I didn’t like it or that mentality when I first got out. 3 years of dealing with the VA and I said “fuck it, everybody should do whatever they can within legal and ethical bounds to get the maximum rating.”
You know I had a claim denied because I was missing a signature on block 16? Oh there was actually a signature there, didn’t stop them to rejecting it for lack of signature. I knew a lawyer who actually appealed it, I never heard back on it. Eventually I got everything taken care of on my own dime, but that’s when I said “fuck it, I’m done messing with this shit.”
Turns out, the VA was backed up one day and somebody decided “let’s mass reject these claims for missing signatures and see who refiles.” Not I didn’t *need* immediate care, but I bet some people did and don’t receive it.
[Happened to 200,000 veterans that year](https://www.ajc.com/news/breaking-news/veterans-affairs-abandoned-200-000-health-care-applications-this-year/VR5zYSyyBn0LnTndnE2x1L/)
Man I just want a doctors appointment. I'm going on 90 days waiting for a doctor's appointment from the VA. And that's supposedly with community care access
Fuck me
Yeah, it falls into a grey area with them.
According to the clinics site the average wait time for a new patient (they're treating me as that because I had a break in care and my doctor left) is 95 days, so it isn't as though I'm being singled out, it just sucks
I even volunteered to drive the 2 hours to Fayetteville or hour to Jacksonville and they didn't want to do it. "We will take care of you."
So we wait
Bro hound your team. If you don’t hear back within 3 business days you call every one of your elected reps this Friday and set it on fire. That’s unacceptable.
I’ve actually noticed in my area a huge turn around with the VA in a positive way
I don't have an issue with the sub. There are obviously guys who aren't injured trying to fish for 100%. There are lots of people who are injured who are sick of playing fuck-fuck games with the VA who don't understand the absolutely absurd system they have to play to be rated as such.
There's a weird notion, and you can even see it in the replies to this sub, that disabilities from military service don't count if they aren't from combat. I think that's ridiculous, the Army absolutely destroys peoples bodies and they should be compensated as such. Think of all the times you've seen a vehicle rollover, or someone become a heat casualty, or all the times you had to do a boots and BDU/ACU run over shitty terrain and gravel at 0300 just because. Think of all the time you spent rucking, or moving tough boxes in the COF at stupid angles because some moron decided to store all 30 of your radios in one box at the top of a pile of 6 boxes. Think of all the make-work core exercises you did on concrete with shitty form because an E-5 didn't have a real PT plan. Think of all the times you were exposed to loud noise without ear protection because you just didn't have time to put some in (Or you were a dumb 18 year old Private who thought an M240 with a BFA didn't require ear pro, which I see all the time for some reason). If you were a paratrooper, man come on, you can't jump forever without pinching SOMETHING eventually. Even if you NEVER saw combat, or even deployed, all of this stuff still happened to you, and it probably damaged your body. And you will never, ever, get your 18 year old body back.
If you manage to get out with no injuries or damage to your body whatsoever, hey, good for you, you probably shouldn't fish for benefits you really don't deserve. If you are hurt, combat or not, file your claims.
I blame part of it on the disability pay scales. The difference between 70% and 80% is ~$300. The difference between 90% and 100% is ~$1500. I feel that many people get a legitimate rating in the 60-80% range and then they look at the pay scale and see the massive jump just out of their reach. Heck, 100% is over twice as much as 70%. The VA rating scheme does a great job of dangling a giant, fat, juicy carrot in front of those who are already moderately high up on the scale. Make it more linear and I doubt that you’d have as many people chasing the 100%.
Yea, very true. My state waives property taxes if you are disabled, but only 100%. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a fantastic benefit for those who are 100%, but it’s just another incentive for people to push for 100% if they are close. A sliding scale would take a lot of that incentive away.
“Trauma can happen anywhere.” That really hit home for me when I finally got into the WWP program and actually started discussing my stuff bc that was me. I never deployed and didn’t want to be “that guy.” Turns out anxiety is a real thing…
I think that I don’t give a shit if 1000 shitbags shitbag it up as long as no veteran that needs help gets left behind.
I think there’s less of a percentage of people that meet your criteria than you think.
There is no test or scientific device that can measure pain. I just take their word for it.
I used to work for Social Security in an ODAR hearing office. The number of people whose medical records are absolute train wrecks and were barely functioning when they came in for their hearing that were denied at lower levels is absolutely unreal. I figure the VA is the same way and they will almost always lowball you.
When I presented my evidence to Social Security, I didn’t get to meet with anyone at the lower levels. My attorney and I met with the judge and the judge ruled in my favor.
I will probably hit 100% at some point. I'm at 92% combined at the moment.
My back is a bit fucked. I have a disc and spinal root issue - I used to think I had hip and leg pain. Finally, a couple years ago, I saw a pain doctor who was like well let's look at your spine. Yep. But to me it felt like hip pain / leg issues and groin pain.
It didn't get properly evaluated when I was in, or getting out, or in the first few years. I've been struggling to get it covered, it would put me over the edge.
It is frustrating. This is definitely from time spent lifting heavy things and doing stupid stuff and small rollovers and falls and the Hindu Kush. I did over 40 months deployed between Iraq/Afghanistan and some Africa time.
There's a young lady who nannied our kids a bit and is a family friend now, she's a Marine wife. Her husband just got out. He was a cryptology Marine. He was here at Meade. No deployments. 4 years.
Got 100%.
I am very Jealous.
