Vepp said:

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As someone who exited from the military 5 years ago, the amount of people who looked at me wide eyes when I told them I wasn't going to play the disability system was 100%. They couldn't believe that I wouldn't play their fraud game.

Not to mention that I know many other veterans in real life who shouldn't be milking their fellow taxpayers when very little is actually wrong with them.

This is not an attack on those that ACTUALLY became disabled in the military, but the massive fraud must stop. It won't be a popular political decision, but we need reform because the current system is RIFE with people who don't deserve an extra monthly check.

This is one of the hills I'll die on due to overwhelming personal experience. I immediately lose respect for any fellow veteran who starts talking about how they gamed the system to get a check.

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Put this guy in charge of the VA! He'll take care of veterans actually in need and rid us all of the EV aficionados stealing from taxpayers.

I see your point, and while the obvious fraud cases are infuriating, again nothing is going to be substantially done to change the system, so it will continue. If we could stop getting into stupid wars maybe there will be less fraud in the future.

Of all the money spent by our lovely federal government that is wastefully/fraudulently dispensed, veterans disability payments is just so minor as to not even be worth discussing in the grand scheme of things.

The folks who should be most righteously upset about the abuses, and I suspect are, are actual veterans who are disabled substantially, as said abuses only make people more skeptical/less appreciative etc. toward their service.

It's not volunteer work. You sign a contract in which you make promises and undertake obligations, and the government makes promises and undertakes obligations. Part of the service members obligations is to perform the tasks assigned to them, regardless of risk to life, limb and health. And in return, the government undertook an obligation to care for those service members and the repercussions to their health and life caused by what the government (and by extension you, the taxpayer, for those posters who like to personalize it) inflicted upon them.

Quote:

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If we could stop getting into stupid wars maybe there will be less fraud in the future.

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Very good point. We wanted to get into these long drawn out wars and deployments for decades and then ignore the very real human cost to those that had to do it. Yes, people sign up and volunteer. But they don't choose the engagements, they just go when told. And when the purpose of those engagements are flimsy as hell and all for nothing in the case of Iraq/Afghanistan it's a bit more than what they "signed up for". And should be compensated accordingly.

Ol_Ag_02 said:

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Vepp said:

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As someone who exited from the military 5 years ago, the amount of people who looked at me wide eyes when I told them I wasn't going to play the disability system was 100%. They couldn't believe that I wouldn't play their fraud game.

Not to mention that I know many other veterans in real life who shouldn't be milking their fellow taxpayers when very little is actually wrong with them.

This is not an attack on those that ACTUALLY became disabled in the military, but the massive fraud must stop. It won't be a popular political decision, but we need reform because the current system is RIFE with people who don't deserve an extra monthly check.

This is one of the hills I'll die on due to overwhelming personal experience. I immediately lose respect for any fellow veteran who starts talking about how they gamed the system to get a check.

---

Put this guy in charge of the VA! He'll take care of veterans actually in need and rid us all of the EV aficionados stealing from taxpayers.

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Again, if you have specific issues with the medical diagnosis and have reviewed the medical records of anyone fraudulent claiming VA benefits then I urge you to notify the VA and have them open a fraud investigation. This helps all of us.

Teslag said:

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And of course, on the 3rd section clear as day in the CFR....

Quote:

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It is the defined and consistently applied policy of the Department of Veterans Affairs to administer the law under a broad interpretation, consistent, however, with the facts shown in every case. When after careful consideration of all procurable and assembled data, a reasonable doubt arises regarding the degree of disability such doubt will be resolved in favor of the claimant.

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Like I said accurately (and was called "stupid" for) is that the VA is by law tasked to take care of the veteran first, taxpayer second.

