VA disability vs FAA medical
09-07-2023, 04:32 AM
#111
Ignoring; John Burke.
Joined APC: Jul 2022
Position: Wandering
Posts: 235
I just golfed with a guy who had a 100% rating. it’s possible, yet difficult, to get enough 50, 40, 30, 20 and 10% individual awards for disability to get up to 100%… some biggies are cancer, sleep apnea, and PTSD. Bottom line is 100% VA disability doesn’t mean you are an invalid. Google VA disability rating formula and you’ll get a better picture.
09-07-2023, 10:39 AM
#114
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,525
One of my friends at purple is this way. Lots of little nothings with sleep apnea. 100% w/pension, free college for kids + pretty healthy stipend for each one while in college. No wonder people go nuts claiming all sorts of stuff.
09-10-2023, 06:12 AM
#115
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,186
Texas finally wised up, a little in this regard. You can get a DV plate with 50%. Previously, a DV plate allowed you to park in handicapped parking spots. Occassionally I would see them, and once in a while I’ve seen company pilots in uniform, at the airport, parking right up front in the handicap zone with their DV plate. I confronted a couple, a few more I left a nasty gram on their windshield. (It really teed me off).
Texas finally changed the rule this year, preventing that….unless you had a handicap plate or tag.
Imagine a passenger watching their captain, getting out of their car in the handicap parking. Not really confidence inspiring.
Texas finally changed the rule this year, preventing that….unless you had a handicap plate or tag.
Imagine a passenger watching their captain, getting out of their car in the handicap parking. Not really confidence inspiring.
Don’t be a jerk and confront people when they are allowed to park in disabled spaces.
This sounds almost as bad as those old timers who confront women parking in veterans spaces.
And no, Texas didn’t prevent that this year. They simply added more layers of government bureaucracy. You take your VA disability finding (from a doctor) to the county, they give you a sheet to fill out, you get that filled out (from a doctor), and now you get your placard.
The sheet can even be filled out by the same doctor. It’s just the government clerks down at each county protecting their fiefdom.
Don’t be a jerk.
09-11-2023, 07:10 AM
#116
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2009
Posts: 5,262
Can you give a real example of a rating like you describe?
The VA defines 100% total disability as being “unable to pursue or likely maintain gainful employment” either on a permanent basis or temporary. That definition does not apply to farm work on your own farm, or work in an assisted living situation that has work opportunities for patients. That’s not just math, other than the realization that 100% IS 100 %.
I know of several pilots with VA disability, none have 100%.
My old squadron commander is in a VA assisted living home in California. He is 100%.
Another squadron mate, is VA disabled for injuries he sustained bailing out off a 105, and subsequent 7 years in Hanoi prison. The VA told he he could have 100% when he came back. He refused it , as he would not have been able to work. He and most of the prisoners had standing offers from most major US corporations to any job they wanted.
The VA defines 100% total disability as being “unable to pursue or likely maintain gainful employment” either on a permanent basis or temporary. That definition does not apply to farm work on your own farm, or work in an assisted living situation that has work opportunities for patients. That’s not just math, other than the realization that 100% IS 100 %.
I know of several pilots with VA disability, none have 100%.
My old squadron commander is in a VA assisted living home in California. He is 100%.
Another squadron mate, is VA disabled for injuries he sustained bailing out off a 105, and subsequent 7 years in Hanoi prison. The VA told he he could have 100% when he came back. He refused it , as he would not have been able to work. He and most of the prisoners had standing offers from most major US corporations to any job they wanted.
Friend of mine, career fighter guy with an ejection.
Primary conditions of slipped disks in spine, hip damage (needs hip replacement, years of pain), neck and shoulder injuries, years of burn pit exposure, IBS from years of doxycycline usage.
Those primary conditions all lead to even longer lists of secondary conditions such as radiculopathy, neuropathy, sciatica, limited range of motion, constant recurring pain, etc.
Everything tested and verified by the VA via X-ray, MRI, medical history, exams, etc. Once totaled up they all came out to over 300% resulting in a 100% P&T rating.