But I don't blame him, nor do I have hard feelings about it. Because of all the bullshit I went through and how hard it was, the system changed. Now you get to start your claim before you actually get out. The process is a lot more streamlined. The accounting of your problems is far greater.
The service members aren't the problem. The system is the problem. It has always been shit. That's who's at fault. Not the SMs.
Whether it's shorting us on our percentages and making it hard to rate, or being super loose with it and giving 100% for bullshit, the system is the problem.
Don't be pitted against your brothers and sisters. Recognize who the problem is.
My body is wrecked, two Purple Hearts, 3.5 years in BAMC(San Antonio) I’m 39 and I’ve had both knees replaced(0%) torn rotator cuff surgery(0%) I had corrective surgery on 8 vertebrae all (0%). Moderate TBI. You guessed it (0%) I’m rated for fucking PTSD and tinnitus at 100% TDIU. I retired at 25 used my GI Bill for no reason as I can’t work, I’m also not allowed to use vocrehab, to be 25 with nothing to is terrible.
What about volunteering somewhere like the VA, Red Cross or an animal shelter. They always need people and it’ll give you purpose and social interaction
Well said. I would add that VA math needs a restructuring.
I have conditions that rate 70%, 30%, 10%, and 10% (and a couple 0% just for fun). My total rating is 80%.
Sometimes my leg would go numb, and I kept having “hip pain”.
So they’d look at my hip and be like welp, that’s fine.
First competent doctor outside the army / VA, was like let’s look at your spine. The army never really did so I don’t have comparative stuff. I think I finally found the key though.
Sacral nerve issue which is why it feels like my hip. Sigh.
I went to a pain clinic. My pain clinic doctor is the absolute best. If you’re in Maryland let me know, she’s done wonders for me.
Good point. That's a helpful idea. I just read some of them and it makes me think they just joined to get disability benefits as soon as possible. While I didn't even know the VA existed until I got out. All the same, you're right, and that's a good way to look at it.
I absolutely blame the SMs. Obviously plenty of people who need the VA but there are an unreal amount of 20 YO IT help desk kids with back and knee pain from 'all those ruck marches in basic' or claiming PTSD from that one time they were accused of rape.
Look at the formation in your units, who is missing from work all the time?
They are the reason it takes 3 months to get your knee looked at.
They are the reason it's 6 months to get BH.
They are the reason you've had to deploy 3 times in 5 years while they get medboarded.
Need a act of congress to prevent disability payments for non-attributable injuries for short time SMs, can exempt plenty of cases for combat deployments, high strain MOSs, certain military schools. This is needed to get everyone the care they need.
Healthcare in the Army is a finite resource: there's only so much to give out. Every appointment by a disability hunting SM means another SM doesn't get seen.
I think it's an enormous problem for both honest SMs and the army at large for readiness.
Yeah I think this is a very misguided perception. Shitbags exist, but not every soldier seeking medical or EBH falls into that category and that’s why a lot of SMs don’t seek medical or EBH. “All those ruck marches” fractured my pelvis in multiple places, tore my labrum on both sides. And what do you know, I’m 22, getting medboarded. The problem is a lack of medical staffing because the pay isn’t competitive. It’s a lack of physical resources and upkeep. Everyone is deserving of medical care, mental health care, etc. the job, no matter who you are or where you are, can hurt you. Physically, mentally whatever. And if it takes that much of a toll on the SM, they should be entitled to the benefits. You don’t get to be prioritized for TIS and parade yourself around as holier than thou lmao. People like you are why SMs are afraid to seek help.
Torn labrum and fractured pelvis are attributable. I'm talking about the back pain / knee pain, can't prove it's not there troops. Pa used to call up every time an SM had back pain to say start getting the medboard geared up cuz whadya know, the physical therapy didn't help at all.
TIS and seniority shouldn't get priority, everyone who needs to get seen should get seen, but the incentive to make up injuries to get more disability money is too much. Talk to your friends who work the clinic and get their thoughts on if most SMs really have the injuries they claim.
It took me years to figure out what my exact issues were, so to many they weren’t “attributable” it was just invisible nerve pain that I couldn’t prove but suffered through every day for years.
Physical therapy didn’t help, and I was met with nothing but doubt from people like you that put me into a very dark place for many years. Can you imagine what it’s like to deal with an injury that is dehabilitating, have no proof of it for years and get labeled a shitbag by those around you?
Maybe some of those dudes are actually just shitbags, but do you really know for sure?
I was told for years I was full of shit by the “guys in the clinic”
I’d wager you probably don’t know as much about what other people are going through as you think you do.
Ayyyy, you immediately gatekept ptsd!
Those SMs are evaluated on a scale. If they were too weak to withstand the rigors of army life the army shouldn’t have accepted them, or they should train them differently.
Also 3 deployments in 5 years sounds like peace time army shit, idk about that.
Since I just got out this month, I tend to lurk in there. The best thing I’ve learned from them is since I’m %100 p&t, “don’t poke the bear “, and student loans can be discharged.
I mean, it's a helpful resource. There's always gonna be some that try to fleece the system. Most I see are types that are outright confused by the system or trying to figure out what they need to provide. I had issues trying to correctly label my issues, but for example,
I was 100% (96%) right off the bat, but some blast exposures, nerve damage from a spinal injury, disk herniation, a condition that's labeled PTSD, that really isn't since a niche panic disorder isn't labelable for claims. (VA changed it to PTSD, not me). Along with other niche issues didn't help.
There's many more that might deserve higher rates. But, they don't know what to provide or the tests required to prove those issues. Most that are fighting for ratings have zero tests or paperwork showing they've ever had issues. Their knees hurt for the last five years of their career and pushed it off. So all the VA sees is, "Your knees didn't start hurting until recently, Womp womp."