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Here's what is more relevant to my question:

Quote:

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4.1 Essentials of evaluative rating.
This rating schedule is primarily a guide in the evaluation of disability resulting from all types of diseases and injuries encountered as a result of or incident to military service. The percentage ratings represent as far as can practicably be determined the average impairment in earning capacity resulting from such diseases and injuries and their residual conditions in civil occupations. Generally, the degrees of disability specified are considered adequate to compensate for considerable loss of working time from exacerbations or illnesses proportionate to the severity of the several grades of disability. For the application of this schedule, accurate and fully descriptive medical examinations are required, with emphasis upon the limitation of activity imposed by the disabling condition. Over a period of many years, a veteran's disability claim may require reratings in accordance with changes in laws, medical knowledge and his or her physical or mental condition. It is thus essential, both in the examination and in the evaluation of disability, that each disability be viewed in relation to its history.

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If we're paying service members because of impaired earning capacity, then why are we paying veterans who are oftentimes holding jobs that pay more than they were receiving in the military?

If we want to change the reasoning to say we are also compensating for pain and suffering, then I wouldn't be opposed that. But to get back to the main point of the OP, if we are compensating for impairment in earning capacity, and drugs or other treatment are working to alleviate the veteran's problems, then we should be reducing the amount of the veteran receives accordingly.

Love an entertaining thread on a hot topic to start my day! Yes, I am a veteran and yes, the VA disability system needs an overhaul. I think my disability rating (30%) is appropriate. That being said, I've seen veterans from the same carer field as me (non-combat) somehow get 100% ratings. I've also seen aircraft maintainers have to fight the VA to prove that the tinnitus they got on the flight line is service connected. Total mess. I know there are a lot of folks out there with similar stories. Don't even know where to begin to fix any of this but definitely interested to see how it pays out!

Vepp said:

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As someone who exited from the military 5 years ago, the amount of people who looked at me wide eyes when I told them I wasn't going to play the disability system was 100%. They couldn't believe that I wouldn't play their fraud game.

Not to mention that I know many other veterans in real life who shouldn't be milking their fellow taxpayers when very little is actually wrong with them.

This is not an attack on those that ACTUALLY became disabled in the military, but the massive fraud must stop. It won't be a popular political decision, but we need reform because the current system is RIFE with people who don't deserve an extra monthly check.

This is one of the hills I'll die on due to overwhelming personal experience. I immediately lose respect for any fellow veteran who starts talking about how they gamed the system to get a check.

---

Good for you, need more like you.

I'm trying to think if I've ever met a veteran that hasn't mentioned their disability check.

maverick2076 said:

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It's not volunteer work. You sign a contract in which you make promises and undertake obligations, and the government makes promises and undertakes obligations. Part of the service members obligations is to perform the tasks assigned to them, regardless of risk to life, limb and health. And in return, the government undertook an obligation to care for those service members and the repercussions to their health and life caused by what the government (and by extension you, the taxpayer, for those posters who like to personalize it) inflicted upon them.

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Its always those that are in on the grift that are the most vocal in telling people that fraud don't exist.

nortex97 said:

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I see your point, and while the obvious fraud cases are infuriating, again nothing is going to be substantially done to change the system, so it will continue. If we could stop getting into stupid wars maybe there will be less fraud in the future.

Of all the money spent by our lovely federal government that is wastefully/fraudulently dispensed, veterans disability payments is just so minor as to not even be worth discussing in the grand scheme of things.

The folks who should be most righteously upset about the abuses, and I suspect are, are actual veterans who are disabled substantially, as said abuses only make people more skeptical/less appreciative etc. toward their service.

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Correct...nothing will ever be done to change any welfare system, massive fraud or not. But it's fun to whine about it on a message board.

El Chupacabra said:

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Vepp said:

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As someone who exited from the military 5 years ago, the amount of people who looked at me wide eyes when I told them I wasn't going to play the disability system was 100%. They couldn't believe that I wouldn't play their fraud game.

Not to mention that I know many other veterans in real life who shouldn't be milking their fellow taxpayers when very little is actually wrong with them.

