Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Total number of veterans receiving service-connected disability benefits according to their percentage degree of disability, 2005. Shows that about 1 out of 3 veterans have minor disabilities. Source: U.S. Veterans Benefits Administration. Totals may not add up due to rounding.
Disability degree Number of veterans Total annual amounts paid
0 percent 14,750 $12.9 million
10 775,854 $1 billion
20 408,667 $1 billion
30 327,007 $1.4 billion
40 246,987 $1.5 billion
50 151,943 $1.3 billion
60 172,694 $2.6 billion
70 153,190 $3.3 billion
80 102,979 $2.5 billion
90 54,161 $1.4 billion
100 228,747 $7.2 billion
Total 2.6 million $23.4 billion
Most prevalent service-connected disabilities, 2005. Source: U.S. Veterans Benefits Administration.
Disability Number of veterans
Defective hearing 423,989
Tinnitus 339,573
Musculoskeletal conditions 300,098
Scars 283,337
Arthritis, due to trauma 272,047
Post-traumatic stress disorder 244,876
Knee impairment 235,158
Diabetes mellitus 220,532
Hypertension 193,055
Osteoarthritis
or degenerative arthritis 162,004
Hemorrhoids 124,859
Most prevalent disabilities among veterans receiving benefits, by era of service, 2005. Source: U.S. Veterans Benefits Administration.
World War II:
Defective hearing
Frozen feet, residual
Tinnitus
Korean War:
Defective hearing
Tinnitus
Frozen feet, residual
Vietnam War:
Diabetes Mellitus
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Defective hearing
Persian Gulf War:
Generalized musculoskeletal conditions
Tinnitus
Arthritis due to trauma
Peacetime:
Generalized musculoskeletal conditions
Impaired knee
Arthritis due to trauma
Veterans who began receiving disability compensation in 2005:
Tinnitus
Defective hearing
Diabetes Mellitus
VA disability benefits
I work at the VA regional office in St Petersburg Florida. I truly believe if taxpayers knew what veterans received disability pay for that would be appalled. I am sure most people when they hear the term disabled veteran they envision and individual who has lost a limb in combat or someone who has actually engaged in combat. If they only knew that disabilities veterans received compensation don't have to having to do with their military service. A woman who has a hysterectomy in service is automatically 50% disabled buy the VA!!! If an obese veteran has sleep apnea that began in service and has a CPAP machine they are 50% disabled.
What other job can you retire form after years of service, receive retired pay and then start receiving disability pay for age related disabilities?
I had a classic claim recently in which a man who retired from the military in 1970 and went to law school after service on the GI Bill. He became and administrative law judge for social security and worked for Social Security for over 25 years. He submitted a claim, at the age of 72,that he was totally disabled and unable to work due to injuries incurred in a jeep accident in 1961 while he was in the service!!! 1961!! and he was granted 100% disability by VA! This man knew how work the system and had doctor's say that he had injuries from this accident forty years ealier even that caused him to be too disabled to work- though he continued on in the military, went to law school and worked over 25 years as a judge!! the fact was the man was old and had age related arthritis. and now he gets military retired pay, 100 disability compensation pay of over $3000.00 a month tax free is exempt from paying property taxes becuase he is a now a 100% disabled vet, he gets social security and retired pay from his job as a judge!! how do you like where you tax dollars are going!
And the sad thing is this is not that unusal of case..
VA Representative - Give up Your Name
Hey VA Representative,
How dare you? You pompus ass. Give me your name and I will have your job tomorrow! Maybe this evening. This is why we get such poor care because of stupid people jealous over broken bodies. Hey, I know the name of a good recruiter. Want to join? You can bust up your back, knees, hearing, vision or any other organ the military wants to abuse.
