Originally Posted by
iflyhelos
Perspective is important. I personally told the VA everything that happened to me while I was in. I then took the VA physical and was upfront with durations pain levels etc. I didnt embelish or restrict my range of motion etc. they then decided what was compensible. The perspective piece comes in when you are older. If it is service related but not disabling you are still eligible for the VA health care at no cost to you. There is no monthly check for it, but there is the appropriate care when older. I am retired and 30% disabled. Tinitus, knee surgery and shoulder issues. I reported all of it to the FAA no problems. As far as the physical, my flight surgeon went through everything with me and counseled me on my general health. Very thorough. Its easy if you dont lie you have nothing to worry about. Not putting something on your physical form that happened isnt ethical to keep your flying job just as reporting things that arent there to gain va bennies is unethical. Had vertigo, grounded myself told the FAA and 3 months later was back in the cockpit. Whether we like it or not the standards are there for a purpose. When its time to stop its time to stop.
Good for you. This is how it's supposed to work. My point is we don't know what the future holds...consider the following:
If it's in your military medical records, at a minimum, it's subject to VA review at a later point even if you never make your initial claim upon separation. You can always file a claim at any point in your life. The burden of proof to show it was service related becomes more challenging as time passes, but if it's documented in your medical records, that is far easier.
My only point in all of this is the FAA can change their minds, or have them changed for them by Congress and the public. With today's litigious society, I'm very leery of the next big accident and the 'discovery' that one of the pilots was 30% disabled by the VA. The average John Q. Public does not have a clue what that means. They know two words in that whole thing - '30% disabled' (although technically, that's three words). With the FAA's new unfettered access to the VA medical record system, there is a real possibility that this sort of information will come out after a crash. How the public reacts to that splashed across USA Today and CNN will dictate what the FAA does (after being told to by Congress) to change the way they view VA disability and pilots carrying passengers.
Paranoid? No. Just realistic. As a retiree, I still have access to military medical if I choose to use it. If I have anything that I believe is service-related, I will go that route for treatment via TriCare (I live near a base). Otherwise, I'm more likely to use my current employer's insurance (better access). By using the military medical, I feel I continue to have documentation of the ongoing nature of the injury/problem and it will be easier to provide VA documentation in the future should I feel I require it.
The risk v reward for documenting my service-related injuries simply isn't worth it to me because of the unknown. The FAA has already used the information to go after the gross offenders (guys claiming near 100% disability with VA and still passing their Class I - not that that's impossible, but pretty far fetched). So, how did the FAA know to go after those guys? What criteria did they use? Percentage VA disability? Do you think bureaucracies ever shrink or become less intrusive? Only the individual can determine that for themselves. Just realize what you're risking for what you're getting.
Not trying to scare anyone, just make everyone aware of the facts. Here's some that went into my decision:
FACT
-The FAA now has unrestricted access to your VA medical records.
-The FAA has prosecuted pilots for falsifying medical records based on their VA disability claims vs FAA medical application. This is admittedly different than the scenario I describe, however, the FAA had to gain access to the VA records to prove their case. This fact shows the FAA's willingness to compare/contrast the VA system with their own in an effort to pursue an agenda/purpose.
-VA disability is a subjective and arcane system of compensation that often results in ratings disproportionate to obvious injury. This system is confusing to those in it and moreso to the average public.
-Reporters have no scruples and dirt sells.
-You can make a service-related claim with the VA at any point in your life and are not restricted to making this claim at separation.
-Unless you achieve greater than 50% disability, your 'compensation' is on the order of $30-75/mo
-Even if you receive a service-related injury without compensation (0%), you have a VA disability rating in the database
-If you submit to the VA physical and disability rating, it is part of your VA medical records forever. You cannot delete it or change your mind later.
-If you do not have a VA disability rating, there is no disability compensation (0% or otherwise) to be reported to the FAA on your medical form.
UNKNOWNS
-Why did FAA pursue unrestricted access to VA medical records?
-Will VA disability ratings be made public following an accident?
-What will public/Congress reaction be to news that pilots of fatal airline crashes are found to be rated disabled (to whatever extent) by the VA due to service-related injuries?
-What will public/Congress reaction be to the notion that the FAA 'has turned a blind eye to VA disability for decades'? (think the way it will be presented in the news)
-In the above scenario, what will the FAA do in response either preemptively, or as a result of Congressional pressure, to assess VA disability with respect to FAA medicals?
I know I didn't think about things this way until a friend and I were talking. It put a whole new perspective on things for me. I understand the natural reaction of most to dismiss this line of thought. I just want folks to have as much information, to include my minority perspective, when they make their decision.
In the end, it's a personal decision, and I don't assume to have a corner on the truth, so my perspective doesn't have to be yours...and I'm good with that!
