Sadly, he's probably right.
But the new welfare is a bigger story than just a few aging Vietnam veterans looking to collect benefits for PTSD that occurred three and four decades ago. Much bigger. It is the story of retiring career military personnel applying for and collecting up to 100 percent disability payments for injuries and conditions they allege happened while they served in the U.S. military, whether or not they ever served in combat conditions, and regardless of whether or not their alleged disability is unique to their military service or just normal age-related aches and pains. Tinnitus, carpel-tunnel syndrome, back pain. They all fit neatly into the new welfare picture.
Robert retired from the United States Navy after 20 years. Spending minimal time at sea, he was in charge of a Navy supply facility in Michigan when he retired back in the mid-90's. Primarily a pencil pusher, he worked a 7 a.m. -- 3 p.m. shift in a small parts warehouse for the bulk of those 20 years.
Today he runs a small business selling hand made furniture and crafts -- a business he started after his retirement and which keeps him considerably busier than did his old job with the Navy.
While his business has taken a hit along with the rest of the economy in Michigan and most other states, Robert manages to keep things afloat with the help of his disability rating for carpal tunnel syndrome that he says he acquired during those years with Uncle Sam. His story is more common than you might think.
Having been associated with the military for most of the past 25 years or so, I've learned that a disability rating means, among other things, a pretty sweet compensation package unmatched by most in the private sector; and with reductions in defense spending mostly "off the table" in budget talks, a pretty safe one as well. But recent changes in military disability compensation have made the new welfare simply irresistible to many veterans.
Now, qualified disabled military retirees will get paid both their full military retirement pay and their VA disability compensation. This recently passed law phases out the VA disability offset, which means that military retirees with 20 or more years of service and a 50% (or higher) VA rated disability will no longer have their military retirement pay reduced by the amount of their VA disability compensation. They get both.
Jim is a retired Marine Corps Sergeant, and former marathon runner. Since his retirement he has worked for the Veterans Administration (VA) and, later on, at various civil service jobs in the Department of Defense. While at the VA he became something of an expert on processing disability compensation packages and decided to prepare one for himself. Bilateral Tinnitus boosted his compensation up over the 50 percent benchmark and now Jim collects three paychecks each month: one from his job with the government; one for his USMC retirement; and one for his permanent disabilities as a result of his military service. No one is going to tell him that he doesn't have tinnitus. Try to prove that one.
Not long ago my wife ran into a former Marine that she knew when she was stationed at Camp Pendleton, CA. Now retired as well, he was flying into Washington, DC on business and, when she inquired about what that business was, he told her he was helping to educate veterans and veteran organizations about the availability of disability benefits.
"Have you applied for disability yet," he asked her?
"No," she replied, "I think those benefits ought to go those who really need them."
Then, she said, his demeanor took a sudden 180.
"You know that when you don't apply for benefits," he said angrily, "you ruin it for everyone."
It seems that the word has gotten out.
Last time I got back to Michigan, John F. told me he was buying a house. Ray was heading to Sturgis. Jim. recently bought a new house although he hadn't yet sold his old one. As for Andy, I don't know if he's receiving any benefits or not because we haven't been talking much lately. But I'd wager that he is trying.
Don't get me wrong. There are far too many veterans with disabilities who have earned and deserve these benefits. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is very real. So are the many physical and psychological disabilities that go hand-in-hand with years-long exposure to the harsh conditions inherent in war.
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