Posted: 12/13/2025 11:01:55 AM EDT
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I am retiring in Dec of 2026 and want to make sure I do it right. I'll have 31 years split between active, M-day (part time) and AGR service. I will have 20 years of AFS Full time when I retire with another 10 Guard time. 3 years 82nd Airborne Div, 6 Years M198 Howitzer 13B (Guard), 1 Year Mob in Iraq as 31B, 6 years as a Marksmanship instructor (Guard), 1 Year Mob in Kuwait as an OPSNCO (guard). 12 Years as an AGR Recruiter. I've already spoken with my VSO and she is tracking my case. I have a 30% rating awarded in 2011 that I'm not collecting on currently due to active duty. 10% Tinnitus 10% L Knee instability 10% Lumbar strain with degenerative disk disease thoracic and lumbar spine (Claied as back strain) I have a permanent profile for my knees and shoulders from 2017. I will be eligible to file BDD July 1 (180 days). I have a multitude of issues including. - Left Knee ACL repair on AD 1997 with subsequent Meniscus removal in 2005- a lot of pain, locking, clicking and arthritis - Right knee massive arthritis - Back Degenerative disk disease as noted above- which has gotten progressively worse- - Left shoulder labrum tear diagnosed in 2012 doing PT while on AGR. MRI confirmed with Multiple shots of steroid to help. Lots of pain and numbness. - Right shoulder Rotator tear while PTing 2024. Just had repair in NOV and still rehabbing. - Tinnitus - ALWAYS lol - Hearing loss...Mil confirmed .. I think I'm 3P but keep putting the FU off - assume due to years on the Artillery gun-line and years as a marksmanship instructor - Migraines- Diagnosed with PCP last year. Currently on meds and happen at least 1 time a week but usually twice. - Recently diagnosed with Anxiety and Depression. Currently seeing a NP for Med management. Still waiting on therapy Questions, Q- Do I need to, or should I write a statement for each? Q-Should i use anyone instead of the VSO? Q- any guesses as far as rating percentage? Q Is there something I'm missing? |
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Haveing just been through this process.l let me clue ya in. First locate a VA claims specialist. They aren't affiliated with the VA, just get them on board with what to do. You say July 1st. June 1st, start gathering medical records. Any and all. In the meantime, pick one doc and start getting your problems documented. You have 7 months. Once you have hard copy records in hand, take them to the VA specialist mentioned above. They will make your claims and input your medical records. You will have to fill out a packet of paperwork stating what problems you have and you best be sure to be able to back them up. Once that gets inputted, hang on for the ride. I had 6 appointments in one week. Then it's an update 30 days before your final out and that's it. I retire 1 Feb 26 after 20 years and 7 days. |
Grab it at the bottom!
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I concur with all of the above. Find a VSO. Gather all the documents. Read the VA schedules for what you have/what you think you might have. The schedules give you a clue as to what you might rate. The VA math for the final percentage is a mystery to me. Also, if you have or think you have any mental issues (anxiety), you might want to gather corroborating witness statements from family members. I know this is a touchy subject, especially in GD, but if you did 31 years with time in infantry/Airborne units, you are not going to be like the Average 50 year old American that didn't. Not saying you or anybody else is debilitated, but you spent your entire adult life playing the equivalent of Pro Baseball when it comes to things like responsibility, accountability, timeliness and leadership. Now you are going to play farm league pickup baseball with the Mudville 9. I think it largely depends on where you are and who your VSO is, but I got a 60% rating with minimal effort. Once you get a rating, check with your state Veterans office. There may be other benefits. Each state is different. In Texas you get education benefits as well as reduced property taxes. EDIT to ask: OP was your guard time all active or were your doing the "one weekend a month thing?" if so, make sure you get your RRPA figured out. |
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Originally Posted By 13gunbunny: I am retiring in Dec of 2026 and want to make sure I do it right. I'll have 31 years split between active, M-day (part time) and AGR service. I will have 20 years of AFS Full time when I retire with another 10 Guard time. 3 years 82nd Airborne Div, 6 Years M198 Howitzer 13B (Guard), 1 Year Mob in Iraq as 31B, 6 years as a Marksmanship instructor (Guard), 1 Year Mob in Kuwait as an OPSNCO (guard). 12 Years as an AGR Recruiter. I've already spoken with my VSO and she is tracking my case. I have a 30% rating awarded in 2011 that I'm not collecting on currently due to active duty. 10% Tinnitus 10% L Knee instability 10% Lumbar strain with degenerative disk disease thoracic and lumbar spine (Claied as back strain) I have a permanent profile for my knees and shoulders from 2017. I will be eligible to file BDD July 1 (180 days). I have a multitude of issues including. - Left Knee ACL repair on AD 1997 with subsequent Meniscus removal in 2005- a lot of pain, locking, clicking and arthritis - Right knee massive arthritis - Back Degenerative disk disease as noted above- which has gotten progressively worse- - Left shoulder labrum tear diagnosed in 2012 doing PT while on AGR. MRI confirmed with Multiple shots of steroid to help. Lots of pain and numbness. - Right shoulder Rotator tear while PTing 2024. Just had repair in NOV and still rehabbing. - Tinnitus - ALWAYS lol - Hearing loss...Mil confirmed .. I think I'm 3P but keep putting the FU off - assume due to years on the Artillery gun-line and years as a marksmanship instructor - Migraines- Diagnosed with PCP last year. Currently on meds and happen at least 1 time a week but usually twice. - Recently diagnosed with Anxiety and Depression. Currently seeing a NP for Med management. Still waiting on therapy Questions, Q- Do I need to, or should I write a statement for each? Q-Should i use anyone instead of the VSO? Q- any guesses as far as rating percentage? Q Is there something I'm missing? Give me a call sometime. |
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The absolute best advice I can give you is MAKE A COMPLETE COPY OF YOUR MEDICAL RECORD AND HAVE IT NOTARIZED OR SIGNED BY ONE OF THE MEDICAL STAFF. I am sure the rules are the same for all services but in the CG, you are entitled to got to medical and request an official copy of your records. After getting a copy, I then went back to my shop and made a second copy because one is none  I can't stress the importance of this. My records from medical disappeared after I retired. They never made it from Alaska to the records center. The only thing that saved me was by having my own copy. Don't trust the system! The other bit of info I would say is to echo what others have said, use a VSO. After years of frustration I went to Oklahoma DAV and they were a lifesaver. |
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You can request a digital copy of your medical record. That "should" show all of your medical conditions throughout your career. Review it. Some treatments can be missing when going off and on AD or when visiting clinics in remote loctions. If something significant is missing, make an appointment and see a military doc about it so it is in your record before you retire. Anything in your record is automatically "service connected" and you don't need any buddy statements to prove a service connection. The VSO will look at your record, figure out how many ratable conditions you have, and help you fill out the VA disability application. As part of your disability determination, you will have a series of exams by the VA (or contracted docs) to see how bad each condition is. This isn't a doctor's visit where they are going to treat you. They are figuring out how damaged you are. Be honest about symptoms, pain levels, impaired range of motion, etc. Get another digital copy of your records just before retirement. As stated above, this will cover you if your record disappears. It happens. As long as you got everything done on time, you will start collecting disability payments the month after you retire with BDD. If your current VSO contact isn't responsive and doing everything above, find another one. This can be personality dependent. I found a good one on my 3rd try. |