Leaving military soon what should I do?

[Deagle]

Hello all, 

 

I'm currently active duty and will be separating within the year. 

 

I've had a ton of surgeries while in and I'm not sure how thing will work for the process of getting benefits and care for when I leave the military. I am looking at going Guard to finish my 20 years because I'm so close (I'll be 19 years total, but only 15 active). 

 

I, like many people, had burn pit exposure which led to terrible sinus problems and surgery to remove polyps. The surgeon could not get all of them and I have more or less constant sinus pressure, infections, and stuffieness. I dont take anything other than OTC meds. I also had shoulder surgery where I tore my labrum, capsul, and rotator cuff, I still have arthritis in this arm. I also had right knee surgery to resurface the joint do to something called a plica. Finally I've had 5 foot surgeries for Hallux Rigidus that resulted in implanting synthetic cartilage in one foot and fusion of the other. The foot with the synthetic cartilage will need a fusion eventually as it's failing. 

 

Will I be able to claim these items so that I can have future care?

 

I have also been diagnosed with PTSD (i go to the local Vet center for treatment), carpal tunnel in both hands, sleep apnea (getting a sleep study done for CPAP use), migraines, IBS, depression, tinnitus, degenerative disc disease in my neck and back (VA wanted to fuse my spine when I was only 30 years old), my lungs are pretty well messed up and i have a constant cough/chest congestion, insomnia, and high blood pressure. 

I only take naproxen for the pain and a pill for high blood pressure and a migraine pill 3-4 times a month when i get migraines to stop them, my base doc said to stay away from the preventative migraine meds because it'll make my brain dependant and if I ever stopped it would make the condition worse. I take allergy meds for my sinuses, Claritin Flonase or similar. 

 

How do I proceed so that I can stay in the Guard but also ensure that I have benefits for the future? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. My base doesn't offer anything for transitioning active duty (it's a Guard base with active component) so I'm trying to learn as I go. 

 

Thank you! 

Edited January 17, 2022 by Deagle
Typo

[Deagle]

2 minutes ago, deedub75 said:

Visiting the VA to put in disability claim should be part of your out processing. Well, at least it was part of mine. This was in mid-2000 when I got out.

When I was getting out, I knew nothing of VA disability claims. I thought those who had disability were injured in combat and maybe training exercises and I had none of these. Fortunately, visiting the VA to put in a disability claim was part of my out processing. I went in with nothing to claim until it was explained to me that any injury that occurred while I was on active duty could qualify. I had an ankle injury that was aggravated and I had an abdominal surgery done at the medical center. I ended up getting 10% each for those. I had other things in my medical records like pes planus, allergies, sinusitis, tinnitus, etc. that I didn't even know could be claimed. I didn't find out about what all I could have claimed until I started working for the VA in 2013. 

I'm on a small guard base so I have to drive a couple hours to go through the TAP process. My base didn't even mention its Congressionally mandated and I had to set everything up on my own. Do I tell them what I want to claim and just show them medical records? Do I need buddy statements even though I have proof I was active duty at the time of diagnosis?

 

Sorry for all the separate questions, I just want to be prepared for everything ahead of me. 

[Deagle]

3 minutes ago, pwrslm said:

Claims can be put in up to 1 year after your discharge. The date of the award will be the day after your discharge.

You got good advice on keeping a copy of your medical records and personnel records. Keep those safe. 

Sit down a document the reason you went to sick call or were seen by a Dr or had surgery. Make this list and claim everything on it now. Even if you get a 0% rating, you want all of it as service connected. Things that may seem innocuous today may just become a real problem later. If you try to claim it in the years ahead, you could have a substantial fight to get it awarded, so get it documented now.

I cannot give you any advice on the way the Guard will look at your disabilities. I would think that they may have some lee-way, but if you have serious conditions that would affect you as an active duty service member, it would likely have the same effect for the Guard and Reserves. Only the folks at these duty stations can answer this ??.

You can read through these forums back several years. The one issue that vets run into is the failure to document in service events that caused injuries. Since you are still active duty, this is a heads up for you. Document everything NOW, do not wait until later. It may save you a lot of grief when you turn 55 or 60.