This is not an attack on those that ACTUALLY became disabled in the military, but the massive fraud must stop. It won't be a popular political decision, but we need reform because the current system is RIFE with people who don't deserve an extra monthly check.

This is one of the hills I'll die on due to overwhelming personal experience. I immediately lose respect for any fellow veteran who starts talking about how they gamed the system to get a check.

---

Good for you, need more like you.

I'm trying to think if I've ever met a veteran that hasn't mentioned their disability check.

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I was in the Marine Corps and got out 7 years ago. After the "class" mentioned by the poster above that we all had to go through before EASing, I didn't want to touch the VA with a 10 ft pole. There was someone (government employee) giving the presentation on how to apply for disability benefits who said "When I got out, I didn't think I needed it so I was at 0%. Then someone approached me about talking to so and so office and now I'm getting 100%". That combined with the Dr who I had to see at medical saying "you should be able to get something for your knee" as she looked at my medical records. I didn't even remember what knee she was talking about or ever going to medical for my knee at any point.

Unless I see missing limbs or an eye patch, I'm pretty convinced fraud occurred if their rating is over about 10%. There's no reason the US taxpayer should be on the hook to pay someone tax free for the rest of their life when we've had an all volunteer force since Vietnam and there is some implied risk involved. People working and having an able body to provide a benefit to society don't need money to supplement themselves.

ThunderFighter06 said:

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Love an entertaining thread on a hot topic to start my day! Yes, I am a veteran and yes, the VA disability system needs an overhaul. I think my disability rating (30%) is appropriate. That being said, I've seen veterans from the same carer field as me (non-combat) somehow get 100% ratings. I've also seen aircraft maintainers have to fight the VA to prove that the tinnitus they got on the flight line is service connected. Total mess. I know there are a lot of folks out there with similar stories. Don't even know where to begin to fix any of this but definitely interested to see how it pays out!

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When veterans have to "fight" the VA for claims 9 times out of 10 it's because they waited too long to file after getting out and the VA cannot by law reasonably determine it was service connected.

And this often happens with those that were Billy badasses and too proud to "get in on the grift". So later in life when those injuries and issues manifest it's too late and they ****ed themselves. This is why I heavily encourage anyone I help or that comes to me within a year of ETS to file for anything immediately or at the very least files a notice of intent to file.

Don't do it for you. Do it for your family you may or may not have 10 to 20 years from now.

Ol_Ag_02 said:

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maverick2076 said:

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It's not volunteer work. You sign a contract in which you make promises and undertake obligations, and the government makes promises and undertakes obligations. Part of the service members obligations is to perform the tasks assigned to them, regardless of risk to life, limb and health. And in return, the government undertook an obligation to care for those service members and the repercussions to their health and life caused by what the government (and by extension you, the taxpayer, for those posters who like to personalize it) inflicted upon them.

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Its always those that are in on the grift that are the most vocal in telling people that fraud don't exist.

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I literally posted earlier that fraud does exist. I've posted it multiple times on multiple discussions on the VA and VA benefits. If you want to make an baseless accusation about me, who you literally know nothing about, then at least be man enough and say it out loud instead of trying to imply it.

This poster asked what he, the taxpayer, is paying for, in the lens that everyone is a volunteer. I answered him. There is a ton of confusion and ignorance about what VA compensation is and is not. Even the term VA disability is a huge misnomer. It's more accurately VA compensation and pension. VA compensation and pension ratings are also often equated with being disabled, and that isn't strictly the case. A 50% rating doesn't mean half a person's body is disabled. It means that the VA has decided that the long term effects of their cumulative, service connected injuries and conditions on their health, future employability, social integration, and life expectancy entitled them to 50% of the maximum allowable VA compensation.

Rocky Rider said:

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"This is one of the hills I'll die on due to overwhelming personal experience. I immediately lose respect for any fellow veteran who starts talking about how they gamed the system to get a check."

