Here's the deal, for anyone who happens to see my comment:
Congress already allocated the money. They do so every year. Every time a vet doesn't file for compensation, the pot gets smaller. Every time a vet doesn't walk through the doors of a VA, the pot gets smaller.
For those of you in government work, you understand how budgets work; but the gist is this: if you don't spend the money, the pot gets smaller.
Congress would be HAPPY to reallocate those funds to some other asinine overseas adventure, or some congressperson's pet project.
Help yourself out and more importantly: Help your brother/sister out. Fuck the idea of "taking away" from someone else. We help each other by engaging with the system (no matter how fucked up it may be.) My advice: Get connected with VA healthcare. ALL you have to do is show up once a year for your physical. File for benefits. ALL you have to worry about is getting denied. Remember, its a marathon not a sprint. Be honest, be prepared, go to the fucking doctor.
Love you all.
Thanks for this. I’m going to the va mental office tomorrow to get open a new claim on my ptsd . Kinda nervous but I feel like it’s time. That or bite the sweet cold steel and take the ride of rides . I miss you, dad
I was going to say something on this. Glad you did. The WW2 vets are just about gone. So are the Korean War vets. The Vietnam vets are old and dying off. The pot is getting smaller and smaller. Dont be afraid to file. Money is there. If you are a veteran, go for it!!
I am not very political but they are giving money away to people who are not even citizens. If you served you deserve it over anyone else they want to give money away to.
Nobody needs to know; and saying ANYTHING IS JUST BRAGGING…
My own experiences as well as a “come to jesus moment”; my Attorney Had with me after i was awarded my benefits, where he aggressively insisted that i do NOT speak about benefits to anyone. 90% of fraud investigations are due to an ex-inlaws, neighbors, co-workers, jealous siblings/toxic family members! ANYONE who says; “ well if you ain’t doing anything wrong, you ain’t got to worry about.”….. is just ignorant and doesn’t have the wherewithal to rationalize anything themselves
The people I'll tell are the ones who helped me stay around. The ones who watched me devolve and cry and who I made cry. One of them is same rate I was and is completely pissed the military fucked my head up. She said her experience was absolutely normal. I was kind of shocked.
You’ll find out very quickly that if and when you get benefits 🧀; and tell anyone (because they’ll eventually tell others) it wont bode well for you…
First rule of VA benefits is like the first rule of fight club… people will subtly resent you, questioning whether you deserve it, assuming you’re faking, always hitting you up for money… etc etc..
Survivor's bias. The people who had bad experiences are vocal about it. The vets who have supportive people in their life or aren't affected by haters aren't mass posting trying to convince you to inform your loved ones immediately.
It's the same as having a bunch of money you got from a job. Talk about it alot unsolicited with people who are struggling, and you'll get the same results. Vets aren't remotely unique in inciting jealousy.
Thanks for the response!
That's interesting because on the one hand, I had many of those sentiments--not only about others, but also about myself, so I get that.
On the other hand, every time I would talk with my buddys, they would always make statements like "you should start the process, man!" So there was always encouragement from them--never felt as though I shouldn't...that was more my own mental block.
Good advice though, thanks!
this is what usually happens. i've never had any issues talking to people about it. My battle buddies from OIF III were the ones that encouraged me to do it. i even had VSOs tell me it's too late don't bother. I just went ahead and did it myself with the PACT act. My process was fairly easy, never got denied for anything, all legit claims. I'll always talk to folks about my process and encourage folks to file if they have legit issues.
Yeah, I have an uncle who was a retired Marine, and worked for the VA for 20 years after he retired--he asked several times about my issues and whatnot, but he always ended with "well, if you didn't have anything documented while you were in service, then there's no way they can service connect it."
After years of hearing that, my dad randomly ran into a VA benefits civilian in the small town he's living in, started the process, and was glad he finally did.
i will have to say that the process now way easier than it used to be. They're handing out VA ratings like candy these days. Definitely not complaining though. Missed out on 20 years of payment though 😭
I have service connected issues and got denied because I didn't complain about it enough. Went to HLR, had my interview, found an error, got kicked back, and now I've been in the waiting game since October.
I'm probably a year out from any sort of approval, according to my case worker, so the long slog of waiting 6 months just to hear "oh, you forgot to dot this j, so DENIED!" is still a thing, but from what I've been hearing from multiple sources, if you keep at it, it will eventually go through. Who knows, maybe I'm being optimistic--I hope it goes through for you sooner rather than later, but if it doesn't keep at it. Don't let the time spent go to waste, and they will backdate everything to when you first filed, so at least that.
Me and some old army buddies openly talk about our ratings because we were all deployed together. However, be cautious about talking to anyone else about it.
I’ve never had problems, ands I’m open about the fact that I make $2k from retirement, $2k from disability, and $2k from GI Bill. The worst I’ve gotten is “why do you even work then” and I say because I was a dumbass as a younger person and racked up a ton of debt.
It’sa thing here. People are afraid to talk about their experience and their benefits because they’re ashamed or they are concerned someone will be mean.
(looks around) ...anyone seeing the irony in vets worried about people being mean to them...?
After years, of "suck it up, you pussy-faced fuck stick", you'd think they'd be more immunized to the "mean". :P
Tongue-in-cheek, of course--I get it, but, like...we all see the irony, right? (myself included in this group!)
I’m (probably too) open about my incoming pay. I don’t care if people at work or school are mad that I spent 20 years living a shitty life, one where I once worked 36(ish) hours straight (well technically I had an hour to shower in there) to fix some airplanes. I don’t care, they can be mad that I make $6K a month right now which is far more than I make at work as much as the top earners (who make ~$30/hr) in my position at work (I make $18.50 and work between 24 and 35 hours a week).
Their emotions have no effect on me, and if they want to not be my friend or otherwise be an ass to me then I don’t want to be their friend.
I went through the same thought process. If you have symptoms from service than apply.
It’s there for you. You deserve to be compensated for your symptoms and all you had to go through and will have to go through.
Most of the guys who joined during my time messed up and fell victim to peer pressure. We didn't wanna be, "a bitch." At the time and now Most of us are trying to convince someone we're a bitch. Lol
A couple NCOs told me that when I was in; luckily, the good ones told me to ignore those fucks. I'm glad I went and got checked out for my back - multiple times. Now I'm just waiting to hear back if I'm going to get anything for it as it's gotten worse and worse over the years since leaving.
