It's official

[pecunium]

I am a disabled vet.

The actual percentage is croggling, and the effects will be good, and (honestly) a bit life changing.

I am rated 80 percent disabled. I get a pension. If I read it right I also get PX privileges (I can go back onto the Presidio of Monterey again).

I don't know if it gets me schooling (I think I might be able to get some rehab money). I don't know what it gets me by way of tuition breaks in Calif.

I'll have to look into it.

It's a lot to digest.

Comments

[minimo.livejournal.com]

Great news about the pension! Vets should not have to fight for what they should have coming to them automatically.

[elainegrey.livejournal.com]

So many others have clearly phrased the mixed and complicated reactions -- I'll just add that I hope all balances out well for you.

[soon_lee]

I think that on balance, this is a positive outcome and hope that it will indeed prove to be so. Congratulations.

[kd5mdk.livejournal.com]

I think my former supervisor was 80%. I don't recall exactly.
I'd like to offer my thanks for your service and my hopes that you will be able to make the most glorious things from this.

[ironphoenix.livejournal.com]

Congratu-sympathies!

The official percentage doesn't change you; your lived experience is still the measure that matters to you, even if you need the other one on paper.

[strange-selkie.livejournal.com]

Well, aside from complex reactions... money is never a trifling thing. I hope you find liberation in that anyway.

[soldiergrrrl.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you got more than you were expecting, but I'm sorry that you're having to get it.

Does that make sense?

[twicet.livejournal.com]

Like others I am both happy for you and sorry it had to be.

I have never been in the forces but I understand your reaction to the news of the recognition of your disability.

Some years ago I was forced to retire early on medical grounds. It took me over six months to apply for my disability pension. The reasons why are too many to go into.

The day my letter came, I too broke-down, it said to me I was no longer the person I had been before and I didn't want to be this other person.

In time I found I could be both but it did take time.

I wish you well and hope you can achieve all you aim for.

Take care.

[apostle-of-eris.livejournal.com]

Congratulations, sort of.
Unalloyed congratulations on getting the monthly checks. That can't hurt at all.

[cakmpls.livejournal.com]

"Congratulations" doesn't seem quite right, but I'm glad for you.

Now if we could just start giving all vets what they deserve without their having to fight for it...

[ladytwnks.livejournal.com]

i'm thankful for your service to the country. i'm a military brat, i know what it can cost in family and loss of self.

i'm glad for you that the military came through in finally protecting/rewarding its own.

Disability

[xenolee.livejournal.com]

Congratulations, I suppose.

I'm sorry it happened, but I'm glad that the bureaucrats are willing to acknowledge it.

--Lee Gold

[ginamariewade.livejournal.com]

I friended you and I sent you a private message via LJ. Did you get it?

[lwj2.livejournal.com]

songblaze summed it up -- it sucks and congratulations.

I hope you can parley it into a hefty discount on college costs, you've bloody earned it.

[simplykimberly.livejournal.com]

You should almost certainly qualify for the new GI Bill, which gives a really decent amount of money (in the Bay Area) for schooling. My brother (former AF) and my step-daughter (disabled/retired Army) are both using it to go back to school.

I'm glad that the process to get you to this point, which I know is a royal pain in the rear, is over, and was successful - I'm sure that's a relief!