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Posted: 8/30/2002 6:58:10 AM EDT
[#1]
It's hard to say, but the VA doesn't just look at what the Army says. They also take into account future problems.
I got 40% for my knees, and the Navy docs said that there was no real problem, even though I've been seen at the minimum 3 times a year (for 10 years) for problems with the knees. The VA won't tell you much until you are discharged, and have submitted your claim, which you would need to do the day you get out. Make sure that you get a COMPLETE copy of your medical records (especially if you had the surgery done at a different base than the one you are at) to submit to the VA. |
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Posted: 8/30/2002 10:17:51 AM EDT
[#2]
Steve, I feel your pain - do you? Make sure that you go in and complain about your pain, difficulties, whatever is different in your life due to your injury. DOCUMENTATION is the name of the game.
I went to the VA last year with my medical record and they estimated 35% between my two knees, back, and hearing loss. I would assume that your back would start you out at 30 or so percent. They use a method where the worse injury comes first and then each after takes a lesser percentage. My example: Bi-lateral knee injury = 20% Back injuy caused by bad knees = 8% (10% x 80%) Hearing loss = 7% (10% x 72%) Total = 35% Each injury is reduced by the ammount of injury total above making it pretty damn hard to make 100% without the worse injuries. Remember that any percentage is a good thing and gives you additional bennies in hiring as an example. I go to visit the doctors next month to bitch about the constant pain in my legs and feet and the limp I now suffer due to my service. |
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Posted: 8/30/2002 1:50:18 PM EDT
[#3]
Moved to GD from GFD.
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Posted: 8/30/2002 2:14:48 PM EDT
[#4]
Dont let the VA or the Army determine your disability...when the VA does examines for itself ,there is ,imo an obvious conflict of interest...seen it over and over again...
I urge you to contact the DAV reps near you and tell them your situation...see what they say and ask them to adjudicate your claim if you decide to get out... Ive seen many cases with the VA adjudicating a claim without the Vet having some representation- award an amount 1/2 that the DAV has been able to get for the Vet. Let the DAV or some service group represent you in the hearing phases.. Its much easier to do it right the first time then to try to go back on appeals... Document and keep copies of all your records.... Good luck... |
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Posted: 8/30/2002 2:17:48 PM EDT
[#5]
I suggest you take the desk job for the last 6 years. Once you have a pension for length of service you have a for sure amount for the rest of your life. You can get a VA pension also but they will reduce your regular pension by whatever the VA gives you. The VA money is tax free, your Army pension will be taxed. The VA can change your disability rating at a future date and thus the amount of your pension. Also there is a move in congress to allow you to collect both pensions. I wouldn't count on this one though. They passed it this year but didn't fund it and the current administration is against it. Also as a retiree you can get medical care from the Army or other service and TRICARE, which is pretty good. I hear bad things about waiting times at VA clinics etc. Good Luck. John Mason MSG USA (retired)
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Posted: 8/30/2002 2:24:08 PM EDT
[#6]
Ditto on all the above. Documentation and representation. My service-connected injury was really a no-brainer (T4 Para, complete injury) but it still took from '92 till '96 before I started receiving compensation. I was represented by the PVA, Paralyzed Veterans of America. Good luck
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Posted: 8/30/2002 5:58:33 PM EDT
[#7]
Take the desk job for 6 years.
6 years is nothing. Get the retirement. The job market is a bitch right now. When you get out the DAV will help you get what you deserve. With what you've been thru, you will get much more than "10-20%". |
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Posted: 8/30/2002 6:23:12 PM EDT
[#8]
Penrod has a good point...PVA is also an excellent service org...and very familiar with service connected spinal/back injuries so that may be the best way for you to go as well ...give both orgs a call...
again..best of luck to you. |
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Posted: 8/30/2002 6:26:08 PM EDT
[#9]
Get out now, your back money off-sets, one dollar to one dollar, any military retirement pay.
VA will usually go twice as much as the service rated you at. If you can pull 50% VA that is $500 tax free per month right now, not $900 taxed many years from now. Do not go it alone, use a service organization. Have a complete copy of your medical records and have them certifed by some 2LT flunky. Keep a copy of anything you give the service organization. Do not deal directly with the VA for comp. Thry are still using one man boards, and many of them have been caught tossing records in tough cases to make them easy cases. |
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Posted: 8/30/2002 7:08:19 PM EDT
[#10]
I had a L5-S1 Diskectomy partial romoval of disk and also had some knee damage and stuff and the VA awarded me 30% with out representation and I recieved the confirmation 2 weeks after discharge mainly due to the intense documentation in my records. I would say get out and take the tax free money now and if you get 20% or more then get on Chap 31 Voc Rehab and they will send you to college for 4 years and pay all of your books, supplies, tuition, fees, tutors, glasses, computer if needed, and so on you will have zero cost for 4 years of school and they also give you an allowance check depending on your dependants, i get almost $800 for that and then my $450 or so for regular dis check. It is the best program yet I have seen for vets by far! And by the way when they award your disability they only award in 10% amounts 0, 10, 20, 30.... and so on.
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Posted: 8/31/2002 8:31:19 PM EDT
[#11]
I wrote a whole "How to" but then it got deleted as I was typing (I hate these hidden commands in AOL/Windowes)
SO all I ahve to say is Call orgo to your local American Legion OFFICE and tell them your problems. They will help you get more $$ for your injures than the VA will give you at first. BISHOP |
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