- Feb 18, 2007
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how did yall do it, ya boy out here struggling with 20% 
and i had spine surgery
i got fd over by my claim doctor
and i had spine surgeryi got fd over by my claim doctor
The Official Military Thread. Vol 1
- Feb 17, 2006
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It takes a lot of clawing n digging and most importantly patience. Just keep at it. It also makes it a lot easier if you retired from the military.how did yall do it, ya boy out here struggling with 20%
i got fd over by my claim doctor
but the biggest thing is having proper documentation and then the double tap with your final physical.
theres a lot to it and use your biggest advocator which is the VFW. Those guys guided me and told me exactly what to say during my medical exams.
This is 100% with 6 dependents.
I was real busy in the navy lol
- Jan 18, 2006
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It takes a lot of clawing n digging and most importantly patience. Just keep at it. It also makes it a lot easier if you retired from the military.
but the biggest thing is having proper documentation and then the double tap with your final physical.
theres a lot to it and use your biggest advocator which is the VFW. Those guys guided me and told me exactly what to say during my medical exams.
This is 100% with 6 dependents.
I got 6 years until I can retire. I have been much better at going to medical with any issue I have but from what I understand, you still have to say the right things during the exams.
What tips can you give us for those still in? PM if necessary.
- Feb 17, 2006
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Biggest thing is being diagnosised (ICD9 code) by a medical provider. It doesn’t matter how many times you get seen by medical. They will rate the severity during the rating process. it’s a lot to explain. But there are a few guaranteed rating percentage that are big. Like sleep apnea 50%.
tinitus Is an easy claim n can’t be proven and they will have to take your word for it and that’s automatically 10%.
but there’s a lot to it. You reallygotta play the part. Any ounce of the claim condition being somewhat alright and you will get zilch. Gotta ham it up Frfr.
Having a dope VFW rep helping your claim is a big relief and help.
[email protected] over at 32nd street naval base (dry side and behind the navy fed bank). He coached and educated me. There are certain things you have to say.
what are you banking on to get a % from? I can guide you sum.
Also your VA disability will need to be completed 90 days prior to you getting out or you will be playing the waiting game. For up to a yr. FYI you can only begin it at 180 to getting out. So u have a 3 month window to complete it. Which is nearly impossible if you don’t time it right and you aren’t still being worked to death(like me :/ )
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- Feb 8, 2009
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I love the VA compensation talk. I love to see fellow veterans getting the money they deserve 
I wasn't active duty officer for 6 years and I got 80% service connected disability on my way out of the door last year. I'll give you guys some tips that helped me.
The single biggest thing that helped me was that when I was on shore duty I worked with a lot of DoD civilians who were retired service members who clued me into how VA disability works. If I were at a regular active duty unit, I wouldn't have got the great advice I received from those folks.
1. It's much easier to fill out your VA disability claim while you're still active, on your way out than it is to do so after you've been out for a while. Many veterans make the mistake of waiting several years to apply for VA disability. This is not ideal because once you're out, the burden of proof is on you to prove that your injuries are connected to your service in the military, whereas while you're still active It's assumed that your injuries happened while you were serving.
2. As everyone says, don't be a tough guy go to medical whenever you can. Make sure everything is documented. Every headache, every back ache, every knee injury, etc. You want that list to be thorough when you're applying. You can't say you've had back injuries for years and then never have seen the doctor once for it.
3. What you say and how you say it matters. When you're going through a C&P exam be very thorough and explicit about your ailments. Don't say, "I get headaches "sometimes". Say "I get headaches three to four times a week, they typically last for 45 minutes to an hour and the pain is throbbing". Don't say "my lower back hurts", say "I feel pain in my lower back 5-6 days per week, usually when trying to lift from the ground or running". If you tell the examiner your head hurts "sometimes" , they will literally write "sometimes" on the paper and you won't get compensation for it.
Also, describe how and when your injuries began ("I started feeling lower back pain in Summer 2016 while we were running or when I was trying to lift a heavy object") and also how the impact your life (I can't stand for long periods of time, I can't run, I can't lift things over my head anymore, etc.)
4. These examiners aren't your friends. Keep your guard up when around them. Don't be hostile but remember that (like a job interview) you're being examined from the moment you walk in the door. If you walk in looking happy and jovial and when they ask you how you're doing you say "I'm great!", that's not going to help your case. You might have to act a little bit to get the results you want.
If you guys have any other questions or would like some additional advice, let me know.
I wasn't active duty officer for 6 years and I got 80% service connected disability on my way out of the door last year. I'll give you guys some tips that helped me.