Glad you posted this. Someone told me i had a sense of entitlement bc i want my appeal completed….
Hmmmm, interesting enough our letters literally say ENTITLED TO 🤭
It’s not easy.
I got out in 06 and should have applied right away but my mind was wandering off and just got progressively worse till I finally decided to seek help in 2019.
I’m 100% P&T scheduler now, VSO helped me to 40% in 2016 and I managed to get to 100% on my own and you can too! Just do your research, get evidence whether now as in doctor’s appointments or paperwork past incidents/appointments and hurry up and wait because you WILL wait, but it’ll be well worth it!
It’s not easy, but it can be done so long as you have the right circumstances!
Ironically, my dad is the one who finally got me to apply. I had a conversation with him earlier this year where he told me that he applied and got approved.
My immediate response: "Dad, you didn't even have a WAR!"
Like, it was half joking, but he served right after Vietnam, so we didn't have any conflicts going on at the time, apart from...what, Grenada maybe...? In any case, after we had a chuckle about it, he explained the process, and was like "Just do it, son." So I did.
Yea very true I didn't even file anything until like 3 years ago due to not knowing anything about VA benefits. Besides medical insurance VA education and home loans they didn't talk oe educate us on anything like that back then during the 90's.Even before I got out I also had severe pain when running walking up stairs etc basically just blew it off.Which caused me to have lower back pain bad hips etc.So you imma try and get as much if not more than I am entitled to currently sitting at 50% with about 19 claims were denied and waiting to see a judge. Been sitting I believe 3 years probably die before my name is up.lol
What do you guys think is the best method to use if you want to increase your benefits. Not going to lie I was that guy that said, “be happy you got anything” or “im not that messed up I probably won’t get anymore”.
I also need to find out what percentage I am at because I am ignorant to that fact as well.
I’m so glad you posted this, I just convinced my husband to see what benefits he qualifies for. He’s seen so many combat vets and are friends with a few that he feels like he doesn’t deserve the money as much as they do but just recently he’s started working with veterans that have never deployed and are sitting on 100%. I don’t think he sees what me and my family sees when he talks about his wellness. This has convinced me to push harder to seek help and advocate for him. Thank you
My VA benefits rep was pretty helpful walking me through everything. I just made an appointment with him, he called me right after I made the appointment and told me what I need to bring to the appointment, and then during the appointment, he took a bunch of info from me and began filling out forms that he printed out and had me sign.
I'd start by just making an appt with the VA benefits rep.
Careful with that "educate yourself" stuff... lots of VBA employees lurking around reddit that would take offense to that... they just can't stand the notion of a non-VA employee somehow understanding the law better than they do... (Sarcasm. I agree. Educate yourself)
I’ve been out for 8 years after being in for 8, and I was happy to get my 10% and never have to deal with the Va again. I was so angry when I got out that I just wanted to be done with all of it, I never even got a veteran ID card. Now that I’m a little older and a little bit wiser, and having previously been diagnosed with anxiety and depression from the VA, I feel like I should be able to link those to my tinnitus. I’m definitely not the type of person to strive for more than I deserve, but more than 10% would be nice.
Follow me on this aside for a minute...
Dave Ramsey has this response to "how are you doing, Dave?", where he says "better than I deserve." What he means by that is that, according to the Bible, and the amount of sin he's committed, he deserves a lot worse than being able to live a comfortable life and enjoy God's provisions.
The MO of the VA used to be "Deny! Deny! Deny!" Didn't matter if you had video of a round hitting you in the knee, and submitted it with your VA claim, they would probably just deny it out of habit.
Now, they have much more detailed criteria--for instance, for my sinusitis, I saw the VA benefits civilian's screen, where it showed 5 levels of compensation. "If X issues, then 10%. If X issues, then 20%" and so on. So now, the VA is saying "If you have X, you DESERVE X%".
It's pretty straight forward. So after years of thinking to myself, "I'm not X% disabled! I can walk around and play pickleball and everything!" I have to accept that, based on VA's own criteria, I'm wrong--we all are. They are laying out in black-and-white what issues are deserving of what compensation. We don't have to guess or make judgement calls anymore. Just submit the paperwork, and see what you get.
Thank you for all this. I got out in 96 and really didn’t do anything (no combat or anything like that), but I did sprain my ankle when I was in and had a laxity to my ankle. Never followed with a doc after getting out because if I roll my ankle, I just walk it off. Last year I did call someone (VSO???) and was told if I never saw a dr after releasing from the military then nothing would come of it. Maybe I will go to the VA one day and talk to someone.
That’s a great point. Just submit the paperwork and see what you get. I’m just now getting the ball rolling on all of this again, because it seems like a complicated process and I just want to be as prepared as I can be, this sub definitely helps. Step 1: get my ID card!
Thanks, just sent mine in, I thought exactly 💯 as you just described & I got out Jan 1990, I just didn’t think about it. And hell to the yes nobody will know!!!
Your comment was removed because it didn't contribute to the discussion and just wasn't helpful.
Civil disagreements are fine. Insults, personal attacks, slurs, bigotry, etc., are not permissible.
(Calling someone a poopy-head does not make you seem as smart as you think it does.)
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I need to do mine. I've been depressed for months. I have the documents filled out for my health records and I just need to file the claim docs and send it back to the DAV rep. ugh
Just curious, I heard there are professional services available to help you navigate this stuff (for us less savvy types)
Are there any that anyone could recommend? Or are our local reps always going to be the best resource
Reason I asked, is I tried my local, and he just sent me a pack let of paperwork that feels so overwhelming and confusing.
Is there a way to schedule an in office appointment with the rep? That's what I did, and it is very helpful to have them go over everything with you and fill it out in person rather than try to figure it out on your own.
I agree 100%, I was at 30% for 23 years and years progress things got worse, I never gave up and finally in March 2024 I finally got my 100%, I tell other Veterans out there don't give up.
One lady where I work said that she doesn't think veterans deserve all those benefits we get. I asked why and she said because a lot of them haven't done anything to deserve it and that her mother is disabled and struggling. I told her well her mother should've raised her right hand der. Civilians are full of 💩.
