Best practices
Question & answers
Benefits
Get what you need ON THE RECORD as soon as possible after your discharge. Your memory fades. Did this happen in Iraq or Afghanistan? Who was that doc?
DOCUMENT EVERYTHING!!
I was active duty stateside during the Gulf War during Desert Shield.
My DD214 shows honorable discharge physical disability with severance pay.
I remember going to the VA after getting back home and they said I was less than 10%. And I never pursued anything further.
Oh I did get a VA home loan.
Thank you Sam 
Not sure what that gets me if anything.
Again I never really worried about it because I’ve always had insurance and a good job.
Even a zero rating gets you in the door. There are actual zero ratings. I first did VA because of my lower cost meds. Now I’m really thankful. I have one med that would easily be $50 a month even if insurance covered it. Now it’s $8 a month. Most insurance doesn’t cover hearing aides, or durable medical equipment. If the VA says you need cpap, you getca machine. Bought $$$s!
You can go and be reevaluated to up your disability. Over time things get worse as we age and our disability does also. I would definitely check into it.
Yeah I was young then and never thought I’d need it. Everyone told me to go back and get re-evaluated.
I’m enrolled in the VA healthcare system service connected.
My out of pocket prescriptions run me a about $250 a month.
But now with diabetes that’s going to add a additional $140 so I have to do something.
I meet with my liver transplant doctors tomorrow so I hope they will bless me getting meds from the VA.
I will add this to my prayers tonight.
From what I’ve just read I would be in the priority group 3 for benefits.
It looks like prescriptions have a annual cap of $700 which would be a huge help for me.
I’m at a total loss as to why VA won’t do your meds. IF they say no talk to a patient advocate!
Oh I’m not saying that they won’t.
I didn’t mean to imply that.
I was under the impression that they already had. I wish you the very best of luck with them. You can also apply for total relief from payment. I’m lucky, most of my meds are only $8@ month but I’m also cautious because one of the new meds is a really high tier if they decide to use it. I’m not a volunteer guinea pig!
Thank you.
For those that get VA disability and/or Medical once yer at or past 50% there are no longer any co-pays for meds, med gear, appts.
If you were stateside during Desert Storm are you aware that there are now many more presumptive conditions affiliated with Agent Orange/Burn Pit & contaminated water sites?
Y’all get rated or connected for either the Diabetes or whatever caused your liver & other health issues?
As you’ve no doubt seen its worth the hassle to get higher up priority groups and increase what the VA covers. Had fun with getting a VA colonoscopy yet?
No tube in the butt from the VA yet and hopefully never.
I’ve had a couple with my liver and other gastrointestinal problems.
I’m not aware of the presumptive conditions
and don’t think any of those would pertain to me.
Presumptives are the fun part of Service Connected primary/secondary conditions. If ya don’t mind sayin which branch were ya in and have you got any secondary conditions attached to your medical discharge?
FWIW YouTube has a bunch of different channels on dealing with the VA and taking care of things.
Yeah I’m also a Sergeant of Arms for my local American Legion Post & currently fighting the VA for increase in my rate.
The VA was getting better until January of 21. Figure it out.
Thanks for starting this VA forum as I have a few ailments that may be service connectd to Vietnam. These include Agent Orange exposure, Hepatitis C and complications thereof.
I’ll definitely be following up on the links submitted under this thread, thanks again.
@markedwardkrebs
I’m a VA rookie and trying to learn from some of the guys in here that have more experience than I do.
I’m sure if you have any questions someone in here will be happy to help you out if they can.
Thank you for your service