Extenda

Drives me nuts. We have people who were legitimately in crashes with life changing, debilitating injuries who get paid less than people who spent 10 years telling their flight doc “oh yeah I can fly, but my toe hurts, also my back hurts just a tad. Oh yeah and my knee hurts from getting in and out of the plane…I’m not DNIF though trust me I’m good to fly…make sure to write all this down!”

People are absolutely shameless about this, despite being TRs and making 400k a year at their full time job WHILE collecting “disability”.

I’d be willing to bet these same people are the ones who will watch a news story about someone’s questionable enrollment in “____ government aid program” and scoff in disgust about people leeching off the government.

my disability is exactly 0% getting out, because, wait for it…I’m NOT disabled, at all, despite all the deployments, TDYs, etc.

PNWFlyer

I am 10% because I broke my back. People with sore elbows and knees get 80-100.

RippinClapBombs

A foreigner working for a foreign cargo carrier. Idk seems like a perfect fall guy to send a loud message.

FangsF15

Most people, including many who are actually receiving it, significantly overestimate their understanding of the VA disability compensation system. Most people mistakenly believe "100%" means you are actually completely disabled. Nothing could be further from the truth. The VA disability rating is simply how far up the compensation scale are your combinded service-connected conditions. That's it. It has absolutely nothing to do with, 'how disabled are you', and it's unfortunate people use that as the common vernacular. It's extremely misleading, even if out of ignorance.

Other examples to illustrate a lack of understanding of the system: What is a DBQ? What is a Remand? What is SMC? What are Ch. 35 benefits? What is the significance of a nexus? Who hears an appeal? Who assigns the disability rating? Do you have to use the medical examiner 'assigned' by the VA, and do/can they work for the VA? How do service connected conditions interact to determine your final 'percentage'? Is a 85% VA disability rating possible? Which gets a higher disability rating, someone with a 50% and a 10% condition, someone with two 30% conditions, or someone with three 20% conditions, or do they are receive the same? Can you receive compensation beyond 100%?

I know many veteran pilots who have a legit 90-100% disability rating who are perfectly capable, with complete integrity, of exercising the rights and privileges of a FAA Class I medical. For example, anyone who flew military, and especially flew fighters, very likely has multiple musculoskeletal conditions which combine with other conditions for a relatively high rating. I have no problem whatsoever with any vet legitimately maximizing the compensation IAW US VA Disability Law, regardless of other employment.

Fraud, on the other hand, is a completely separate issue. Whether it is in 'faking' or 'over claiming' an injury, or hiding it from the FAA. And both are far more common than most folks probably think, especially the former.

At the end of the day, the FAA does not care if you have a 100% disability rating, so long as those conditions are properly disclosed, don't include a disqualifying condition, and/or don't include certain conditions such as sleep apnea or psychiatric issues (and even then, pilots can sometimes hold a Class I).

BTW, if you have a problem with VA Disability, or how 'percentages' are determined, I suggest you take it up with the US Congress and change the law. Good Luck with that.

Extenda

This is my beef. It’s endlessly irritating to me to be around a gaggle of grown men in a reserve unit giddily talking about their disability rating and the various “ailments” that they are quick to share with a flight doc.

Collecting entirely undeserved tax payer money. The attitude of “well all my buddies have their hand in the cookie jar, why not me” is pervasive, and it’s indicative of the continued erosion of our collective civic responsibilities.

The VA disability system needs to be reformed and the gravy train needs to end for many people who are collecting disability, but it would
be political suicide for both parties, so it will remain as is.

just MHO

e6bpilot

I agree that fraud is present. It starts in TAP class when the VA rep basically gives the whole class the recipe to get the max compensation. It's up to the individual to decide on whether they go the honest route or not. They have to live with that on their conscience. Worrying about other people is a recipe for unhappiness.

The VA decided about 15-20 years ago that they were denying too many legit claims after a rash of bad situations involving vets including an insane amount of suicides. They really loosened the difficult criteria and made the process a lot easier to capture more cases that deserved it with the knowledge that the outcome would involve some people cheating the system. It is what it is.

My grandfather survived 4 years in the Marines and was shot twice. His helmet crushed his sinuses and gave him issues for his entire life. He had a zero percent rating and received no compensation until he was in his 90s and went to get a hearing check at the VA, leading to a physical and record review from 70 years ago. He was given a 100 percent rating and life changing medical care and spousal benefits for my grandmother.

Part of the contract of serving your country is that you are entitled to those benefits for the parts of you that they took or changed. Sure, some guys are going to do some unethical crap, but overall the VA and the benefits they give are a huge force for good.

FangsF15

Ok, so you are concerened only with fraud? That's a totally separate issue, than what I thought you were arguing. And over which neither you nor I have zero control or input. There will always be fraud in any government program. Not saying it's not a problem, but as e6bpilot said, I'd rather a few undeserveds get some coin than deny it any of those who are legit.

But trust me, the examiners very often are extremely adept at discerning who is faking or embellishing. Remember, these are generally physicians and are very smart folks. It's pretty obvious to us who is a faker pilot, and it's pretty obvious to a physician who is a faker patient.

That said, there are unethical 'doc shops' that will write your DBQ how you want it for a fee. BUT, the VA raters know who these folks are, and so do many of the physicians and providers who do this for a living. Just be careful not to throw the baby out with the bath water.

Extenda

Very interesting thanks for the anecdote and the context.

I agree it’s definitely better that it’s easier to access for those who it’s truly intended for, like your grandparents, even if that access is taken advantage of by some.

FangsF15

Sorry it took so long for him to get the rating he obviously deserved. Let this be a reminder to all that you can file for a "worsening" of your condition, and/or file an appeal. Don't leave benefits on the table to which you (or your spouse) are entitled. And don't feel the least bit bad about doing so. Just realize, depending on the condition and it's permanance, the VA may reevaluate your condiiton and lower your rating. Choose wisely,

One other anecdote, I know of a veteran who was exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam. For whatever reason, he never filed for anything despite being able to do so decade(s) before. Only once he was terminal with cancer did he file. He told the examiner, "this isn't for me. This is so my wife has something when I'm gone in a few months".

5tools

If the VA raters know who these people are, then why are so many getting away with it, and also why is it so widespread. It's not just enlisted but goes deep and maybe more so into the officer ranks. Like I mentioned, just do a google search and you will see page after page of people who are getting busted and have been doing it for years. And those are the only ones we know about.