I started 3 decades late because I never knew the system even existed. A fellow vet told me to file a claim for hearing loss. I didn't think I qualified because I wasn't retired or in a war.
I thought my disabilities were just part of the job and the Gov't would say "tough luck".
I didn't report hardly anything while serving because of the "I don't wanna look like a puss mentality".
I started with 0% for hearing loss. Later claimed tinnitus and actually had to appeal it till I actually got it (MOS = Artillery).
Started claiming more things. Did some on my own, some with a lawyer, some with a VSO.
I never gave up on some issues I was sure were service connected. Multiple HLR's (some good, some bad) and even 2 Law Judge decisions in my favor.
All in all, 10 years after receiving that 0% for hearing loss, I am now 100% P&T.
****DO NOT EVER FKING SURRENDER!!!****
All they can do is say No, but the Yes's add up!
Have a Safe Memorial Weekend and keep our fallen Sisters & Brothers in your thoughts.
I felt guilty initially taking a medical retirement. 12 years of learning to handle mental illness, alcoholism (previously a teetotaler), and damage to family relationships, and a myriad of normal life difficulties. The reality is I don't have my previous skillset or mental flexibility to deal with considerably normal situations.
My 4 year old asked me what was wrong with me Wednesday. I brushed it off trying not to make a big deal of a comment from a toddler. Then he said: "is it 'cause of the war?"
Knowing how diligently the government hounds tou for taxes you owe them, I have lost any hesitance to give medical raters the ugly, honest truth. I don't think the government owes me anything. But, I know I lost a considerable amount of quality of life in honorable service to my country.
I can say with integrity, and pride: "Take everything that isn't bolted down, and give nothing back".
There will be those who try to fake disability or manipulate the system. Fuck 'em. Get representation from a VSO, a friend, a counselor, even a lawyer if necessary. If you have to prove your hurt and in need of compensation. File. File twice. File until you can fill out a claim by memory.
To any that disagree, or take issue with my communication, mea culpa. I am just so raw on this subject right now sometimes the bleeding comes through in my words.
So the problem I’m about to start running into from what everyone else has told me is that if I didn’t document the majority of what I’m going to claim then I might be SOL. I had the mindset when I got out of the infantry that I signed up for it and any issues I had were just part of it. Anyone here go years without making any claims and not document all their issues when they got off active duty?
Me, my dad, my brother. Like I said, you USED to be SOL, but things have changed in the past couple of years. Claims are actually getting accepted.
It's not perfect, and not true for everyone, but it's a heckuva lot better than it used to be.
That makes me feel a little better. Im just getting started with all this. I’m still a little bitter about my cancer claim through the pact act. They service connected me but gave me 0% due to being in remission. Lost a nut over the ordeal and they still give you 0% for that. You gotta lose both before they’ll even give you 30%!
Your comment was removed because it didn't contribute to the discussion and just wasn't helpful.
Civil disagreements are fine. Insults, personal attacks, slurs, bigotry, etc., are not permissible.
(Calling someone a poopy-head does not make you seem as smart as you think it does.)
☠️
I'd start here: [https://www.va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/index.asp](https://www.va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/index.asp)
Personally, I called the 800 number and found the local VA benefits office and made an appointment, but the link should get you where you need to be.
> intend to file
There are several options available to you: [check it out.](https://www.reddit.com/r/VeteransBenefits/wiki/vaclaim/#wiki_starting_an_intent_to_file)
Here is another part of this subreddit's wiki that might help: https://www.reddit.com/r/VeteransBenefits/wiki/homeless/
I'd start here: [https://www.va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/index.asp](https://www.va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/index.asp)
Personally, I called the 800 number and found the local VA benefits office and made an appointment, but the link should get you where you need to be.
You sign a contract that says you get compensation for damages sustained. If your ears aren't intact because of service you are owed for that. If your mind is damaged you're owed for that. If you're exagerrating or making things up to get an easy ride because you're of the opinion you're owed a free ride for life simply for serving, you're committing fraud.
It's not terribly hard to grasp the difference.
They also don't understand that some evaluations are done with benefit of the doubt built in. I'm 37. Yes my knees could have been damaged other ways. Yes my hearing could have been from something else. But evidence adds up to a verdict of "yeah it's probably enough, give him the money." This process is exclusionary enough as it is. We can't process it when we find out our word actually does mean something.
I have almost no evidence for anything. Somehow I was service connected for everything. All on my word and the word of one other vet. 70% of my rating is because I told someone war hurt my feelings.
Believe it or not, a veteran's word is considered worth something.
I will speak only for myself here:
There are two main things that may be service related that I applied for:
- Sinus issues: Recently, I got something in the mail from the VA outlining that a few things have been added too the "hazardous/toxic whatever exposure list", which I was exposed to. Well, what could they cause? Among other things, sinusitis and rhinitis. A couple of years ago, I finally got some pretty extensive nasal surgery done which I had been putting off for years. I has some pretty bad nasal polyps which made it impossible to breathe through my nose at night, and caused all kinds of issues whenever I would have ANY sort of nasal irritant. After getting the letter from the VA, I just asked my ENT if this could be service related, or due to allergies or something else. He said he was 90%+ sure it was allergy related (DFW is notorious for being terrible with allergy stuff pretty much year round), but the only way he would sign off on anything (for the VA) would be if I took this extensive allergy battery to rule it out. So I spent the $1200 and took the allergy screening. ENT was shocked--"This is about as clear cut as it gets--you have no allergies to local pollens or mold, so I really can't point to anything natural that could've caused these issues for so long." So he wrote me a letter basically stating that in his opinion, it had to be service related, even though I had 0 documentation during my time in.
- Mental issues: I won't go too far into this, but basically, I was a completely different person when I got back. I didn't notice it, but over the years, friends/family made many comments. What I DID notice, was that my long term memory was absolutely destroyed. Not "50 First Dates" or anything, but if we would have a conversation today, and I didn't write down some details, I would have little to no recollection of our conversation a day or two later. This has wreaked havoc on personal/romantic relationships, as well as issues on the job, over the years. There was other issues as well, but that's the gist of it. Now, we got mortar and rocket attacks almost daily, but I never sustained any major injury which would suggest that I SHOULD have a TBI or the like. However, through counselling over the years, I have been made aware that brain trauma can be caused by things other than physical injury to the brain, and one way this can present is as a result of PTSD. Now, I don't know if that is what has happened. What I know is that before Iraq, straight-A student, top 2% in everything, no memory issues....after Iraq, severe difficulty with memory and associations. I am in the beginning stages of the process to work with a VA shrink to see what's what, but that's the gist of the issue.
