When you have served your country for some time and are contemplating retirement, you should also consider the GI Bill and what you may do to better yourself before leaving the military.
I’ve picked up a few tips and suggestions from talking to folks who have previously served in the military, such as staying with your parents to save as much money as possible and pay their expenses, etc. This text is based on my personal experiences, and I sincerely hope that it is helpful to you.
Now hear me out…
Get rid of your pride first before venturing out into the world. Nobody cares.
I am aware that when we are in the game, we want to be harsh competitors, but when we are out of the game, nobody cares. You are required to see a physician immediately. When we enter the real world, we tend to look down on those who claim VA benefits yet appear to be doing well. No one else’s benefits will be reduced or eliminated as a result of your submitting a claim with the VA. In the past, I had this misconception, but I now know better. You may discover in a few years that you will face individuals from other branches that have an easy MOS/Rate and a high disability rate, whereas you have no rating. This is something that you will continue to learn more about. This is nothing but a smart MF. They are gaining headway financially. During your enlistment, it makes no difference if you were deployed or did anything else. You entered the Service in its entirety, and you will exit it in its full as well.
Get checked as soon and as many as you can
You may believe that everything is alright, but if your posterior is scanned with an MRI, you may be diagnosed with degenerative joint disease. I had no idea I had that. I’ve conversed with a number of men who said they were healthy but who, upon examination, were found to have numerous issues. Consequently, you should notice BAS many times. Include as much nonsensical information as possible in your medical record.
Have a painful back? Add it.
Knees? Add it.
Do you ever experience headaches? Add.
Any pain? Add.
Consider every time you’ve been physically pushed, even little; boot camps, the hikes you had to finish, and running in boots immediately spring to mind. This is your ONE AND ONLY CHANCE to dispose of as much issues as you possibly can. If you did not add something to your military record while you were in it, you will have to struggle with the VA to prove that abc disability occurred while you were in service; thus, you should add it now. Whatever you didn’t add to your service record when you were in it but later want to claim, you’ll have to do so after you leave the military. The information in your service record when you separate from the military makes it very easy to file a claim, as it already indicates a clear connection to your military service. If you try to claim insomnia five years later but there is no sign in your record that you ever experienced it, the VA may deny your claim, and you will have to fight to prove that it occurred during your military service.
Submit a claim
The above makes sense? Next, submit a claim for disability to the VA. If you file your claim within 180 to 90 days of receiving your EAS, it will be termed a “Benefits Delivery at Discharge” (BDD) claim. (https://www.va.gov/disability/how-to-file-claim/when-to-file/pre-discharge-claim/) When a BDD claim is submitted, the VA can schedule testing, review service treatment records, and evaluate the claim prior to the service member’s separation from active duty. This allows the VA to make a conclusion as promptly as feasible, sometimes within a day of the military member’s separation from active duty.
What does “VA disability” mean exactly? (https://www.va.gov/disability/) Veterans who are injured or get ill while serving their country are eligible for VA disability compensation (pay). This compensation is a monthly payment exempt from taxation. To give you a broad idea of the compensation, the following is provided:
This contribution will be made on the first of every month for the rest of your life, tax-free. Rates increase year due to inflation, and it is expected that they will increase by 8.9% in 2023. The aforementioned rates represent the current rates for veterans in 2022. Additional advantages may be available if you have a spouse or a child.
You will be able to once you earn a VA rating of at least 10%. Submit an application to the VA for Chapter 31 benefits, also known as the Veteran Readiness and Employment Program (VR&E). (https://www.va.gov/careers-employment/vocational-rehabilitation/) Through the program, VR&E can assist veterans with service-connected disabilities and an employment handicap in preparing for, finding, and maintaining work. You essentially have a meeting with a VA counselor and use your disability rating to argue that with your current qualifications and disabilities, you are unable to get an entry-level job in the field you are pursuing, and why obtaining a degree in XYZ field will help you find meaningful employment that won’t be affected by your disability. The VA counselor will next assess if you are eligible for benefits. Consider the following hypothetical scenario: both of your knees received a 20% rating. Suppose you said during your evaluation that you “cannot stand or walk for extended periods of time without experiencing pain.” And it has been said that information technology job can be performed while seated. In addition to the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits, you will receive a free Apple laptop if you are accepted into CH 31. They determine the amount of your monthly stipend based on the zip code of the school that you attend. During the four years that you use this money to pay for your bachelor’s degree, you will not be required to use your GI bill.
Master’s degree attainment can yield the same outcome. If your application for a master’s degree is denied, you can utilize your GI bill instead; however, you will still have two years remaining after you complete your master’s degree.
There is no assurance that VR&E will enhance learning results. It is designed to help you acquire the skills necessary to secure an entry-level job that will not be negatively affected by your disability. However, you may use VR&E to finance your education. You are only obliged to assess the manner in which your disability prevents you from getting employment.
Only 1 GI-Bill
Remember that once you have utilized your Post-9/11 GI Bill, it will no longer be accessible. If you previously served and subsequently rejoined the military, your service record will not be changed and you will not be eligible for a second GI bill.
If you feel that your pride is too thick and that you don’t deserve or want to claim VA (which you do deserve), log onto ebenefits and apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/coe). If you decide that your pride is too thick and that you do not want to or do not deserve VA benefits, you do deserve them. Use the “forgot username” function on the website if you cannot recall your ebenefits login or password. You will be granted your username after providing your social security number and completing questions to which you already know the answers. Repeat the steps above to reset your password. Afterward, sign in. The application for a COE should be submitted as soon as possible. The following step is to search for a school of interest. Check if the school has a veteran service; the vast majority of schools do, and they will be able to help you with everything I said. My personal opinion is that I would not recommend attending a school that does not offer this, but that is just my opinion. They offer numerous services, including free counseling and free tutoring, among others. A portion of your MCIs will be converted to credits as an added advantage. Although it is not much, it is helpful. You will be required to provide the institution with the transcript from MOL for the completed MCI in order for them to convert the finished hours into credit hours.
