Tinnitus is not disqualifying for a class 1. If you have a sleep disorder related to tinnitus it can be disqualifying.

Anytime you have a medical issue that might be disqualifying you should call ALPA medical and get their opinion before getting care or reporting on an FAA form.

What are you saying here? 80% and you shouldn’t be able to pass a class 2?

I’m 90% and hold a class 1 and yes the FAA knows everything in my VA file. I know of others who are over 100% and hold all classes. One guy holds a MOH and Purple Heart with 2 leafs the equivalent of three Purple Hearts. Holds a class two and flies helicopters for a living.

A VA disability does not necessarily mean you are an invaled. There are many with high disability ratings that lead very productive lives.

From the bottom on the article: Each count carries a maximum possible sentence of five years in prison, if the defendants are convicted.


Hope these guys think it was worth it.

It warms the cockles of my heart to know that you're not disabled enough to fly for a living, that I get to pay for your "disability," and yet it doesn't impact your ability to to...not really be disabled.

Quite a gambit.

As others noted, gotta love the airline pilots with handicap stickers, pulling in their two hundred grand on their first class medical, and disability at the same time. Uncle Sam is quite the cash cow.

I'm not disabled enough not to fly for a living either.
The VA has rules that say for XXX I get a disability rating.
The FAA says that I can get a waiver for that to fly.

Not a thing wrong with it and your cockles are irrelevant.

John Burke,

As I posted, “disability” pay is not necessarily about being physically disabled, it’s about being paid for injuries suffered during government service. Being made whiole. You are expressly forbidden from suing, for most cases, the government enjoys sovereign immunity. Second, what civilian employer could knowingly expose their employees to hazards routinely seen in the service?

Now, the question is the condition justifying payment potentially disqualifying? Is there fraud, of course, they’re also investigated.

Rickair777,. I’ll stand corrected on the date the disability question was added, but I vividly remember hearing of this potential issue in the late 80s. Maybe memory is fading.

GF

If one loses a leg and gets an artificial one, is able to walk, run, fly airplanes, fornacate is one no longer disabled? Should they not be compensated for the loss of said leg in the line of duty for country? Or is it once they have that artificial leg and can walk again they are whole again?

I get that you are a troll. Show some respect for your betters who bled for this country. Not everyone is trying to game the system. Some of us fought and bled for you. VA disability is reimbursement for lost abilities that many have found ways around their "disability".

You don't like it run for congress and end support to American soldiers. I'm sure that will warm the cockles of the people around you.

Let me make sure I understand your position, if someone has a disability rating and is receiving any compensation from the VA, is it your position that they not be allowed to earn income?

I.e. If you have a disability rating you are not allowed to work?

I *think* they mean traditional VA disability rating payments. Other VA bennies (which every vet is entitled to) are probably not what they're looking for.

I would think a 0% rating would not trigger the benefits question 18(y), but you probably should have reported the original condition which led to a residual 0% rating to the FAA. The 8500 questions all start with "Have you ever..." If you have a 0%, then yes you have at one time.

This guy requaled for SF minus a leg...

https://taskandpurpose.com/boston-gr...pite-injuries/

Think he should get some "disability" comp when he retires?

Now I agree that 90% of folks with handicap plates are probably scamming the system for rock star parking. I could probably get one too, but I'd be embarrassed as an airline pilot.

Treat the form like any other federal form in which if you lie and get caught it's a fine or jail or both. problem solved!

When someone has a payout for a 90% disability, and they're not really 90% disabled...and yet go on to claim full health and draw a thick, juicy salary only possible as a healthy, whole aviator, and the taxpayer picks up the tab, there is a problem. A big, big problem.

I've worked for quite a few.

Of course, there's a great deal of what the military does, which is handled by contractors who will never see disability or for that matter, a flag on their coffins...

Oh hell yes, he should. And he probably will.

And if he decides to pursue an airline career, no doubt he'll be honest about it, too.

Most here aren't old enough to remember Dana Bowman, who lost his legs in a parachute mishap with the Golden Knights, and who kept jumping and remained in the service, and many have never heard of a personal hero, Douglas Bader.

Then again, with many of these, ask them if they're handicapped, and they'll tell you "no."

I have no issues with someone who is 90% disabled being paid for being 90% disabled, especially as they've lost it in service to their uniform, country, and flag. What I have a massive issue with is the schmuck who takes pay for 90% disability when he's not really disabled, and demonstrates it by doing a job that a 90% truly disabled person couldn't do.

I sat next to a young man, a staff sergeant, on a flight one night over Basrah, and as I was preparing to do a rapid descent, asked if he had any sinus or ear issues. He told me he had just one ear drum. I enquired as to why; it was an RPG in Baghdad, he said. I told him we'd save the rapid descent for another time. No problem sir, he said, "If the United States Army wants me to have another ear drum, they'll give me one."