Get your facts straight soldiers do not get 50% for a hysterectomy, its 30% unless you all your female organs are removed. So, try to read a little closer. Oh by the way, us lucky military people get seen by the lowest bidder. It's our way. Sacrifice. Sacrifice. BTW. My surgery didn't go so hot. I can tell you that no one walks into the VA Medical Examiner Office and walks out with your imagined 3,000 monthly VA disability. The doctor isn't giving out those ratings easily so he has to force your body into a position that leaves you gritting your teeth in pain so he can get the desired results (o%) he does it. My body is beat to crap. I've got 30 plus years of service spent lugging equipment to heavy to imagine, running in combat boots for miles through shin splint, blister, pulled muscles, etc, forced marches, experimental vacinations for countries most people wouldn't put on their vacation list, and did I mention the lowest bidder health care? How about the PT test? Everyone loves a good PT test with forced timed standard situps known best for...pulling out BACKS!!!! WOW, can you believe military personnel who do the forced test as well as forced training for years on end have bad backs. Color me surprised. First, I get to see a different doctor every visit one who doesn't know me and on several occassions this has been an issue. I can't just be referred to a specialist for services like a civilian; I get to wait patiently sometimes for months as Tricare determines whether I can see someone on the outside. Then most of them won't except our insurance cuase he doesn't pay will or on time. Low Bidder. How about my heart problem which the military kept saying "was my wonderful runners heart". God, I wouldn't want a young Capt (one of several) with maybe a whole year in the military right out of medical school with no experience to ask anyone or refer me to someone with experience. Better they say "Wow you must run alot!" They forget to check my records and see my ruined back which clearly precludes long runs or even walks with my grandchildren in my future. So much to say so little time.
Besides my carpal tunnel is acting up. Go ahead and send me your name. You a crummy federal employee. You are breaking many, many rules. I'm gonna send this e-mail blog to St Pete VA so they find you.
Have a nice life.
Veterans Disability Payments
I agree with the VA Employee unless the veteran was actually in combat. Other than that, it was our tax dollars that paid your salary.
Civilian workers are subjected to much more abuse than government. The military acts as "parents" by taking care of active duty. These
end up being the most anti-social dysfunctional worthless workers in
America when they get out of the military. They are arrogant and
prideful and most of them never stepped foot on enemy grounds. Sorry,
we're all entitled to our opinions and this is what I've seen from
working with them and being an Air Force brat myself. I can say that
I have the utmost respect for the ones who actually physically fought
for our freedom. They are the ones who deserve to be taken care of
100%. The rest....pitiful.
I don't think a lot of people
I don't think a lot of people understand that the money we retirees receive from the VA for our disabilities is OUR money (our retirement money). This is the entitlement that we receive after serving our country for 20 yrs. During these 20 yrs service we miss quite a few events that normal citizens take for granted. I know we signed up for this...but we also knew the possible sacarfices we would have to make. This money isn't free money to us...it's deducted from our retirement pay and paid to us from the VA! The person who wrote the comment about about stepping foot on enemy soil...I can tell you that there are a lot of military jobs with a home station mission...meaning some jobs require you to stay at home station and perform your duties. Those people are still fighting the war and making sacarfices! My hats off to each and every military person...I know what it takes to be in the military whether on enemey soil or at home station.
StandingUp Is a douch bag
Your an ass. Any injury sustained in the service is service related period. If you were injured in a private sector job you have legal rights to compensation, if you choose not to follow up on those rights that's your business.
Military doctors are the worst. Case in point, my wife has a C-section delivery and the anesthesia never goes past her thigh. Doctor does not check to see if she can feel anything. Cuts her open while I'm there, she screams and he says whats wrong. Long story short, they fuk'd up and after 20+ apologies from the anesthesiologist and two years of terrible pain she requests copies of her medical records, zippo in there about the botched procedure.
My daughter at age 2 while stationed overseas has a dental abscess and they dentist says we need to pull this tooth to correct the problem, they do and it's the wrong tooth. Never mind the fact that at age 2 they tell us they will not administer anesthesia so they strap her to a board for the extraction, I could hear her screams in the waiting room. Try that with your child. I return to the states 6 months later and go to the Lenox Baker Children hospital in NC. Within 10 minutes they have positively identified the problem tooth with a procedure that had been taught in dental school for 20 years. After full anesthesia her tooth is removed and she is fitted with a partial. The doctor stated that what they did was barbaric.
I have a knee collapse while playing squadron sports. I am told that it is sprained and will heal. Two years later after living on Motrin I am told that I have arthritis in the knee at age 31. I live on Motrin for 8 more years, retire and two years later see a specialist who determines I have a torn ligament.
Think what you want about veterans, it's obvious you have no clue to what they endure and perceive any compensation as ill gotten and a shame on the system.