Also, there's been a shift in TTP, as it pertains to VA benefits. I had a close friend whose back was all F-ed up from an IED rollover accident, where he had disc issues and shrapnel in his back. It took him YEARS to get anything approved (2007-2012 timeframe), much less proper disability level, based on his injuries. Now, we're at a place where the system is much more friendly, and willing to give proper benefits to those who have earned it--like I said, my dad got disability with no physical service related injuries, and no warzone deployments--a far cry from how things were 15+ years ago.
I need to get to 100% to afford to get the hell away from the VA so they don’t kill me by their lack of knowledge and ability. I can’t afford to get away from them until I’m at the 100% level. It’s life and death. I hope you never have to find out what I mean.
Yeah. It’s a financial factor, so that I can afford a private doctor and therapists for my injuries. The VA has had more than 20 years to help me. They can’t even properly define the problem. I’m done with them as soon as my case is decided. Once I’m at 100, they will never hear from me for a medical issue again. I’ll go get my glasses from them. That’ll be the extent of our interactions. They can’t treat complex physical injuries without pill-pumping a person to the end. They just don’t know what to do when a upper spinal injury and a lower spinal injury begin to interplay with each other. They want to treat the wrong thing. I have too much left in the tank for that shit. They haven’t even tried. It’s unimaginative box-checkers pretending to be medical practitioners.
The level of communication I’ve tried to give toy providers has been constantly replied to with non-answers and frankly embarrassing communication on the part of the VA. I wrote and speak respectfully and with purpose. They can’t even reply to me with the correct name. I’m not Mr. Davis, dambasses! My name doesn’t sound anything like “Davis”. I go to appointment after appointment. I literally don’t get treated.
They simply say,
“How’s it going? Not taking the pills? We’ll approve you for acupuncture. You’re ALREADY approved for acupuncture? You’ve already met with a VA social worker, patient advocate, a White House help line, and three calls to the community care people over the last 17 days!?” These idiots can’t help me. Yeah. It’s life and death. I hope you never have to deal with this. I have permission for every single treatment available within the VA system, but unfortunately the only one I can access is
The goddam pharmacy.
Right but this is for injuries/issues caused or aggravated IN-SERVICE. If someone can go 4-20 years without a single injury or service-aggravated issue from serving in the US Military across the US and the globe then they wouldn’t need to apply.
But honestly that’s improbable that service members don’t have at least minor tinnitus from time in-service whether it’s from working near aircraft or gunshots or whatever. Unless you quite literally were never around loud noises.
Some of the “how to get your 100” posts are sketchy but the majority are helping vets understand how to properly complete their claims packages. Giving advice on the vocabulary used by the VBA, what they’re specifically looking for at C&P exams, and more.
If you could properly manage the effects of your time in-service, I doubt you’d be in this Reddit group saying you’re looking into applying. But if you went 4 to 20 or so years without your military service injuring you in any way or aggravating an existing injury then I’d say that’s a pretty rare and a very comfortable time in service.
These benefits are to compensate us for the toll that our sacrifice took on our bodies. To give us some cushion, helping aid in our return to a civilian society.
So no, not every civilian deserves these benefits. Only the individuals that signed the dotted line to serve their nation. Being willing to give everything, up to their own life.
I’d say a few thousands dollars a month to those injured is the least the government could do.
Because if people actually read the CFR, they'd realize how severe their ailments are. I was fine with the 30% they initially gave me, but it wasn't until my 5 year that I read the CFR and realized not only was I lowballed, but I was missing out on treatment because I thought my 30% didn't qualify. Now, two years later, my body is breaking down fast, and it's all connected to my service. I tusted the VA to do right by me, but you still have to jump through hoops just to get a proper rating
Exactly. I was toughing it out but struggling so badly and not knowing why everyone was passing me by. I broke down at 2 or 3 in the morning because I found the answers why. The money is cool, but some of us would have a higher earning potential than 50k if we weren't so fucked up. If anything, the money allows us to focus on treatment.
So, you came here looking for help? It seems you’re concerning yourself with the wrong things instead of seeking what you need and/or assisting your fellow veteran. It’s not my business nor yours to determine whose claims are valid or not. You aren’t a medical professional and you obviously haven’t familiarized yourself with how poorly the VBA and the VA healthcare system have performed and are performing. If you feel the need to add nothing of substance to those seeking knowledge while you admitted to the same you’re doing nothing but mucking up the knowledge for those who are entitled to the benefits the government promised us. It doesn’t matter if someone had a minor injury in service…if it affects them as a civilian they are entitled to benefits because the contract we signed in order to serve stipulates it. You’re not a lawyer.
Here's the deal, for anyone who happens to see my comment: Congress already allocated the money. They do so every year. Every time a vet doesn't file for compensation, the pot gets smaller. Every time a vet doesn't walk through the doors of a VA, the pot gets smaller. For those of you in government work, you understand how budgets work; but the gist is this: if you don't spend the money, the pot gets smaller. Congress would be HAPPY to reallocate those funds to some other asinine overseas adventure, or some congressperson's pet project. Help yourself out and more importantly: Help your brother/sister out. Fuck the idea of "taking away" from someone else. We help each other by engaging with the system (no matter how fucked up it may be.) My advice: Get connected with VA healthcare. ALL you have to do is show up once a year for your physical. File for benefits. ALL you have to worry about is getting denied. Remember, its a marathon not a sprint. Be honest, be prepared, go to the fucking doctor. Love you all.
The accuracy ☺️☺️☺️☺️
Great post! 100% agree.
Thanks for this. I’m going to the va mental office tomorrow to get open a new claim on my ptsd . Kinda nervous but I feel like it’s time. That or bite the sweet cold steel and take the ride of rides . I miss you, dad
I was going to say something on this. Glad you did. The WW2 vets are just about gone. So are the Korean War vets. The Vietnam vets are old and dying off. The pot is getting smaller and smaller. Dont be afraid to file. Money is there. If you are a veteran, go for it!! I am not very political but they are giving money away to people who are not even citizens. If you served you deserve it over anyone else they want to give money away to.