Thank you for the reply. I'll be sure to document everything and get copies of my medical records and scan them for electronic copy and put a physical copy in my safe. 

 

When you say reason, what do you mean? Like when I hurt my shoulder I was doing push-ups on the pushup stand things and my shoulder went out of the back of the socket tearing everything. Like documenting like cause of the injury? 

[Deagle]

7 hours ago, Berta said:

Good advice here- I can only add, make sure your Discharge Physical covers entry of every disability you have.

And make sure you have contact info and full name and Hometown of any members in your unit you know who could provide a buddy statement if you ever need one, if they might have witnessed an accident or event you had that has caused you a disabilityyet the inservice "nexus" ( cause) might not be evident in your SMRs.

Also if you gained any college credits from your MOS  make sure you go to the Briefings on that as well as tie in with the department that would be able to verify those credits- while you are still in.

A vet rep I new had the same TS classified clearance  and MOS my daughter had and she attained many college credits before she left the Mil-however the vet rep I knew had not pursued proof of those credits while he was still in the Military and told me it was his biggest regret after discharge.

Also, I have no idea about how the NG service would work,but after discharge you should be able to collect unemployment insurance.It took me some time to get my daughter to do that- she had saved enough to get her through about 8 months after her discharge because the only job she applied for ( with DOD) was what she was hoping for-

She kept saying she felt like the movie "The Full Monty" when some unemployed British steel mill laid off guys started a strip show because they were not happy about getting unemployent, and wanted to work.( The movie is hilarious) but she finally went to the UE office and got into a briefing with other veterans and many were officers, and they were treated separately from the civilians and she was shocked at how much unemployment benefits she got.

Thank you for those long years of service!

And be sure to check out the CRDP CRSC info here-

My daughter did the get DOD Job!!!!!!! 

 

 

 

Thank you Berta, you gave a lot of great information. 

I have no idea how I'll do the buddy statements from years ago, I haven't kept up with any of them to be honest. The person I kept up with the most committed suicide about 5 years ago. My unit now I have contact information for, I guess I'll have to see if I can dig up some info on the rest. 

 

I'm trying to line up gainful employment before I separate, I wouldn't do well with a lot of time on my hands and not working but it is a comfort to know if worse comes to worse I have that option if I need it. That's honestly one less stressor for my life. Thank you. 

 

I'll be looking into the programs you suggested, ill also talk with the Guard about joining so there's no break in service, it seems that may make things easier as I wouldn't have to do MEPS again.

 

Thank you for your reply. I appreciate it. 

[Deagle]

5 hours ago, Mr.B said:

If you have any type of condition get them documented and get a copy of your full records inpatient records and outpatient records! 

Thank you! 

[Deagle]

49 minutes ago, deedub75 said:

I got out nearly 22 years ago so it may be different now. I didn't have any records, buddy statements or anything with me. I was literally going in there only because I had to check it off the list. As I said before, I didn't think I qualified for anything and I knew nothing of the process. I was asked what I wanted to claim and I ended up claiming 2 things and I was granted 10% for each. They gathered all of my records. 

You should go through your medical records if you have them and make a list of things to claim and just take whatever evidence you have in there with you. 

Thank you, I'll get my records and go through them all. 

[Deagle]

4 hours ago, pwrslm said:

 

This is correct. This goes to link a condition that existed during active duty to an condition that you currently have. If the condition no longer exists, then it will not be SC because they will say it is completely healed and is no longer expected to be a problem. VA is required to provide reason and basis for claims not approved (they should also provide the same if the claim is approved). By provided the reason it minimizes the odds that your claim will be denied.Look at section 5 here.5.  Basic Information on Reasons for Decision

 

Thank you, I'll try to make a list of everything and get whatever supporting documents I may need. 

 

 

3 hours ago, asdf said:

You should find your county VSO and set up an appointment to discuss your benefits with them.  They should be familiar with BDD claims and work with you through the process. In my opinion, this claim will set the foundation for others that may occur in the future and you want to get it completed correctly.

I'll definitely be looking into this,