I have only one thing to say to people like you, go fuk yourself. You are clueless about what veterans deal with and take isolated cases of gaming the system and lump everyone in that. People like you should have to spend time on the front lines, better yet have a son or daughter there that gets injured and I'll bet you change your tune.
All I have to say is, Unless
All I have to say is, Unless you have signed your life away on the dotted line and have served your country. Shut the hell up!!! you are clueless.
If you only knew
First of all read the first comment, whoever wrote that writes at a 4th grade level. How can you compare military duty to a civilian job? When are civilian required to leave their families for years at a time to go overseas and fight? If you have never been in the military you cant understand how much stress the daily activities have on your body. I am getting ready to retire and personally believe I deserve everything they give me. I have been in combat 3 times, jumped out of airplanes and helicopters for 20 years, and missed a great deal of my daughters growing up. I have also seen things that the average American can’t even imagine. We soldiers dedicate our lives to the military and the protection of our county; it’s not just another job it’s a way of life.
The sad thing is that you
The sad thing is that you and people like you create the hate and discontent that disabled Vets feel for the VA system in general. You are obviously part of the problem that is always associated with veteran's medical care. After 20 years in the Navy, I would gladly trade the measely $230 dollars (which is taken out of my retirement pay, by the way), that I get each month for joints that don't hurt every minute of every day. I would love to be able to pick up my son or work in my back yard. You might just want to think about the sacrifice that this country's Vets have made before you make yourself look like an ass in a public forum.
- David Moore USN(ret)
Response to Retards in the VA
Tax payers should be appalled that the VA has provided a job for you to service our veterans. You obviously don't get it. Go to a third world country and work thier VA system and see if you get better results....and don't bother coming back! You talk like you have all the facts and make this broad generalization. Sounds like a Democrat to me.
Maybe you'll get your wish and the President to be will cut your job out and you can go to work for planned parenthood. Do us all a favor and leave the VA.
For all fellow vets God bless and keep fighting these idots.
age related disabilities
age related disabilities also have to show just cause that a condition was either caused or agrivated on active duty
Interesting
I do not recall him saying anything about veterans should not get appropriate medical care or paid for "actual injuries related to the job" but seriously, are you going to all sit there and try to say sleep apnea and hemmoroids are job related or were aggravated by serving in the military? Same with pre-existing conditions? Get real! If it is a legitimate injury directly job related, it should be covered exactly the same as the rest of us here in the real world, a one time payment for the injury, not money for life. Go ahead with your speech about serving the country, but many people serve this country every day as school teachers, nurses, etc. etc. that may have a health problem with their knees later on from being on their feet all day and they do not get benefits for life due to normal human being wear and tear! I know several vets that are getting substantial benefits every month that are jamming up the system with their B.S. claims when other vets with actual duty involved injuries can not even get seen.
hey anonymous before you
hey anonymous before you judge...maybe you should again read over some of these VA claims yourself. If you gave up having children due to having all your female parts remove because of an injury that happened at work, or some of the other issues that seem minor to you. Wouldn't you asked for payment from your employer or workers compensation, which I might add soldier don't get because they can't just say...hold up i can't work today I'm hurt...no they have to wait till a medical board says ok your hurt enough to be released from your contract. Sometimes VA claims take yrs...to see a dime...if then! Im sure alot of soldiers/veterans would rather get a one time lump sum, BUT since THAT is not an option...GET your facts before you critize.
Sleep Apnea
I went into the Military just fine with no family history of sleep apnea, I'm not over weight, but 3 years after my enlistment I was sent in for a sleep study because I was experiencing alot of unexplained sleeping problems and found that I had developed really bad sleep apnea. The fact is they really don't know how or why it happens. So please, unless your field of work is research in these areas and you have an educated expert oppinion on this subject it's best that you not just spray and pray hoping to hit your mark.
SGT Hendrick
The real story
I understand that there are people out there that do receive disability payments they probably don't deserve. However, for anyone who would even try to put down honorable veterans of the U.S. armed forces, I ask you: what have you done that puts you in the position to judge us? One person here stated that we don't deserve special treatment, that there are nurses and teachers who also serve. REALLY? You would dare compare teaching in a classroom or working a hospital floor to serving in the Armed Forces? What risk do those professions take?
