This may be a little personal but is anyone aware of a Vet receiving disability benefits from a serious illness while serving? I am thinking about applying but it would be costly for me to go to Manila (could not go on my own) if there is little chance of an award and I would only be requesting medication. Thanks.
I knew of an NCO that was diagnosed with diabetes (not the kind you get from being overweight) while in the military and received 80 or 90% disability from it. I don't know what your chances would be of getting disability after being out for a very long time though.
It has little if anything to do with time, it's more about documented active duty medical records and/or meeting requirements for one of the 'presumed' categories.
The VA does have time limits on making claims. Please do share with the rest of us (minus any personal information you don't want anyone to know about).
Only one I am aware of is are you still alive and is the injury service connected? I filed 17 years after I got out of military and still got rated!
Seems you are correct. I remember being told not to wait more than 10 years.....but that was from second hand sources and not directly from the VA. I know this is a "blog".....but it appears to be a VA/government ran blog (.gov), so I believe the information would be factual. Some Tips for Filing a VA Disability Claim - VAntage Point Number five in recommendations says there is no time limit: "5. If you have been out of the service longer but still think you have a condition related to your service apply! There is no filing time limit. It just might be a little more complex and take a little longer because of the need to develop more records." The longer you are out the harder (and more time consuming) it is going to be to locate your military medical records. So while there is no time limit on filing it would be beneficial for everyone involved to do it as soon as possible.
That is the only one I am aware of also. I didn't file until the financial crisis in 2008 beat the cr@p out of me and I no longer could afford to continue paying for physical therapy on my own. Filed in 2011, also 17 years after discharge and got rated. I am sure the last 3 years getting therapy twice a week, documented in an inch thick of active duty medical records helped significantly.
That may be accurate for people getting out of Military service in the digital age but being that when I got out everything was still on paper and I was not even notified that the VA was available to me after being severely injured on active duty and basically forced out medically. When I did file I was granted disability the first time no questions asked and it only took them about 2 months which is lightning quick for the VA because it was all very well documented in medical records at Bethesda where I was treated. Unfortunately the disability rating was 17+ years after the fact. Maybe I just fell through the cracks? IDK.
If I may, can I just ask a very simple Question here? What happens if after all the Medical Records are gathered, checked and verified, it turns out it was a Pre- Existing Condition before Enlistment? Surely it would/could not be service related. Could it? Just asking Guys and Gals.
