What's the better deal, 20 years for retirement or Medical Retirement?

my thoughts are finish the 20 or 30.

I work for DFAS, retired pay department. Its better to have 20 years then disability. Only after 20 years are you eligible for CDRP. Then you can receive your retired pay and your disability pay. Those who get out on disability will receive a VA waiver. If under 20 years or the 15 if its authorized, you'll be paid primarily by the VA and the VA only. That 20 years is huge.

I agree 100% with your comment, i am going on 16 years, have a PULHES of 111111 also, and have seen some dirtbag Soldiers who refused to do their job get out with 90% disability, it sickens me!! Yes, some are deserving of the medical benefits but alot, and i mean alot are taking advantage of the system and getting out with medical disabilities that will get them paid for life, while someone like me, a 16 year grunt with back and neck pain, 4 surgeries, a ripped tendon in my ankle broken hand with screws in it and other wear and tear have never complained about the pain and just kept on going. Maybe it's time i get these things documented myself.

The best solution is what I did on the advice of an E-9. During your final 2 years become a sick bay commando and let them know of every ache and injury you have. I did just that and ended up medically retired at over 20 with 50% disability rating. I went TDRL and 5 years later my disability was rated at 100%. I receive 75% of my base pay tax free...

Ok, since you are fit the chances of a medical retirement are slim to none, unless, heaven forbid your become ill or injured. Medical retirement does not match 20 years. You retire at the grade and service calculation at the time of separation. The advantage comes when a medically retired service member applies at the VA. They can receive another a second disability and education to get them back on their feet. So for those who you think did not earn it, shame on you, it is impossible to fake an illness or injury that would warrant a medical. Furthermore I am sure that no one wants that type of damage warranting a medical because it comes at some price. Some more than others. I hope you clear your head and remember why we all serve. I hope and pray that you retire well and still have all ones. Thank you for your service.

I'm not sure what the medical retirement option is, but I can tell you my situation. I served two years before injuries and some concurrent mental conditions (panic disorder and agoraphobia) hit me out of nowhere. I worked in Naval Intelligence and fully expected and wanted to serve 20.

Anyway, I came home with a regular honorable discharge, started over and put myself through college. Then I went to work and did my best, but signs of PTSD began about a year after I came home and my panic disorder turned out to be "treatment resistant," meaning that meds and therapy couldn't help it. All they can do is dose me with tranquelizers. I also developed depression over the years and by 2008, I couldn't work anymore.

The VA had me see all their doctors and undergo all kinds of tests before they rated me at 100% after about three years of red tape. Long story short, I get disability benefits and it does all stem from what happened in the service during the Bosnian War (it's been 20 years), but I don't feel like I've earned it. I didn't serve the time I signed up to serve.

In the end, I would give back every penny if I could be rid of all my mental and physical conditions and live a normal life. I miss working. Life is brutal for me and I not only can't work, I can't drive and I can barely leave my house. I am a lousy husband and father because of my disabilities and it eats at me. The money helps me support my family and I am extremely grateful to the VA and the military in general, but trust me when I say the money doesn't make up for all that is missing.

I guess I have the best of both worlds, retired with full pay as an E-8 with over 22 years and 100% disability. I would like to not have the disability, but that the way it is. To explain it is I have two Purple Hearts two surgery, the last on just two years ago, so you can draw your on conclusion. I thank all of you for your service.

I don't know about you but I do not have a medical degree nor am I a physician. It is the medical professionals responsibility to determine what a soldier's capabilities and limitations are. If they deem that the soldier is not fit to perform their duties in the current mos than they may be able to reclassify to something that they can do. In the event nothing fits medical retirement is on the table only if rated over 30% disabled I believe. The soldiers that get medically retired deserve to be taken care of just as much as those of us still working our way to retirement eligibility. Are there soldiers out there that beat the system? Yes. Can we prevent them from doing so? No. It is not a perfect system but it is what we have. It is our job as Leaders to train our soldiers for war and prepare them for life outside the military in many cases. This should be our focus and not judging those who have opted to serve during war and got injured or sick before deploying.

I need help understanding the differences between 20 yrs retirement with 100% VA. For this example I would like to use 100% VA. I was asked if I wanted to initiate an MEB. I need to understand the possible differences in money. I know if I went the regular retirement with 20yrs I would recieve 50% of my base pay plus 100% VA disability. But what could I recieve in money terms if I went the MEB route.

Not trying to come off rude by you are an 88m I was an FMF sailor who medically retired after 5 years. I was attached to a marine infantry platoon on two intense combat deployments and was severely injured on my second deployment and went to Walter reed, then back to my parent command where I retired.

My first argument to you. 1) how much contact did you take if you went to Iraq or Afghanistan? How many IEDs did you encounter? Did you fire your rifle? If so how many times?
2. Where you ever injured by enemy contact?
3. Where awarded a CAB? Do you have any awards with a V? Do you have a PH?
4) what level of danger where you in daily?

On my second deployment in 08 my vehicle struck an IED. Everyone in my vehicle was severely injured with several surgeries. Prior to this incident we had lost 4 individuals over the course of our deployment due to small arms fire or IED. I have since had multiple surgeries and I am having another surgery for an incident that happened over 10 years ago.

Your statement definitely seems to make you out to be on a high horse. If I met you face to face I would laugh you out of the room.