When I signed the dotted line, raised my hand and swore to protect this country, my body became the human shield for every single citizen of this country, to include you. If I am never shot, then thank God for that, but at least I had the courage and the willingness to make that sacrifice for my country. Those of us that have served honorably deserve to be respected for that choice, not belittled by a government employee who can not even spell.
We veterans have given up more than you can even begin to understand. We have given OUR FREEDOM FOR YOURS. If I don't show up to work, I can go to prison. I have no choice but to harm my body every day in support of my mission, and to maintain physical readiness for war. After only 6 years I have joint problems so severe, that my knees give out and I fall. I sometimes can't write by hand my wrists hurt so much. I haven't even been deployed, and work in what most of the services would consider an easy job. If I am this bad off from just the basics of service, can you imagine the pain, both emotional and physical of veterans of Security Forces who deploy frequently?
Do you realize how high the divorce rate is in the military? Do you have any idea why? Because you can be separated from your family for however long the service likes, and there is nothing you can do about it. Is that something that ever happens with any other job?
And while we're at it, the pay isn't that great either. With the skills I have, along with other job prerequisites, that you really don't need to know about it, I could be making $100,000 a year starting salary in the civilian world. Instead I'm making less than half that amount.
So, why do we do it? I can promise you it's not the money or the benefits, or the thought of glorious disability. We do it because we had the courage, fortitude and love for our country that you didn't. I signed to protect you and your children from going to work tomorrow and ending up a burning corpse in a pile of rubble. Because our country deserves to live free of the fear of attacks and death, even if that means giving up mine.
Does that entitle us to compensation for physical ailments associated with our service? Or, is it better for honorable veterans to be tossed out on the street?
What do you mean real world
Do you really think that we Soldiers are not part of the real world? I was in a car accident in Germany in 2001, but guess what, I wasn’t in Germany on vacation, I was in Germany on military orders.
You sound a little jealous,
You sound a little jealous, have you served your country? Who are you to judge these people's "disabilities"? I was jerked around by the military for 11 years regarding my medical problems after several deployments to remote locations where I was routinely exposed to parasites, infectious diseases, radiation and other environmental contaminants simply for doing my job. Even here at home, I was exposed to highly toxic chemicals as part of a normal duty day. I have been rated at 70% disabled and I'm a 32 year old female. It's nice to get that rating, but I can't live off of that money and I'm having a hard time finding work because of my problems. No I didn't lose a limb, but I suffer incapacitating neurological problems due to my exposures. So, before you get people all riled up, maybe you should look at it from both sides. People like you shouldn't work for the VA, it's probably the reason that the VA is in such a shambles...You can hardly put an intelligent sentence together, yet you're working on service members' cases? Nice. You're an ignorant, poorly-educated civilian and should have NOTHING to do with the VA. Disgusting.
Jealous, no! Realistic,
Jealous, no! Realistic, yes! As far as serving this country, not that it really matters in the comment, but yes I have served it for many years. The whole point of the comment was, if you have an injury or disability directly related to your "Job" in the military, you and everybody else should be compensated the same amount and the same way as everyone else in this country is for a "Job" related injury. After all, it is still voluntary service isn't it? Many of us are exposed to dangerous things daily depending on our jobs. If that job directly causes you harm, you should be compensated the same way as anyone else. The current system of compensation and what qualifies for the VA and the rest of this country are not even close to the same. If you do not believe me look at the percentages of vets versus civilians that are collecting disability pay for sleep apnea or hemorhoids. Your saying look at it from both sides, well, if it was an equal system how much more could you want? Being in the military does not make you "entitled" to special treatment. As I said before, many people serve this country in all types of different ways daily and not just in the military. As far as your comments about me working for the VA, lack of education, and all that other wonderful stuff, you could not be more incorrect. I do, however, hope the best for you!
Again Mrs. anonymous????Since
Again Mrs. anonymous????Since your so sure of your remarks...put your name on the line to find out if your correct in all the justice that you are crying for. Stand up put that on the line since you like your freedom of speech ....How about go and protect it for real...sitting behind a desk does not constitute SERVING YOUR COUNTRY. Until you put on a ruck sack that weighs more than you do and march for 20 miles, fall in the sand be shot at and then have to answer to people who think they are worthy. Then you dont exactly qualify as having served this country. I want to know who you are since you think you deserve your job serving those who you think don't deserve it.
