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While in uniform, I always had the thought of “well nothing is seriously wrong with me.” I wasn’t wounded in combat and didn’t have any major injuries so I didn’t think I had a claim. I also had a negative perception of anyone who made a VA claim. I thought of them of them as freeloaders and people taking advantage of the system.
Man, I was incredibly wrong.
The VA disability claim system is there to fairly compensate you if you have any ailments related to your military service that could prevent you from fully engaging in employment opportunities. It’s not meant to be a handout. Do people use it like that? I’m sure they are there but the numbers are probably way lower than you think.
After going through the process my own view did a full 180 turn.
Just because you claim something does not mean that you will be compensated. You can receive a “0%” disability rating. Basically, that means the VA recognizes the issue as a problem but doesn’t think that it limits your engagement in the workplace.
Even if you don’t get money for it, it’s in your interest to at least have this in your records. It’s better to have something recorded because 10 years down the road that may start being an issue for you. If this happens the process to receive disability will be easier if you are already in the system for that service-related issue.
Here’s the other aspect of this: just because you claim something does not mean that you will be compensated for it. You put in the claim and then the VA will send you to a third-party private entity to evaluate your issue. They have strict guidelines to follow and will take the hard data on your issue. That data then gets evaluated by a VA review board who decides what your disability rating will be. Again, better to be 0 and have it recorded then never to mention it.
The whole disability system has an unjustified negative stigma about it. As vets, we take pride in pushing through the pain. We will say “Whatever, I’ll drink water and take some ibuprofen and I’ll be fine.” Military service can be hard on your mind and body. If you are having issues, whether or physical, mental, or emotional, feel comfortable reporting them and let the system work. In the long run, that’s what will be best for you.
Related:
5 Books to Read During Your Military Transition