suburban cowboy said:

---

I know a DV that has a full time job, and can squat 500lbs

---

I have a full time job and can still run the two mile run in under 11 minutes, doesn't mean my disability won't end my life earlier than if I had not served

Teslag said:

---

SquirrellyDan said:

---

Ag_SGT said:

---

SquirrellyDan said:

---

Ag_SGT said:

---

Point us to the numbers of folks getting disability payments that are rated at 100% that never left an office in DC

---

If you want anecdotal evidence I have plenty. I worked at NSA when I got out of the army. Plenty of people I knew were 100% disabled after their 4 years working in Maryland. Hurt your back while skiing on vacation? Disability rating. How many tax payers realize that this would be a valid VA rating? "Child hood trauma" that wasn't disclosed but was made worse by the military? That's a rating.

If you want more evidence, drive through neighborhoods on the west side of San Antonio where droves of 23 year old AF "vets" are driving around $100k cars with DV plates.

---

Considering how hard it was for me and lord only knows how many others, it was to get a rating with actual proof the condition was service related, I have a hard time believing your anecdotal evidence.

---

A car accident, a skiing accident, or any other accident, sustained while under active duty status, is considered service connected. It's not hard to look up.

---

No it isn't.

---

Jesus you two are thick. Do a simple google search. As long as you weren't doing anything illegal, literally ANY accident that occurs on active duty, whether on duty or off, can attribute to your rating.

SquirrellyDan said:

---

Teslag said:

---

SquirrellyDan said:

---

Ag_SGT said:

---

SquirrellyDan said:

---

Ag_SGT said:

---

Point us to the numbers of folks getting disability payments that are rated at 100% that never left an office in DC

---

If you want anecdotal evidence I have plenty. I worked at NSA when I got out of the army. Plenty of people I knew were 100% disabled after their 4 years working in Maryland. Hurt your back while skiing on vacation? Disability rating. How many tax payers realize that this would be a valid VA rating? "Child hood trauma" that wasn't disclosed but was made worse by the military? That's a rating.

If you want more evidence, drive through neighborhoods on the west side of San Antonio where droves of 23 year old AF "vets" are driving around $100k cars with DV plates.

---

Considering how hard it was for me and lord only knows how many others, it was to get a rating with actual proof the condition was service related, I have a hard time believing your anecdotal evidence.

---

A car accident, a skiing accident, or any other accident, sustained while under active duty status, is considered service connected. It's not hard to look up.

---

No it isn't.

---

Jesus you two are thick. Do a simple google search. As long as you weren't doing anything illegal, literally ANY accident that occurs on active duty, whether on duty or off, can attribute to your rating.

---

Wrong

Ag_SGT said:

---

suburban cowboy said:

---

I know a DV that has a full time job, and can squat 500lbs

---

I have a full time job and can still run the two mile run in under 11 minutes, doesn't mean my disability won't end my life earlier than if I had not served

---

Since you're sharing so much, what exactly
Is your rating for? And what was your job?

suburban cowboy said:

---

I know a DV that has a full time job, and can squat 500lbs

---

And I know of a DV who blew his brains out in the parking lot at the VA because he couldn't get help. And I know another one who I personally pulled the gun out of his hand before he did the same thing at the VA hospital in Houston.

SquirrellyDan said:

---

Teslag said:

---

SquirrellyDan said:

---

Ag_SGT said:

---

SquirrellyDan said:

---

Ag_SGT said:

---

Point us to the numbers of folks getting disability payments that are rated at 100% that never left an office in DC

---

If you want anecdotal evidence I have plenty. I worked at NSA when I got out of the army. Plenty of people I knew were 100% disabled after their 4 years working in Maryland. Hurt your back while skiing on vacation? Disability rating. How many tax payers realize that this would be a valid VA rating? "Child hood trauma" that wasn't disclosed but was made worse by the military? That's a rating.

If you want more evidence, drive through neighborhoods on the west side of San Antonio where droves of 23 year old AF "vets" are driving around $100k cars with DV plates.

---

Considering how hard it was for me and lord only knows how many others, it was to get a rating with actual proof the condition was service related, I have a hard time believing your anecdotal evidence.