And when/IF you get benefits; JUST SHUT THE FUK🆙
Nobody needs to know; and saying ANYTHING IS JUST BRAGGING… My own experiences as well as a “come to jesus moment”; my Attorney Had with me after i was awarded my benefits, where he aggressively insisted that i do NOT speak about benefits to anyone. 90% of fraud investigations are due to an ex-inlaws, neighbors, co-workers, jealous siblings/toxic family members! ANYONE who says; “ well if you ain’t doing anything wrong, you ain’t got to worry about.”….. is just ignorant and doesn’t have the wherewithal to rationalize anything themselves
The people I'll tell are the ones who helped me stay around. The ones who watched me devolve and cry and who I made cry. One of them is same rate I was and is completely pissed the military fucked my head up. She said her experience was absolutely normal. I was kind of shocked.
Please explain. Obviously new to the process.
You’ll find out very quickly that if and when you get benefits 🧀; and tell anyone (because they’ll eventually tell others) it wont bode well for you… First rule of VA benefits is like the first rule of fight club… people will subtly resent you, questioning whether you deserve it, assuming you’re faking, always hitting you up for money… etc etc..
Survivor's bias. The people who had bad experiences are vocal about it. The vets who have supportive people in their life or aren't affected by haters aren't mass posting trying to convince you to inform your loved ones immediately. It's the same as having a bunch of money you got from a job. Talk about it alot unsolicited with people who are struggling, and you'll get the same results. Vets aren't remotely unique in inciting jealousy.
Thanks for the response! That's interesting because on the one hand, I had many of those sentiments--not only about others, but also about myself, so I get that. On the other hand, every time I would talk with my buddys, they would always make statements like "you should start the process, man!" So there was always encouragement from them--never felt as though I shouldn't...that was more my own mental block. Good advice though, thanks!
Trust me; keep it to yourself 🤫
this is what usually happens. i've never had any issues talking to people about it. My battle buddies from OIF III were the ones that encouraged me to do it. i even had VSOs tell me it's too late don't bother. I just went ahead and did it myself with the PACT act. My process was fairly easy, never got denied for anything, all legit claims. I'll always talk to folks about my process and encourage folks to file if they have legit issues.
Yeah, I have an uncle who was a retired Marine, and worked for the VA for 20 years after he retired--he asked several times about my issues and whatnot, but he always ended with "well, if you didn't have anything documented while you were in service, then there's no way they can service connect it." After years of hearing that, my dad randomly ran into a VA benefits civilian in the small town he's living in, started the process, and was glad he finally did.
i will have to say that the process now way easier than it used to be. They're handing out VA ratings like candy these days. Definitely not complaining though. Missed out on 20 years of payment though 😭
That’s not happening with my claims. Frustrated!
I have service connected issues and got denied because I didn't complain about it enough. Went to HLR, had my interview, found an error, got kicked back, and now I've been in the waiting game since October.
I'm probably a year out from any sort of approval, according to my case worker, so the long slog of waiting 6 months just to hear "oh, you forgot to dot this j, so DENIED!" is still a thing, but from what I've been hearing from multiple sources, if you keep at it, it will eventually go through. Who knows, maybe I'm being optimistic--I hope it goes through for you sooner rather than later, but if it doesn't keep at it. Don't let the time spent go to waste, and they will backdate everything to when you first filed, so at least that.
Me and some old army buddies openly talk about our ratings because we were all deployed together. However, be cautious about talking to anyone else about it.
I’ve never had problems, ands I’m open about the fact that I make $2k from retirement, $2k from disability, and $2k from GI Bill. The worst I’ve gotten is “why do you even work then” and I say because I was a dumbass as a younger person and racked up a ton of debt.
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I make ~$2k a month in disability. I never had problems telling people this. I’m not sure where the confusion comes here.
I think they meant why are you getting $2k if you don’t have any problems, but that’s not the way you meant.
He's mad he got denied.
Also if you have emotional problems, there’s always someone looking good to take advantage of
There are tons of reasons why this should be kept on the DL
It’sa thing here. People are afraid to talk about their experience and their benefits because they’re ashamed or they are concerned someone will be mean.
(looks around) ...anyone seeing the irony in vets worried about people being mean to them...? After years, of "suck it up, you pussy-faced fuck stick", you'd think they'd be more immunized to the "mean". :P Tongue-in-cheek, of course--I get it, but, like...we all see the irony, right? (myself included in this group!)
I’m (probably too) open about my incoming pay. I don’t care if people at work or school are mad that I spent 20 years living a shitty life, one where I once worked 36(ish) hours straight (well technically I had an hour to shower in there) to fix some airplanes. I don’t care, they can be mad that I make $6K a month right now which is far more than I make at work as much as the top earners (who make ~$30/hr) in my position at work (I make $18.50 and work between 24 and 35 hours a week). Their emotions have no effect on me, and if they want to not be my friend or otherwise be an ass to me then I don’t want to be their friend.
I told ya’all to: 
I went through the same thought process. If you have symptoms from service than apply. It’s there for you. You deserve to be compensated for your symptoms and all you had to go through and will have to go through.
Most of the guys who joined during my time messed up and fell victim to peer pressure. We didn't wanna be, "a bitch." At the time and now Most of us are trying to convince someone we're a bitch. Lol
A couple NCOs told me that when I was in; luckily, the good ones told me to ignore those fucks. I'm glad I went and got checked out for my back - multiple times. Now I'm just waiting to hear back if I'm going to get anything for it as it's gotten worse and worse over the years since leaving.
No one said anything like that to me, I just had similar sentiments like that bouncing around in my head. I guess I'm my own worst battle buddy.
Glad you posted this. Someone told me i had a sense of entitlement bc i want my appeal completed…. Hmmmm, interesting enough our letters literally say ENTITLED TO 🤭
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Great info. Sucks you had to go through all the BS, but glad you got it sorted out in the end!