Serving Your Country
In the military EVERY job can be hazardous to your health or may require you to participate in armed combat. Read about the Battle of the Bulge and the clerks and cooks who became instant infantrymen.
As for being wounded/injured/sickened be the only ones eligible for compensation... I was in for 3 1/2 years during "peacetime". In reality it was the Cold War and the Iranian hostage situation era. I did my job for that 3.5 years until it damn near killed me. I barely escaped losing my leg and never came close to regaining full use. If that isn't good enough to justify my disability compensation to anyone then they can kiss my ass.
Lastly, there is a reason why the military is called being in THE service. It is filled by people who have stepped forward to protect our Constitution, way of life, citizens, and nation. No one else in the nation is subjected to that kind of danger- not even cops. Cops are in a different category. The fact that these people have stepped forward to ensure the nation has the strength to fight when necessary puts them above regular citizens in their dedication to the nation. They are guaranteeing it with their very lives. The compensation set-up is a way that the nation cares for its dedicated people and compensates them for the difficulties they may encounter if wounded, injured, or made ill by their service. Allowances have been made for temporary disabilities and permanent ones.
You continue with paying attention to the dollars instead of the veterans, and quit your VA job. Veterans don't need your type around when they need the VA for help
You served your country? In
You served your country? In what capacity? Veterans are entitled to compensation for injuries while serving on active duty, it has nothing to do with your job for one, it's called service related. They own you, they pay if they damage you. And that doesn't just mean being in combat. Every single state has a different law regarding workers compensation and the military is no different. Don't like the fact as a teacher you get hurt and get a one time payment, spend twenty years in the service, become injured and try and collect, it's not as simple as you think.
Somehow you think everyone in this country has the same compensation if injured at work, complete BS.
Besides that try this on for size. You as a state employee are married for 10 years while employed. How many of you have to give your spouse 50% of your retirement if you divorce? None. Veterans up until recently could serve this country, have 26 years in the military and be declared disabled. They don't get the option to say no I'll retire instead. Remember this, they became eligible at 20 years to retire with 50% pay, and after serving another 6 years suddenly that pay id gone? Besides the fact that after 20 years of service they are working for less and less pay.
This whole subject pisses me off so much I think my Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is acting up, time to go apply for more benefits I guess, but first I'd rather meet you somewhere so we could discuss this better face to face. Why don't you go live in your little world where it's nice and safe and leave the bad shit to those of us willing to do the job you chicken shits wouldn't do. Rag on the military all you want, but most of you never put on a uniform, and being the head nurse at the local hospital doesn't count, dirty knees from repeatedly sucking off the boss for a promotion doesn't quite get you to disability.
doodoo
this is crap...go put your life on the line for your fellowmen then be qualified to say when will yu va people understand who is being served and shud be serving now!!!!!!!!! yes i hav anger issues etc. etc. if yu only knew. better yet, give up yor pay and work in a nursing home for 5 an hr! or end up with poisoning from shots dental materials, uranium, elecronic radiation, in chemical warfare, and nuclear activity and god knows what losing yor only pregnancy having an emergency hysterectomy age 23. yah. judge on.
Does anyone want to address the issue of equality or not?
Again, everyone seems to keep going back to personal stories, but nobody seems to want to address the issue of why it is not equal protection of the laws for everyone like the Constitution states. Why is that? They either need to change the disability system for the U.S. as a whole to be equal with the V/A disability system or they need to change the V/A system to be equal with the rest of the country. If the injuries can be directly related or proven to be job related, then they should be paid the same. It is also odd that nobody on here seems to want to say that a cop, a nurse, a teacher, the hero's from 9-11, and others should not be entitled to the same benefits as a veteran is when it comes to disability pay. Why is that? Because everyone knows that would not be a popular thing to say and nobody likes to address the unpopular issues. That is why V/A disability is always an unpopular issue to address. I do not see where anyone has said veterans should not get benefits for proven injuries, most of the comments are based on having equality for all American citizens. What is wrong with that? Isn't that one of the principles this country stands for?
Equallity or not
Answer this now...HAVE YOU EVER SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES? That doesnt include washing out of basic training.
