degenerative arthritis Benefits for 100% disabled

[broncovet]

If you want a particlular benefit, such as "Space A" travel, I simply suggest you show up with your id and present it, then shut up, and let the Space A attendee decide if you are eligible or not.  Its not your job to decide if you are eligible..its the space A' attendee's job.  Let him do his job.  

If you look closely at an id card for 100% disabled Vets and retiree's, you notice barely any difference.   Mine says, "Exchange, MWR, Commissary" and the term 

"disabled" is nowhere to be found on my id card.  

IM sorry I dont hear well enough to hear/contribute to the podcast, (which I recommend, by the way), but I will still put in my 2 cents worth.

Sometimes, its better to beg for forgiveness than to ask for permission.  

At my nearby military post, the retiree and the 100% Vet cards are pretty much interchangeable.  I'm often confused for a "retiree".   Remember, the VA does not issue us Tshirts and make mandantory us wear a label "100% disabled Veteran".    Instead, we are free to choose whether to identify as a disabled Veteran, or not disclose, at our option.   Years ago, I went through a state Voc Rehab plan, where they outlined the policy of "to disclose or not disclose" our disability(s).   The bottom line is we choose to who/when we disclose our disabilities.   Our medical records are private.  There are privacy laws, and we are protected.  

My wife used to be a nurse, and they take privacy laws seriously, with a "need to know".  A nurse I dont know, can not legally walk up to me and demand to know my medical history.  However, if she is treating me at a hospital or clinic, she has a need to know my medical background, but even then I get to choose how much I disclose.   My wife was prohibited (under threat of being fired) of discussing medical conditions UNLESS the patient gave the "ok"..go ahead and talk to them about it.   Can you see that our medical records are private, and we need not disclose unless we choose?  

In a similar way, I need not list my disabilities, medical records, dates of treatment, etc., with the "Space A" attendee.  I hand them my id card, and it speaks for itself.  Now, I dont recommend fraud.  No.   We have been issued this ID card, and I let the person reading it do their job..that is, to see if I qualify or not.  I dont answer "health questions" to the Space A attendee, as he is not treating me, and need not know my medical history, and I do not have to disclose my disability percentage, or other health details, unless I so choose.  

  We dont have to disclose the last time we had sex, our list of disabilitis, if any, our doctor's name, or the list of meds we take.   Before I could get a handicap placcard, (good to park in a handicap zone in my state), I asked my doctor (as I have it documented that I have severe degenerative arthritis of the knees, NOT currently sc for knees)

Based on this, I simply recommend you "show up" with your id card, and request military space a travel.  This technique (assuming I qualify, and let them tell me no) works with almost everything on base.  I have been issued this id card in a proper manner, going through the channels.  I am not required to disclose my disabilities, but may do so at my soul discretion and, to the degree that I choose.  A space A attendee does not have a "need to know" my health history or list of disabilities, if any.  

For eligibility for benefits that are exclusively for 100% disabled Vets only, the VA has a letter.  It does not say you are 10% for hearing loss, 10% for tinnitus, and it does not say whether or not you have ED.  It simply states whether or not you are 100% p and t.  When I print the letter, I get to choose whether or not I include 

"special monthly compensation"  or not.  This is a good idea.  THERE may be cases when a Veteran may choose to disclose SMC awarded, at what level, such as it someone was applying for a loan and needed all the income he could get to qualify.  That may be an instance where I would consider disclosing SMC's, but, generally, its none of their business what disabilities I have.  If they try to press, I will say something like:

"Very well, you want all my medical details to decide if I get on this plane.  I have presented my id card as proof, and this was apparently insufficient for you.  Before I give more details about myself, I need to verify who you are.  Please give me your credit card number, pin code, expiration date, mother's maiden name, place of birth, ssn, and bank routing numbers, and then, after verification, I will disclose my full medical record.  In the interim, I gave you my proof with my ID, so let me on the darn plane.  

All this said, I do think the policy should be implemented which allows disabled Vets to use Space A.  However, the military, like VA, has someone there interpreting his rules, and people do things differently.  The military, like VA, is not a unified body, where everyone does everything the same.  I say you hand them your id card, and answer as few a questions as possible about your health as well as your years of service.  (That is, whether you are retired, disabled, medically retired, Coast guard retired, contractor eligible, etc, etc, etc.)  

Edited December 28, 2016 by broncovet

[jfrei]

On December 28, 2016 at 3:22 PM, Gastone said:

What's it say in the STATUS Box? How old's your DOD ID card?

Mine was issued 09/14 after a DRO IU T & P Award.

Semper Fi

So hypothetically speaking if I were awarded IU because I am younger then most I'm assuming they will not give me PT that'll I'll have to win at DRO level with an IMO that's just my luck I'm guessing

[Buck52]

jfrei

Not necessary they should go by the severity of your disability and or symptoms of your disability  ,age should not be a factor in a decision.

what if you were 21 years old  and was sent to a conflict...you got both your legs blowed off from a IED..You come home get out of the military  and file a claim  at 21 years old  they will not use your age in a decision.

there are other contention that may not be so bad but if your service connected disability keeps you from working at age 21   then this is what IU is for Buddy. you just need to prove that to them...usually with medical records and letter from the Doctor.

[Gastone]

jfrei, very rare for a young to middle-age Vet with an IU rating based solely on a MH SC Condition to be determined T & P. Have you ever spoken with a VA or Private MH Clinician that didn't think just about all MH symptoms , with time and treatment, couldn't improve?

Keep in mind, a Vet could have multiple SC's, but only 1 or 2 are causing his current IU. I believe the VA's New (2013 or 14) IU claim form, specifically asks the Vet to list which SC is causing the Vet's current IU.

Another important point, all IU Awards are Temporary, based on Vet's Earned Income remaining below the SGI amount of $12.400 per yr under 65. Even Old Dog Vets that have an IU T & P No future Exam Rating, are required to file a Mandatory Annual 21-2140 (Earned Income statement) within 60 days of their IU Anniversary Date, up to age 70.

Semper Fi

[MikeHunt]

On 12/28/2016 at 7:18 AM, broncovet said:

... If they try to press, I will say something like:

"Very well, you want all my medical details to decide if I get on this plane.  I have presented my id card as proof, and this was apparently insufficient for you.  Before I give more details about myself, I need to .."

The E3 will then tell you to... well I probably can't write that here!

[jfrei]

Yeah just got the letter I was 20 when I had my TBI then one last tour in Afghanistan knew my issues with my residuals were overlooked and it  was time not to reenlist. IU granted for TBI residuals dizziness and lightheaded with PTSD all together 80 even though with my other 5 issues make me 90 without IU. I claimed my headaches as well but they gave me 0 poor C&P he didn't talk about them I am currently on 2 meds for pain from my headaches also one ER trip in last 2 months and two doctors visits just for my headaches somehow that was a zero. I don't care when it's right since I'm at 100 I just filed another increase I am keeping a journal for my headaches to see if That's more convincing. I have another C&P for my broken pelvis along with two appeals pending. All this VA crap makes my head hurt. Damn the Hamster doing to give him rat poison in his dinner.