Retirement / Separation Considerations

[Polar Bear]

1 hour ago, di1630 said:

I have a titanium brace in my vertebre that usaf med has tried to kill my ejection seat qual multiple times and led to significant lifestyle adjustments and pain management….20%

PTSD for an admin never outside the base SSGT I know…100%

Kinda screwy.




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There is a certain lawyer in Texas that could fix this for a couple grand.

[M2]

20 hours ago, Polar Bear said:

There is a certain lawyer in Texas that could fix this for a couple grand.

[bcuziknow]

On 1/23/2023 at 12:20 AM, Polar Bear said:

There is a certain lawyer in Texas that could fix this for a couple grand.

A lawyer is not required, however trying to do it yourself is not recommended either. If you do it yourself, good luck with that. If this poster used a VSO then he needs to find another more qualified one. It’s complicated (by design), but well worth the effort to learn the puzzle pieces and “the math”….and don’t assume you understand “the math”

ex: hysterectomy 50% + sleep apnea 50% does NOT = VA 100% It’s actually 75% unless there are other claims. 

“The Math” -  https://www.va.gov/VA-combined-ratings-table-2019.pdf

As for the original post (di1630), I would suggest you left a lot on the table. For most of you (I assume AD) a 50% rating is min target as it then becomes a $1150ish/mo tax free IN ADDITION to ret check. Anything less than 50% and it’s simply eliminates the tax on that amount of your retirement check.

NOTE: 50% is not that terribly difficult to rate when you take into account things like sniffles, allergies, knee issues, tinnitus, hearing loss,  ((plantar fasciitis <—— foot stomp 50% alone)) to name just a few. Plenty more easily puts said poster well above 50%.  

Veterans Administration report to Congress, the ten most commonly awarded medical conditions that are getting approved for benefits are as follows:

Tinnitus

Limitation of flexion (knee)

Hearing loss

Lumbosacral or cervical strain (back and neck strains)

Limitation of arm motion

General scars

Limitation of ankle motion

PTSD

Migraines

Paralysis of the sciatic nerve

Finally, it’s not “a game”, it’s a benefit available for a reason. When you swore in some 20+ years ago, the govt agreed to return you to after your service in the condition you were in when you entered service. Here’s where I get on my soapbox - are you aware that ED (often associated w most your claims and a no brainer for someone w back issues) is a Special K award of $120ish/mo on top of your VA rating. Oh, and for you pilots, also free viagra for life. jus sayin~
 

“Game the system”? No. Understand the benefits you’re due and learn the rules, HELL YES! Finally, the time to start preparing yourself (increase your medical visits) for those benefits is 1-2 yrs from retirement, not at your govt reqd TAMP session. 

Edited January 25, 2023 by bcuziknow
Please post…or not!

[uhhello]

1 hour ago, bcuziknow said:

A lawyer is not required, however trying to do it yourself is not recommended either. If you do it yourself, good luck with that. If this poster used a VSO then he needs to find another more qualified one. It’s complicated (by design), but well worth the effort to learn the puzzle pieces and “the math”….and don’t assume you understand “the math”

ex: hysterectomy 50% + sleep apnea 50% does NOT = VA 100% It’s actually 75% unless there are other claims. 

“The Math” -  https://www.va.gov/VA-combined-ratings-table-2019.pdf

As for the original post (di1630), I would suggest you left a lot on the table. For most of you (I assume AD) a 50% rating is min target as it then becomes a $1150ish/mo tax free IN ADDITION to ret check. Anything less than 50% and it’s simply eliminates the tax on that amount of your retirement check.

NOTE: 50% is not that terribly difficult to rate when you take into account things like sniffles, allergies, knee issues, tinnitus, hearing loss,  ((plantar fasciitis <—— foot stomp 50% alone)) to name just a few. Plenty more easily puts said poster well above 50%.  

Veterans Administration report to Congress, the ten most commonly awarded medical conditions that are getting approved for benefits are as follows:

Tinnitus

Limitation of flexion (knee)

Hearing loss

Lumbosacral or cervical strain (back and neck strains)

Limitation of arm motion

General scars

Limitation of ankle motion

PTSD

Migraines

Paralysis of the sciatic nerve

Finally, it’s not “a game”, it’s a benefit available for a reason. When you swore in some 20+ years ago, the govt agreed to return you to after your service in the condition you were in when you entered service. Here’s where I get on my soapbox - are you aware that ED (often associated w most your claims and a no brainer for someone w back issues) is a Special K award of $120ish/mo on top of your VA rating. Oh, and for you pilots, also free viagra for life. jus sayin~
 

“Game the system”? No. Understand the benefits you’re due and learn the rules, HELL YES! Finally, the time to start preparing yourself (increase your medical visits) for those benefits is 1-2 yrs from retirement, not at your govt reqd TAMP session. 

