Anyone out there flying commercial and drawing a VA check? If so what is the percentage of disability you can be and still hold a Class 1 FAA medical ?

 

I'm getting 90%

 

I believe there's a pretty detailed conversation on this topic here on APC or on the BaseOps.net forums.

I'll hijack a bit- I posted the following on the BaseOps forums, like to see if anyone here has a similar experience.

"
Just got my report back after applying for VA disability. I filed 9 items (20+ years service). All items "rejected"; some even cited as "didn't happen" while clearly shown in medical records. Has anyone else received this type of rejection? Everyone I've talked to has gotten at least a 0% rating, most get 10-30%. Not looking for a check, just want a 0% rating..."

 

The percentage is irrelevant to the FAA. All that matters is the details of the underlying condition(s).

There are many folks flying with 30%, and a few with much higher.

 

It is a strange animal

I had 20 years of hearing tests showing a decrease over time and I got nothing for the obvious damage that sitting on jet engines for nearly 20 years caused, yet I got some disability for something that I consider genetic that I feel I would have gotten if I had been in the military or not.

It seems to defy logic.

You can be reevaluated at certain periods.
You will even be called in (at think at the 5 year point) to be reexamined to determine any change in your condition.

 

I flew commercially for over 10 years, before retirement, with a disability rating of 100%.

 

Shoot yourself in the foot the night of your retirement party?

 

You have to report any disability payments you are receiving to the FAA on the questionnaire, prior to your medical exam. I don't recommend trying to hide your VA payments from the FAA. At some point there will be a reconciliation. However, there are plenty of conditions that qualify for disability that do not preclude an FAA Class I medical certificate.

 

Yes, don't think that the FAA will never find out that the VA is sending you a check every month...

Some people went to jail for that a couple years ago (non-veteran disabilities).

 

Just for sh!ts and grins, I'd be interested in why "some people" went to jail for what you mentioned above. On the electronic medical application, you're asked to highlight either Yes or No to the question: "Medical disability benefits."

When I googled "FAA Medical disability benefits", this appeared: "The applicant must report any disability benefits received, regardless of source or amount. If the applicant checks yes on this item, the FAA may verify with other Federal Agencies (ie. Social Security Administration, Veteran's Affairs) whether the applicant is receiving a disability benefit that may present a conflict in issuing an FAA medical certificate. The Examiner must document the specifics and nature of the disability in findings in Item 60."

Assuming, for the sake of argument, that the applicant receives a VA disability, for something that's not disqualifying, I don't see where the problem is. However, if the issue involved is related to flying, and was not answered correctly on the application, then there's a problem. Just receiving a disability payment from the VA is in no way disqualifying.