Originally Posted by
rickair7777
Yes, if you have any conditions or old injuries, get a rating so you're covered in the future. It's really hard to go back years later and make a claim, it needs to be done upon separation (guard/reserves can do it following any extended federal AD).
If you don't want the money, ask for a 0%.
Good advice above.
It is very hard to get a rating after leaving the service. I had what I thought was a well documented foot issue and decided 4 months after retiring to see if the VA would give me shoe inserts (tricare retired insurance wouldnt pay for them). I got denied because I never claimed it when I got out after 29yrs of service. I then claimed it and was denied. Retired in April and denied in September! I had what I thought to be bulletproof service connection with a bulletprooof diagnosis in service. Getting service connection, even 1 day after separating, is not as easy as I thought it would be. That whole thing was an eye opener. I now tell all retiring folks to at least document their issues (even if they dont really bother you right now) because coming back later may not be an option. Funny thing is the damn shoe inserts made my feet hurt worse so I dont wear them at all and I am getting surgery later this year to stop the pain.