You are absolutely "gaming the system" if you're claiming things you don't have just because the VA can't prove otherwise.  That's what I was talking about.  "Dude, you have ringing in your ears right?, right?".  No.  "Well they can't prove otherwise, get what you've earned brother".....and so on and so on.  "Just claim ED, they can't prove otherwise".  

100% go claim what is broken with you or what you might possibly even think is an issue and don't hold back.  Let the VA sort it out.  But the great majority think it's a game to get as much as you can and blatantly lying about it.  Those same fucktards will be the first to moan about welfare and people not earning their paychecks.  

Rant over.

Edited January 25, 2023 by uhhello

[uhhello]

I was really impressed with the VA process and now VA care post retirement.  I did it with a VSO which basically involved him filling out the paperwork I would have done on my own and wasn't very impressed with him.  I claimed a bunch of things that I had in my records for visits and actual treatment throughout my career.  For my back pain, it was very hit and miss and for the exam, I explained to the doc that my back wasn't actually hurting today and I have full mobility.  He explained to go (mobility) until it WOULD hurt on a bad day.  Ended up with a 80% rating and I did everything on my own.  

Have visited the VA mutlitple times now for various reasons and the care was leaps and bounds above antyhing I expereienced in the military.  For one of the issues, a quick phone call trying to scheudle an appt and was told due to my symptoms to head to the ER right away.  Had visions of hell going to a VA ER and how long it would take but from parking to the triage bed was about 5 mintues and then was moved back to a ER room and had care right away.  All told, I was in and out in under 3 hours with a treatment plan and meds in hand.  An MRI was ordered on the off chance it wasn't what they thought it was.  It would have taken many many trips to the mil doctors in order to get an MRI especially with what my symptoms were.  Very impressed.  

[arg]

7 hours ago, uhhello said:

I was really impressed with the VA process and now VA care post retirement.  I did it with a VSO which basically involved him filling out the paperwork I would have done on my own and wasn't very impressed with him.  I claimed a bunch of things that I had in my records for visits and actual treatment throughout my career.  For my back pain, it was very hit and miss and for the exam, I explained to the doc that my back wasn't actually hurting today and I have full mobility.  He explained to go (mobility) until it WOULD hurt on a bad day.  Ended up with a 80% rating and I did everything on my own.  

Have visited the VA mutlitple times now for various reasons and the care was leaps and bounds above antyhing I expereienced in the military.  For one of the issues, a quick phone call trying to scheudle an appt and was told due to my symptoms to head to the ER right away.  Had visions of hell going to a VA ER and how long it would take but from parking to the triage bed was about 5 mintues and then was moved back to a ER room and had care right away.  All told, I was in and out in under 3 hours with a treatment plan and meds in hand.  An MRI was ordered on the off chance it wasn't what they thought it was.  It would have taken many many trips to the mil doctors in order to get an MRI especially with what my symptoms were.  Very impressed.  

My two visits to the Lubbock VA were good. If you don't mind posting,Which one did you go to?

[uhhello]

3 minutes ago, arg said:

My two visits to the Lubbock VA were good. If you don't mind posting,Which one did you go to?

Tucson campus

[filthy_liar]

8 hours ago, bcuziknow said:

A lawyer is not required, however trying to do it yourself is not recommended either. If you do it yourself, good luck with that. If this poster used a VSO then he needs to find another more qualified one. It’s complicated (by design), but well worth the effort to learn the puzzle pieces and “the math”….and don’t assume you understand “the math”

Disagree.  Do it all yourself.  You will absolutely be better off.  I had a VSO from MOAA who was a young lawyer in DC and was energetic and good willed, but clueless.  And in DC, if you get a VSO you keep them because 69,000 people retire from there per hour and VSOs are difficult to find.  I had my initial consultation and I could tell she wasn't tracking on the process, but after talking to some other retirees, she seemed to meet the expectations of a VSO.  That's when I decided that I would have to take the claim on myself.  A lot of research, a lot of time.  Worth it.  Once I built the package, I handed it to her, she said "wow," filed it, and that was that.  And I was pleased with the results.

The one thing that stands out as extraordinarily frustrating was finding the VA website that listed every service related condition.  Took some digging and it shouldn't have.  That site is gold.  Tells you the condition and what score you will get based on every factor imaginable.

[FLEA]

15 minutes ago, filthy_liar said:

Disagree.  Do it all yourself.  You will absolutely be better off.  I had a VSO from MOAA who was a young lawyer in DC and was energetic and good willed, but clueless.  And in DC, if you get a VSO you keep them because 69,000 people retire from there per hour and VSOs are difficult to find.  I had my initial consultation and I could tell she wasn't tracking on the process, but after talking to some other retirees, she seemed to meet the expectations of a VSO.  That's when I decided that I would have to take the claim on myself.  A lot of research, a lot of time.  Worth it.  Once I built the package, I handed it to her, she said "wow," filed it, and that was that.  And I was pleased with the results.

