Disabled Veterans Lobby for Full Retirement Pay

The NY Times ^ | May 26, 2002 | The NY Times

[Bruce Kurtz]

I visit the local VA clinic every 6 months. They are still treating people for exposure to agent orange from over 30 years ago. They have been screening people who may have had blood transfusions, where the blood was tainted, and may have caused hepatitis. Persian Gulf vets are being treated for exposure to toxic chemicals. Six years ago, I had to undergo surgery at a VA hospital, my room mate had surgery to remove cancerous growths inside his body due to exposure to agent orange. So how do you put in your 20 or 30 years and then get a disability? Well sometimes the things you were exposed to, don't show up for 20 or 30 years.

I'm retired and I get a 10% disability which is immediately taken from my military retirement. I don't need the separate disability, but there are retirees out there with 50-100% disability that do.

Bruce Kurtz

[Militiaman7]

You are answering your own question.

They didn't state the rating Mr. Lawton recieved. If it was 10-20% then he probably could continue his military career. If it was more then the army probably would have retired him medically.

In either case he should receive the disability payment for wounds/illness/injury suffered while on active duty (service connected) and his retirement pay (pension) which he earned. He shouldn't have to pick and choose.

[Eagle Eye]

A retiree isn't concerned about job opportunities.

Really? Tell me how many people in their late 30's to mid 40's can afford to take an instant 50%-70% cut in pay and NOT be concerned about job opportunities?

[Eagle Eye]

Depending on where the 10-20% originates, it can be very tough for an individual to stay constructively employed. That knee, back, or shoulder injury may not harm a finance clerk's outside job pursuits, butcould realy be a damper on a grunt or other combat arms trooper.

[Militiaman7]

Very true

[3D-JOY]

Sounds to me like you deserve the disability...and if you earned the retirement before becoming disabled...YOU SHOULD GET THEM BOTH!!

[3D-JOY]

I am confused about disability after retirement...how could you continue to serve if disabled?

After retirement I thought all injuries were treated for life.

If those injuries became disabling then why not choose the better paying deal..maybe schooling and re-training too.

A policeman might retire and a month later finally have the heart attack he "earned" on the job. He can not apply for disability. He has no additional way to secure disability claim. Is this so very different?

[speekinout]

Ah, yes. I had forgotten that military "retirement" is not like retirement for the rest of us.

[summer]

Re your post #12 - My pleasure. Thank you for posting that link. :)

[william s123]

I retired with disability from the Army in 1983. I had 19 years 10 months and 3 days of military service. I had already been on the retirement list prior to receiving a disability retirement. I find that part of the concurrent law to be unconstitutional. Why do I say this. Concurrent law allows a non-disability retiree to receive concurrent pay regardless of years served and the disability retiree must have 20 years of service. That means if a non-disability retiree retired at 19 years and 6 months, he is eligable for concurrent pay if he has a VA rating of 50 % or more. I have a VA disability rating of 100% and am unable to draw concurrent pay because I did not have 20 years of service. The law discriminates against the disability retiree. I feel that no money should be taken from a retirees pay no matter what the percenatge rating the VA gives a retiree.Lets make this law fair for everyone.