---

A car accident, a skiing accident, or any other accident, sustained while under active duty status, is considered service connected. It's not hard to look up.

---

No it isn't.

---

Jesus you two are thick. Do a simple google search. As long as you weren't doing anything illegal, literally ANY accident that occurs on active duty, whether on duty or off, can attribute to your rating.

---

lol okay

Teslag said:

---

There's also apparently a list of approved purchases one must make with their disability compensation. If the purchase in any way brings you happiness you should lose your rating.

---

Everytime you post, support for the VA takes a hit. I mean this legitimately, this is obviously something you care about, and you're doing it an absolute disservice. Or you're a giant gypsy troll. Either way, not helping g your cause at all.

maverick2076 said:

---

suburban cowboy said:

---

I know a DV that has a full time job, and can squat 500lbs

---

And I know of a DV who blew his brains out in the parking lot at the VA because he couldn't get help. And I know another one who I personally pulled the gun out of his hand before he did the same thing at the VA hospital in Houston.

---

I'm in a Veterans group focused on reducing suicide numbers among Veterans, I can relate

Bad information on my part. Disregard.

Teslag said:

---

SquirrellyDan said:

---

Teslag said:

---

SquirrellyDan said:

---

Ag_SGT said:

---

SquirrellyDan said:

---

Ag_SGT said:

---

Point us to the numbers of folks getting disability payments that are rated at 100% that never left an office in DC

---

If you want anecdotal evidence I have plenty. I worked at NSA when I got out of the army. Plenty of people I knew were 100% disabled after their 4 years working in Maryland. Hurt your back while skiing on vacation? Disability rating. How many tax payers realize that this would be a valid VA rating? "Child hood trauma" that wasn't disclosed but was made worse by the military? That's a rating.

If you want more evidence, drive through neighborhoods on the west side of San Antonio where droves of 23 year old AF "vets" are driving around $100k cars with DV plates.

---

Considering how hard it was for me and lord only knows how many others, it was to get a rating with actual proof the condition was service related, I have a hard time believing your anecdotal evidence.

---

A car accident, a skiing accident, or any other accident, sustained while under active duty status, is considered service connected. It's not hard to look up.

---

No it isn't.

---

Jesus you two are thick. Do a simple google search. As long as you weren't doing anything illegal, literally ANY accident that occurs on active duty, whether on duty or off, can attribute to your rating.

---

lol okay

---

Shocking right? I think you and your buddy are both more against the current VA system than you realize.

Ol_Ag_02 said:

---

Teslag said:

---

There's also apparently a list of approved purchases one must make with their disability compensation. If the purchase in any way brings you happiness you should lose your rating.

---

Everytime you post, support for the VA takes a hit. I mean this legitimately, this is obviously something you care about, and you're doing it an absolute disservice. Or you're a giant gypsy troll. Either way, not helping g your cause at all.

---

Sure it does.

I've never said the system doesn't have flaws that need to be fixed, even said earlier in this thread more needs to be done to fix the disability rating process

maverick2076 said:

---

gkaggie08 said:

---

JFC, you guys are the energizer bunny when anyone disagrees with ANYTHING vet related. My BIL had to stop his handyman business after a couple years because he said it was killing his back, which he hurt while in the AF. I'm sure he may have a tweaked knee, tennis elbow, or a multitude of other physical ailments that we aren't going to talk about while sipping eggnog at Christmas. My response to Tesla was that my BIL does not have PTSD.

Some of you really get your defenses up if someone disagrees with any program, benefit, etc for veterans.

I'm not going to abandon my conservative principles because whatever goes through a legislative body has a 'disabled veteran' label slapped on it. I've stated in previous posts that veterans deserve additional benefits due to circumstances of their service.

Don't get on your GD soapbox and talk down to every other poster on this board every time a NEW benefit is debated.