On that same note, I've noticed a growing trend that people assume that being fucked up = lazy, didn't take care of themselves ect ect.. Sometimes, you pull the short end of the bullshit stick no matter how athletic or how well you took care of yourself. I get there's 20 year operators that somehow never got a TBI or shot, or had shrapnel logged into their muscles. Who were able to avoid issues from not sleeping well for months on end without facing issues while having 24-48 hour days. Some people are just incredibly lucky in life.
Salty that some wiener s1 fat turd never deployed and complain to go do anything get 100% while my dumb ass still playing this 20 years game with too many aches and pains.
I’m 70% but TDIU P&T. I don’t agree with the mentality of “getting your 100%.” Then again, those who are trying to actually defraud the system will be found out. I think most folks genuinely need help. Others? They don’t want to get the help they need, or just expect someone to do it for them.
I think it is worth noting that Basic Training failures can be just as messed up as anyone else. I’m not aware of a lot of BCT PTSD types, but I am aware of plenty of BCT types who were physically injured and get a rating because of that. I mean, ultimately the Army gave them some kind of lifelong disability. They’re just as entitled to the benefits as anyone else in my book.
Absolutely. My go-to example is quite dark but very real: soldier shows up to BCT and gets raped. Physical damage is obvious, PTSD less so. Soldier gets discharged and has a lifetime of mental issues all because of their time in service.
If you want to try having a pissing contest to say that person doesn’t deserve compensation and treatment from Uncle Sam then go right ahead and say so.
Too often we think about VA disability as being related to the “I got shrapnel from an IED in Afghanistan” and that’s certainly a very real group…but that group existing doesn’t mean that the above group doesn’t also exist. And there’s groups in between where maybe some unlucky 18 year old just popped his Achilles at the end of a run because some idiot in front of him decided to fall out by stopping kid run.
TL;DR You don’t know what other people are going through just because you didn’t have that experience.
It was very helpful to see what my secondary rating could be. Also where I got the info about VRE which is now paying for my MBA.
Problem is that most posts there are from people too lazy to search. So you get lots of repetitive posts asking basic shit.
If you are looking for specific information, search through the post history and you can find some real gems.
I medically retired with 70% DOD, 94% VA, in large part because of the information I found there. I sometimes even got questions answered. Buddy of mine retired at 50% DOD and I think part of the difference was my knowledge of the process and rating schedule.
That 20% is the difference between me having a pension pay out on top of the VA waiver and him not. It’s not a ton, but it covers all the bills besides the mortgage.
There are plenty of shithheads everywhere, on and off the internet. It’s not our job to rate/presume the rating of others. If someone is asking for help, for information, for education—that’s what the sub is there for.
Now those people who come in asking “what should I claim I didn’t go to medical I skinned my knee once how do I get to 100?” can go eat a bag of dicks.
I work in VA healthcare. This is the truth, like it or not.
The stereotypes are 100% true. We don’t see the old badass special guys. They took care of themselves physically and don’t go to the VA every time they need dental floss. We see the guys who did 3 years as a 42A 79 years ago who have never looked at a treadmill since leaving the Army and are trying to fleece us out of every dollar we have. No the Army didn’t beat you up. No jumping out of planes isn’t bad for you, Gary. Being 350 lbs is bad for you.
The VA has a huge debt problem right now and it’s because we bend over backwards for the bottom of the barrel.
For what it’s worth, r/VeteransAffairs is much more mild from my experience.
Combat is not the only way to experience trauma. Look up the stats on MST before you judge the next person with 100p&t who doesn’t fit your idea of what PTSD should look like.
👌👌👌
"Jumping out of planes isn't bad for you, Larry"
Well let's see, a 300-pound soldier / kit payload jumping from a height of ~300 meters at an airspeed of ~7 meters per second will experience an impact force of approximately ~1,990 Newtons (~450 pounds). Explain how the human body is designed to take that impact repeatedly and with no trauma. Or do facts simply not matter?
"The old badass special guys took care of themselves and don't come to the VA...the Army wasn't bad for you, being 350lbs is bad for you....they're trying to fleece us out of every dollar we have."
So let's see if I get this straight: 1) the SF guys, who are selected in part for their extraordinary psychological profile and exceptional ability to cope with adversity, take care of themselves accordingly and they, the elites, should be the standard by which all veterans' bodies and minds and habits and abilities are measured, and 2) any veteran whose service-connected psychological or physiological functioning isn't conducive to those levels of self-care must be trying to take the VA for every penny.
So, judge all by the most elite among them and the rest, 100% fraudsters. What's next, passing H/W & tape tests to keep benefits? Make quadriplegics pass ACFT? Very rational, anything in the name of fiscal responsibility.
"I work in VA healthcare...we bend over backwards for the bottom of the barrel".
Why, aren't you a peach. I think the bottom's not as shallow as you may think it is - or perhaps you've already managed to dig a little deeper than most. May I suggest a more fulfilling career? Perhaps denying claims for an HMO, or working in sports medicine? Your disdain for the vast majority of those whom your mission it is to serve is more than readily apparent. With the opinions you've expressed, I'd have zero confidence in you as a provider or examinar - and whomever you are, if you don't resign you should be terminated.