I appreciated the kid's candor. It doesn't really work that way, of course, and while his guns-ho attitude is commendable, he had what's the most common disability in the military; hearing loss. With one ear drum blown out, significant hearing loss that would be with him for life. I have no issues with him receiving a diagnosis and a determination of disability, or the pay. I hope he gets it, and whatever he gets won't make up for the loss he'll live with the rest of his life. The same for someone who is truly 90% disabled.

That's not at all the same as what we're discussing, and for the person who is 90% disabled, but has no problem holding a free and clear medical and operating as if no disability exists, I ask, "which is it?"

Shall we have the cake and eat it too, or there a line in the sand there, somewhere?

You appear to be confused as to the VA disability rating system. Probably because it is confusing to say the least.

A veteran whose wounds and injuries receive a 100% disability rating is not required to be a paraplegic and sit at home in their wheelchair collecting disability checks. That is a separate category called 100% Individual Unemployability (IU).

So back to your complaint, a person can leave the military and hold a job AND still receive compensation from the VA.

Their percentage is just a cumulative representation of all the wounds and injuries they received. For those with higher numbers it is usually a lot of little things that add up to the high number.

Pretty high up on your horse today. There's always the 1% who game the system, in any demographic.

You're confusing disability compensation with actual disability, they are NOT the same thing in this context.

VA disability ratings are more commonly for pain, suffering, and inconvenience than day-to-day functional disability. Maybe they called it "disability" to make it politically palatable to fund.

I have a small rating. I was seriously injured in the line of duty once (actual mission training, not playing hoops at lunch), spent six months in a cast, another six with limited daily mobility, another year before I could run, jump and swim (had to work pretty hard for that), ultimately re-qualified at my job. I still do daily stretches and regular strength training to address that injury and drop some coin on motrin and supplements. Doesn't cause me any limitations, as long as I make the effort but I do have to make an effort. Oh and if I do more than a couple pressure cycles in a day, it hurts... injured tissue aggravated by scuba diving back in the day. So I prefer one leg days.

Handicap plates OTH, IMO should be reserved for folks who really can't walk more than 20 feet under their own power.

Oh and contractors get PAID to be contractors. I have mixed feelings about the whole contracting thing (for reasons unrelated to their care and feeding), but high-end operators can make major airline CA pay or more doing that gig. And none of them are clueless 19 year old conscripts either.

Well, your buddies may be in deep kimchee if they get caught.

I didn't file for any disabilities when I retired but my wife is 80% disabled. She's considered going to 100% - she has some pretty heavy issues but she wouldn't be able to work full time with 100% disability.

You're saying 100% disabled's OK to work full time. My wife's saying it's not. On to the web and this website: https://www.veteranslaw.com/faq/

Quote:
Can a veteran work while receiving VA disability?
A veteran generally can still work when receiving VA disability. However, typically in order to receive individual unemployability or a 100 percent schedule rating for certain disabilities, a veteran cannot work full time or make over a certain amount of money per year (generally anything above the poverty line). This depends on each individual case and if you have questions about a claim for unemployability, or if you are not able to work due to a disability incurred in service.



So it may be possible to work full time with 100% disability, but it's definitely NOT a blanket statement.

Your friends may want to consider seeking legal advice on this issue, as it's now easy for the FAA to cross reference disability payments. They are also getting access to VA medical records since they were able to file charges against the airmen at the beginning of this thread.

Nothing personal, but your post glosses over what it takes to get a 100% disability rating. It's not just handed out.

Typically a 0% disability is a placeholder for something expected to deteriorate in the future. An example would be a serious knee joint injury. Right now the guy/gal has good strength and full range of motion, but them eventually getting degenerative arthritis is a virtual certainty and at some time in the future maybe even a knee joint replacement. A 0% establishes the service-connectedness of the condition, particularly important to those who separate before retirement and don't have access to Tricare or Uniformed Services care.

Yes, but again the questions all start with "have you ever...".

So if it was bad enough to get a residual, the original injury probably should have been disclosed.

It appears to me that none of the questions in block 18 of the 8500-8 pertain to a joint injury, as well as many other conditions that could drive a disability rating. An injury that is healed should not drive one to check "Yes" for box "x." which lists the condition as "Other illness, disability, or surgery." Nothing in any of the boxes asks about tinnitus or hearing loss, so there is a wide range of conditions that would garner a disability rating from the VA that are not even questions on the FAA form.

I think you could make a good case about joint issues....

All of the questions start with: HAVE YOU EVER IN YOUR LIFE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH, HAD, OR DO YOU PRESENTLY HAVE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING?

So 18(u) and/or (x) would get you if surgery or hospitalization was required, but doesn't look like it would apply otherwise. Reasonable, as long as you don't fly until the swelling in your knee goes down.

