Newbie With Questions

[Clueless1]

Hello all, I'm new here and have a few questions. Luckily I found this site, as it seems to be exactly what I'm looking for. Anyway, I'm currently Active Duty and ETS date is in 2015. I'm young and in solid shape, but have developed a few nagging injuries over the last few years in the military. I have sustained a shoulder injury which I received physical therapy for, and most recently an injury to my IT Band(outside of knee) after a long run. I also experience serious back pain at times(usually when rucking) but being stubborn I haven't been seen for it yet. These inuries bother me at times and I'm just now realizing that I'm not going to stay young forever, and if they are bothering me now then I'm sure they aren't going to get any better as I age.

So that brings me here. I do have intentions of ETS'ing but want to have my ducks in a row before hand. I know absolutely nothing about filing a claim for these injuries before/after my ETS, or what I need to do to have a chance at a fair rate(after readiing on this forum I've realized that most people don't). Does seeing a provider more often because of these injuries help with that? I try to avoid appointments because I don't want to be known as "that guy", but if this is going to affect me in the long run then I definitely want to do what needs to be done. Any help at all is appreciated, thanks!

[john999]

Yes, seeing a provider for your injuries will help with a claim. This documents that your injuries happened in service. If you have permanent injuries as a young man I can tell you that when you are 50 it won't get better and may be much worse. I would see a provider as long as I have symptoms. Don't just shrug it off or tough it out now. I had a back injury when I was 15. I healed up, but 40 years later I began to have exactly the same pain in the same area except it will not heal.

John

[SP4RVN1971]

Welcome to the site and if you are having problems, as John999 said, don't wait!

[trailblazer]

Welcome to hadit and thanks for yourr service. Follow Johns 999 's advise. An injury at a young age will most likely show up and be more bothersome at an older age. See the doctor when problems come up and get a copy of your medical records. Records are very important when you file a claim. also if you can get your buddies addrress and phone number; they can be of great hel[p if you need a buddy statement.

[boomer2]

Always report an injury. Even if you just tell the unit medic "hey I think I sprained something" let him look at it and document it. I hurt my ankle and knee several times while rappelling and never reported it, luckly for me I hurt bad enough on two occasions that they had to medevac me and it is in my SMR's. I just recently received them and now have a claim in for both because I continue to have problems with it. When you ETS make sure you get a copy of your SMR's. You never know what is going to come back and bite you in 20 to 30 years.

[broncovet]

I think the best advice I could give a troop in the military is to keep a copy of your military /medical records. Dont count on the VA to do it for you, they will almost certainly lose critical pages which benefit them.

After you get out, store these medical/miltary records in a place where they wont get lost, such as at your parents house or in a safe deposit box at the bank. They are irreplacable.

[plummer]

Thanks to all the Men and Women for your service ! I'm knew to this site,but not too V.A. Delay.Deney and hope they die. This site is a great place for vets. We can learn from one another,help each other. Now that we know about V.A. and that they just dont care about you or your case. It takes time to go throuth the red tape and lies.For me this is my 7th year of waiting.Found me a good NOVA lawyer and on throuth the Big Maze I go. Gods speed Semper-fi