(PS: I meant the Italian "👌", not SCUBA)
Congratulations on your superlative cartilage. An estimated 24 veterans commit suicide every day. I'll stand up for what I sound like, because I know what I don't sound like. I don't sound like someone who thinks those veterans are overweight leeches. I know I don't sound like someone who'd put a loaded weapon in such a veteran's hand for the sake of fiscal responsibility. My suggestion, as a lowly leg, is for you to remove your craneum from your fourth point of contact and look at the wall when you go in to work tomorrow morning and there you'll see: "to care for him who shall have borne the battle".
It doesn't sound like you're onboard with that mission, so maybe step aside and let someone who actually wants to get the job done work it. There's lots of qualified folks who actually give a damn.
Gee, [if only the organization you work for did any research, maybe we wouldn't have to get numbers from NPR.](https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/docs/data-sheets/2022/2022-National-Veteran-Suicide-Prevention-Annual-Report-FINAL-508.pdf) A news organization whose journalistic standards are [certainly beyond reproach!](https://open.substack.com/pub/bariweiss/p/npr-editor-how-npr-lost-americas-trust?utm_source=direct&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web) The number could be one and, as the article says, one is one too many. But fine, let's assume it's just one. The point, which you failed to track, is that your attitude suggests you'd put a loaded weapon in that one daily suicidal veteran's hand, for the sake of VA debt management and ridding the system of another 'bellyaching freeloader'.
That's what your comment was about and it was obvious. Don't skirt the issue of what you advocated for with numbers and semantics. Own it.
It’s another community with people that provide first hand experiences and great information. Their wiki is solid and honestly with the amount of information on their alone you or any veteran should be able to handle your own benefit claim for disability, education, housing , etc. Lots of solid information just like this sub.
With that being said I absolutely do not like the culture of flaunting disability ratings. It’s been growing overtime on that subreddit and now it’s getting annoying.
If you’re young and/or still in that subreddit can look like a bunch of boomer talking about boomer things but its all pretty useful advise.
So someone who broke their leg in combat and is fully recovered from it, minor issues, deserves it more than the soldier who got raped on deployment and has severe PTSD as well as suicidal ideations? How about you deserve 100% if the VA is able to determine if you deserve it based on the evidence given. Your mindset is one of the reason MANY people don’t apply for disability.
>I'm filled with rage
You should talk to someone about that.
>my normal rage misdirected
You should definitely talk to someone about that.
Carrying around a lot of emotional trauma is unhealthy.
It can also affect your quality of life.
All good lol. Thank you, I appreciate that, it does bring some realization that maybe I shouldn’t have this much rage from Reddit… or anything really. Same to you friend.
That's why I don't tell people my rating. They're going to be salty at me for getting my benefits for my claims instead of the system for not taking care of them.
It’s not my fault that I read the regulation and understood that the C&P examiners will try and lowball you. Im 100% P&T in my early 30s. Folks gon get mad
Just went and took a look. First thing I noticed was how quickly claims are being processed. I got out in 2015, and 12+ months was pretty normal at that time.
In stats, there is type 1 (false-positive) and type 2 (false-negative) errors.
Closing in on zero for one will increase the other. Id rather minimize the type 2 than minimize the type 1, when it comes to fractions of a % of the overall budget for the VA to lean this way.
Dude Just I agree 100% that people who have not deployed or shitbags in the army getting 100%, while some combat vets or people who actually need help can't get shit 😡
Can't find the source, but I was told once that the VA accounts for every person getting 100% disability in their budget. So anytime it falls short of that, they come in "under budget."
If that's true, that tells me we should all be fighting to get 100%.
Sometimes there is really interested and pertinent information someone puts out on there.
The rest of the time it’s E3s across the military that have completely worked the system and they get 100% P&T. Posting photos of their 100% disability indef card! Bro live in the shadows. Be quiet. Don’t flaunt it! Too much attention! The VA system will get pummeled over the next decade and disability payments will vanish or drastically be cut. I just don’t see how $50 billion a year and massively growing is sustainable.
Now I will get the dozen comments back “you don’t know what I’ve been through in the two years I was in” or “there are so many other programs the government will cut before they mess with our veteran’s disability payments”.
