viperdriver

There were 30 or so pilots in CA who were getting Soc Sec disability and had a Class I medical and are in trouble.

rickair7777

Yeah the FAA aeromedical and the Social Security Admin. started sharing data a couple years ago. I heard that a handful of private pilots got tagged for prosecution, but didn't know any professionals were that dumb.

Don't leave a paper trail, somebody might decide to follow it. Many of the feds seems to REALLY enjoy taking down upstanding citizens, it's a lot more fun than just busting career scumbags who think prison is no big deal.

Box Office

I think the confusion in this topic comes from the misnomer of disability and it's blanket use - they really need a different term but they only use the one. VA disability certainly can include real disablity that prevents you from holding a job or a Type I physical. However, it also includes any health issues you developed while on Active Duty that make you not as healthy as when you entered. Examples, bum knee from a sports injury, hearing loss (but your hearing is still good enough to hold a type I but not as good as when you entered), a chronic health condition that developed on active duty (thyroid problem, blood pressure etc), even a hysterectomy or vasectomy. You absolutely can and should file and recieve VA disability for these types of items. Yes it is purely between you ann the VA and as long as you are honest on your physicals there are no issues.
The VA rep explained it like this when I seperated: You enter Active Duty as a brand new car with a full tank of gas. The military drives the **** out of you and then trades you in for a new car. The VA compensates you for what was used out of your gas tank and wear and tear on your parts. Will the car still run and operate? Yes, but not as well as when it was new. That is the basis for the compensation.

Box Office

I think the confusion in this topic comes from the misnomer of disability and it's blanket use - they really need a different term but they only use the one.

VA disability certainly can include real disablity that prevents you from holding a job or a Type I physical. However, it also includes any health issues you developed while on Active Duty that make you not as healthy as when you entered. Examples: bum knee from a sports injury, hearing loss (but your hearing is still good enough to hold a type I but not as good as when you entered), a chronic health condition that developed on active duty (thyroid problem, blood pressure, scars from surgery etc), even a hysterectomy or vasectomy. You absolutely can and should file and recieve VA disability for these types of items. Yes it is purely between you and the VA and as long as you are honest on your physicals there are no legal issues.
The VA rep explained it like this when I seperated: You enter Active Duty as a brand new car with a full tank of gas. The military drives the **** out of you and then trades you in for a new car. The VA compensates you for what was used out of your gas tank and wear and tear on your parts. Will the car still run and operate? Yes, but not as well as when it was new. That is the basis for the compensation.

Kikuchiyo

Great explanation, Box. My VA disability is for 2 different things. One is simple acid reflux and my AME is aware of the meds I take. The other is for a shoulder injury, which he is also aware of and which doesn't affect my Class I. I got a 20% disability rating from the VA, and a Class I physical from the FAA without any conflict or issues.

For those retiring, the amount of your retirement pay from DoD is reduced by the amount of your VA disability compensation. But the VA money is tax free.

Ftrooppilot

You gotta be kidding me. Twenty five years after retiring from the USAF, I got 10% VA disability for loss of hearing. They began sending me a check for $110.00 a month and promptly notified the USAF who deducted $110.00 a month from my retirement pay. You can't double dip that way. The computers talk to each other.

Spartan07

It has already been said that if you are receiving a retirement pension then your disability is deducted from your pension (However, the disability portion is not taxed). This does not mean that the VA is free to tell anybody about your disability, they are just required to alter your pension.

By the way, Did you at least get twenty-five years of back pay on that $110 per month? If you are awarded a disability it is normally back dated to your day of discharge.

MalteseX

New rules... adopted a year or so ago. If your disability was related to any combat action or supporting combat (whether in theater or not)... then your retirement compenation will not be reduced. But you have to apply and be approved.

MalteseX

I can't answer for the SELRES, but if he is approved for a partial disability (ie not total or 100%) from the VA-- go for it. If he passes the FAA Class 1 (and being up front with all questions on the application form) -- it will not be a problem with the airlines. In fact, it is illegal for the VA to share or disclose ANY information to outside parties. The only info the airline will have access to is the FAA Class 1, not the military or VA health info.

There are literally THOUSANDS of guys out there flying for the airlines with a VA disability rating.

Ftrooppilot

I wish you were right however I believe it is backdated to the date of filing. For some it takes years to get an approval and they are compensated for the time they wait.