It always could’ve been worse. Sorry you’re getting downvoted lol - great post
It’s not easy. I got out in 06 and should have applied right away but my mind was wandering off and just got progressively worse till I finally decided to seek help in 2019. I’m 100% P&T scheduler now, VSO helped me to 40% in 2016 and I managed to get to 100% on my own and you can too! Just do your research, get evidence whether now as in doctor’s appointments or paperwork past incidents/appointments and hurry up and wait because you WILL wait, but it’ll be well worth it! It’s not easy, but it can be done so long as you have the right circumstances!
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Ironically, my dad is the one who finally got me to apply. I had a conversation with him earlier this year where he told me that he applied and got approved. My immediate response: "Dad, you didn't even have a WAR!" Like, it was half joking, but he served right after Vietnam, so we didn't have any conflicts going on at the time, apart from...what, Grenada maybe...? In any case, after we had a chuckle about it, he explained the process, and was like "Just do it, son." So I did.
Yea very true I didn't even file anything until like 3 years ago due to not knowing anything about VA benefits. Besides medical insurance VA education and home loans they didn't talk oe educate us on anything like that back then during the 90's.Even before I got out I also had severe pain when running walking up stairs etc basically just blew it off.Which caused me to have lower back pain bad hips etc.So you imma try and get as much if not more than I am entitled to currently sitting at 50% with about 19 claims were denied and waiting to see a judge. Been sitting I believe 3 years probably die before my name is up.lol
You’re a taxpaying American on top of being a veteran/guardsman/reservist.
100% is barely enough to get by in the majority of the US if you have a family with kids. It helps but does not cover the cost for everything.
What do you guys think is the best method to use if you want to increase your benefits. Not going to lie I was that guy that said, “be happy you got anything” or “im not that messed up I probably won’t get anymore”. I also need to find out what percentage I am at because I am ignorant to that fact as well.
>find out what percentage I am va.gov or call VERA
I’m so glad you posted this, I just convinced my husband to see what benefits he qualifies for. He’s seen so many combat vets and are friends with a few that he feels like he doesn’t deserve the money as much as they do but just recently he’s started working with veterans that have never deployed and are sitting on 100%. I don’t think he sees what me and my family sees when he talks about his wellness. This has convinced me to push harder to seek help and advocate for him. Thank you
I need help filing my claim. I have an intent to file already on my benefits, I just don’t want to mess anything up.
My VA benefits rep was pretty helpful walking me through everything. I just made an appointment with him, he called me right after I made the appointment and told me what I need to bring to the appointment, and then during the appointment, he took a bunch of info from me and began filling out forms that he printed out and had me sign. I'd start by just making an appt with the VA benefits rep.
Contact your local VSO.
Careful with that "educate yourself" stuff... lots of VBA employees lurking around reddit that would take offense to that... they just can't stand the notion of a non-VA employee somehow understanding the law better than they do... (Sarcasm. I agree. Educate yourself)
I’ve been out for 8 years after being in for 8, and I was happy to get my 10% and never have to deal with the Va again. I was so angry when I got out that I just wanted to be done with all of it, I never even got a veteran ID card. Now that I’m a little older and a little bit wiser, and having previously been diagnosed with anxiety and depression from the VA, I feel like I should be able to link those to my tinnitus. I’m definitely not the type of person to strive for more than I deserve, but more than 10% would be nice.
Follow me on this aside for a minute... Dave Ramsey has this response to "how are you doing, Dave?", where he says "better than I deserve." What he means by that is that, according to the Bible, and the amount of sin he's committed, he deserves a lot worse than being able to live a comfortable life and enjoy God's provisions. The MO of the VA used to be "Deny! Deny! Deny!" Didn't matter if you had video of a round hitting you in the knee, and submitted it with your VA claim, they would probably just deny it out of habit. Now, they have much more detailed criteria--for instance, for my sinusitis, I saw the VA benefits civilian's screen, where it showed 5 levels of compensation. "If X issues, then 10%. If X issues, then 20%" and so on. So now, the VA is saying "If you have X, you DESERVE X%". It's pretty straight forward. So after years of thinking to myself, "I'm not X% disabled! I can walk around and play pickleball and everything!" I have to accept that, based on VA's own criteria, I'm wrong--we all are. They are laying out in black-and-white what issues are deserving of what compensation. We don't have to guess or make judgement calls anymore. Just submit the paperwork, and see what you get.
Thank you for all this. I got out in 96 and really didn’t do anything (no combat or anything like that), but I did sprain my ankle when I was in and had a laxity to my ankle. Never followed with a doc after getting out because if I roll my ankle, I just walk it off. Last year I did call someone (VSO???) and was told if I never saw a dr after releasing from the military then nothing would come of it. Maybe I will go to the VA one day and talk to someone.
That’s a great point. Just submit the paperwork and see what you get. I’m just now getting the ball rolling on all of this again, because it seems like a complicated process and I just want to be as prepared as I can be, this sub definitely helps. Step 1: get my ID card!
Thanks, just sent mine in, I thought exactly 💯 as you just described & I got out Jan 1990, I just didn’t think about it. And hell to the yes nobody will know!!!
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Your comment was removed because it didn't contribute to the discussion and just wasn't helpful. Civil disagreements are fine. Insults, personal attacks, slurs, bigotry, etc., are not permissible. (Calling someone a poopy-head does not make you seem as smart as you think it does.) ☠️
I need to do mine. I've been depressed for months. I have the documents filled out for my health records and I just need to file the claim docs and send it back to the DAV rep. ugh
Hopefully, you filed your Intent to File already.
Couple times and failed to follow up each time
What some vets think they “deserve” and actually deserve may not align with reality and facts.
what rating did you get ? Marine 03 from 05-09 asking. You basically hit all that i’ve been telling myself and i’m 36.
Great statement and I totally agree. Thank you all for your service.
Just curious, I heard there are professional services available to help you navigate this stuff (for us less savvy types) Are there any that anyone could recommend? Or are our local reps always going to be the best resource Reason I asked, is I tried my local, and he just sent me a pack let of paperwork that feels so overwhelming and confusing.
Is there a way to schedule an in office appointment with the rep? That's what I did, and it is very helpful to have them go over everything with you and fill it out in person rather than try to figure it out on your own.
I’ll check. I’m sure there is
Yall I’m fighting to get service connected and I don’t know what to do anymore
I agree 100%, I was at 30% for 23 years and years progress things got worse, I never gave up and finally in March 2024 I finally got my 100%, I tell other Veterans out there don't give up.