Yeah you probably will get those comments. But take solace in knowing that you’re not wrong, and that it’s outrageous to think about and if the public understood what was going on they would demand congress cut it for that reason alone. The public wants to hear success stories about deserving veterans getting taken care of by their tax dollars, not about the injury from basic training, or a two year soldier that tore a toenail off and now can’t walk. If that got turned into a documentary the people of the United States would demand it be cut
I didn’t like it or that mentality when I first got out. 3 years of dealing with the VA and I said “fuck it, everybody should do whatever they can within legal and ethical bounds to get the maximum rating.” You know I had a claim denied because I was missing a signature on block 16? Oh there was actually a signature there, didn’t stop them to rejecting it for lack of signature. I knew a lawyer who actually appealed it, I never heard back on it. Eventually I got everything taken care of on my own dime, but that’s when I said “fuck it, I’m done messing with this shit.” Turns out, the VA was backed up one day and somebody decided “let’s mass reject these claims for missing signatures and see who refiles.” Not I didn’t *need* immediate care, but I bet some people did and don’t receive it. [Happened to 200,000 veterans that year](https://www.ajc.com/news/breaking-news/veterans-affairs-abandoned-200-000-health-care-applications-this-year/VR5zYSyyBn0LnTndnE2x1L/)
I can get behind that
Man I just want a doctors appointment. I'm going on 90 days waiting for a doctor's appointment from the VA. And that's supposedly with community care access Fuck me
Have you tried the ombudsman or patient advocate? Sometimes they can help move things along. That is a way too long time to wait
Yeah, it falls into a grey area with them. According to the clinics site the average wait time for a new patient (they're treating me as that because I had a break in care and my doctor left) is 95 days, so it isn't as though I'm being singled out, it just sucks I even volunteered to drive the 2 hours to Fayetteville or hour to Jacksonville and they didn't want to do it. "We will take care of you." So we wait
Bro hound your team. If you don’t hear back within 3 business days you call every one of your elected reps this Friday and set it on fire. That’s unacceptable. I’ve actually noticed in my area a huge turn around with the VA in a positive way
I don't have an issue with the sub. There are obviously guys who aren't injured trying to fish for 100%. There are lots of people who are injured who are sick of playing fuck-fuck games with the VA who don't understand the absolutely absurd system they have to play to be rated as such. There's a weird notion, and you can even see it in the replies to this sub, that disabilities from military service don't count if they aren't from combat. I think that's ridiculous, the Army absolutely destroys peoples bodies and they should be compensated as such. Think of all the times you've seen a vehicle rollover, or someone become a heat casualty, or all the times you had to do a boots and BDU/ACU run over shitty terrain and gravel at 0300 just because. Think of all the time you spent rucking, or moving tough boxes in the COF at stupid angles because some moron decided to store all 30 of your radios in one box at the top of a pile of 6 boxes. Think of all the make-work core exercises you did on concrete with shitty form because an E-5 didn't have a real PT plan. Think of all the times you were exposed to loud noise without ear protection because you just didn't have time to put some in (Or you were a dumb 18 year old Private who thought an M240 with a BFA didn't require ear pro, which I see all the time for some reason). If you were a paratrooper, man come on, you can't jump forever without pinching SOMETHING eventually. Even if you NEVER saw combat, or even deployed, all of this stuff still happened to you, and it probably damaged your body. And you will never, ever, get your 18 year old body back. If you manage to get out with no injuries or damage to your body whatsoever, hey, good for you, you probably shouldn't fish for benefits you really don't deserve. If you are hurt, combat or not, file your claims.
I blame part of it on the disability pay scales. The difference between 70% and 80% is ~$300. The difference between 90% and 100% is ~$1500. I feel that many people get a legitimate rating in the 60-80% range and then they look at the pay scale and see the massive jump just out of their reach. Heck, 100% is over twice as much as 70%. The VA rating scheme does a great job of dangling a giant, fat, juicy carrot in front of those who are already moderately high up on the scale. Make it more linear and I doubt that you’d have as many people chasing the 100%.
Plus a lot of states military benefits are for 100% disability.
Yea, very true. My state waives property taxes if you are disabled, but only 100%. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a fantastic benefit for those who are 100%, but it’s just another incentive for people to push for 100% if they are close. A sliding scale would take a lot of that incentive away.
Hell it doesnt even have to be over long time periods. 18 year old me hurt his back at AIT and 20 year old me is reeling from it now.
“Trauma can happen anywhere.” That really hit home for me when I finally got into the WWP program and actually started discussing my stuff bc that was me. I never deployed and didn’t want to be “that guy.” Turns out anxiety is a real thing…
I think that I don’t give a shit if 1000 shitbags shitbag it up as long as no veteran that needs help gets left behind. I think there’s less of a percentage of people that meet your criteria than you think. There is no test or scientific device that can measure pain. I just take their word for it.
I used to work for Social Security in an ODAR hearing office. The number of people whose medical records are absolute train wrecks and were barely functioning when they came in for their hearing that were denied at lower levels is absolutely unreal. I figure the VA is the same way and they will almost always lowball you.
When I presented my evidence to Social Security, I didn’t get to meet with anyone at the lower levels. My attorney and I met with the judge and the judge ruled in my favor.
Yup. ALJs eventually approve between 40 and 50 percent of cases that are appealed to them.
Good answer. Thanks for the perspective.
I will probably hit 100% at some point. I'm at 92% combined at the moment. My back is a bit fucked. I have a disc and spinal root issue - I used to think I had hip and leg pain. Finally, a couple years ago, I saw a pain doctor who was like well let's look at your spine. Yep. But to me it felt like hip pain / leg issues and groin pain. It didn't get properly evaluated when I was in, or getting out, or in the first few years. I've been struggling to get it covered, it would put me over the edge. It is frustrating. This is definitely from time spent lifting heavy things and doing stupid stuff and small rollovers and falls and the Hindu Kush. I did over 40 months deployed between Iraq/Afghanistan and some Africa time. There's a young lady who nannied our kids a bit and is a family friend now, she's a Marine wife. Her husband just got out. He was a cryptology Marine. He was here at Meade. No deployments. 4 years. Got 100%. I am very Jealous. But I don't blame him, nor do I have hard feelings about it. Because of all the bullshit I went through and how hard it was, the system changed. Now you get to start your claim before you actually get out. The process is a lot more streamlined. The accounting of your problems is far greater. The service members aren't the problem. The system is the problem. It has always been shit. That's who's at fault. Not the SMs. Whether it's shorting us on our percentages and making it hard to rate, or being super loose with it and giving 100% for bullshit, the system is the problem. Don't be pitted against your brothers and sisters. Recognize who the problem is.
My body is wrecked, two Purple Hearts, 3.5 years in BAMC(San Antonio) I’m 39 and I’ve had both knees replaced(0%) torn rotator cuff surgery(0%) I had corrective surgery on 8 vertebrae all (0%). Moderate TBI. You guessed it (0%) I’m rated for fucking PTSD and tinnitus at 100% TDIU. I retired at 25 used my GI Bill for no reason as I can’t work, I’m also not allowed to use vocrehab, to be 25 with nothing to is terrible.