---

We get defensive because the same posters are willfully ignorant on this topic every time it comes up. So much stupid **** comes out of people's keyboards every time the topic of VA ratings is discussed, it's ridiculous. Everyone has an anecdote about the guy their cousin's brother saw at the gym with DV plates, or the discussion forum that they heard about where vets discuss how to "game the system". But they sure as hell don't want to hear about the vets that the system left behind, the ones whose clearly service-related injuries who had claims denied due to inadequate documentation or incompetence in the rating system, or the ones whose killed themselves in the VA parking lot in one last futile attempt to draw attention to their mistreatment at the hands of those who were supposed to care for them after their service.

In reality, you don't know what you're talking about, and half of you refuse to listen to posters with actual knowledge of how the VA claims process works because you don't like them. I'm no TeslaAg fan, and I disagree with him on plenty of his posts, but he knows what he is talking about when it comes to the VA. And honestly, you don't. So instead of hiding behind your "conservative principles" how about you learn something about the subject before you spout off about it?

With regards to the bill to change the property tax exemption, feel free to call your congressman and express your opinion. I doubt this bill ever makes it to a vote, but if it does, I doubt your opinion will hold a lot of weight. Texas takes pride in how we care for those of us who served, and I don't expect that to change any time soon.

---

I believe you get defensive because you know people that abuse the system, but your 'brothers are getting theirs' so WGAS, right? I think the % of disabled vets actively gaming the system is low, but it is definitely not zero.

I bet if you polled this board and asked if any current VA entitlement should be removed, you would get near 100% no. We appreciate what our servicemen and women have done on the battlefield, even when we don't think they should have been deployed. You have earned respect from this nation and compensation for things that happened to you in LOD.

But you haven't earned a free ride at the expense of the tax payer. New veteran programs need to meet a certain level of scrutiny. Was there a hole in the original program where vets fell through the cracks? Let's patch it. Are there other impacts of service that we didn't know at the time that are affecting our vets? Let's fix it. 99% of this board is for that.

Do partially disabled vets need their property tax decreased by 70, 80%? I don't think so, but let's debate the merits of that question, not what that disability rating means.

The one negative thing I will say to you is that you, and many others, say you served your country out of a sense of duty. If that is true, and you knew what after service programs were available before you enlisted, why do you fight so hard for new benefits? You knew the benefit package before you signed.

No, we get defensive because overwhelming vast majority of us aren't abusing the system

JB!98 said:

---

I am not going to name names, but I know of a guy that is getting 20% for ED. Yeah the ED you are thinking. He is Air Force and was deployed once as a jet mechanic. I laughed so hard (pun intended) when someone told me about it.

Meanwhile, I have friends who have legit physical injuries that do not carry any rating because they are "too proud" for that.

Yeah, the guy with a limp noodle for being in Saudi should not get a 20% reduction in his property taxes.

---

That's absolutely a lie. ED is a 0% claim, unless he is missing all or part of his junk. There is a claim for special monthly compensation for it under certain circumstances, but it's not a 20% rating. I think it's $130 a month or so. Here's the link if you don't believe me.
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/chapter-I/part-4/subpart-B/subject-group-ECFR8198d98a7a48906/section-4.115b

Ag_SGT said:

---

No, we get defensive because overwhelming vast majority of us aren't abusing the system

---

And because veterans are accused of committing "fraud" and "abuse" because they are awarded legit claims for things people may not like. The veteran didn't create the rating schedules. They didn't codify what constitutes a compensable condition. Yet when they are honest and diagnosed for those conditions they are accused of fraud and abuse.

Teslag said:

---

Ol_Ag_02 said:

---

Teslag said:

---

There's also apparently a list of approved purchases one must make with their disability compensation. If the purchase in any way brings you happiness you should lose your rating.

---

Everytime you post, support for the VA takes a hit. I mean this legitimately, this is obviously something you care about, and you're doing it an absolute disservice. Or you're a giant gypsy troll. Either way, not helping g your cause at all.

---

Sure it does.

---

Ol_Ag_02 is right. Your smug sense of entitlement does not help your cause. I'm glad most veterans I know are nothing like you

Quote:

---

But you haven't earned a free ride at the expense of the tax payer.

---

American tax payers exist because folks chose to swear allegiance and fight for this country. What I have is not a free ride, I earned everything I received

Ag_SGT said:

---

No, we get defensive because overwhelming vast majority of us aren't abusing the system

---

Reread my post and check your reading comprehension

Ag_SGT said:

---

Quote:

---

But you haven't earned a free ride at the expense of the tax payer.