You dont want to admit this but what vets see in the field and are injured from, IS NOT EQUAL to what a cop, fireman, nurse (my wifes a nurse) or teacher see, or are put in harms way because of.
Also, families of 9/11 victims (which I 100% agree with) received million dollar settlements from the government along with pensions and grants for dependants higher education needs. Notice I said GRANTS. By your way of thinking they shouldnt get any of this unless you get something for free too. However, dont think for a second that there wasnt a price for what they get, and dont think they wouldnt rather have their loved ones rather than the settlement.
Your showing your own ignorance. Educate yourself.
Teachers, cops, nurses, and firemen dont recieve experimental medications and vaccines. They arent exposed to radiation, drug dealers do not deploy NBC weapons on police, and they most certainly are not fired upon like combat VETs have been. BTW....if you dont know what NBC stands for look it up.
IT IS NOT EQUAL, civilian citizens no matter the career, DO NOT face anywhere near the same level of peril that the armed forces face. Again "IF" you have been in the armed forces tell us all what branch of service and unit(s)you were with. Thats normally something to be proud of. If you havent, quit showing your ignorance, and admit that because of brave men and women of the armed forces you get to squawk and crow from the tallest tree about what you believe. Beliefs which it seems you have never made a single sacrifice to keep or get.
Myself.......USAF, SSgt,
Andersen AFB Guam, 644th Combat Communications Squadron
WPAFB OH, 88th ABW, 88th CG
Kunsan AB Korea
Incirlik AB, Turkey "THE LICK"
Keesler AFB MS
Hickam AFB HI
Shepperd AFB TX
Basrah, Iraq
How bout you?
Resume?
Wow, I am certainly glad that you think you know what cops, firefighters, teachers, and apparently everyone else in this country is exposed to in their jobs on a daily basis and all the dangers associated with them. You must be really busy! Again, many of the same old arguments, but we will go over it again. Your statement: "You dont want to admit this but what vets see in the field and are injured from, IS NOT EQUAL to what a cop, fireman, nurse (my wifes a nurse) or teacher see, or are put in harms way because of." How do you know that and what are you basing that opinion on? Are you trying to tell us that all vets are exposed to the same things? Does a seamen working in the kitchen of a ship see the same thing as a Marine on the ground in Iraq? Should they be entitled to the same disability benefits if they both get injured? According to what your saying people should be given disability benefits according to what you see and are injured from. What is worse? Maybe that Marine gets hit by some shrapnel but not significant injuries, but that seamen gets 3rd degree burns over 50% of his body from a grease fire. Obviously the Marine has probably "seen" more, but the cook has way more serious injuries. So who decides what is more important and what disability rating they get? You, because you think your that smart? Similar scenario, Army medics rushing to treat a wounded soldier in Iraq and an ambulance crew rushing to help a mother smashed in a car accident, they both wreck and are seriously injured. Were they not both serving the good of this country? So again, please educate me and make me understand why the system should be any different for the citizens of this country than the service men and women. Your statement does not hold water. Your statement again: "They arent exposed to radiation, drug dealers do not deploy NBC weapons on police, and they most certainly are not fired upon like combat VETs have been. BTW....if you dont know what NBC stands for look it up." Thanks for the advice on if I do not know what NBC stands for to look it up, because at first I thought maybe you meant a television station, whew you saved me. So have you ever unexpectedly walked into a "crack house" or a "meth lab?" Try it some time and let us all know if "drug dealers do not deploy NBC weapons on police." That is if you make it out alive. Oh, and by the way, don't forget all the booby traps they often like to set either. I could just as easily ask if you have ever been exposed to coal dust, insecticides, spraying for mosquitos, a chemical leak from a train, etc. etc. Everyone encounters dangers in different ways and at different times. Many vaccinations and medications have been and are still considered experimental. I thought for you being so educated you may have noticed all the drug recalls. Regarding your comment about the "9/11 victims." I don't even know how to respond, because I have never even addressed anything regarding the 9/11 victims. I have only addressed the 9/11 hero's. Of course all the victims and families of that day are heroes and entitled to everything that can be done for them. However, the hero's I have referred to and that you obviously did not understand are all the citizens that responded during the attack to help out any way they could at the crash sites. Many citizens responded and have had significant health problems since that day. They may have been stock brokers, construction workers, truck drivers, or anything else but they did what they could. I thought since you were educating me you would have known that? So, according to your theory they should not be entitled to equal protection of the laws and an equal disability system either right? I mean, heck, how much could they have seen in life, right? My favorite: "Your showing your own ignorance. Educate yourself." Thanks for that advice and good luck with it. As for my resume, it has been said before, I am an American and that is all I need to say. When your an American you are supposed to fight for what is right. You may want to check your history, but it was actually citizen armies that gave us that right. Equality does not come easy!
