VA issues

I was discharged from the navy in June of 2012. I was discharged due to the downsizing and I received a severance check because I did not fulfill my contract. So, I got a letter yesterday from the VA, it states that they reviewed by DD214 and they verified that I received separation pay. What the proposes to do is hold my disability pay until the amount of my separation pay is paid back. It doesn't make any sense to me. The navy paid me the separation pay and the VA pays the disability. It took them almost four years to figure this out? How can folks retire out at 20 years and get disability and retirement? I have the option to obtain a personal hearing, which I plan on. I will also be contacting my local congressman. Do anyone have any experience with this? Thanks.

 

BUMP!!
Wow--Good luck! hurry up and wait again!

 

I'm just starting to navigate the process but I plan on working with the DAV for my claim so I would suggest checking out their local office and see if they can give you any assistance. Your VA should also have a transition service officer to help with questions like those. Certainly sounds a little funky but I'm getting medically retired at 8 so I'm going down a different path.

 

I got out in 1998 and it was like that then. You could either get your seps payment or get disability after getting out not both. The folks that do 20 have fulfilled their contract.
When you separated you probably did not receive all the proper information and are now having to deal with this. Contact your local veterans assistant and look up the regulations on separation payments and you will find your answer. It's probably not the answer you want but you will find it.

 

Good luck!

 

Go to your local Disable Veterans of America chapter (DAV) and they will know how to help you, those people are boss. Do this before you do anything else I repeat go there before you take any other step.

 

You are dancing with the devil and that devil is the beuracracy of the VA.

 

Unfortunately separation pay is one of those things that has to be paid back to the va. They can and will hold any disability pay until that full amount is paid back. It is the only downside to taking the separation pay they do not tell you about.

 

This is the correct answer. Not much you can do about it brother. It sucks, but if your percentage from the VA is high enough, then your first lump sum payment should be enough to cover it.

Can't remember what the deal is with taxes, its been too long since I got out, but there was a thing where you can get the taxes they withheld back within so many months of getting out if you receive a rating of some sort.

If you want a good forum dedicated to VA claims and whatnot, then shoot me a message and I will send you that way. Don't know what the rules on TW are about linking to other forums.

 

Same thing happened to me and a ton of other vets I know. It sucks, but it happens.

 

I just found this thread, so forgive me if the info is late. I happen to work for the VA, though not in benefits or health. As a veteran myself (over 22 years), I totally understand some of the frustration. I have an appeal still underway since I retired in 2011.

They are trying very hard to fix things. A lot of our current problems stem from technical decisions made in the days before the Internet, and the underlying systems chosen haven't been as capable as what exists elsewhere. Then other leadership doubled-down on "improving" those systems about 15 years ago instead of doing what DoD did - scrap 'em and replace them with something that works.

From these system challenges come bureaucratic ones (that I don't defend at all), and all I can say to them is I hate it when the union protects horribly incompetent people (none of whom ever wore a uniform). That is being addressed as well.

The first big change about to launch is Vets.gov: https://www.vets.gov/. This site is designed to make it MUCH easier to request benefits and care than the nightmare process we've all been through. It will go live soon - stay tuned.

Personally, I think every veteran should be registered with the VA whether they need services or not. You may feel fine today, but like the Vietnam vets who are suffering from the long-term effects of Agent Orange exposure it's easier to get care if you're already in the system than it is when starting a new claim from scratch.

If you're still on active duty, I cannot stress the importance of the Transition Assistance Program (TAP). It's extremely important to have documented all of your medical issues documented before you separate/retire. It's also helpful to understand the benefits process before you separate. A disability rating of 0 can be elevated later if a condition incurred while on activity duty worsens, but it can take a while to get a new claim processed when you're hurting and need care.

 

Great thanks Capt! Getting out in a few months and I am NOT looking forward to the VA process. I can't think of anyone who's gotten out of the Coast Guard without hearing loss or back issues at a minimum but they won't enroll because they feel it takes too long.

 

Good luck with the transition. The site is live - have you tried to fill anything out yet? What VSOs (veteran service organizations) are in your area that may be able to help you? Their expertise is often invaluable. Make sure your medical records are complete and that any little thing that is bugging you is documented. Even a rating of "0%" can be upgraded later based on degeneration.