I have no problem taking care of veterans, but medical benefit fraud is a different matter

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I live in Arizona and there are way more Vet license plates with disability than just regular Vet plates. I began to wonder if I'm the only veteran who didn't get a leg blown off. Then I remembered there are all of those other disabilities, real and contrived.

Many Veterans from Vietnam era, Gulf war I era, were not accepted into VA system like it is today, and those Veterans had major issues that were never treated and now those Veterans have multiple issues that they lived with for decades, that qualify for a rating, its never just one thing that a Veteran has, its usually multiple ailments.

Teslag said:

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ThunderFighter06 said:

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Love an entertaining thread on a hot topic to start my day! Yes, I am a veteran and yes, the VA disability system needs an overhaul. I think my disability rating (30%) is appropriate. That being said, I've seen veterans from the same carer field as me (non-combat) somehow get 100% ratings. I've also seen aircraft maintainers have to fight the VA to prove that the tinnitus they got on the flight line is service connected. Total mess. I know there are a lot of folks out there with similar stories. Don't even know where to begin to fix any of this but definitely interested to see how it pays out!

---

When veterans have to "fight" the VA for claims 9 times out of 10 it's because they waited too long to file after getting out and the VA cannot by law reasonably determine it was service connected.

And this often happens with those that were Billy badasses and too proud to "get in on the grift". So later in life when those injuries and issues manifest it's too late and they ****ed themselves. This is why I heavily encourage anyone I help or that comes to me within a year of ETS to file for anything immediately or at the very least files a notice of intent to file.

Don't do it for you. Do it for your family you may or may not have 10 to 20 years from now.

---

Good point. I took the advice and got in with the VA before I got out. I also tell others to do the same. I know some who may never get anything because they didn't start the process before they got out. Either way, I still thing the VA rating system needs an overhaul. I just wonder how long it will take and what (if any) changes will occur!

Vepp said:

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As someone who exited from the military 5 years ago, the amount of people who looked at me wide eyes when I told them I wasn't going to play the disability system was 100%. They couldn't believe that I wouldn't play their fraud game.

Not to mention that I know many other veterans in real life who shouldn't be milking their fellow taxpayers when very little is actually wrong with them.

This is not an attack on those that ACTUALLY became disabled in the military, but the massive fraud must stop. It won't be a popular political decision, but we need reform because the current system is RIFE with people who don't deserve an extra monthly check.

This is one of the hills I'll die on due to overwhelming personal experience. I immediately lose respect for any fellow veteran who starts talking about how they gamed the system to get a check.

---

So much this!

I have known of two people in upper management who are already making six-figures, and thanks to their 100% disability rating, they're raking in whatever number of thousands of dollars a month on top of that. You'd be surprised at their vacation pics. They're not doing any activities that even remotely look like someone who is truly 100% disabled would be able to do.

Now, do they have medical issues thanks to being in the military? Sure, but so do many Americans.

Are they "owed" it? No.

They weren't drafted or forced at gunpoint to join the military. They knew the risks before they signed up. They aren't owed anything more for doing what they did voluntarily.

I say this as someone who has family members and friends who are in the military and feel the exact same way. It is actually because of them that I changed my "They deserve everything cause they served," when in fact, most don't deserve, much less even need.

Now, to those who were in combat and left truly unable to work at all, I have no problem with them getting the same type of disability benefits that any American who gets those benefits does.

To use their disability as a means of a second income, while they work a full-time job every and any fully abled American can, hell no.

Aggie12B said:

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If you never took the oath and put the uniform on, quit your damn b****ing about benefits given to Veterans.

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It is my money, pal.

montanagriz said:

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I work with many veterans, guys and girls earning 6 figures with no disabilities but its very easy to get 100% disability by just knowing the right things to say. My wife works with another guy that gets 100% and there is nothing wrong with him. He makes 300k to 400k a year and gets full disability. Yes, he is scamming, he is one of those with no morales and takes pride in scamming stuff.

I think most vets feel entitled to 100%disability because they served our country. I can see that view but taking money away from the pool hurts those vets that really need the help

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This is FRAUD.

