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It has happened - search for “VA disability fraud” and you’ll find some examples. It’s extremely rare though, because every ailment has to be exhaustively documented and investigated.
More likely his ratings come from things you just can’t see easily.
In my case, I’m 100% disabled per the VA but I walk, work, play with my kids, etc. and most people wouldn’t guess it.
I also have 7 pins in my right shoulder from reconstructive surgery (and struggle to raise my arm over my head), I have a herniated disc, spinal arthritis, and degenerative scoliosis from jump injuries (and am an inch shorter than I was as a young soldier), the meniscus I tore and had repaired means my knee still gives me grief, my right wrist is shot and I can’t pour a jug of milk without two hands, I have tinnitus and partial hearing loss, I have IBS that started with parasite infection from dirty water in the Middle East, and I have migraines that started after my 2nd TBI (partially controlled with Amitryptaline and Imitrex)
It would be easy to look at me going for a hike with my kids or playing casual pickleball and assume that I’m faking; but the rating system is working as intended when people are compensated for permanent damage to their bodies incurred in the line of duty, whether they share the details with casual observers or not.
This. I’m rated at 90%. That was my initial rating with no exaggeration or gaming the system. And yes, there are people who game the system.
With that being said, I, like C1, have a litany of problems directly related to my service. Actually, we have a surprising number of the same ones. Just because I don’t always walk with a pronounced limp doesn’t mean that my body isn’t screaming from any number of areas at any given time.
You can get 70% based on PTSD alone. You can’t see that.
Can you? Sure. Let’s look at it from another lens though, my chu-mate got 80% just for his TBI and social anxiety as the result of our rotation. You can get close to 100% without any visible injuries and then a bad knee and back from a few years on jump-status or in a light unit with a heavy ruck and weapon can get that last 20% really quick.
Can you see PTSD? If not, then mind your own business when it pertains to a veteran's disability rating.
I second that
PTSD and the number of related mental health issues a soldier and his family face at times is nothing one should even relate their self to unless they have walked that path.
Shit is very real and no fun at all asshole!!!
Rising Star
Probably depends on the nature of the disability - it’s not always visible. I was rated at 60% due to service-connected knee and back issues. Mostly I get around fine but some days it’s pretty bad.
Same 60% after three in service knee surgeries
Disability comes in different forms. I’m rated 40% for my back. I can walk but I’ll probably need surgery later. I can’t do things I used to. My back is like I’m 70 but my body is 31. PTSD can be like really bad for people and you won’t see that
I have also seen soldiers with 100% disability that did not look to be disabled. But some things might be more mental than physical and yes that can be completely debilitating. I don't ever assume anyone is faking anything.
Not sure why people assume that disabled means you can't walk normally 🤷♂️
This is probably the third time I've seen this in the last week.
Let me break this down. I have a high rating with the VA for conditions that don't typically affect how I walk. And whoever the individual you're referring to is... It's none of your business as to what his conditions are.
I feel like this is pretty normal. I’ve seen tons of soldiers with 100% disability ratings who seem to have zero issues. In my opinion it’s the biggest scam to the government in history. I always imagined 100% was for amputees but it’s not.
I am a veteran. I say it’s a scam because of the high number of SMs who abuse the system. I can’t tell you how many seperated people I know who straight up lied to the VA to get to 100%. In the reserve my soldiers even share the best ways to squeeze every single percent possible and specifically what to say.
Obviously legitimate service injuries or pains should be given disability and compensation for life. The fact is soldiers know how to game the system and there are even companies that help exploit it too.
Yes, they can fake things and people definitely do. But like other said it depends on the nature of disabilities. Most of mine is TBI and headache related. Those are not things that are readily apparent.
The VA should be rating people on their worst day. The problem is that the exams are usually not done on our worst day. I am rated for my back and on a good day, I am fairly normal. However, I have days where my wife has to dress me because I can’t bend over to put my pants on.
70% for anxiety with panic disorders
50% for sleep apnea with a CPAP
100% for TBI
Lots of ways that you can be disabled and still "leave walking fine."
completely disabled isn't necessarily physical. It can be mental, emotiona or unseen back issues, etc.
I'm an above knee amputee with a fused ankle on the other side, and if I was wearing jeans, you probably wouldn't notice a difference outside the first two or three steps. You never know, some days you're fine, some days are a little worse.
the rating spans far beyond obvious outward signs. If u look on YT with the many vets who say they’re on disability, many look and walk completely normal. They might be on some permanent medication for various things, have replacement whatevers in their body, etc.
I am not a doctor or someone medically qualified to know how legit all the various rating details but I do think just paying money isn’t the best idea. If someone needs shelter/food due to disability then give that. If they’re still able to make a very affluent living then it’s kind of pointless to still pay a salary’s worth
I’m 100% but you can’t see it unless you are able to see me sleep. Then you will see me having nightmares or if you are present when I have a seizure. That’s not hard the nightmares come every night and the seizures happen 5 or 6 times a day. But you probably won’t ever see the hands full of pills I have to take to get through one more day. Then I get to deal with judgy people who think I’m faking because my disability isn’t always visible.
L
Rising Star
blame the welfare system, anything that can be exploited will