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LTC Stephen B.
6
6
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I always considered retired pay as "compensation for service" and disability payments as restitution for lost future income based on inability or reduced capacity to perform certain functions. I don't see them as being "compensated twice for their service" as the budget control "option" claims.

You could just as easily claim that the retirement check itself compensates the member "twice for their service" since they got paid WHILE they were serving, and now get compensated again for that same service. Unfortunately, there are those in Congress and the current administration that would try to pick up THAT ball and run with it as well.
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SSgt Copyright Specialist
SSgt (Join to see)
>1 y
Exactly. If concurrent receipt goes away it is like you are paying your own disability since your retirement is being offset by the disability figure.
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1SG Brian Adams
1SG Brian Adams
>1 y
Well said Colonel, thank you...
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SGM Marty Powers
3
3
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Edited >1 y ago
I will wait and see what President Trump and his VA pick decide. Many retirees and I voted in the effort to make America Great Again. Privatization and elimination of concurrent receipt is his choice. if you voted for him then support him. The current VA expenditure is unsustainable. I work with quite a few never deployed, non combat experienced veterans who are in their 20's collecting pensions. I also know a few retirees collecting retirement and 100% disability for issues like PTSD while working as a high paid contractor in that very same war zone, doing the same job (spending weekends partying in Thailand). Thats whats wrong with the VA.. No oversight. The sick-call malingerers getting paid for the rest of their life. I believe in reviewing all cases again, eliminating concurrent receipt for the majority of non combat disabilities and paying for treatment as opposed to pensions for the majority of cases. These Vets need jobs. Not handouts. I am reminded of that when I meet an amputee rated at 60% looking for employment.
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1stSgt Eugene Harless
1stSgt Eugene Harless
>1 y
I will agree that the VA needs to do a better job of weeding out frauds. I'm pretty skeptical about Vets drawing 100% VA disability and working, VA Math is very screwy about giving out 100%, once you hit 50% you start getting "Percentages of Percentages" My disability ratings are from highest to lowest 30% 20% 20% 20% 10% 10% 10% and 10%. Added up that's 130%, however my VA pension Rating is 90%. What they have done is determined that I am unemployable so my compensation is the 100% rating. I do have to fill out a standard inquiry form every year asking if I did work for anyone in the past year,
I will totally disagree that "The current VA expenditure is unsustainable" Its a matter of priority.
One Aircraft platform, The FA-8. Which the Navy and Marine Corps has 829 of in manufacturing cost alone cost $91,320,700,000. That amount of money would pay about 51,000 Disabled Veterans 100% disability for 50 years each.
That's one single weapons system.
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SGM Marty Powers
SGM Marty Powers
>1 y
1stSgt Eugene Harless - I need to rephrase. "Unsustainable in its current form".
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1stSgt Eugene Harless
1stSgt Eugene Harless
>1 y
SGM Marty Powers - That's pretty much any Government run agency.
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MSgt Mike Briney
3
3
0
Had not seeen this, and I sincerely hope it had no serious traction. The retirement pension and disability pay are two distinct and very separate programs. They do not compensate a service member twice for the same service, and the notion that it does is ludicrous.
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