But 18(y) will get you for ANY disability benefit, regardless of whether the condition is covered by any other questions. I suspect that means payments for a rating greater than 0%.

Also keep in mind, the standard for prosecution is "beyond reasonable doubt", and DA's and US Attorney's don't like to lose so they are not going to trial with anything that's not pretty open and shut. So grey areas help you there. But for the FAA the standards are much lower, they can pretty much revoke your tickets just for suspicion of falsification and then you can try to get them back by appealing all the way up to a real US federal court (all the FAA/NTSB steps in the process typically rubber-stamp whatever the FAA did originally). The kindler, gentler FAA seems to be very real so far, but it does not apply at all to fraud/falsification.

So maybe we need to stop using the word disability, but I do think being 100% disabled should stop you from being able to work. disabled = not + able. If you see the payment as compensation for past pain and suffering we need to give you workman's comp or something, but if you can say straight face that you deserve 100% disability for what happened at work, but still are able to work full-time as a pilot, there is something wrong in my opinion.

If one can run with an artificial leg one is certainly ABLE to run, so not DISABLED, it is the meaning of the word. If you are asking if they deserve compensation for having "bled for me" that is a separate question. I think it is ok for the government to compensate veterans for their suffering, I do think it is OK to question how some can get 100% disability payments, and are still able to get a first class. There is a limited amount of VA money to dole out and a major airline pilot would not be my first choice.

Also, "fornicate"

So someone with 4 different qualifying disabilities - each worth 25% as an example - but none of them in and of themselves something that is not at least waiverable with a Special Issuance ought not be able to hold a 1st Class?

As another poster who answered JB - it seems many people really don't understand the VAs system and how disabilities are awarded.

The indictments don't question the VA's system of disability and how they tally it. It's about mental health, PTSD, and having severe depression and not disclosing any of this to the faa. And the individual(s) in question are still collecting VA benefits whilst holding a current first class medical and never made mention of their mental health history.


Wish them the best of luck, unfortunately they may be spending time in jail.

As you can see from my post, it is obvious I have no idea how the VA works, I do think it is unfortunate there is so many disabled veterans who are in real need, and there seem to be a few for whom the system has worked really well. Not trying to incite violence here, but the word disabled comes from not being able to do something. If it is just about making good for past suffering you need to call it something else.

Oh lordy. The VA rates disabilities in 10% increments. 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, etc.
But if they did use a 25% disability, four different 25% disabilities would add up to a 69% disability rating. Which would then be rounded to a 70% disability rating.

Yes, you definitely don't understand the VA system and disability ratings are awarded.

This is my situation exactly. I have arthritis in several joints and back problems... which individually are small disability ratings but combined my VA rating is pretty high. While I experience ongoing discomfort due to these conditions, none are limiting as far as my ability to move or perform normal activities. These conditions all occurred on active duty when I was not maintaining an FAA medical.... so they have no record of the diagnosis and treatment of such conditions. Now I have a first class certificate; however, none of my conditions would drive a "yes" answer to the fairly specific questions on the certificate application. I think I have nothing to fear since otherwise I am in good shape, mentally, cardiovascularly, and everything else, my joints are my only issue.

Am I oversimplifying this by thinking I have nothing to worry about?

No. just don't lie to the FAA about it or any medical disability benefits you do or may receive in the future. And thank you for your service.

When I separated, the VA rep came in and said to everyone verbatim “just go for it. Even if you think you don’t really have an issue, just file for disability and see what happens”. It’s a scam...period(obviously there are very justified cases)
My lower back hurts from pulling Gs. Can I fly an airplane just fine? Yup. I’m not gonna steal government money from taxpayers. Cause in all reality that’s what you are doing. You can tell yourself whatever you want. I’m ready to receive incoming from this but I don’t give 2 craps. This was a sore point for me after that VA meeting. We have a crazy deficit and dudes complain about it, yet they are pulling 40% disability while working full time as an airbus captain..... screw you pal.

If you have access to union medical I would call them ASAP. Go over your file and they can decide.



There is not one question on a faa medical form that ask, How do you feel today???!!! Every question is seeking the past history and current medical condition, regardless if you had a current faa medical or not. This includes medical history before you even thought about becoming a pilot. For example. Have you ever been hospitalized? Yes, for appendicitis in 1978.

No I get it...just trying to use easy to understand numbers, but it would have been better if I was more numerically correct.

But I understand it enough to know how and why my disability rating is what it is and how I am still able to hold a 1st Class medical albeit with SIs.

