ThumbsUp

Or just retire from AD. Even a lowly 22-year O-6 pension is $76k/year today.

hopp

I’m no expert, it is my understanding of a 100% rating is because, among other things, it makes you in-employable for most jobs. I’ve heard of people flying with a 100% rating, but they my be among those the feds are pursuing. The FAA med express app doesn’t ask for a rating percentage…yet.

ugleeual

I do… cut paste the exact verbiage from my VA letter on every MedExpress application… my AME also has a copy of my letter. My MedExpress comment says “VA xx% disability rating for Xxx, Xxx, and Xxx. (For example Xxx could be tinnitus).

rickair7777

Yeah, mil retirement was kind of assumed in the risk-averse COA.

rickair7777

I've never put my rating (low as it is) on the medical form, and never been asked.

Conventional wisdom is that FAA cares about medical conditions, not numerical ratings.

trip

I would think they'd want to know if your 100%, 50%? where's the line?

tnkrdrvr

The short version is there is no VA disability percentage that matters to the FAA.

While I’m all for vets claiming the benefits they have earned under the law, I don’t think you will find many taxpayers who think someone should be 100% disabled if they can hold down a job paying better than 90% of the population. We as veterans should not be encouraging people to money grub for every nickel possible in the system. That is penny wise and pound foolish. We should be advocating for the folks who came back with fewer body parts and damaged body parts (including brain/psychological traumas) to be better compensated so they and their families can lead a decent life.

rickair7777

Practical speaking, the rating does not quantify "disability" it quantifies more suffering and inconvenience for which .gov will compensate you.

Some folks with high ratings actually are disabled to one degree or another.

I agree with tankdrvr above.

I also think maybe the VA should rebrand the lower tiers as "adverse health compensation" or something like that.

Save the "disability" label for those with serious daily impairment that affects work and life. But politics, may well be a good reason they do it how they do it.

CX500T

Oh god how I wish this was true.

Just got run through the FAA gauntlet a second time because of neck/back/leg injuries from 20 years ago, that were PRNC and they had issued an SI for in 2006, that was "as long as it doesn't get worse" it's good for life.

Nope. Ever done a nerve conduction test well outside the established parameters? That the neurologists made you get waivers signed before they would do it? They suck. And the FAA can dictate you do one from their ivory tower in OKC.

40 mA is the usual current put in for a nerve conduction test. .3mS is the usual time for the impulse. Its uncomfortable boredrline painful.

FAA test. 150mA. 1.2 mS. Almost 4x the current for 4X as long. And the normal tests, use electrodes similar to EKGs taped to you. FAA? A freaking needle pushed into your nerve bundle.

Best described as barbaric.

I had to wear a mouth guard like playing football. Still cracked a tooth.

I've broken my back, neck and tried to get up on walk on shattered femur. I know pain.

Nothing has ever made me scream like that.

And it's all approved by a FAA neurologist.

I had to do it in 2006.. And re do it in 2023.

hopp

Texas finally wised up, a little in this regard. You can get a DV plate with 50%. Previously, a DV plate allowed you to park in handicapped parking spots. Occassionally I would see them, and once in a while I’ve seen company pilots in uniform, at the airport, parking right up front in the handicap zone with their DV plate. I confronted a couple, a few more I left a nasty gram on their windshield. (It really teed me off).

Texas finally changed the rule this year, preventing that….unless you had a handicap plate or tag.

Imagine a passenger watching their captain, getting out of their car in the handicap parking. Not really confidence inspiring.