---

American tax payers exist because folks chose to swear allegiance and fight for this country. What I have is not a free ride, I earned everything I received

---

Once again, reread my post and check your reading comprehension

maverick2076 said:

---

JB!98 said:

---

I am not going to name names, but I know of a guy that is getting 20% for ED. Yeah the ED you are thinking. He is Air Force and was deployed once as a jet mechanic. I laughed so hard (pun intended) when someone told me about it.

Meanwhile, I have friends who have legit physical injuries that do not carry any rating because they are "too proud" for that.

Yeah, the guy with a limp noodle for being in Saudi should not get a 20% reduction in his property taxes.

---

That's absolutely a lie. ED is a 0% claim, unless he is missing all or part of his junk. There is a claim for special monthly compensation for it under certain circumstances, but it's not a 20% rating. I think it's $130 a month or so. Here's the link if you don't believe me.
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/chapter-I/part-4/subpart-B/subject-group-ECFR8198d98a7a48906/section-4.115b

---

OK, I believe you and the information you posted. This is just what was related to me by his next door neighbor. I am glad to learn that.

PLEASE DISREGARD MY POST AS FAKE NEWS. I deleted it.

gkaggie08 said:

---

Teslag said:

---

Ol_Ag_02 said:

---

Teslag said:

---

There's also apparently a list of approved purchases one must make with their disability compensation. If the purchase in any way brings you happiness you should lose your rating.

---

Everytime you post, support for the VA takes a hit. I mean this legitimately, this is obviously something you care about, and you're doing it an absolute disservice. Or you're a giant gypsy troll. Either way, not helping g your cause at all.

---

Sure it does.

---

Ol_Ag_02 is right. Your smug sense of entitlement does not help your cause. I'm glad most veterans I know are nothing like you

---

It's not smug. I'm just confident in what the **** I'm talking about. I'm not here to please you.

gkaggie08 said:

---

Ag_SGT said:

---

Quote:

---

But you haven't earned a free ride at the expense of the tax payer.

---

American tax payers exist because folks chose to swear allegiance and fight for this country. What I have is not a free ride, I earned everything I received

---

Once again, reread my post and check your reading comprehension

---

Don't speak out both sides of your mouth, I agree with half your statement but vehemently disagree with the rest of it

Yet you believe wholeheartedly that any and every bill that is proposed by the Texas legislature that gives more benefits to veterans is a top priority, must approve with no discussion, no amendment bill. Your not smug at all!

Teslag said:

---

gkaggie08 said:

---

Teslag said:

---

Ol_Ag_02 said:

---

Teslag said:

---

There's also apparently a list of approved purchases one must make with their disability compensation. If the purchase in any way brings you happiness you should lose your rating.

---

Everytime you post, support for the VA takes a hit. I mean this legitimately, this is obviously something you care about, and you're doing it an absolute disservice. Or you're a giant gypsy troll. Either way, not helping g your cause at all.

---

Sure it does.

---

Ol_Ag_02 is right. Your smug sense of entitlement does not help your cause. I'm glad most veterans I know are nothing like you

---

It's not smug. I'm just confident in what the **** I'm talking about. I'm not here to please you.

---

And you're clearly not here to illicit support for the VA from us civilian tax payers.

gkaggie08 said:

---

Yet you believe wholeheartedly that any and every bill that is proposed by the Texas legislature that gives more benefits to veterans is a top priority, must approve with no discussion, no amendment bill. Your not smug at all!

---

As a volunteer with DAV, yes I do believe we should give every benefit we can to veterans. Though with appropriate debate and discussion of course.

Ag_SGT said:

---

Quote:

---

But you haven't earned a free ride at the expense of the tax payer.