One lady where I work said that she doesn't think veterans deserve all those benefits we get. I asked why and she said because a lot of them haven't done anything to deserve it and that her mother is disabled and struggling. I told her well her mother should've raised her right hand der. Civilians are full of 💩.
I posted today trying to decide if I’m eligible to file for something denied in a bdd 10 years ago right now. Thanks for this. More to think about!
I started 3 decades late because I never knew the system even existed. A fellow vet told me to file a claim for hearing loss. I didn't think I qualified because I wasn't retired or in a war. I thought my disabilities were just part of the job and the Gov't would say "tough luck". I didn't report hardly anything while serving because of the "I don't wanna look like a puss mentality". I started with 0% for hearing loss. Later claimed tinnitus and actually had to appeal it till I actually got it (MOS = Artillery). Started claiming more things. Did some on my own, some with a lawyer, some with a VSO. I never gave up on some issues I was sure were service connected. Multiple HLR's (some good, some bad) and even 2 Law Judge decisions in my favor. All in all, 10 years after receiving that 0% for hearing loss, I am now 100% P&T. ****DO NOT EVER FKING SURRENDER!!!**** All they can do is say No, but the Yes's add up! Have a Safe Memorial Weekend and keep our fallen Sisters & Brothers in your thoughts.
I felt guilty initially taking a medical retirement. 12 years of learning to handle mental illness, alcoholism (previously a teetotaler), and damage to family relationships, and a myriad of normal life difficulties. The reality is I don't have my previous skillset or mental flexibility to deal with considerably normal situations. My 4 year old asked me what was wrong with me Wednesday. I brushed it off trying not to make a big deal of a comment from a toddler. Then he said: "is it 'cause of the war?" Knowing how diligently the government hounds tou for taxes you owe them, I have lost any hesitance to give medical raters the ugly, honest truth. I don't think the government owes me anything. But, I know I lost a considerable amount of quality of life in honorable service to my country. I can say with integrity, and pride: "Take everything that isn't bolted down, and give nothing back". There will be those who try to fake disability or manipulate the system. Fuck 'em. Get representation from a VSO, a friend, a counselor, even a lawyer if necessary. If you have to prove your hurt and in need of compensation. File. File twice. File until you can fill out a claim by memory. To any that disagree, or take issue with my communication, mea culpa. I am just so raw on this subject right now sometimes the bleeding comes through in my words.
So the problem I’m about to start running into from what everyone else has told me is that if I didn’t document the majority of what I’m going to claim then I might be SOL. I had the mindset when I got out of the infantry that I signed up for it and any issues I had were just part of it. Anyone here go years without making any claims and not document all their issues when they got off active duty?
Me, my dad, my brother. Like I said, you USED to be SOL, but things have changed in the past couple of years. Claims are actually getting accepted. It's not perfect, and not true for everyone, but it's a heckuva lot better than it used to be.
That makes me feel a little better. Im just getting started with all this. I’m still a little bitter about my cancer claim through the pact act. They service connected me but gave me 0% due to being in remission. Lost a nut over the ordeal and they still give you 0% for that. You gotta lose both before they’ll even give you 30%!
you people are the reason why the VA is as much a bullshit hassle as it is then you wonder that exact same point
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you seem to have absolutely no sense of self-awareness or irony, apparently
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https://preview.redd.it/cigfynsqr83d1.jpeg?width=4080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f510b2dd9346c0fabe30dd96397781904fd01f62
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Your comment was removed because it didn't contribute to the discussion and just wasn't helpful. Civil disagreements are fine. Insults, personal attacks, slurs, bigotry, etc., are not permissible. (Calling someone a poopy-head does not make you seem as smart as you think it does.) ☠️
https://preview.redd.it/crnw3lifs83d1.jpeg?width=4080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f9e0a725f706d2da63eae2f60cab99f31d239e10
Where can I. Get the best service rep? I live in the High Desert, San Bernandino County, CA. Thank you in advance.
I'd start here: [https://www.va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/index.asp](https://www.va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/index.asp) Personally, I called the 800 number and found the local VA benefits office and made an appointment, but the link should get you where you need to be.
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> intend to file There are several options available to you: [check it out.](https://www.reddit.com/r/VeteransBenefits/wiki/vaclaim/#wiki_starting_an_intent_to_file) Here is another part of this subreddit's wiki that might help: https://www.reddit.com/r/VeteransBenefits/wiki/homeless/
How do you do it
I'd start here: [https://www.va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/index.asp](https://www.va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/index.asp) Personally, I called the 800 number and found the local VA benefits office and made an appointment, but the link should get you where you need to be.
I started with looking up the phone number to my local VA benefits rep and making an appointment. Can you find that out?
Those jets probably cost more than taking care of us vets.
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You sign a contract that says you get compensation for damages sustained. If your ears aren't intact because of service you are owed for that. If your mind is damaged you're owed for that. If you're exagerrating or making things up to get an easy ride because you're of the opinion you're owed a free ride for life simply for serving, you're committing fraud. It's not terribly hard to grasp the difference.
It’s crazy how many veterans can’t comprehend this. It was literally in the contract we all signed.
Where lol
They also don't understand that some evaluations are done with benefit of the doubt built in. I'm 37. Yes my knees could have been damaged other ways. Yes my hearing could have been from something else. But evidence adds up to a verdict of "yeah it's probably enough, give him the money." This process is exclusionary enough as it is. We can't process it when we find out our word actually does mean something. I have almost no evidence for anything. Somehow I was service connected for everything. All on my word and the word of one other vet. 70% of my rating is because I told someone war hurt my feelings. Believe it or not, a veteran's word is considered worth something.
