember is released and usually doesn't reoccur. I personally don't want the VA to get into the "how" - it's already difficult enough in some instances to get the VA to do the right thing by Veterans. Putting the VA on the moral judgement bandwagon is a slippery slope that will bite us all in the ass.
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Suspended Profile
EN1, well said. The issue, of course, always surrounds what the law says, and what the VA does in reality. Thus, presumptive always make things easier.
Having processed VA claims as a DAV service officer for a number of years, I am intimately familiar with the rules and process of VA claims.
Hence I speak out at every opportunity about the myriad soldiers the Army (and other branches to lesser extent) kicked out on "fraudulent enlistment" for "pre-existing personality disorder" when they showed signs of PTSD which led to misconduct. This is a case of "you broke it, you bought it." They were accepted at the MEPS, thus it doesn't matter if they had pre-existing mental health issues. A Service Connected condition is defined as one that is either "Caused by or Aggravated by military service..."
Having processed VA claims as a DAV service officer for a number of years, I am intimately familiar with the rules and process of VA claims.
Hence I speak out at every opportunity about the myriad soldiers the Army (and other branches to lesser extent) kicked out on "fraudulent enlistment" for "pre-existing personality disorder" when they showed signs of PTSD which led to misconduct. This is a case of "you broke it, you bought it." They were accepted at the MEPS, thus it doesn't matter if they had pre-existing mental health issues. A Service Connected condition is defined as one that is either "Caused by or Aggravated by military service..."
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SPC(P) Samantha Moore
Just playing devil's advocate here, what if a soldier obtained and STD, not by making poor decisions? For example, what if there was a sexual assault case involved?
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CW2 Jonathan Kantor
CPT Zachary Brooks, how do you suggest we determine the nature of someone's behavior to find whether or not its risky? We would need to have some sort of inquiry into every person who contracts an STD. That includes women whose husbands cheat on them (& vice-versa), rape victims, etc. There is no broad application of the law here. Also, people lie about this sort of thing all the time. Hell, people lie about normal medical conditions that don't carry a stigma (I watched House M.D. so I know!).
Just trying to point out that there isn't a practical way to determine the nature of how someone contracted an STD. Frankly, I wouldn't be willing to spend any money on that nor would I want to be the poor bastard who would have to review those files or investigate those cases.
Just trying to point out that there isn't a practical way to determine the nature of how someone contracted an STD. Frankly, I wouldn't be willing to spend any money on that nor would I want to be the poor bastard who would have to review those files or investigate those cases.
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CPT Zachary Brooks
CW2 Jonathan Kantor I agree with you. I do not see it as any way that we could actually look into this information or to designate what happened with a person or not. While I agree with your stigma comment as well, that does not make me feel that individuals should get disability for an STD. The only intelligent way to apply the law in this case is broadly, and I feel that applying it broadly against is the best way to go about it, but that is my opinion.
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CW2 Jonathan Kantor
I understand your point of view but that would necessitate not treating someone for hepatitis or syphilis who contracted it via a blood transfusion or rape. Because of that, STDs need to be treated. That's why the VA pays for them in the first place.
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I suppose it would depend on the circumstances like any other decision made by the VA. Trying to not be judgmental on this one.
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SGT (Join to see)
MSgt (Join to see), me too. Venereal diseases are a fact of life: maybe not ours, necessarily, but somebody's. The statistics for women and HPV are alarming as well.
I dare say that STDs are pandemic to service-members. My trouble lies in the fact that an SM could potentially use VD for financial gain. And really, with the budget cuts and sorry state of VA benefits as a whole, I think it could potentially be a concern.
Just my opinion, but as I said, I just learned of this, so I definitely need to read up.
I dare say that STDs are pandemic to service-members. My trouble lies in the fact that an SM could potentially use VD for financial gain. And really, with the budget cuts and sorry state of VA benefits as a whole, I think it could potentially be a concern.
Just my opinion, but as I said, I just learned of this, so I definitely need to read up.
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SFC (Join to see)
I can agree only in the case of sexual assault victims' other then that, no. We all had the briefings about STD's. Just my opinion and you know what they say about them.
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MSgt (Join to see)
SFC (Join to see) I totally understand. As a conservative its not usually my nature to be politically correct. Hence trying not to be judgmental.
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SSG Maurice P.
SFC GARZON i had the lectures but nature and my Johnson would collide hence a call-girl
but what woke me up was the STD films after seeing them i didn't even want to touch the damn thing in fear i infected it hehehehehehehehe
but what woke me up was the STD films after seeing them i didn't even want to touch the damn thing in fear i infected it hehehehehehehehe
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I suppose its hard to know exactly the circumstances that someone gets one. I suppose the first reaction is to assume that it was from all the hookers overseas. Its not always the case.
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PO1 (Join to see)
Lt Col (Join to see) You get the "common sense" award of the day! Which, by the way, seems to be in extremely short supply here on RP today......
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Willful misconduct? Seriously? I caught the clap off a female soldier that I didn't know was cheating and it's willful misconduct? NOW we're being judgemental about people's personal activities....
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LTC (Join to see)
Well if you are not taking precautions by using condoms I think is what they mean by that. But good point about cheating spouses...
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PO1 (Join to see)
LTC (Join to see) I wish I had a nickel for every time I heard that argument - I'd be rich. Especially since condoms are no garantee for anything. Condoms mitigate. They don't prevent anything.
The point being is we're standing in judgement on things we only assume - we don't know for fact...unless you're the perv in the closet watching. Soooooo, unless you are the only man on earth that has NOT committed ANY sin.....I think the Christians of the group need to read up on a guy named Jesus and his comments on a woman found in adultery and some stones.............
The point being is we're standing in judgement on things we only assume - we don't know for fact...unless you're the perv in the closet watching. Soooooo, unless you are the only man on earth that has NOT committed ANY sin.....I think the Christians of the group need to read up on a guy named Jesus and his comments on a woman found in adultery and some stones.............
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