We have a volunteer military now, they served because they wanted to. For guys who were drafted it is different.

rwtxag83 said:

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A female on active duty who gets pregnant and has a cesarean section birth qualifies for a 60% disability rating.

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While I agree that some folks abuse the system, that statement is patently false. A woman does not qualify for a 60% disability for having a cesarean.

I think the concept that "veterans deserve everything" is ridiculous. It's like saying you deserve a military discount everywhere you go, or state tax exemption of your retired pay, or property tax exemption based on VA rating. You don't deserve those things. They are things to be grateful for, to the businesses that offer them or the state and local governments that enact them into law. None of those things are deserved.

What veterans deserve is the compensation that they are obligated to by the contract that they signed with the federal government, including those duly voted into law by the Congress that taxpayers elect. That includes pay, healthcare while serving and potentially after based on specific conditions, educational benefits earned through time in service as enacted in federal law, the ability to secure a home loan partially guaranteed by the VA once you meet criteria, etc. It means a retirement pension for those that honorably fulfill the required terms of service. And it means compensation and pension for those conditions caused by military service that are codified in law as affecting a veterans quality of life, life expectancy, physical and mental health, employability, etc.

Those things aren't "deserved". They are OBLIGATED by law in the service contract between a service member and the government.

It's no different than the contract between you and your employer where you provide labor and services in exchange for specific pay and benefits. Some of those benefits are extraordinary in comparison, but so is what is asked of service members. The vast majority of civilians will never be asked to willingly lay down their life in the advancement of company policy. That potential, to varying degrees, is there for EVERY service member who signs a contract with the government.

Quote:

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I work with many veterans, guys and girls earning 6 figures with no disabilities but its very easy to get 100% disability by just knowing the right things to say

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Without seeing someone's medical records or VA code sheet this is a ridiculous and reckless thing to say. About anyone. And I can assure you, after helping with almost 100 claims, it is most definitely not "easy" to get 100%. Of those 100 I've helped maybe 5 got 100%. Just the mathematics involved in how the VA calculates total compensation makes it extremely dificult to get 100%

For example lets say a Rated Veteran has the following ratings...

Condition A 30%
Condition B 30%
Condition C 30%
Condition D 30%
Condition E 50%
Condition F 10%
Condition G 10%
Condition H 10%
Condition I 10%

That Veteran's total rating would be 92%, rounded down to 90%, not 100% even with all those conditions. 100% is extremely difficult and I tell most people to not count on it or expect it.

Ellis Wyatt said:

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Aggie12B said:

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If you never took the oath and put the uniform on, quit your damn b****ing about benefits given to Veterans.

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It is my money, pal.

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I pisses me off when veterans think they have some super elevated status above those who did not serve. Just because an individual served does not mean that there should be no questioning of their service or their benefits received post service. Everyone should be concerned if there are large number of veterans grifting the system. And yes, I was an Armor Officer and a Scout/Attack Aviator.

Quote:

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Have an ailment that requires lifetime treatment or medication but don't count it as such because of said treatment? Even if treatment is the only thing keeping it at bay or controlled? It's not cured. It didn't go away. The person is still broken. It's just managed at best. And that management is always in a state of flux for anyone who has ever taken medication or treatment long term. Just seems so shortsighted I guess and that is even before thinking about the actual motivations behind this move.

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Not to mention the fact that many of these prescriptions have pretty severe side effects in many cases.

maverick2076 said:

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I think the concept that "veterans deserve everything" is ridiculous. It's like saying you deserve a military discount everywhere you go, or state tax exemption of your retired pay, or property tax exemption based on VA rating. You don't deserve those things. They are things to be grateful for, to the businesses that offer them or the state and local governments that enact them into law. None of those things are deserved.

