Posted on Jul 25, 2019
Can I join the guard with VA disability paperwork pending?
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I have filed VA disability paperwork which just recently got sent to the federal VA. I am also trying to join the national guard. I am sure I will get a VA rating near 70%. My recruiter told me that even though I do not actually have a rating or any pending appointments I should stop my claim in order to process through MEPS. Do I even need to? I know that you can have a VA rating in the guard so I do not understand why I even need to stop it. Is there a rating cap that you can't join with?
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
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You can probably get in; however, if you do, remember you cannot double-dip with drill pay and VA disability benefits at the same time. There's a few times that topic has come up on RP if you have questions on that.
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PO3 (Join to see)
I was aware of that. I do not plan to at all. I just didn't want to lose any ground on my benefits already by going and getting cleared to join at MEPS and then the VA says "oh you are good enough to come back in, are you really having these problems."
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PO3 (Join to see) I agree with Capt Michael Wilford. The recruiter could just be trying to avoid a long fight when they could get 20 people in w/o and issue in the time it would take just to get your process moving.
It took me 18.5 years to get back in w/ just a 10% rating. I had three recruiters that "started working my file", but then up and disappeared like a fart in the wind (to quote one of my favorite movies). I finally found a bulldog of a recruiter who knew how to set up which dominoes in what way so that they fell exactly when they needed to, but it still took her 2 years to get me in.
It took me 18.5 years to get back in w/ just a 10% rating. I had three recruiters that "started working my file", but then up and disappeared like a fart in the wind (to quote one of my favorite movies). I finally found a bulldog of a recruiter who knew how to set up which dominoes in what way so that they fell exactly when they needed to, but it still took her 2 years to get me in.
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Your recruiter may just be trying to save time from having to get waivers; you can be in the Guard with a disability rating. I have a colleague in the Guard (Medical Service Corps) with an 80% rating; he is a Hospital Administrator. How long ago did you file your disability claim and was it a Fully Developed Claim? Claims can take up to 2 years depending on what is claimed and whether it was Fully Developed. Until it has been approved and you are actually awarded a rating, proceed with your Guard enlistment as you would without a VA disability rating. Your recruiter should not be a barrier to what you want to do.
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PO3 (Join to see)
Sir,
I filed my claim May 3rd. My paperwork was just sent two weeks ago to the federal VA. My recruiter said we will head to MEPS around around August 6th. Thank you for your response.
I filed my claim May 3rd. My paperwork was just sent two weeks ago to the federal VA. My recruiter said we will head to MEPS around around August 6th. Thank you for your response.
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