Retiring Soon With Issues

[SFCTRUCKDRIVER]

CAN ANYONE HELP WITH WHAT THEY THINK IS A GOOD % FOR THE FOLLOWING.

I AM A 20 YEAR VET GOING TO RETIREMENT PHYSICAL NEXT MONTH. I HAVE HAD 2 SHOULDER SURGERIES, AND HAVE CONSTANT PAIN WITH LIMITED RANGE OF MOTION, DIAGNOSED WITH IMPINGEMENT SYNDROME.

NEXT IS GERD, WITH A HYATIAL HERNIA.

NEXT IS DDD IN C5/C6 WHERE I HAD A FUSION DONE BUT HAVE NERVE DAMAGE.

ANYONE WANT TO POINT ME IN THE RIGHT % DIRECTION OR EVEN GUESS LOL..

THANKS

ERICH

[john999]

I believe you can file for disability compensation now before you are discharged. Be sure to bring up all your conditions when you have your discharge physical, and don't let them rush you. Be sure and get copies of everything. When you get to the VA side you want to get the highest ratings possible. Do you believe you will be able to work once you get out of the military? Stick around here and you will get more detailed answers. If you get a high enough rating from the VA you may be able to get your disability check without them just taking it out of your retirement. You most definitely want to have filed for all your conditions within one year of discharge. It sounds to me as if you may be unemployable so you want a high rating from the VA. Are any of the injuries combat related?

[dolfanbls]

Might want to get a Sleep test as Gerd can cause this. Obstructive sleep apnea is 50% with the use of a CPAP machine. I don't know the answers to the rest.

[vaf]

Erich, you should take a look at the rating criteria for all your disabilities in 38 CFR, Part 4, a link is included I think on hadit's home page. That part of the code of federal regulations deals with the veterans disability claims system. That section describes each disability, the rating criteria and the percentage for each set of criteria. You may also want to take a look at the C & P Examination Procedures for the conditions you intend to claim, and they can also be found here at the hadit website.

This way, you can educate yourself and get a feel for what's being examined and how it will be examined (what is the VA looking for to rate), instead of going at it cold. Also, brief yourself as well as possible about what to expect at C & P examinations, because more than likely, you'll get called in for them. My husband retired medically from the military after serving over 20 years, had plenty of paperwork in his service medical records, and still was called in for C & P's on every condition he had previously been treated for while active duty.

[SFCTRUCKDRIVER]

hey there,

civilian Dr diagnosed with PTSD today, will let you guys know how all this works out.

[MikeR]

You want the Army to give you a diagnosis of PTSD while on Active duty. Make them do that.

[SFCTRUCKDRIVER]

Thanks Mike.

All of my healthcare is done by Civilians via tricare due to my current assignment. I am going to get the PTSD and other issues in my records very well documented but can't get to a military Dr. until I get to the part 1 physical. I am in touch with the VA rep who does the pre screen for retirees and he is going to look at all my records prior to part 1 physical to ensure I have proper documentation due to civilian/military dr.