What veterans deserve is the compensation that they are obligated to by the contract that they signed with the federal government, including those duly voted into law by the Congress that taxpayers elect. That includes pay, healthcare while serving and potentially after based on specific conditions, educational benefits earned through time in service as enacted in federal law, the ability to secure a home loan partially guaranteed by the VA once you meet criteria, etc. It means a retirement pension for those that honorably fulfill the required terms of service. And it means compensation and pension for those conditions caused by military service that are codified in law as affecting a veterans quality of life, life expectancy, physical and mental health, employability, etc.

Those things aren't "deserved". They are OBLIGATED by law in the service contract between a service member and the government.

It's no different than the contract between you and your employer where you provide labor and services in exchange for specific pay and benefits. Some of those benefits are extraordinary in comparison, but so is what is asked of service members. The vast majority of civilians will never be asked to willingly lay down their life in the advancement of company policy. That potential, to varying degrees, is there for EVERY service member who signs a contract with the government.

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Good point. Very fair.

Now, let's change the contract so every future service person has to live their lives just like everyone else does, good and bad.

BBRex said:

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True, but at the same time, my coworker had VA cover an expensive fertility treatment that was in no way connected to her military disability while my brother-in-law and his wife can't get their fertility treatment paid for by insurance and are having to pony up $10 grand or more. When people see that, they want in on the racket.

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The only way the VA is paying for that is if they have a service-connected disability that prevents a woman from having a child. I see nothing wrong with that.

Blackhorse83 said:

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Ellis Wyatt said:

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Aggie12B said:

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If you never took the oath and put the uniform on, quit your damn b****ing about benefits given to Veterans.

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It is my money, pal.

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I pisses me off when veterans think they have some super elevated status above those who did not serve. Just because an individual served does not mean that there should be no questioning of their service or their benefits received post service. Everyone should be concerned if there are large number of veterans grifting the system. And yes, I was an Armor Officer and a Scout/Attack Aviator.

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And I am not at all against compensating veterans with legitimate claims. I work with real estate/mortgages, and the stories I overhear about VA disabilities will turn stomachs. There are definitely people out there coaching others how to steal from taxpayers.

I appreciate the service of every veteran, but there are some whose service was not honorable and their post-service life is not honorable, either. Just like every other facet of life.

What do you consider coaching? When someone comes to me I ask for 3 things.

1. Medical records. Even if it's just a trip to the TMC when you were at basic. Did you see the medic for a scrape at range? Yes? Well I want it. All of it. I Need the entire picture.

2. What is wrong with you. Do you struggle to take a crap? Have diarrhea a few times per month? Ever get dizzy when exerting yourself? Have headaches? Get irritable when thinking about deployment? Do you "feel" different before/after times you deployed? Anything wrong in bedroom? Relationships? Employment? No matter how stupid and trivial you may think it is, it may not be. Because there's a chance it's a symptom of a larger issue and that's for you to tell the VA and for the VA examiner/rater to diagnose it, connect it, and then rate it. Your job isn't to lie or embellish. Just tell them what's going on and let them sort out the mess.

3. When did these things happen. I don't care why. I just care when. If it happened after service, no dice. Can't claim it and dont' lie about it. I'm not helping you there and I'll end the call right there and then.

Vepp said:

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As someone who exited from the military 5 years ago, the amount of people who looked at me wide eyes when I told them I wasn't going to play the disability system was 100%. They couldn't believe that I wouldn't play their fraud game.

Not to mention that I know many other veterans in real life who shouldn't be milking their fellow taxpayers when very little is actually wrong with them.

This is not an attack on those that ACTUALLY became disabled in the military, but the massive fraud must stop. It won't be a popular political decision, but we need reform because the current system is RIFE with people who don't deserve an extra monthly check.

This is one of the hills I'll die on due to overwhelming personal experience. I immediately lose respect for any fellow veteran who starts talking about how they gamed the system to get a check.

---

That was my mindset when I got out and now realize that it wasn't the smartest thing to do, I should have had at least filed paperwork for what at the time seemed minor even if it got denied so that I at least had it on record. As I've gotten older those minor things have got far worse, and made it much harder to file since I waited so long.