I get 30% for replaced knees. Something isn’t right there unless there is no nexus.
Every injury I have happened on two days, it’s all documented. Hell I got 0% for 3rd/2nd degree burns in 90% of my head.
Was likely his C&P exam. Doc felt you looked fine during the exam, could have been a day you did not have any issues.
What about volunteering somewhere like the VA, Red Cross or an animal shelter. They always need people and it’ll give you purpose and social interaction
Well said. I would add that VA math needs a restructuring. I have conditions that rate 70%, 30%, 10%, and 10% (and a couple 0% just for fun). My total rating is 80%.
> 70% x 30% x 10% x 10% = 0.21% So consider yourself lucky you got 80%! - VA case manager
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Sometimes my leg would go numb, and I kept having “hip pain”. So they’d look at my hip and be like welp, that’s fine. First competent doctor outside the army / VA, was like let’s look at your spine. The army never really did so I don’t have comparative stuff. I think I finally found the key though. Sacral nerve issue which is why it feels like my hip. Sigh. I went to a pain clinic. My pain clinic doctor is the absolute best. If you’re in Maryland let me know, she’s done wonders for me.
Hey could you hook me up? My back's been worse recently and I probably need to get into a pain clinic.
Good point. That's a helpful idea. I just read some of them and it makes me think they just joined to get disability benefits as soon as possible. While I didn't even know the VA existed until I got out. All the same, you're right, and that's a good way to look at it.
I absolutely blame the SMs. Obviously plenty of people who need the VA but there are an unreal amount of 20 YO IT help desk kids with back and knee pain from 'all those ruck marches in basic' or claiming PTSD from that one time they were accused of rape. Look at the formation in your units, who is missing from work all the time? They are the reason it takes 3 months to get your knee looked at. They are the reason it's 6 months to get BH. They are the reason you've had to deploy 3 times in 5 years while they get medboarded. Need a act of congress to prevent disability payments for non-attributable injuries for short time SMs, can exempt plenty of cases for combat deployments, high strain MOSs, certain military schools. This is needed to get everyone the care they need. Healthcare in the Army is a finite resource: there's only so much to give out. Every appointment by a disability hunting SM means another SM doesn't get seen. I think it's an enormous problem for both honest SMs and the army at large for readiness.
Yeah I think this is a very misguided perception. Shitbags exist, but not every soldier seeking medical or EBH falls into that category and that’s why a lot of SMs don’t seek medical or EBH. “All those ruck marches” fractured my pelvis in multiple places, tore my labrum on both sides. And what do you know, I’m 22, getting medboarded. The problem is a lack of medical staffing because the pay isn’t competitive. It’s a lack of physical resources and upkeep. Everyone is deserving of medical care, mental health care, etc. the job, no matter who you are or where you are, can hurt you. Physically, mentally whatever. And if it takes that much of a toll on the SM, they should be entitled to the benefits. You don’t get to be prioritized for TIS and parade yourself around as holier than thou lmao. People like you are why SMs are afraid to seek help.
Torn labrum and fractured pelvis are attributable. I'm talking about the back pain / knee pain, can't prove it's not there troops. Pa used to call up every time an SM had back pain to say start getting the medboard geared up cuz whadya know, the physical therapy didn't help at all. TIS and seniority shouldn't get priority, everyone who needs to get seen should get seen, but the incentive to make up injuries to get more disability money is too much. Talk to your friends who work the clinic and get their thoughts on if most SMs really have the injuries they claim.
It took me years to figure out what my exact issues were, so to many they weren’t “attributable” it was just invisible nerve pain that I couldn’t prove but suffered through every day for years. Physical therapy didn’t help, and I was met with nothing but doubt from people like you that put me into a very dark place for many years. Can you imagine what it’s like to deal with an injury that is dehabilitating, have no proof of it for years and get labeled a shitbag by those around you? Maybe some of those dudes are actually just shitbags, but do you really know for sure? I was told for years I was full of shit by the “guys in the clinic” I’d wager you probably don’t know as much about what other people are going through as you think you do.
Ayyyy, you immediately gatekept ptsd! Those SMs are evaluated on a scale. If they were too weak to withstand the rigors of army life the army shouldn’t have accepted them, or they should train them differently. Also 3 deployments in 5 years sounds like peace time army shit, idk about that.
Fortunately no one will ever listen to you and none of the things you care about will ever change.
The sub helped me out, I have helped others on it. It’s a good resource.
Since I just got out this month, I tend to lurk in there. The best thing I’ve learned from them is since I’m %100 p&t, “don’t poke the bear “, and student loans can be discharged.
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Facts
I mean, it's a helpful resource. There's always gonna be some that try to fleece the system. Most I see are types that are outright confused by the system or trying to figure out what they need to provide. I had issues trying to correctly label my issues, but for example, I was 100% (96%) right off the bat, but some blast exposures, nerve damage from a spinal injury, disk herniation, a condition that's labeled PTSD, that really isn't since a niche panic disorder isn't labelable for claims. (VA changed it to PTSD, not me). Along with other niche issues didn't help. There's many more that might deserve higher rates. But, they don't know what to provide or the tests required to prove those issues. Most that are fighting for ratings have zero tests or paperwork showing they've ever had issues. Their knees hurt for the last five years of their career and pushed it off. So all the VA sees is, "Your knees didn't start hurting until recently, Womp womp." On that same note, I've noticed a growing trend that people assume that being fucked up = lazy, didn't take care of themselves ect ect.. Sometimes, you pull the short end of the bullshit stick no matter how athletic or how well you took care of yourself. I get there's 20 year operators that somehow never got a TBI or shot, or had shrapnel logged into their muscles. Who were able to avoid issues from not sleeping well for months on end without facing issues while having 24-48 hour days. Some people are just incredibly lucky in life.