The single biggest thing that helped me was that when I was on shore duty I worked with a lot of DoD civilians who were retired service members who clued me into how VA disability works. If I were at a regular active duty unit, I wouldn't have got the great advice I received from those folks.
1. It's much easier to fill out your VA disability claim while you're still active, on your way out than it is to do so after you've been out for a while. Many veterans make the mistake of waiting several years to apply for VA disability. This is not ideal because once you're out, the burden of proof is on you to prove that your injuries are connected to your service in the military, whereas while you're still active It's assumed that your injuries happened while you were serving.
2. As everyone says, don't be a tough guy go to medical whenever you can. Make sure everything is documented. Every headache, every back ache, every knee injury, etc. You want that list to be thorough when you're applying. You can't say you've had back injuries for years and then never have seen the doctor once for it.
3. What you say and how you say it matters. When you're going through a C&P exam be very thorough and explicit about your ailments. Don't say, "I get headaches "sometimes". Say "I get headaches three to four times a week, they typically last for 45 minutes to an hour and the pain is throbbing". Don't say "my lower back hurts", say "I feel pain in my lower back 5-6 days per week, usually when trying to lift from the ground or running". If you tell the examiner your head hurts "sometimes" , they will literally write "sometimes" on the paper and you won't get compensation for it.
Also, describe how and when your injuries began ("I started feeling lower back pain in Summer 2016 while we were running or when I was trying to lift a heavy object") and also how the impact your life (I can't stand for long periods of time, I can't run, I can't lift things over my head anymore, etc.)
4. These examiners aren't your friends. Keep your guard up when around them. Don't be hostile but remember that (like a job interview) you're being examined from the moment you walk in the door. If you walk in looking happy and jovial and when they ask you how you're doing you say "I'm great!", that's not going to help your case. You might have to act a little bit to get the results you want.
If you guys have any other questions or would like some additional advice, let me know.
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- Jan 18, 2006
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atlsfinest
egaroc1
good looking homies!
egaroc1
you retire in SD? I got 3 years hear at north island. Trying to extend a year and then go to Bahrain for 2 and retire but if I pick up W4 early, I'll do the high 3 for W4 then retire.
- Jan 18, 2006
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I have sleep apena. Went through sleep study whole nine. Good there. I have arthritis in my left knee. Gonna keep going back for that one.
I'm tall for the Navy (6ft 8 ) I have hit my head a ton and I'm not remembering things as well as I used too. Reading up and a lot of symptoms for TBI I have. I'm gonna play that to the number of times I hit my head while on board ships.
I'm trying to get 100%. That is the goal. 100% with W3 or W4 retirement will be great.
I'm open to any advice bro.
- Feb 17, 2006
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Sleep apnea 50% if you have the paper work stating you have the C-pap machine.
10% for you hand. If you say you have NERVE pain. (I would say it causes pain up to your shoulder). alway go to nerve pain constant with all use.
Low back with shooting pain down both legs and relate it to a work related cause and be specific If you have any PRT waivers you can relate any injury/body part to it.
Your scar may not get you a % but it will get you 0% which is better than deferred cause then you can always challenge it for more % down the road.
I would start linking injuries to those body parts on your annual physicals that we get. And then when you go to your next command you can double tap and repeat on your final tour.
Don’t focus on trying to get only one body part. Carpul tunnel/Temperol mandibular pain aka TMJ( go thru dental for this). Those are some ones you should start going for. Spread load your claims so you got back up points.
I filled for 25 claims (Only like 10 made it) and got like 250% total but they top off at100. i went in and you need that mind set.
- Feb 8, 2009
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If you do 20+ years on active duty, there's no reason you shouldn't be able to get 100% disability. I did 6 years active and got 80%.
For all of you guys who are out, make sure that they continue to make and go to your VA appointments. Your compensation ratings aren't locked in forever (unless you're rated at 100% total and permanent). Every couple of years (I think it's every 5 years, not certain) the VA reviews files and if they see that you haven't been making and going to appoints for your injuries, they will decrease you VA compensation rating . One day you'll see your rating go from 100% to 80% out of nowhere if you're not careful. I've read about guys going from 50% to 0.
It sounds cruel at first but it makes sense. If you tell the VA that your knees are bad and then you don't make any medical appointments with them about it for 5 years, they'll presume that your knees are fine now and stop paying you for it. Make sure you go to your appointments, don't blow them off.
For all of you guys who are out, make sure that they continue to make and go to your VA appointments. Your compensation ratings aren't locked in forever (unless you're rated at 100% total and permanent). Every couple of years (I think it's every 5 years, not certain) the VA reviews files and if they see that you haven't been making and going to appoints for your injuries, they will decrease you VA compensation rating . One day you'll see your rating go from 100% to 80% out of nowhere if you're not careful. I've read about guys going from 50% to 0.