The one thing that stands out as extraordinarily frustrating was finding the VA website that listed every service related condition.  Took some digging and it shouldn't have.  That site is gold.  Tells you the condition and what score you will get based on every factor imaginable.

While everyone is sharing here: Also be sure to look at the new presumed eligibility guidelines published under the PACT Act. 

https://www.benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/factsheets/serviceconnected/presumption.pdf

 

Lots of conditions we all probably just associate with aging are now presumed related to burn pit or other types of exposures. 

[filthy_liar]

Good gouge.  Look at everything you can.  Flea you triggered a thought that I left out - this stuff changes and evolves.  If you are exiting the military keep up with the current gouge/policies/rules.

[FLEA]

10 minutes ago, filthy_liar said:

Good gouge.  Look at everything you can.  Flea you triggered a thought that I left out - this stuff changes and evolves.  If you are exiting the military keep up with the current gouge/policies/rules.

100%! 

Get  connected with your VFW, legion or any other organization that is veteran related and appeals to you. For me it was SVA because I decided to do more schooling after the military. But ANYONE in the veteran space will know this stuff and will share it with their community regularly. 

[MT near]

50 minutes ago, filthy_liar said:

The one thing that stands out as extraordinarily frustrating was finding the VA website that listed every service related condition.  Took some digging and it shouldn't have.  That site is gold.  Tells you the condition and what score you will get based on every factor imaginable.

 

Have a link you can share?

[filthy_liar]

6 minutes ago, MT near said:

Have a link you can share?

I knew as soon as I typed that someone was going to say go with link.  I'll try to dig it out.

[uhhello]

36 minutes ago, MT near said:

 

Have a link you can share?

https://www.benefits.va.gov/WARMS/bookc.asp

[filthy_liar]

I'm pretty sure the link uhhello posted is the one I was talking about

 

[mcbush]

Got a stupid question for the group. I flew C-17s on AD for ten years, separated in 2022, and am now a non-flying reservist and airline guy. I still haven't taken the time to go through the VA medical process, partially because there's honestly just nothing really wrong with me (at least medically). The only thing I can think of is that I probably tore/pulled a muscle in my shoulder at SERE ages ago, but it doesn't affect my range of motion, mobility, or strength in any way. I used to only feel it when forced to position that shoulder one particular way for extended periods, i.e. during long contacts in AR, but now I go months at a time without noticing it at all. In fact, I don't think I've thought about it once since separating. The shoulder thing isn't anywhere in my medical records because I was, of course, a 22 year old that wanted to go fly and spend as little time at the clinic as possible.

I also don't have tinnitus and I'm not going to tell them I do, my hearing is somehow better than most teenagers, my joints are fine, no PTSD, no sleep apnea, etc. 

I guess my question is: should I still reach out and go through this process in hopes that they "find" something wrong with me? Or should I just accept that I was one of the lucky ones who came out unscathed?

 

[HossHarris]

1 hour ago, mcbush said:

Got a stupid question for the group. I flew C-17s on AD for ten years, separated in 2022, and am now a non-flying reservist and airline guy. I still haven't taken the time to go through the VA medical process, partially because there's honestly just nothing really wrong with me (at least medically). The only thing I can think of is that I probably tore/pulled a muscle in my shoulder at SERE ages ago, but it doesn't affect my range of motion, mobility, or strength in any way. I used to only feel it when forced to position that shoulder one particular way for extended periods, i.e. during long contacts in AR, but now I go months at a time without noticing it at all. In fact, I don't think I've thought about it once since separating. The shoulder thing isn't anywhere in my medical records because I was, of course, a 22 year old that wanted to go fly and spend as little time at the clinic as possible.

I also don't have tinnitus and I'm not going to tell them I do, my hearing is somehow better than most teenagers, my joints are fine, no PTSD, no sleep apnea, etc. 

I guess my question is: should I still reach out and go through this process in hopes that they "find" something wrong with me? Or should I just accept that I was one of the lucky ones who came out unscathed?

 

You should. 
 

stuff that isn’t bothering you now or an issue at all may get worse later. 
 

establishing that it’s service connected, even if it’s rated at 0%, is a lot easier now than it will be later. 
 

For example…I broke a big toe on AD. Fully healed. Zero issues. But it’s documented and service connected at 0%. If, some time in the future, that joint decides to be the epicenter of arthritis, or fuses up, or starts growing horns…or some other such bullshit … getting it treated will be a lot easier. 
 

same with the neck/back. Fine today. But if I can’t move it in my 60s me and the va May have to chat. 