[MENTION=25336]Billy[/MENTION]
Have you ever been diagnosed with arthritis? I assume you have, either by an civilian doctor or during your VA screening, then you have 'Any illness....' which you would need to disclose. Now....are you currently taking medication for the arthritis? Many, if not all of the medications for the different types of arthritis required a Special Issuance for flying. So for instance if you were on Enbrel and flying without a Special Issuance, then this would be a problem and would need to be immediately addressed. I feel your pain (literally) in this so good luck!

I have completely missed that question for some reason. I just answer no to everything like I have been for umpteen years unless something new medically pops up. After seeing it on here I had to go back and look at the form. When did the form change? Are you sure they aren’t talking about Social Security disability benefits? There is nothing in the instructions that clarifies this.

FAA Looking at VA Records (Indictments!)
 

That’s certainly your choice.
You may feel different in a few years when that back becomes a big problem and you have to pay for care and rehab. Getting VA medical and disability benefits for a legitimate condition is absolutely warranted.
The scam you speak of is absolutely correct. It has become a drain on government resources purported by the people who are “helping” vets apply for VA benefits. Sleep apnea and PTSD are the big ones. Lots of shoe clerks claiming PTSD who have never set foot in a combat zone. It is shameful and disrespectful.
You somehow protesting this by not claiming benefits for a legitimate condition that could really affect your quality of life later on is perplexing, though. It’s an interesting way to get your point across and could really cost you later down the road. The Airbus captain collecting 40 percent likely has legitimate issues that also affect his or her quality of life.
Cheers and thanks for providing your perspective.

It depends. Read ALL of the questions. If you've never been hospitalized, had surgery, or collected ANY disability benefits I think you're OK with unreported joint issues (I don't think you're required to report them).

But if you have a VA rating which results in you getting money from the US treasury (I'm strating to suspect you do), then you SHOULD be reporting that per 18(y). The question does not have caveats related to the other questions, it is very black and white. YOU don't get to decide whether the disability issue is relevant, the FAA wants the opportunity to do that for themselves.

The good news... even if you are getting disability and have not reported it, I *think* the feds are going after really low-hanging fruit, which is to say folks with OBVIOUSLY disqualifying conditions (ie mental health, diabetes). I don't *think* they want to prosecute anyone for not reporting a condition which would not even be a certification issue if disclosed.

If you've been getting VA payments but did NOT check the 18(y) box, then you probably need to fix that BEFORE they catch you. Call a lawyer. I'm pretty sure prosecution is not an issue for you. But getting your tickets revoked *might* be an issue if they catch you first. So I would be pro-active. As I've said before, if you're not flying with a disqualifying condition, and pro-actively correct your FAA record before they catch you, I suspect it's just a paperwork drill. But I serioulsy wouldn't stick your head in the sand.

The reason there are more than a few people in this boat has to do with military medicine culture. If you can do your job safely, what military medicine doesn't know won't hurt them... kind of don't ask, don't tell in most cases. But you CANNOT take that attitude to civil aviation... what the FAA doesn't know will get YOUR certs revoked and YOUR arse potentially thrown in federal prison.

I think it changed in 2009-ish. My medical from 2008 does not have 18(y). My 2009 medical does. That was also when they changed 18(v) to include arrests, in addition to convictions, for DUI.

They are not "talking about" anything other than exactly what the question says. Which would mean any and all disability benefits including VA, SS, state disability, workman's comp, Fireman's fund, Indian tribal, etc, etc, etc.

See my previous post. As long as you're not flying with a disqualifying condition you can probably correct your record with a paperwork drill. Do it before they catch you though. Get a lawyer.

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%.

It took the VA almost a year after I retired to determine my overall rating. Ever since that time, as I was a recipient of disability benefits I have checked "Yes" on the FAA form, but have not provided an explanation beyond stating "VA disability" in the remark section. My AME never even brought the issue up. I have not had surgery or medication, only physical therapy and chiropractic manipulation so I do not believe my issues would be any type of certification obstacle and I agree that it seems as if the FAA is looking for low hanging fruit and outright falsifications rather than simple omissions of minor details.

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.

"Technically" even physical therapy or chiropractor probably qualifies as "Visits to Health Professionals" and should be reported. Apparently even dental exams count although most folks probably don't report routine exams.

Again, if it doesn't impact your flying and isn't remotely a disqualifying condition, I doubt they're coming looking for you.

But if it was me, I'd just report it all, to get it in your record. Otherwise there's always that remote risk that if they DO go looking for something (perhaps for unrelated reasons), they might find a molehill to build on. Again, prosecution is a high bar (even if the FAA wanted to the DOJ won't touch trivial crap like that), but the FAA can take certificate action with little due process.

What I'm saying is that this guy fraudulently got a 80% disability and was booted out of the military over it. Don't confuse military flight physical requirements with FAA physical requirements. They aren't the same beast. I knew an examiner who got a SODA with one missing eyeball (accident). You can't fly in the military with one eyeball...