Who has VA Disability?

[Wiseborn]

You didn't see my update.

I got approved for 50%. I was previously at 30%

Quick and easy. The doctor said upfront that he's not going to go over what's already documented, and asked a few questions regarding symptoms...and that was it. 15 minutes, tops.

The VA doc said that? fukk that guy get another doctor shyt get on another Team ( the DCVAMC has teams to handle all the veterans that come there). I´m on the yellow Team

Most VA docs are first year working off Med school debt, You got some old school Docs who make it a career who care but to keep it a stack it´s a ton of first year mainly immigrant Docs there. The best Docs are former vets themselves.


Advanced Pro Tip holla at all those Old Black People hanging out at the cafeteria and teh starbucks with the Unit ball caps on. Those old school Brothers get Everything including reimbursement for transport to appointments and literally free lunches. It´s kinda fukked up but the first thing you gotta do go to that office and declare yourself indigent. Just say you are it requires no proof and that gets the train rolling. about a decade ago with Veteran Homelessness was at a all time high they were handing out 70% like candy because 70% made you illegible for food stamps and section 8.

 

[WesCrook]

The VA doc said that? fukk that guy get another doctor shyt get on another Team ( the DCVAMC has teams to handle all the veterans that come there). I´m on the yellow Team

Most VA docs are first year working off Med school debt, You got some old school Docs who make it a career who care but to keep it a stack it´s a ton of first year mainly immigrant Docs there. The best Docs are former vets themselves.


Advanced Pro Tip holla at all those Old Black People hanging out at the cafeteria and teh starbucks with the Unit ball caps on. Those old school Brothers get Everything including reimbursement for transport to appointments and literally free lunches. It´s kinda fukked up but the first thing you gotta do go to that office and declare yourself indigent. Just say you are it requires no proof and that gets the train rolling. about a decade ago with Veteran Homelessness was at a all time high they were handing out 70% like candy because 70% made you illegible for food stamps and section 8.

He was a 3rd party Hispanic doc I met with a coupla Saturdays ago. He was cool though. I could tell it was routine for him so I just went along.

*I can say this. The VA claim process is as efficient as its ever been. They are knocking them out with the quickness.

 

[6ixSigma]

Literally just did my exams last week
Been out since 2012, figured it was time to address my issues.
Was doing well for myself so never went to the VA. But said fuk it, army did things to me and I need to get what’s owed to me in all aspects

 

[WHolla09]

Got 90% off the rip. Debating on pursuing 100%

Congrats. It’s possible, but it’s hard to go from 90-100. You really only have to go to 95, but any new disabilities is going to based off the 10% you need. So for example if you get a new disability for 10% it will only take you to 91%. Then your next disability will be based off the 9%, and so on. If you can get an increase on your current disabilities then it’ll be an easier route. Good luck

 

[dajoker69]

After 37 years of total service with the past 23 years being AGR, I plan to retire at the end of the year. It is bitter sweet. I completed SMA in 2024 but dont have a E9 spot to go into. Gonna go back and read this thread. I dont have a lot of stuff documented with sick call but a lot with my civilian doctor. As AGR you cant be going to sick call all the time. You will get your ass put out.
Went to the VA last year for the first time. My civilian doctor recommended a sleep study after I stated I be tired a lot and dont sleep well. Was diagnosed with sleep apnea and had to go through the VA for a CPAP. We will see what happens. Not gonna ask any questions until I go back and read this thread and do some research.

 

[Traveler]

After 37 years of total service with the past 23 years being AGR, I plan to retire at the end of the year. It is bitter sweet. I completed SMA in 2024 but dont have a E9 spot to go into. Gonna go back and read this thread. I dont have a lot of stuff documented with sick call but a lot with my civilian doctor. As AGR you cant be going to sick call all the time. You will get your ass put out.
Went to the VA last year for the first time. My civilian doctor recommended a sleep study after I stated I be tired a lot and dont sleep well. Was diagnosed with sleep apnea and had to go through the VA for a CPAP. We will see what happens. Not gonna ask any questions until I go back and read this thread and do some research.

Start getting stuff documented on your service treatment records. That's essential, otherwise you are going to fight long and hard and even then you might not win. Your STR is essential to prove a service connected disability.