Is anything an FAA disqualifier? Nope. Can he get up and down the jet bridge stairs for a walk around? Not as quick as a 25 year old but yes. He’s not going to do any physical labor, landscape his yard, build his kid a tree fort, get a job that requires any strenuous activity.
He’s but one I know. 20+ years of combat, most of us spent our entire careers going from deployment to deployment. I don’t count the number of deployments I have but the numbers of years deployed, yeah there are a lot of broken vets out there trying to get by and keep the dream alive. The ones lying about it however? Ef them.
09-11-2023, 07:42 AM
#117
Perennial Reserve
Joined APC: Jan 2018
Posts: 12,239
In a culture where those with an actual work ethic seem to be a dying breed and legions of young healthy people are living on the dole, it seems kind of churlish to grouse about those with documented disabilities who actually WANT to be gainfully employed and have found a niche where they can do so.
09-11-2023, 08:44 AM
#118
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 40,382
In a culture where those with an actual work ethic seem to be a dying breed and legions of young healthy people are living on the dole, it seems kind of churlish to grouse about those with documented disabilities who actually WANT to be gainfully employed and have found a niche where they can do so.
You can get a 1C, even with a very high rating, as long as you don't have NPQ conditions. Might have to jump through some hoops, but it's better than getting an anal probe on I-Day at club fed.
If you have an actual grounding condition, you probably shouldn't be flying airliners.
Sorry, I'm not going to flip this one around to "oh the poor vets". We all know there's a spectrum on VA claims, and if you choose to try to hit the rating ball out of the park, you'll have to deal with whatever the FAA ramifications of that turn out out to be.
09-11-2023, 08:59 AM
#119
Disinterested Third Party
Joined APC: Jun 2012
Posts: 6,298
In a culture where those with an actual work ethic seem to be a dying breed and legions of young healthy people are living on the dole, it seems kind of churlish to grouse about those with documented disabilities who actually WANT to be gainfully employed and have found a niche where they can do so.
In no way is the FAA attempting do diminish service, injury, or make comment on military disability ratings. Those who claim disability benefits need only claim it on the FAA form and show that they are medically fit to hold a FAA medical certificate; the two-fold concern is reporting on the application, as legally required to do, and in ensuring that any claimed disability does not impact fitness to fly.
No one is grousing about wanting to fly. That's irrelevant.
Meeting the regulation is relevant.
09-11-2023, 11:29 AM
#120
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,186
Don't lose sight of the fact that this was initiated by the VA, not the FAA. The FAA, in turn, is interested in those who claim a disability, which may impact their medical fitness.
In no way is the FAA attempting do diminish service, injury, or make comment on military disability ratings. Those who claim disability benefits need only claim it on the FAA form and show that they are medically fit to hold a FAA medical certificate; the two-fold concern is reporting on the application, as legally required to do, and in ensuring that any claimed disability does not impact fitness to fly.
No one is grousing about wanting to fly. That's irrelevant.
Meeting the regulation is relevant.
In no way is the FAA attempting do diminish service, injury, or make comment on military disability ratings. Those who claim disability benefits need only claim it on the FAA form and show that they are medically fit to hold a FAA medical certificate; the two-fold concern is reporting on the application, as legally required to do, and in ensuring that any claimed disability does not impact fitness to fly.
No one is grousing about wanting to fly. That's irrelevant.
Meeting the regulation is relevant.
Many vets who disclosed everything to the FAA have received notification they are being investigated.
This is bureaucratic hubris and overreach. The FAA is doing this because they CAN get away with it, not because in rare cases they catch someone.
This is for conditions that are to be expected after decades of war. Joint injuries, back problems, neck pain, etc. All recorded…..all disclosed…..still receiving nasty letters from the FAA as a thanks for their service.
Now, for the handful of dip****s claiming 100% unemployable for PTSD but then telling the FAA they are good to go…..well they already put some of them in prison and rightly so. If anyone needs help, they should of course seek treatment….but full disclosure (as 99.9% of vets are doing) is required.
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