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Message
re: 40% of all living veterans are on disability benefits
Posted on 7/14/26 at 11:39 am to Chopper 2
Posted on 7/14/26 at 11:39 am to Chopper 2
quote:
So now you're saying that military medical personnel are putting their careers and reputation on the line to fraud the VA. What's the benefit to the therapists?
He’s probably referring to these medical professionals on the civilian side.
As has been noted, there is so much “gray” that you could always find a therapist or doctor that can write a nexus letter in a way vague enough to support their service connection without risking their career or reputation.
For those few I used to see that clearly deserved service connection, I wrote the strongest, most unambiguous letter possible to help them get what they deserve. Just like I do for people with other legitimate workplace injuries.
But no reason to be so naive and think many people don’t take advantage of this system or that it’s fraud proof.
2
Posted on 7/14/26 at 11:40 am to DeBoar
One thing most people don't understand is the math the VA uses when determining a disability rating.
Getting 30% for PTSD, 30% for cervical strain and 50% for sleep apnea does not equal 100% in VA math.
It would be 80%.
Getting 30% for PTSD, 30% for cervical strain and 50% for sleep apnea does not equal 100% in VA math.
It would be 80%.
Posted on 7/14/26 at 11:41 am to DeBoar
I'm glad to hear that things are improving in certain areas. That's good. I don't know your father, but I appreciate his service. I served many years ago. I enjoyed my service, even if there were issues. Things happen. I'm fine. I reflect on things. I am very lucky to have nothing permanently wrong. Even if there were people telling me I could have gotten something for my service. I don't want it. I was blessed to have the ability to work, and I shall earn everything that I receive and not a penny more or less.
Posted on 7/14/26 at 11:46 am to onmymedicalgrind
Most doctors don’t even know how to properly write nexus letters and actually know what the actual claim is and parameters of the disability per 38cfr. Doctors should be going off that instead of having an appointment to somehow make a connection. I will say this though it isn’t the doctors fault most of the time because they honestly don’t know. The VA should stop letting civilian doctors do this and only use VA doctors.
Posted on 7/14/26 at 11:52 am to TideSaint
quote:
Getting 30% for PTSD, 30% for cervical strain and 50% for sleep apnea does not equal 100% in VA math.
In fairness, it doesn’t equal 100% in any math
Posted on 7/14/26 at 11:53 am to onmymedicalgrind
quote:
As has been noted, there is so much “gray” that you could always find a therapist or doctor that can write a nexus letter in a way vague enough to support their service connection without risking their career or reputation.
Yes. I agree that writing up a fake injury is fraud. But once the veteran has filed the claim he will still need to prove to the VA that he does in fact have that injury noted by the doctor.
Posted on 7/14/26 at 11:57 am to GEAUXT
This guy gets it. For every 1,000 freeloader welfare kings there is one honest soldier out there who did his time and didn’t act like a bitch when discharged.
Posted on 7/14/26 at 11:58 am to Sam Quint
quote:
that's what needs to happen, sort of as a "reset", but it's a complete non-starter politically because the fallout woudl be.... well, look at this thread for a good idea of it.
It would be politically disastrous for the VA to misdiagnose or turn away someone suffering from severe PTSD, only for that Veteran to later die by suicide. Something similar happened in the Tampa Bay area about ten years ago involving a Veteran I knew, though not closely. He was struggling badly and reportedly tried to admit himself to the VA for treatment but was turned away. He later shot himself in his vehicle in a VA parking lot.
In another instance, in December 2018, retired Marine Col. Jim Turner also died by suicide outside the Bay Pines facility. Marine Veteran Jordan Hunkin sought treatment at the VA hospital in Gainesville in 2023 and died by suicide six months later.
These are simply the Florida cases I personally knew about because the Veterans were connected to a Veterans group I was serving in. Given that history, I would rather err on the side of believing Veterans when they say they are suffering from PTSD than ridicule them for seeking treatment or compensation.
Posted on 7/14/26 at 11:58 am to Chopper 2
It also has to be backed and connected to their service.
IMHO the military/va/taxpayers should be happy they’re only paying 40% of living veterans. Especially when 100% rating is only 29% of those who have VAD&C.
IMHO the military/va/taxpayers should be happy they’re only paying 40% of living veterans. Especially when 100% rating is only 29% of those who have VAD&C.
Posted on 7/14/26 at 12:01 pm to Tigertittie
quote:
Dude, I know people who make six figures (airline pilots) who collect disability.
I see it every day. Full time commercial airline pilot with a negative back X-ray. Getting full disability. Let’s just say he makes way more than the doctor seeing him.