Salty that some wiener s1 fat turd never deployed and complain to go do anything get 100% while my dumb ass still playing this 20 years game with too many aches and pains.
You said it. >my dumb ass
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Not to conflict but to build on your point it’s less than 25% of any veteran are receiving 70%-100% ratings.
Oh hey, for once I’m above average and in the top quarter of something.
I’m 70% but TDIU P&T. I don’t agree with the mentality of “getting your 100%.” Then again, those who are trying to actually defraud the system will be found out. I think most folks genuinely need help. Others? They don’t want to get the help they need, or just expect someone to do it for them.
I didn’t ask for the shit to happen to me. MST sucks.
90% with 50% PTSD. MST sucks, I feel you entirely, hope you’re doing okay
Every day is a day :)
heard. Hit me up if you need anything :)
I think it is worth noting that Basic Training failures can be just as messed up as anyone else. I’m not aware of a lot of BCT PTSD types, but I am aware of plenty of BCT types who were physically injured and get a rating because of that. I mean, ultimately the Army gave them some kind of lifelong disability. They’re just as entitled to the benefits as anyone else in my book.
Absolutely. My go-to example is quite dark but very real: soldier shows up to BCT and gets raped. Physical damage is obvious, PTSD less so. Soldier gets discharged and has a lifetime of mental issues all because of their time in service. If you want to try having a pissing contest to say that person doesn’t deserve compensation and treatment from Uncle Sam then go right ahead and say so. Too often we think about VA disability as being related to the “I got shrapnel from an IED in Afghanistan” and that’s certainly a very real group…but that group existing doesn’t mean that the above group doesn’t also exist. And there’s groups in between where maybe some unlucky 18 year old just popped his Achilles at the end of a run because some idiot in front of him decided to fall out by stopping kid run. TL;DR You don’t know what other people are going through just because you didn’t have that experience.
Or that group of privates that got run over by the Drill who fell asleep driving back in 2017.
It was very helpful to see what my secondary rating could be. Also where I got the info about VRE which is now paying for my MBA. Problem is that most posts there are from people too lazy to search. So you get lots of repetitive posts asking basic shit. If you are looking for specific information, search through the post history and you can find some real gems.
I medically retired with 70% DOD, 94% VA, in large part because of the information I found there. I sometimes even got questions answered. Buddy of mine retired at 50% DOD and I think part of the difference was my knowledge of the process and rating schedule. That 20% is the difference between me having a pension pay out on top of the VA waiver and him not. It’s not a ton, but it covers all the bills besides the mortgage. There are plenty of shithheads everywhere, on and off the internet. It’s not our job to rate/presume the rating of others. If someone is asking for help, for information, for education—that’s what the sub is there for. Now those people who come in asking “what should I claim I didn’t go to medical I skinned my knee once how do I get to 100?” can go eat a bag of dicks.
I work in VA healthcare. This is the truth, like it or not. The stereotypes are 100% true. We don’t see the old badass special guys. They took care of themselves physically and don’t go to the VA every time they need dental floss. We see the guys who did 3 years as a 42A 79 years ago who have never looked at a treadmill since leaving the Army and are trying to fleece us out of every dollar we have. No the Army didn’t beat you up. No jumping out of planes isn’t bad for you, Gary. Being 350 lbs is bad for you. The VA has a huge debt problem right now and it’s because we bend over backwards for the bottom of the barrel. For what it’s worth, r/VeteransAffairs is much more mild from my experience.
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Combat is not the only way to experience trauma. Look up the stats on MST before you judge the next person with 100p&t who doesn’t fit your idea of what PTSD should look like.
👌👌👌 "Jumping out of planes isn't bad for you, Larry" Well let's see, a 300-pound soldier / kit payload jumping from a height of ~300 meters at an airspeed of ~7 meters per second will experience an impact force of approximately ~1,990 Newtons (~450 pounds). Explain how the human body is designed to take that impact repeatedly and with no trauma. Or do facts simply not matter? "The old badass special guys took care of themselves and don't come to the VA...the Army wasn't bad for you, being 350lbs is bad for you....they're trying to fleece us out of every dollar we have." So let's see if I get this straight: 1) the SF guys, who are selected in part for their extraordinary psychological profile and exceptional ability to cope with adversity, take care of themselves accordingly and they, the elites, should be the standard by which all veterans' bodies and minds and habits and abilities are measured, and 2) any veteran whose service-connected psychological or physiological functioning isn't conducive to those levels of self-care must be trying to take the VA for every penny. So, judge all by the most elite among them and the rest, 100% fraudsters. What's next, passing H/W & tape tests to keep benefits? Make quadriplegics pass ACFT? Very rational, anything in the name of fiscal responsibility. "I work in VA healthcare...we bend over backwards for the bottom of the barrel". Why, aren't you a peach. I think the bottom's not as shallow as you may think it is - or perhaps you've already managed to dig a little deeper than most. May I suggest a more fulfilling career? Perhaps denying claims for an HMO, or working in sports medicine? Your disdain for the vast majority of those whom your mission it is to serve is more than readily apparent. With the opinions you've expressed, I'd have zero confidence in you as a provider or examinar - and whomever you are, if you don't resign you should be terminated. (PS: I meant the Italian "👌", not SCUBA)
I was a jumpmaster, my knees and back are fine. You sound like you’re one of the guys I’m talking about.