---

American tax payers exist because folks chose to swear allegiance and fight for this country. What I have is not a free ride, I earned everything I received

---

What is your rating for and what was your job?

gkaggie08 said:

---

maverick2076 said:

---

gkaggie08 said:

---

JFC, you guys are the energizer bunny when anyone disagrees with ANYTHING vet related. My BIL had to stop his handyman business after a couple years because he said it was killing his back, which he hurt while in the AF. I'm sure he may have a tweaked knee, tennis elbow, or a multitude of other physical ailments that we aren't going to talk about while sipping eggnog at Christmas. My response to Tesla was that my BIL does not have PTSD.

Some of you really get your defenses up if someone disagrees with any program, benefit, etc for veterans.

I'm not going to abandon my conservative principles because whatever goes through a legislative body has a 'disabled veteran' label slapped on it. I've stated in previous posts that veterans deserve additional benefits due to circumstances of their service.

Don't get on your GD soapbox and talk down to every other poster on this board every time a NEW benefit is debated.

---

We get defensive because the same posters are willfully ignorant on this topic every time it comes up. So much stupid **** comes out of people's keyboards every time the topic of VA ratings is discussed, it's ridiculous. Everyone has an anecdote about the guy their cousin's brother saw at the gym with DV plates, or the discussion forum that they heard about where vets discuss how to "game the system". But they sure as hell don't want to hear about the vets that the system left behind, the ones whose clearly service-related injuries who had claims denied due to inadequate documentation or incompetence in the rating system, or the ones whose killed themselves in the VA parking lot in one last futile attempt to draw attention to their mistreatment at the hands of those who were supposed to care for them after their service.

In reality, you don't know what you're talking about, and half of you refuse to listen to posters with actual knowledge of how the VA claims process works because you don't like them. I'm no TeslaAg fan, and I disagree with him on plenty of his posts, but he knows what he is talking about when it comes to the VA. And honestly, you don't. So instead of hiding behind your "conservative principles" how about you learn something about the subject before you spout off about it?

With regards to the bill to change the property tax exemption, feel free to call your congressman and express your opinion. I doubt this bill ever makes it to a vote, but if it does, I doubt your opinion will hold a lot of weight. Texas takes pride in how we care for those of us who served, and I don't expect that to change any time soon.

---

I believe you get defensive because you know people that abuse the system, but your 'brothers are getting theirs' so WGAS, right? I think the % of disabled vets actively gaming the system is low, but it is definitely not zero.

I bet if you polled this board and asked if any current VA entitlement should be removed, you would get near 100% no. We appreciate what our servicemen and women have done on the battlefield, even when we don't think they should have been deployed. You have earned respect from this nation and compensation for things that happened to you in LOD.

But you haven't earned a free ride at the expense of the tax payer. New veteran programs need to meet a certain level of scrutiny. Was there a hole in the original program where vets fell through the cracks? Let's patch it. Are there other impacts of service that we didn't know at the time that are affecting our vets? Let's fix it. 99% of this board is for that.

Do partially disabled vets need their property tax decreased by 70, 80%? I don't think so, but let's debate the merits of that question, not what that disability rating means.

The one negative thing I will say to you is that you, and many others, say you served your country out of a sense of duty. If that is true, and you knew what after service programs were available before you enlisted, why do you fight so hard for new benefits? You knew the benefit package before you signed.

---

I know personally don't know a single vet who has committed fraud to get VA benefits. I've heard the same stories that get bounced around here. If I did, I'd happily report them. Because that **** pisses me off. As someone said, perception is reality, and **** like that is amplified and makes it so much harder for those that do need help.

On the other hand, I know dozens of vets who won't file for benefits they need, either out of selfish pride or because of a stigma perpetrated by an ignorant public that thinks any vet getting VA disability who isn't an amputee is getting over and committing fraud. I probably know a dozen more with legit, debilitating service-connected injuries who were completely denied by the VA due to messed up or missing documentation.

I've never asked for a single new benefit that wasn't available when I enlisted. But I'm glad the expansion of those benefits has happened. I enlisted in 1999, long before GWOT, burn pits, and explosion of rare cancers, respiratory and nervous disorders,, 2 decades of endless deployments, skyrocketing rates of PTSD and veteran suicide, etc. so I'd say that, over these two and a half decades of service, a lot more was asked of me than what anyone expected back then. So I'm grateful that our nation has seen fit to provide benefits to help alleviate some of those unexpected burdens. I sure wish the VA would do a better job of getting that help to those who need it, including those who were left behind from previous wars. Ever hear of Gulf War syndrome. The VA denied it even existed for years and refused to research it or treat it.