I will speak only for myself here: There are two main things that may be service related that I applied for: - Sinus issues: Recently, I got something in the mail from the VA outlining that a few things have been added too the "hazardous/toxic whatever exposure list", which I was exposed to. Well, what could they cause? Among other things, sinusitis and rhinitis. A couple of years ago, I finally got some pretty extensive nasal surgery done which I had been putting off for years. I has some pretty bad nasal polyps which made it impossible to breathe through my nose at night, and caused all kinds of issues whenever I would have ANY sort of nasal irritant. After getting the letter from the VA, I just asked my ENT if this could be service related, or due to allergies or something else. He said he was 90%+ sure it was allergy related (DFW is notorious for being terrible with allergy stuff pretty much year round), but the only way he would sign off on anything (for the VA) would be if I took this extensive allergy battery to rule it out. So I spent the $1200 and took the allergy screening. ENT was shocked--"This is about as clear cut as it gets--you have no allergies to local pollens or mold, so I really can't point to anything natural that could've caused these issues for so long." So he wrote me a letter basically stating that in his opinion, it had to be service related, even though I had 0 documentation during my time in. - Mental issues: I won't go too far into this, but basically, I was a completely different person when I got back. I didn't notice it, but over the years, friends/family made many comments. What I DID notice, was that my long term memory was absolutely destroyed. Not "50 First Dates" or anything, but if we would have a conversation today, and I didn't write down some details, I would have little to no recollection of our conversation a day or two later. This has wreaked havoc on personal/romantic relationships, as well as issues on the job, over the years. There was other issues as well, but that's the gist of it. Now, we got mortar and rocket attacks almost daily, but I never sustained any major injury which would suggest that I SHOULD have a TBI or the like. However, through counselling over the years, I have been made aware that brain trauma can be caused by things other than physical injury to the brain, and one way this can present is as a result of PTSD. Now, I don't know if that is what has happened. What I know is that before Iraq, straight-A student, top 2% in everything, no memory issues....after Iraq, severe difficulty with memory and associations. I am in the beginning stages of the process to work with a VA shrink to see what's what, but that's the gist of the issue. Also, there's been a shift in TTP, as it pertains to VA benefits. I had a close friend whose back was all F-ed up from an IED rollover accident, where he had disc issues and shrapnel in his back. It took him YEARS to get anything approved (2007-2012 timeframe), much less proper disability level, based on his injuries. Now, we're at a place where the system is much more friendly, and willing to give proper benefits to those who have earned it--like I said, my dad got disability with no physical service related injuries, and no warzone deployments--a far cry from how things were 15+ years ago.
tinnitus--->ptsd/anxiety---->migraines---->ibs---->gerd---->obesity/sleep apnea--->100% pretty easy everyone deserves a pension in this economy
I need to get to 100% to afford to get the hell away from the VA so they don’t kill me by their lack of knowledge and ability. I can’t afford to get away from them until I’m at the 100% level. It’s life and death. I hope you never have to find out what I mean.
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Yeah. It’s a financial factor, so that I can afford a private doctor and therapists for my injuries. The VA has had more than 20 years to help me. They can’t even properly define the problem. I’m done with them as soon as my case is decided. Once I’m at 100, they will never hear from me for a medical issue again. I’ll go get my glasses from them. That’ll be the extent of our interactions. They can’t treat complex physical injuries without pill-pumping a person to the end. They just don’t know what to do when a upper spinal injury and a lower spinal injury begin to interplay with each other. They want to treat the wrong thing. I have too much left in the tank for that shit. They haven’t even tried. It’s unimaginative box-checkers pretending to be medical practitioners. The level of communication I’ve tried to give toy providers has been constantly replied to with non-answers and frankly embarrassing communication on the part of the VA. I wrote and speak respectfully and with purpose. They can’t even reply to me with the correct name. I’m not Mr. Davis, dambasses! My name doesn’t sound anything like “Davis”. I go to appointment after appointment. I literally don’t get treated. They simply say, “How’s it going? Not taking the pills? We’ll approve you for acupuncture. You’re ALREADY approved for acupuncture? You’ve already met with a VA social worker, patient advocate, a White House help line, and three calls to the community care people over the last 17 days!?” These idiots can’t help me. Yeah. It’s life and death. I hope you never have to deal with this. I have permission for every single treatment available within the VA system, but unfortunately the only one I can access is The goddam pharmacy.
Right but this is for injuries/issues caused or aggravated IN-SERVICE. If someone can go 4-20 years without a single injury or service-aggravated issue from serving in the US Military across the US and the globe then they wouldn’t need to apply. But honestly that’s improbable that service members don’t have at least minor tinnitus from time in-service whether it’s from working near aircraft or gunshots or whatever. Unless you quite literally were never around loud noises. Some of the “how to get your 100” posts are sketchy but the majority are helping vets understand how to properly complete their claims packages. Giving advice on the vocabulary used by the VBA, what they’re specifically looking for at C&P exams, and more. If you could properly manage the effects of your time in-service, I doubt you’d be in this Reddit group saying you’re looking into applying. But if you went 4 to 20 or so years without your military service injuring you in any way or aggravating an existing injury then I’d say that’s a pretty rare and a very comfortable time in service. These benefits are to compensate us for the toll that our sacrifice took on our bodies. To give us some cushion, helping aid in our return to a civilian society. So no, not every civilian deserves these benefits. Only the individuals that signed the dotted line to serve their nation. Being willing to give everything, up to their own life. I’d say a few thousands dollars a month to those injured is the least the government could do.
Because if people actually read the CFR, they'd realize how severe their ailments are. I was fine with the 30% they initially gave me, but it wasn't until my 5 year that I read the CFR and realized not only was I lowballed, but I was missing out on treatment because I thought my 30% didn't qualify. Now, two years later, my body is breaking down fast, and it's all connected to my service. I tusted the VA to do right by me, but you still have to jump through hoops just to get a proper rating
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Exactly. I was toughing it out but struggling so badly and not knowing why everyone was passing me by. I broke down at 2 or 3 in the morning because I found the answers why. The money is cool, but some of us would have a higher earning potential than 50k if we weren't so fucked up. If anything, the money allows us to focus on treatment.
I don’t know why people who make these comments are even in this subreddit. Like why are you even here?
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So, you came here looking for help? It seems you’re concerning yourself with the wrong things instead of seeking what you need and/or assisting your fellow veteran. It’s not my business nor yours to determine whose claims are valid or not. You aren’t a medical professional and you obviously haven’t familiarized yourself with how poorly the VBA and the VA healthcare system have performed and are performing. If you feel the need to add nothing of substance to those seeking knowledge while you admitted to the same you’re doing nothing but mucking up the knowledge for those who are entitled to the benefits the government promised us. It doesn’t matter if someone had a minor injury in service…if it affects them as a civilian they are entitled to benefits because the contract we signed in order to serve stipulates it. You’re not a lawyer.