Disabled Veterans Beware

[ChiefJohn]

Watch your backs veterans -- this article Thorny issue: Vets' disability, fairness appeared in the St Louis Post Dispatch. Some folks are looking for a 'cause' to further their own personal agendas during these tough economic times. Why not go after those Vietnam era veterans!!

[wa8yxm]

This is a common issue...
There are many programs, which are, basically VERY GOOD programs designed to help folks with a legitimate need.

BUT.. For each and every one of those programs there is some person or persons who will figure out how to "Milk the system" for all they can get.

DID that 92 year old deserve full disibility? I do not know.

Did the prostrate cancer patient deserve it? Again I do not know.

DO I Deserve it? Good question isn't it. (NOTE: I'm not currently drawing disability)

[homelesshobo]

The way to eleminate, solve and correct the problems (if truly it is a problem, as hinted in by this article)(and me being 100% disabled vet also) is to make EVERYONE IN AMERICA serve 6 years.

I can promise you, if they did , you would not hear the crying, yelping, and just plain self serving talk that I hear.

Of course when you explain why you are disabled, most just shake their heads and think they are darned lucky they did not have to do it and offer some kind of pity remark.

[Ray,IN]

Quote:

Originally Posted by homelesshobo The way to eleminate, solve and correct the problems (if truly it is a problem, as hinted in by this article)(and me being 100% disabled vet also) is to make EVERYONE IN AMERICA serve 6 years. I can promise you, if they did , you would not hear the crying, yelping, and just plain self serving talk that I hear. Of course when you explain why you are disabled, most just shake their heads and think they are darned lucky they did not have to do it and offer some kind of pity remark.

[W4RLR]

To hear the doctors, the military personnel folks, my wife, the VA bureaucracy, ALL say I deserve my 100 percent disability rating. So I get it.

But there are days when I am feeling better than normal, that I have to ask myself the question, do I deserve it?

That's usually followed a few days later by the ailments that got me medically retired showing up with a vengeance again.

Like the retired firehorse that responds to the fire bell, I sometimes forget my own limitations. And I am sometimes challenged when someone sees my disabled veteran plates or my handicapped placard, even having to show a law enforcement officer my state disabled veteran ID with my picture on it.

Having to justify it to yourself is hard. Having to justify it to others is sometimes harder.

[rwelchsd]

Yes my Dh deserves his VA diability he spent his entire adult life deaf because of his service and only filed after he reached the ripe age of 60, he felt he didn't deserve it. I convinced him after all these years that he deserved to hear as best he can with the help of some wonderful aids so we are very grateful to the VA.

[powerboatr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rray32539 To hear the doctors, the military personnel folks, my wife, the VA bureaucracy, ALL say I deserve my 100 percent disability rating. So I get it. But there are days when I am feeling better than normal, that I have to ask myself the question, do I deserve it? That's usually followed a few days later by the ailments that got me medically retired showing up with a vengeance again. Like the retired firehorse that responds to the fire bell, I sometimes forget my own limitations. And I am sometimes challenged when someone sees my disabled veteran plates or my handicapped placard, even having to show a law enforcement officer my state disabled veteran ID with my picture on it. Having to justify it to yourself is hard. Having to justify it to others is sometimes harder.

Richard
aint it the truth,
some days are good, but they don't make up for the ones in between

it doesn't help for some of us being under 65 either.

[wa8yxm]

In reading the article I'm not sure who is the good guy and who is the bad guy.

Fact is that as the first reply said there are always those who are willing to go after someone, or something for an easy buck.

Alas, that comes from BOTH SIDES of the issue.. People claiming disabilities even when they have none, and people who would deny disability payments to those who truly deserve them.

What we need is a way to weed out.. both of those.. So those who need, receive, and those who are just out to sponge, get a bath.

[Wayne M]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rray32539 To hear the doctors, the military personnel folks, my wife, the VA bureaucracy, ALL say I deserve my 100 percent disability rating. So I get it. But there are days when I am feeling better than normal, that I have to ask myself the question, do I deserve it? That's usually followed a few days later by the ailments that got me medically retired showing up with a vengeance again. Like the retired firehorse that responds to the fire bell, I sometimes forget my own limitations. And I am sometimes challenged when someone sees my disabled veteran plates or my handicapped placard, even having to show a law enforcement officer my state disabled veteran ID with my picture on it. Having to justify it to yourself is hard. Having to justify it to others is sometimes harder.

So well said.

I feel for those who served in WWI, WWII, and Korea. For so many years PTSD was an unknown, and they suffered. For those of you that do not have PTSD, you are so very fortunate. The dreams, the images, they are all so real. For those returning from Iraq, or Afghanistan, I truly hope they get treatment, and they get a disability for their wound. Yes, it is an emotional wound that cannot be measured very well.

To all those that have served, I know, thank you.

[garym114]

What am I supposed to be Beware of?

[Hooligan]

The article- like so many in the media now is short on facts and long on supposition. It never actually states any of the subjects have not earned their disability. But it insinuates that they may be milking the system. The general public knows little about the VA and disability and their support for veterans programs can be swayed.
--If the one veteran is 100% disabled based on Agent Orange, he is still 100% disabled regardless of what else he develops.
I retired after 29 years active duty, and fortunately was blessed with no disabilities.

Thanks to all those that have served!

[Finhawk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne M So well said. I feel for those who served in WWI, WWII, and Korea. For so many years PTSD was an unknown, and they suffered. For those of you that do not have PTSD, you are so very fortunate. The dreams, the images, they are all so real. For those returning from Iraq, or Afghanistan, I truly hope they get treatment, and they get a disability for their wound. Yes, it is an emotional wound that cannot be measured very well. To all those that have served, I know, thank you.

Hey Wayne, you forgot Nam. A bunch of our buddies from that mess are suffering too
Bruce

[GWCowgill]

How much a price can you put on freedom? I am a 100% diabled vet who along with many others was exposed to stuff that you wouldn't have wanted to be exposed to. I have been injured, and I am sure there are many others out there that deserve more than myself. Nevertheless, if you havn't done the time away from home, working for a salary that many would turn their nose up at, in a place no one wants to be and exposed to illnesses and chemicals that no one should be exposed to and away from your family for long periods of time then don't attack the Vet. I personally puke when I read of the 9/11 families getting huge sums of money for doing what? They never served. I get questioned sometimes the same way that Richard mentioned above. I have no one I owe an explanation to. I may or may not appear to be disabled on a given day but regardless the pain and illnesses are still here in this old body.

[High Plains]

Whenever someone asks me why I'm limping I just answer it's nothing just 21 years in the Infantry. It is my opinion that the vast majority of Vets did earn their disability. I was quite shocked when I was rated at 60%. I think it is important that we all stick together no matter what conflict we served in.