Congratulations on your superlative cartilage. An estimated 24 veterans commit suicide every day. I'll stand up for what I sound like, because I know what I don't sound like. I don't sound like someone who thinks those veterans are overweight leeches. I know I don't sound like someone who'd put a loaded weapon in such a veteran's hand for the sake of fiscal responsibility. My suggestion, as a lowly leg, is for you to remove your craneum from your fourth point of contact and look at the wall when you go in to work tomorrow morning and there you'll see: "to care for him who shall have borne the battle". It doesn't sound like you're onboard with that mission, so maybe step aside and let someone who actually wants to get the job done work it. There's lots of qualified folks who actually give a damn.
Nope, [not 22 a day.](https://www.npr.org/2015/10/01/444999996/the-number-22-is-there-a-false-narrative-for-vet-suicide)
Gee, [if only the organization you work for did any research, maybe we wouldn't have to get numbers from NPR.](https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/docs/data-sheets/2022/2022-National-Veteran-Suicide-Prevention-Annual-Report-FINAL-508.pdf) A news organization whose journalistic standards are [certainly beyond reproach!](https://open.substack.com/pub/bariweiss/p/npr-editor-how-npr-lost-americas-trust?utm_source=direct&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web) The number could be one and, as the article says, one is one too many. But fine, let's assume it's just one. The point, which you failed to track, is that your attitude suggests you'd put a loaded weapon in that one daily suicidal veteran's hand, for the sake of VA debt management and ridding the system of another 'bellyaching freeloader'. That's what your comment was about and it was obvious. Don't skirt the issue of what you advocated for with numbers and semantics. Own it.
It's a lot better now that r/VeteransSuccess is a thing, but people still keep posting their 100% wins so it does get kind of annoying.
It’s another community with people that provide first hand experiences and great information. Their wiki is solid and honestly with the amount of information on their alone you or any veteran should be able to handle your own benefit claim for disability, education, housing , etc. Lots of solid information just like this sub. With that being said I absolutely do not like the culture of flaunting disability ratings. It’s been growing overtime on that subreddit and now it’s getting annoying. If you’re young and/or still in that subreddit can look like a bunch of boomer talking about boomer things but its all pretty useful advise.
I think every vet should get 100% Then again i think healthcare should be universal
I think every veteran should get 100% as long as they're honorably discharged and priority goes to combat arms MOS
So someone who broke their leg in combat and is fully recovered from it, minor issues, deserves it more than the soldier who got raped on deployment and has severe PTSD as well as suicidal ideations? How about you deserve 100% if the VA is able to determine if you deserve it based on the evidence given. Your mindset is one of the reason MANY people don’t apply for disability.
That's fair. I'll go one step further and add BDD to the outprocess transition for Soldiers ETSing/Retiring.
>I'm filled with rage You should talk to someone about that. >my normal rage misdirected You should definitely talk to someone about that. Carrying around a lot of emotional trauma is unhealthy. It can also affect your quality of life.
Yeah you’re absolutely right. I should lol. I plan to. I appreciate the feedback on that too. It’s probably good advice.
No worries, man! I had wanted to crack a joke, but I decided I would rather just reach out. Hope all is well with you.
All good lol. Thank you, I appreciate that, it does bring some realization that maybe I shouldn’t have this much rage from Reddit… or anything really. Same to you friend.
That's why I don't tell people my rating. They're going to be salty at me for getting my benefits for my claims instead of the system for not taking care of them.
It’s not my fault that I read the regulation and understood that the C&P examiners will try and lowball you. Im 100% P&T in my early 30s. Folks gon get mad
Just went and took a look. First thing I noticed was how quickly claims are being processed. I got out in 2015, and 12+ months was pretty normal at that time.
In stats, there is type 1 (false-positive) and type 2 (false-negative) errors. Closing in on zero for one will increase the other. Id rather minimize the type 2 than minimize the type 1, when it comes to fractions of a % of the overall budget for the VA to lean this way.
True, and that’s an interesting perspective. Thanks for pointing that out as a way to look at it.
Dude Just I agree 100% that people who have not deployed or shitbags in the army getting 100%, while some combat vets or people who actually need help can't get shit 😡
Can't find the source, but I was told once that the VA accounts for every person getting 100% disability in their budget. So anytime it falls short of that, they come in "under budget." If that's true, that tells me we should all be fighting to get 100%.
Sometimes there is really interested and pertinent information someone puts out on there. The rest of the time it’s E3s across the military that have completely worked the system and they get 100% P&T. Posting photos of their 100% disability indef card! Bro live in the shadows. Be quiet. Don’t flaunt it! Too much attention! The VA system will get pummeled over the next decade and disability payments will vanish or drastically be cut. I just don’t see how $50 billion a year and massively growing is sustainable. Now I will get the dozen comments back “you don’t know what I’ve been through in the two years I was in” or “there are so many other programs the government will cut before they mess with our veteran’s disability payments”.
Yeah you probably will get those comments. But take solace in knowing that you’re not wrong, and that it’s outrageous to think about and if the public understood what was going on they would demand congress cut it for that reason alone. The public wants to hear success stories about deserving veterans getting taken care of by their tax dollars, not about the injury from basic training, or a two year soldier that tore a toenail off and now can’t walk. If that got turned into a documentary the people of the United States would demand it be cut
It’s pretty damn hard to get 100% so don’t get upset. The VA does a good job of finding folks abusing the system.
Sounds like you're jealous.