If you were well enough to serve your full twenty and get retirement just how disabled were you? If an injury forces a early termination of a career or inability to work later that is different. As for civil service retirees just remember that almost all of their Social Security benefits are taken away. Is that fair? What does one have to do with the other?
Medically boarded at the end, held 3-months past 20-years and then given voluntary retirement which was already requested. Back surgery 10-months before retirement release and never really "healthly" (military medicine sometimes is not the greatest); limited light duties, and still in pain every single day of my life since 1992.... How about 60% for sciatic never injury, 6 disc damaged, 2 crushed, 2 post operative; 3 more ratings of 10%, and 6 additioanl for 0% (recognized for treatment at a VA center at 0%). VA opened a second claim as a result of my records and pending a decision on a separate rating for additional back injuries - Jumping out of airplanes is tough business, heavy equipment, night time, trees and other jumpers in the air - and then you get pavement or stone when you hit - was knocked unconscious 3-times; one of them was the one that did me in!
How bad? I don't know - I hurt every day and take medication for pain frequently; am on arthritus med's daily which helps, have used all every single day of my sick leave and vacation time in past 7-years for medical absence and been out without pay about another 12-weeks during that span - so you see my vacations are all "laid up". You be the judge but I wouldn't do a darn thing different if I had to do it all over again - Paratroopers and being a professional soldier was something most people will never understand, something most people could/cannot do.
Ouch:) But proud and willing to help anyone with anything.
Tell ya what...Agent Orange doesn't appear until years after the exposure...that's hoe disabled! Cancers from AO are rampant as is Hep C, etc.
Remember...any draftee can and does claim and get full comp. for SC illness/injury...the ONLY ones who do NOT are retired mil.