 

[WHolla09]

After 37 years of total service with the past 23 years being AGR, I plan to retire at the end of the year. It is bitter sweet. I completed SMA in 2024 but dont have a E9 spot to go into. Gonna go back and read this thread. I dont have a lot of stuff documented with sick call but a lot with my civilian doctor. As AGR you cant be going to sick call all the time. You will get your ass put out.
Went to the VA last year for the first time. My civilian doctor recommended a sleep study after I stated I be tired a lot and dont sleep well. Was diagnosed with sleep apnea and had to go through the VA for a CPAP. We will see what happens. Not gonna ask any questions until I go back and read this thread and do some research.

I did 14 active duty and the last 7 as AGR. When you close to the end, you got to start looking out for yourself and prep for post retirement life. Definitely go to the clinic, asap if possible, to get things documented in your medical history. The good part is that you have records from your civilian doctor that you can submit for your VA claim. Also, up until the one year mark of your retirement, anything you get treated for is still counted as being service connected.

Why did you have to go to the VA for a cpap machine? TRICARE would have covered it. The VA only allowed me to be enrolled in the system but wouldn’t provide any care until I retired.

 

[dajoker69]

I did 14 active duty and the last 7 as AGR. When you close to the end, you got to start looking out for yourself and prep for post retirement life. Definitely go to the clinic, asap if possible, to get things documented in your medical history. The good part is that you have records from your civilian doctor that you can submit for your VA claim. Also, up until the one year mark of your retirement, anything you get treated for is still counted as being service connected.

Why did you have to go to the VA for a cpap machine? TRICARE would have covered it. The VA only allowed me to be enrolled in the system but wouldn’t provide any care until I retired.

I thought Tricare would also. I even told the people that did the sleep study that I needed to go through Tricare. They told me they had to go through the VA. I guess it worked out because when I went to the VA for the CPAP they did blood work and asked a bunch of questions. I told the some of the issues I deal with and she wrote a lot down. When you were AGR, what was your position. I am currently an OPS NCO. The FA does not have an OPS SGM. It is an E8 position.

 

[WesCrook]

I don't why it never dawned on me to download the VA app. Just did it yesterday.....and as others mentioned it's got everything you need.

 

[WHolla09]

I thought Tricare would also. I even told the people that did the sleep study that I needed to go through Tricare. They told me they had to go through the VA. I guess it worked out because when I went to the VA for the CPAP they did blood work and asked a bunch of questions. I told the some of the issues I deal with and she wrote a lot down. When you were AGR, what was your position. I am currently an OPS NCO. The FA does not have an OPS SGM. It is an E8 position.

I was Air Guard. I was a Senior Enlisted Leader for my unit. E-8. If I wanted to pursue E-9, that would have required moving and I didn't want to do that.

We had a lady that was essentially like a medical social worker that was employed by the Florida Guard that would come by a few times a year to talk to us about disability and other medical issues/problems with the clinic. Because 99% of my unit went from Active Duty to AGR, that we could go to the VA since we had a DD214. Went to the VA and they said I would have to wait untl I retired or came off AGR orders before they would see me. Maybe it was because I went straight from Active Duty to AGR with no break in service. I don’t know lol.

Glad it worked out for you. The VA doctors are a lot more through than the ones in the military clinic, in my opinion. I’m guessing because military clinics operate under a strict quota in the amount of time that each appointment will be

 

[DeeezNuts]

After 13 yrs active… 6 yrs contracting in Iraq and afghan… 9 tours total.. finallly got my decision letter…. SMC -T … 11,271… for life…gonna take my time and wipe out my online presence and disappear … back pay should hit my account next week… it’s been real brehs… work on your shyt… you deserve it …. All my social media will be gone.. ghost is my exit strategy

 

[WHolla09]

After 13 yrs active… 6 yrs contracting in Iraq and afghan… 9 tours total.. finallly got my decision letter…. SMC -T … 11,271… for life…gonna take my time and wipe out my online presence and disappear … back pay should hit my account next week… it’s been real brehs… work on your shyt… you deserve it …. All my social media will be gone.. ghost is my exit strategy

Read the criteria, hopefully that eases any hardships you got going on. Good luck and smart to give up social media.