It sounds cruel at first but it makes sense. If you tell the VA that your knees are bad and then you don't make any medical appointments with them about it for 5 years, they'll presume that your knees are fine now and stop paying you for it. Make sure you go to your appointments, don't blow them off.
- Feb 17, 2006
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Just read up on disability pay decreasing.
Good looks on the heads up. So they review it every 5 yrs unless they rate you as permanently disabled.
- Feb 8, 2009
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Just read up on disability pay decreasing.
Good looks on the heads up. So they review it every 5 yrs unless they rate you as permanently disabled.
https://themilitarywallet.com/can-the-va-reduce-disability-benefits/
You're not 100% in the clear unless you got 100% total and permanent (which is the Holy Grail, you don't have to go to another VA appointment for the rest of your life unless you want to) or you've been at your current rating for over 20 years.
A good rule rule of thumb I use is that for every injury I receive compensation for, go to the VA at least once a year for that injury. If you schedule it right, you can schedule multiple appointments for one visit so you don't have to miss work or other obligations.
It's important that the VA know that 1. you're still injured, 2. it hasn't gotten better and 3. you're still seeking treatment.
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- Feb 18, 2007
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what about permanent injuries/damage to your body? they gotta have a system to differentiate that and keep it forever
also you need a 0% rating on a certain injury to be able to challenge it in the future?
i thought me having spinal problems and nerve damage, i was a shoe in for at least 40 percent fam
also you need a 0% rating on a certain injury to be able to challenge it in the future?
i thought me having spinal problems and nerve damage, i was a shoe in for at least 40 percent fam
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- Feb 8, 2009
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what about permanent injuries/damage to your body? they gotta have a system to differentiate that and keep it forever
also you need a 0% rating on a certain injury to be able to challenge it in the future?
i thought me having spinal problems and nerve damage, i was a shoe in for at least 40 percent fam
Certain individual ratings can be permanent from the beginning. For example, if you're blind, you lost a limb, nerve damage ,etc. Obviously, they know those types of ailments won't get better. Pain can subside and get better over time so those types of ratings can be decreased.
I don't think the VA is hunting veterans, trying to take away their disability compensation. All you need to do is continue to go to your appointments. This can be very inconvenient if you live far away from a VA facility or if you live abroad though.
Even 0% ratings are important because they're documented and, as you mentioned, you can raise your ratings. For those injuries where you received 0%, you need to build a paper trail of going to the VA to receive treatments for those injuries and then eventually you can file a claim to increase your rating.
I got a 0% rating For a scar I received when a hatch fell on my head and busted me to the white meat.
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- May 19, 2013
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NPC just released recommencing of selection boards......CPO board pushed back until October-November 
- May 19, 2013
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- Feb 18, 2007
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Anybody that got out, have disability and got back in active/reserves again?
Im comin up on my degree and was thinkin about maybe goin in again as an officer.
Im comin up on my degree and was thinkin about maybe goin in again as an officer.
- Feb 18, 2007
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It seems like accountability in the police force seems to be not up to par with the military? Losing a screw driver in the flightline is treated like commiting murder in the AF.
- Feb 8, 2009
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Y'all heard about this story? This Navy 06 didn't realize that he was on Facebook live and went on a 30-minute long racist tirade against blacks, Asians and women. The scary part about this is that guys with this type of mentality have 30 year long careers and influenced the lives of hundreds if not thousands of sailors. You can't tell that this guy's racist views never influenced his decision-making while in uniform. And people wonder why there are so few black officers at the top.
- May 19, 2013
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That’s the crazy part, imagine how many minority careers he’s affected due to his blatant racist mentality. But best believe he’s not the only one...he just got caught up, there are several others like him in senior leadership.
- Aug 30, 2012
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That guy was retired? It didn’t seem like he’s in command. And just someone who is involved with helping recruitment.
- May 19, 2013
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He’s a retired Capt. regardless if he’s not in direct command right now or not he was before. I’m sure his ignorant mindset didn’t start when he hit record on live the other day. His racist mentality has been there and I’m positive it’s swayed bias not in the favor of the “blacks” and “Asians” him and his wife directly called out.
- Feb 8, 2009
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He's currently retired. What I mean is, he was in command previously and I'm sure these racist views influenced him in the past.
- Apr 26, 2013
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Doesn’t surprise me I have dealt with this racist bs my whole career..
leaving for Virginia this weekend
leaving for Virginia this weekend
- Aug 9, 2012
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You're going to be Virginia Beach right?
- Apr 26, 2013
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Pretty much OPSEC 
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