Of course it could just be me, but I set aside time to read and understand to the best of my limited abilities comments or postings before I respond. Keyword there being ‘before’. Out of courtesy, mostly.

Then again, I’m one of those who would actually posit blame on the donkey if the cart arrived past schedule.

Personally, I do not collect any service-related disability payments. But I do find the mention of possible service-related hearing loss useful for avoiding domicile task orders.

If you won’t read it all, then you really don’t understand the issue at all. I swear, veterans are their own worst enemy when it comes to getting meaningful reforms passed.

Here is the Cliff Notes version:

1) Pass Concurrent receipt for all. Then fix and tighten up the VA rating system. The current system is a kluge that creates as many problems as it solves. This position has been endorsed by most of the leading veterans groups.

You know, I know a lot of you say these things to see if he can get a rise out of someone, but it seems to me that to portray every veteran who applies for disability as some sort of welfare or tax cheat is a bit much.

Seems to me your complaint should be with the system, not the person who applies for benefits within it. Its not exactly like a veteran can just wake up one morning and say, “I think I’ll just declare myself 100% disabled and sit on my ass all day”. There is a process after all and it requires a lengthy application process and a certification by the VA that the disability is legitimate. The VA expects to get some 800,000 claims this year, and it has 400,000 claims pending. It takes about six months, on average, to process a claim, and appeals average about two years. If you think there is too much “cheating” going on-then get Congress to revise the law. However do expect some push back from the military coalition. Also I would remind you the final arbiter of “line of duty” is when the injury occurred and the character of the discharge. That’s taught in every transition class the Navy teaches. I don’t think the REMF block is anywhere on the claim form. Maybe it should be-only who gets to be the judge of what is REMF or not?

This is the kind of thing where the facts in general do not support the stereotypes. The stereotype of the “freeloading” veteran is just that: a stereotype-and had you, or B2, or anyone else looked up the facts you have found out that the overwhelming majority of veterans with disability ratings average about 10-20%-no more. ( Source GAO reports in 1996 and 2006). I’d also point out that those same reports show that only 6.4% of veterans get some 30% of all reported disability payments and those are the ones who are 100% disabled. That hardly qualifies as an epidemic of misconduct. I would submit to you that based solely on medical records just about every retiring veteran would qualify for a 10 % rating. The service takes something over time. Other wise why do I have a hearing loss after 5000 hours of hearing engines drone on into the night? Are you saying my hearing loss is somehow less noble than Nose’s? I think if you did a statistical survey of E-2 aircrew its a common affliction.

Could the system take some reform-sure. However for every story of someone “at the trough” there are an equal number of horror stories of guys not getting what independent evaluators say is legitimate. The system is not perfect, but it has to cast a wide enough net to cover those who need it.

Plus as the US government has pointed out, and veterans groups have endorsed, teh VA ratings themselves need to be updated-but both sides are in agreement that system should not be scrapped. I’d also remind you that for most retirees they are not really getting any additional money because most of them do not qualify for concurrent receipt. So its not costing the government ONE DIME more than it would already be paying.

Plus, like it or not, the US government incentivizes the desire to get a disability rating. Preferred hiring practices in federal employment are one, inequities in military retirement law as typified by the USFSPA are another, and finally the tax advantages of the disability system are a third.

In the end, the claims have to be supported by the medical record. And it has to be upheld by a VA adjudicator who if the numbers are right-is actually spring loaded to the Badbob school of veterans adjudication-guilty until proven innocent.

And FWIW my current rating is zero-but I am awaiting adjudication of my claim. I have all the documentation to prove it and yes I did use the services of the DAV-just like they show you in transition class. I don’t see filing a claim as any more “immoral” than taking a 100% legal tax deduction. And most of you guys would defend to the death the right of B2 or anyone else to do that.

Blame the system and fix the system if you don’t like it. At the least look at the facts before you brand all of your fellow veterans as cheats and liars. An honorable discharge is not a greater than or equal to proposition…………….

I don’t think it’s about whether or not it’s “illegal”.

I’m fairly certain it’s about what’s “immoral”.

Take what you will, you’re the one who has to stare back at yourself when you’re shaving. If you feel good about it, fine. Just don’t try to convince those of us who see you as slurpin’ at the trough.

In my very unhumble opinion, if’n you didn’t get it “in the line of duty” (and in my book, that ain’t some REMF posit) you don’t really deserve it. Ditto if you can still earn a paycheck.