Edited January 26, 2023 by HossHarris

[uhhello]

8 minutes ago, HossHarris said:

You should. 
 

stuff that isn’t bothering you now or an issue at all may get worse later. 
 

establishing that it’s service connected, even if it’s rated at 0%, is a lot easier now than it will be later. 
 

For example…I broke a big toe on AD. Fully healed. Zero issues. But it’s documented and service connected at 0%. If, some time in the future, that joint decides to be the epicenter of arthritis, or fuses up, or starts growing horns…or some other such bullshit … getting it treated will be a lot easier. 
 

same with the neck/back. Fine today. But if I can’t move it in my 60s me and the va May have to chat. 

bingo

[nsplayr]

On 1/25/2023 at 10:14 AM, bcuziknow said:

((plantar fasciitis <—— foot stomp 50% alone))

For those of us with plantar fasciitis, please careful when stomping that foot 😂

Question for other Guard dudes - when did you start your VA claims?

Backstory: I'm a DSG but have been on full-time orders for several years now. I recently filed a claim for documented and real chronic sinusitis alongside the recent burn pit / PACT Act stuff since the connection to service is now assumed. I used an upcoming projected short break in orders to have the eligibility to file.

I do have many other issues that I'd like the VA to evaluate eventually: plantar fasciitis, limited knee flexion due to chronic fat pad impingement, a mildly painful scar from a mil doc medical error, sciatica in one leg, chronic penis abrasions from plowing BQZip's mom, etc.

Ideally, however, I'd like to serve and remain on flight status for ~10 more years so I, like most aviators, have been hesitant to bring those things up with the VA even though they're (almost) all documented in my medical records, either flight doc and/or civilian PCM since I'm Tricare Prime Remote.

For ORFs (old retired farts) who have done this before...what would be your strategy be here? File for everything ASAP as breaks in orders allow? Wait until closer to retirement? Did you use a VSO?

I've already done my initial claim for the sinitus and had my VA exam and all that, but they just looked at that one thing because that's all I filed for. I DIY'd the entire process so perhaps I've already made strategic mistakes. Results from my claim are pending.

Thanks for any strategies that have worked for you!

Edited January 27, 2023 by nsplayr

[filthy_liar]

nsplayer - file for everything.  And use that VA website that breaks down all of the claimable conditions and all of the symptoms/medications that accrue points.  I think uhhello posted the link.  Get a VSO, but do everything yourself and hand them the package.  There are forms, also on the VA website that are forms that a doctor fills out.  Fill those out yourself and bring them to the doc to sign.

[filthy_liar]

mcbush to echo what others have said - you should.

[uhhello]

26 minutes ago, filthy_liar said:

nsplayer - file for everything.  And use that VA website that breaks down all of the claimable conditions and all of the symptoms/medications that accrue points.  I think uhhello posted the link.  Get a VSO, but do everything yourself and hand them the package.  There are forms, also on the VA website that are forms that a doctor fills out.  Fill those out yourself and bring them to the doc to sign.

That's not what he's asking.  

[herkbum]

For those of us with plantar fasciitis, please careful when stomping that foot 
Question for other Guard dudes - when did you start your VA claims?
Backstory: I'm a DSG but have been on full-time orders for several years now. I recently filed a claim for documented and real chronic sinusitis alongside the recent burn pit / PACT Act stuff since the connection to service is now assumed. I used an upcoming projected short break in orders to have the eligibility to file.
I do have many other issues that I'd like the VA to evaluate eventually: plantar fasciitis, limited knee flexion due to chronic fat pad impingement, a mildly painful scar from a mil doc medical error, sciatica in one leg, chronic penis abrasions from plowing BQZip's mom, etc.
Ideally, however, I'd like to serve and remain on flight status for ~10 more years so I, like most aviators, have been hesitant to bring those things up with the VA even though they're (almost) all documented in my medical records, either flight doc and/or civilian PCM since I'm Tricare Prime Remote.
For ORFs (old retired farts) who have done this before...what would be your strategy be here? File for everything ASAP as breaks in orders allow? Wait until closer to retirement? Did you use a VSO?
I've already done my initial claim for the sinitus and had my VA exam and all that, but they just looked at that one thing because that's all I filed for. I DIY'd the entire process so perhaps I've already made strategic mistakes. Results from my claim are pending.
Thanks for any strategies that have worked for you!

I was told by my rep that I had to wait until I was 6 months from retirement. So I did and had no problems getting it all done. I used someone that had retired from the unit.


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[mcbush]

Thanks gents, I'll get working on it. Appreciate the input.

[filthy_liar]

On 1/26/2023 at 8:22 PM, uhhello said:

That's not what he's asking

Apologies.  What was he asking?