Quote:

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I should have had at least filed paperwork for what at the time seemed minor

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I absolutely cannot stress how important this is to do.

BBRex said:

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Here's what is more relevant to my question:

Quote:

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4.1 Essentials of evaluative rating.
This rating schedule is primarily a guide in the evaluation of disability resulting from all types of diseases and injuries encountered as a result of or incident to military service. The percentage ratings represent as far as can practicably be determined the average impairment in earning capacity resulting from such diseases and injuries and their residual conditions in civil occupations. Generally, the degrees of disability specified are considered adequate to compensate for considerable loss of working time from exacerbations or illnesses proportionate to the severity of the several grades of disability. For the application of this schedule, accurate and fully descriptive medical examinations are required, with emphasis upon the limitation of activity imposed by the disabling condition. Over a period of many years, a veteran's disability claim may require reratings in accordance with changes in laws, medical knowledge and his or her physical or mental condition. It is thus essential, both in the examination and in the evaluation of disability, that each disability be viewed in relation to its history.

---

If we're paying service members because of impaired earning capacity, then why are we paying veterans who are oftentimes holding jobs that pay more than they were receiving in the military?

If we want to change the reasoning to say we are also compensating for pain and suffering, then I wouldn't be opposed that. But to get back to the main point of the OP, if we are compensating for impairment in earning capacity, and drugs or other treatment are working to alleviate the veteran's problems, then we should be reducing the amount of the veteran receives accordingly.

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In my case I get compensated because my exposure to burn pits more than likely has reduced my lifespan, thereby limiting my earning capacity to take care of my wife and kids.

Quote:

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Unless I see missing limbs or an eye patch, I'm pretty convinced fraud occurred if their rating is over about 10%.

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Most of the 22 Veterans a day committing suicide everyday suffer from invisible scars. PTSD is real

Teslag said:

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And of course, on the 3rd section clear as day in the CFR....

Quote:

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It is the defined and consistently applied policy of the Department of Veterans Affairs to administer the law under a broad interpretation, consistent, however, with the facts shown in every case. When after careful consideration of all procurable and assembled data, a reasonable doubt arises regarding the degree of disability such doubt will be resolved in favor of the claimant.

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Like I said accurately (and was called "stupid" for) is that the VA is by law tasked to take care of the veteran first, taxpayer second.

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LOL. No, you said not the taxpayer (at all). Efficient use of limited taxpayer money IS what's best for veterans.

Ag_SGT said:

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Quote:

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Unless I see missing limbs or an eye patch, I'm pretty convinced fraud occurred if their rating is over about 10%.

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Most of the 22 Veterans a day committing suicide everyday suffer from invisible scars. PTSD is real

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I know a few people who it is very much real. So much so that they can't hold a job, no matter how hard they try. For them, it makes sense for them to get benefits.

To those who have the same diagnosis yet still work 40+ hours a week and use their check as a second one to what they paid from their job, while living their vida loca, not so much,

There are large variations in PTSD ratings. Can range from 0, 10, 30, 50, 70, or 100. Most I see are in the 10 to 30 range. 50 isn't common, 70 rare, and 100 is almost a unicorn.

For example, 10% is

Quote:

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Occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks (although generally functioning satisfactorily, with routine behavior, self-care, and conversation normal), due to such symptoms as: depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, panic attacks (weekly or less often), chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss (such as forgetting names, directions, recent events).

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While for 70%...

Quote:

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Occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to such symptoms as: suicidal ideation, obsessional rituals which interfere with routine activities; speech intermittently illogical, obscure, or irrelevant; near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately and effectively; impaired impulse control (such as unprovoked irritability with periods of violence); spatial disorientation; neglect of personal appearance and hygiene; difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances (including work or a work-like setting); inability to establish and maintain effective relationships

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