Posted on 7/14/26 at 12:03 pm to DeBoar
quote:
The VA should stop letting civilian doctors do this and only use VA doctors.
I worked for a company that evaluated disability claims on behalf of the VA. Our business exploded around 2022 / 2023 due to some law changes that allowed a larger list of ailments to be claimable.
We had in-house doctors, but most of them were part timers that used us to supplement their income.
Posted on 7/14/26 at 12:09 pm to Stinger_1066
Oh I don’t doubt it as it does go both ways and there is fraud. That’s why it shouldn’t be done that way because new appointments with no patient history/relationship shouldn’t be given a letter.
It’s also unfair to the veteran too because that’s likely what they’re told to do and have no clue like most of the doctors. I thought that was weird when my dad was applying and they told him to find a doctor who can give a nexus letter. Even primaries wouldn’t know about military service decades ago and how to properly write it. Why not have claims go through VA doctors who know about service and 38cfr?
It’s also unfair to the veteran too because that’s likely what they’re told to do and have no clue like most of the doctors. I thought that was weird when my dad was applying and they told him to find a doctor who can give a nexus letter. Even primaries wouldn’t know about military service decades ago and how to properly write it. Why not have claims go through VA doctors who know about service and 38cfr?
Posted on 7/14/26 at 12:45 pm to GEAUXT
quote:Have you ever been threatened if you didn't provide a diagnosis they wanted?
I'd say probably 80-90% of tricare/VA patients I treat are just trying to add another diagnosis to their problem list. Also, 99% of those have a PTSD diagnosis.
Posted on 7/14/26 at 1:45 pm to AgSGT
quote:
I would rather err on the side of believing Veterans when they say they are suffering from PTSD than ridicule them for seeking treatment or compensation.
#BelieveAllVeterans
Posted on 7/14/26 at 1:51 pm to j1897
quote:
STFU, that's every job. These people didn't even see combat.
You went hard in the paint retard.
Posted on 7/14/26 at 1:52 pm to stout
I have 5 of the conditions listed, but never served. One could argue whether these conditions could be attributed to military service or not. Obviously, for me they came from sports and working at a skeet club when I was in HS/college and hearing protection was a ball of cotton. In my case, both contributors were my choice although much of it could have been prevented with better decisions. I get nothing to compensate my problems, but I didn't get them from military service.
I have alot of military friends on disability and most of them are obese, alcoholics and don't generally take care of themselves. The majority that served were never in any kind of combat. There are different levels of service. I mean I have one guy on PTSD disability that loaded C5's nowhere near a combat zone.
Bottom line the system, just like medicare and medicaid, are full of people that really should not be drawing money. A bunch of these guys become contractors after they retire, making tons of cash and still have no problem drawing disability. Jeez...if you are fully employed making good money, do you really need to suck the government tit dry?
I have alot of military friends on disability and most of them are obese, alcoholics and don't generally take care of themselves. The majority that served were never in any kind of combat. There are different levels of service. I mean I have one guy on PTSD disability that loaded C5's nowhere near a combat zone.
Bottom line the system, just like medicare and medicaid, are full of people that really should not be drawing money. A bunch of these guys become contractors after they retire, making tons of cash and still have no problem drawing disability. Jeez...if you are fully employed making good money, do you really need to suck the government tit dry?
Posted on 7/14/26 at 2:06 pm to Old Sarge
quote:
My dad served in Vietnam and the VA has given him fair benefits
If he got drafted he should get probably twice a much as he is
Those guys got screwed royally
Posted on 7/14/26 at 2:33 pm to Sam Quint
Its not that simple, I am of the opinion we should first bring down the number of Veteran suicides that occur each day prior to clamping down on folks claiming PTSD
Posted on 7/14/26 at 3:06 pm to Crimson Wraith
quote:
Feds don't tax VA disability pay, do they?
You don't understand. When someone retires from the military, they receive a monthly retirement check. That check is 100% taxable income by both Fed and State.
After they retire, they can file with the VA for a review of things throughout their career which could be determined to have caused them harm etc, and if successful, they get a rating. 25, 35, 75 whatever percent. That rating then makes that percentage portion non taxable.
Again, that is different from people who are seperated with a disability.
Posted on 7/14/26 at 3:49 pm to Chopper 2
quote:
But once the veteran has filed the claim he will still need to prove to the VA that he does in fact have that injury noted by the doctor
But it’s not about proving an “injury,” it’s about proving a diagnosis is due to their military service. There is a lot of gray area in there ripe for exploitation.
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