Saying "disabled veteran"??

[cc56]

All of you veterans out there. You hear people say "disabled veteran"... When you hear that what do you think?

Examples are: A completely disabled person who is practically a vegetable. Maybe an amputee? A scar? Or we can go by disability rating.. 100%, 50%, 10%????

I have seen messed up guys from IED's and fire, that is personally what I think about for disabled Vet. You see homeless guys who are crazy as hell, they are probably disabled (If they really are vets).

What about the guy who gets a 10% rating for tinnitus (ringing in the ears)? Do you consider them a "disabled Vet"?

[Rickrock1]

All of you veterans out there. You hear people say "disabled veteran"... When you hear that what do you think?

Examples are: A completely disabled person who is practically a vegetable. Maybe an amputee? A scar? Or we can go by disability rating.. 100%, 50%, 10%????

I have seen messed up guys from IED's and fire, that is personally what I think about for disabled Vet. You see homeless guys who are crazy as hell, they are probably disabled (If they really are vets).

What about the guy who gets a 10% rating for tinnitus (ringing in the ears)? Do you consider them a "disabled Vet"?

What is the definition of a disabled vet to you ???

[71MUSTY]

If tinnitus (ringing in the ears) is a disability then half the people on this site are disabled.

[keenkeen]

If being crazy (crazy as hell) is a disability then three fourths the people in OT are disabled.

[CrossedRifles]

Just like how there is a misconception that veterans must have seen combat to be a veteran, there is the misconception that one must have had to be moderately or severely injured to be considered a disabled veteran.

As long as they served honorably, and have a service-connected disability rated by the VA, they are technically a "disabled veteran" by textbook.

My personal opinion of a disabled vet is someone who served honorably with a service-connected disability that impacts their functioning. So yes, you could say I do believe someone who has very bad hearing is a disabled vet, as it impairs their functioning.

VA rates me at 70% but I will never think I am worse off than fellow vets. Many have given limbs or they're not all there anymore. They are the ones who I consider truly to be a disabled vet (not to stereotype), because their functioning as a human being is severely impacted.

[BoJackUSMC]

Look at veterans dealing with PTSD, they might look normal, but they are not....

[choprzrul]

Judge not by outward appearances. There is a lot of pain and suffering out there that boils just below the surface.

Personally, I say that I am a veteran with a service connected disability.

.

[geoint]

Just my $0.02 and I hope I dont offend anyone with it


But I consider it to be anyone who got seriously injured (like loss of limb through IED, loss of hearing, PTSD...etc)

Anybody who 'hurt their knees from PT' or things along that line (not directly combat related) in my book is just cashing the VA disability cow. My favorite was this girl who was outprocessing the same time as me. She admitted to the whole class that she had been drunk in the shower and slipped and broke her foot, and she was getting medboarded for that, and would be getting 30% disability for life.

Nice gig if you can swing it I guess but I feel bad for the guys with real problems who have less resources available to them now cuz of people like her.

[cc56]

Sorry late to getting back to the conversation. I consider a disabled veteran someone with an impairment that affects their lives. For some tinnitus is a serious problem that will be a daily reminder. Others just meet the definition of tinnitus and get the 10%, but it is not a daily hindrance. I consider the first disabled, the other not really. Then again there are those who can not have a proper bowel movement and it started overseas. They don't look bad, but have a real disability. The guy who lost a leg/arm/combination both is a given. I thought about this when I saw the video of the homeless guy who fought off a thug messing with him. He said he was a disabled vet, and I thought...What does that really mean to others?

[allpoint]

Look at veterans dealing with PTSD, they might look normal, but they are not....

^ Normal? Disabled?

[Henry Shooter]

.

VA rates me at 70% but I will never think I am worse off than fellow vets. Many have given limbs or they're not all there anymore. They are the ones who I consider truly to be a disabled vet (not to stereotype), because their functioning as a human being is severely impacted.

Amen Brother. You're my hero.