Posted: 8/6/2026 9:48:08 PM EDT
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I filled out the registration for VA medical benefits today. I am 59...will be 60 in Nov. I have a 40% disability rating for a shoulder injury. I have had insurance thru employers, since I left army in 2000. Didn't file for disability till 2018. I had surgery for shoulder while enlisted, in 99, but the repair failed in 2017 and I was told I needed a shoulder replacement so I thought I should probably file. I am planning to retire in 8 months. Since I won't qualify for medicaide for 5 years I thought I could use VA healthcare till then and save money over an ACA plan. There is a va clinic in our area, but I read on the VA website that I can probably still use the Dr that I currently go to, thru the Community provider network. All of this is new to me so I need to start paying a lot more attention to the emails I have been getting from the VA. I always ignored most of them because I had good benefits for my family thru my job. That job is coming to an end soon. |
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what does 50% do for you that 40% does not? Also. for timelines, as i understand it, I have had my rating long enough that they are not supposed to decrease it. I had my shoulder replacement done at a civilian hospital with my civilian insurance. I would be concerned that they might say my shoulder is great now and revoke my 40% disability. |
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Originally Posted By WoodChuckDad: what does 50% do for you that 40% does not? Also. for timelines, as i understand it, I have had my rating long enough that they are not supposed to decrease it. I had my shoulder replacement done at a civilian hospital with my civilian insurance. I would be concerned that they might say my shoulder is great now and revoke my 40% disability. Assuming you're married, that extra 10% gives you an extra $359/mo. As far as the reduction, the ultimate question lies in if your shoulder is STILL at 40%, despite the surgery. Remember, this isn't an arbitrary "hey, my shoulder feels 20% better so therefore it's now at 20% instead..". You need to check the VA requirements for a shoulder to be rated at 40%, and then evaluate if your repaired shoulder is STILL at that amount. My guess without knowing anything about you is that it IS probably still at least at that rating. My guess is ALSO that you almost certianly have another 30-40% of misc service related disabilities that are currently going unrecognized. But the trick will be PROVING that service relation. |
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I am married. I was never in combat. I got hurt falling off a 5 ton truck in the winter after an ice storm I was supposed to have surgery in German but my wife died in Longstuhl medical center from complications in child birth. My son lived. I got a bluebark transfer back to the states . I had surgery on my shoulder a naval facility. I then requested a hardship discharge because I had no-one to care for my son if I was deployed. I had been told by relatives who were military to apply for disability because of my shoulder but I always had the attitude, that there were guys who had been thru shit who needed that, and I was doing well with my career so I had my own stuff. I worked out, did sports stuff. So why bother? Shoulder hurt but was usable. I just had to do things differently. 12 years ago I got married again. My wife was prior service and also previously married to a Naval officer for 14 years. She kept pushing me to get the VA evaluation. Eventually the shoulder had deteriorated enough that I couldn't do my workouts, and I was not sleeping well. Xrays showed it was a fucking mess and I needed a replacement. BUT, I was starting to build my own house and couldn't be down for a long time so I got the evaluation and rating in 2018. and kept working on my house. i just did most of my shit with my right arm. I moved into my house in 2023. Had shoulder replacement in 2024. my "good shoulder" is kinda fucked up now. probably from increased load, compensating for the other shoulder. I had it xrayed and they say I need it replaced also. I laughed at them and said i could rock it out for another 5 or 10 years, based on what I got out of the other one. That might qualify and it might just make them annoyed and reduce my current rating. I have had a fucked up life and I have had a charmed life. just depends which aspect you are looking at. I tend to feel that my life is awesome. I'm about to retire at 60 so I think shit's going pretty well. I would just like to take advantage of the legally provided benefits that I appear to qualify for. That boy now wears a uniform and serves. |
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WoodChuckDad, Sir, pls contact either your local chapter of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), or Disabled American Veterans organization (DAV). Ask to speak to the Veteran Service Officer (VSO), they will be more then happy to help you with any questions, filling & filing forms. They'll support & represent you all the way through the whole process to attain a higher disability rating. Also, since you plan on retiring the higher rating will increase your monthly benefit payments. Best of luck!! |
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Originally Posted By MyMalteseFalcon: WoodChuckDad, Sir, pls contact either your local chapter of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), or Disabled American Veterans organization (DAV). Ask to speak to the Veteran Service Officer (VSO), they will be more then happy to help you with any questions, filling & filing forms. They'll support & represent you all the way through the whole process to attain a higher disability rating. Also, since you plan on retiring the higher rating will increase your monthly benefit payments. Best of luck!! |
DAV lifetime member
NRA Patriot Life Benefactor
NRA Patriot Life Benefactor
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What was your combined income (if you don't mind)? I applied and was denied they said "we" made to much money. 80 or so a year if I remember right 5 years ago. Gee thanks glad I signed on the dotted line at 18. My wife took an entire year off to work on her teaching degree, and I applied again and was accepted. Go figure. No disability. |
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Most vets have a lot more disabilities than are found or they even complain about. I forgot the percentage but a large percentage have some hearing loss, tinnitus or some other ear ailment. I would suggest finding a good lawyer to help if possible. Or start reading online. |
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Originally Posted By Mike_Golf: It sounds like you might really need VA medical benefits. If you can get that rating above 50%, it would be better. He should be getting decent coverage now, just has co pays for non service connected stuff. If he was 50% he would be Priority 1 and have no more co pays |
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Originally Posted By JimmyAR: What was your combined income (if you don't mind)? I applied and was denied they said "we" made to much money. 80 or so a year if I remember right 5 years ago. Gee thanks glad I signed on the dotted line at 18. My wife took an entire year off to work on her teaching degree, and I applied again and was accepted. Go figure. No disability. Income is significant'y more than that. Not sure how to say without sounding like a dick. I have been very fortunate with my career. Wife and I together this year are over 200. I received a booklet about my benefits so it looks like I will likely be approved. As Wildboar said, my coverage will be decent, I just need to pay a co-pay for non veteran related issues. Still a significant savings over the ACA. my wife is a veteran as well but no rating. we will be paying for her on ACA. |