Resume?
So no time served in the armed forces I am assuming. As i thought, you didnt even broach the subject of that question.
You may indeed have a career in politics in your future. You tapdanced around all but maybe the most telling question of this post, with more mindnumbing babble. HAVE YOU EVER SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, IN ANY ACTIVE DUTY, RESERVE, OR GUARD CAPACITY?
If you have be proud of it, if you havent it makes your rantings completely insignificant, and I must admit somewhat entertaining.
Alass I will adimt defeat. As all can see I have made the grievous mistake of arguing with an idiot.
I have also proven that age old adage to be true. Which says.
"Never argue with an idiot, they will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience"
YOU KEEP ASKING US TO PROVE
YOU KEEP ASKING US TO PROVE TO YOU WHY WE DESERVE ANYTHING! SHOULDN'T YOU ALREADY KNOW. WHEN YOU WENT TO YOUR JOB INTERVIEW I'LL BET YOU SAID YOU CARED.
YOU KEEP ASKING US TO PROVE
YOU KEEP ASKING US TO PROVE TO YOU WHY WE DESERVE ANYTHING! SHOULDN'T YOU ALREADY KNOW. WHEN YOU WENT TO YOUR JOB INTERVIEW I'LL BET YOU SAID YOU CARED. I ALSO WORK FOR THE VA NOW. I'M GOING TO PUT IN A REQUEST TO THE PITTSBURGH REGIONAL OFFICE TO HAVE IRM CHECK THE COMPUTERS THERE, TO SEE IF YOU HAVE BEEN USING YOUR WORK COMPUTER ON GOV'T TIME AND MONEY TO MAKE THESE COMMENTS.
Disability from VA.
I am a parent. my Son joined the military against my wishes. He put his life on the line every single day. I do not believe the proud men and women who serve our country are getting enough pay or benefits to even begin to compensate for what they face daily.
I am so very proud of the men and women who serve our great nation, and i can't understand how anyone can deny them the right to get the pay that they rightly deserve. how much is it worth to lose a leg or both. live daily with the terrors of war. I cannot seem to put a price tag on it.
I just want to thank all of the people who serve our country. and i for one know that you are not getting anything that you do not deserve. ( MONETARILY) if i could it would be much more
Also when you stated that
Also when you stated that service is voluntary why dont you talk to the men that were forced to serve by the draft. You volunteer to work for the VA, yet you expect to get paid don't you? If you get hurt at work then dont you expect compensation...maybe lump sum, but you expect it?? A job is a job...dont be mad because you dont have enough about yourself to choose an employer that will compensate you for your SERVICE.
equality
There is equal protection under the law..but these are not legal cases. They are cases of the national military and the compensation system set up by the government to care for those soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and sometimes the coasties whose business is dealing death and destruction to the enemies of the nation. The government acknowledges that it won't always be the enemy getting hurt and it won't always be war wounds that affect the military people's health. Any other business is free to set up a similar compensation plan for its employees- no one will interfere, I promise. None of the jobs you mention- even that of cop- is equal to the dangers one faces just being in the military. In the words of Abe Lincoln, the VA is for "those who have borne the battle, and their wives, and children". Bearing the battle includes ensuring soldiers etc recieve their pay, ammo makes it to the front, as does food and medicine. The federal government isn't responsible for every community's teacher's, nurse's, cop's, or 9-11 hero's pay and compensation. The community is responsible for that. The 9-11 people have a multiple tens of millions dollars fund they can draw from but nobody else can! Donated by American citizens ! The military is run by the feds, and the pay/compensation system is set up to provide for them- not every tom, dick, and harry. Considering the low pay given to the military for having life threatening jobs the nation is getting off cheap. They always do when it comes to veterans
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