Ol_Ag_02 said:

---

Teslag said:

---

gkaggie08 said:

---

Teslag said:

---

Ol_Ag_02 said:

---

Teslag said:

---

There's also apparently a list of approved purchases one must make with their disability compensation. If the purchase in any way brings you happiness you should lose your rating.

---

Everytime you post, support for the VA takes a hit. I mean this legitimately, this is obviously something you care about, and you're doing it an absolute disservice. Or you're a giant gypsy troll. Either way, not helping g your cause at all.

---

Sure it does.

---

Ol_Ag_02 is right. Your smug sense of entitlement does not help your cause. I'm glad most veterans I know are nothing like you

---

It's not smug. I'm just confident in what the **** I'm talking about. I'm not here to please you.

---

And you're clearly not here to illicit support for the VA from us civilian tax payers.

---

When people accuse veterans of fraud for simply claiming legit codified conditions I don't particularly give a **** about what support they may have or withhold. They are beyond reasoning with. Nor do I have much respect or care for those that thinks their earned compensation should come with a list of approved purchases curated by you.

I appreciate that. To be clear, I wasn't calling you a liar. But someone in that story is.

Ag_SGT said:

---

gkaggie08 said:

---

Ag_SGT said:

---

Quote:

---

But you haven't earned a free ride at the expense of the tax payer.

---

American tax payers exist because folks chose to swear allegiance and fight for this country. What I have is not a free ride, I earned everything I received

---

Once again, reread my post and check your reading comprehension

---

Don't speak out both sides of your mouth, I agree with half your statement but vehemently disagree with the rest of it

---

You took one sentence out of my entire post and you say that I am speaking out of both sides of MY mouth? Check the paragraph above that sentence. I clearly stated that current VA benefits are well deserved. My argument is that new benefits that the legislature creates should be scrutinized.

When I say free ride, and you in turn saying you earned everything, does that mean that a 4 year contract in the military should earn you a retirement package for the rest of your life? If you did a tour of duty in a combat zone you shouldn't ever have to pay income tax?

Talk about talking out of both sides of the mouth! You've earned everything you've received, why are you asking for more?

SquirrellyDan said:

---

Ag_SGT said:

---

Quote:

---

But you haven't earned a free ride at the expense of the tax payer.

---

American tax payers exist because folks chose to swear allegiance and fight for this country. What I have is not a free ride, I earned everything I received

---

What is your rating for and what was your job?

---

Quite honestly, it's none of your damn business.

SquirrellyDan said:

---

Ag_SGT said:

---

Quote:

---

But you haven't earned a free ride at the expense of the tax payer.

---

American tax payers exist because folks chose to swear allegiance and fight for this country. What I have is not a free ride, I earned everything I received

---

What is your rating for and what was your job?

---

I don't know why you think his private medical history is any of your business. How much of your medical history do you want to share with the group?

Quote:

---

But you haven't earned a free ride at the expense of the tax payer.

---

Never said I did and my VA disability certainly isn't something I can live on and support a family of five

Teslag said:

---

gkaggie08 said:

---

Teslag said:

---

Ol_Ag_02 said:

---

Teslag said:

---

There's also apparently a list of approved purchases one must make with their disability compensation. If the purchase in any way brings you happiness you should lose your rating.

---

Everytime you post, support for the VA takes a hit. I mean this legitimately, this is obviously something you care about, and you're doing it an absolute disservice. Or you're a giant gypsy troll. Either way, not helping g your cause at all.

---

Sure it does.

---

Ol_Ag_02 is right. Your smug sense of entitlement does not help your cause. I'm glad most veterans I know are nothing like you

---

It's not smug. I'm just confident in what the **** I'm talking about. I'm not here to please you.

---

I'm still waiting on you to show me a single shred of evidence saying off duty accidents aren't covered for active duty service members. You won't, because despite your smug attitude you have no clue what you're taking about.