Can I join the guard with VA disability paperwork pending?

2019-07-25T00:23:11-04:00

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?

Response by Capt Michael Wilford made Jul 25 at 2019 1:41 AM

2019-07-25T01:41:13-04:00

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.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 25 at 2019 9:45 AM

2019-07-25T09:45:08-04:00

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member 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.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Jul 25 at 2019 10:30 AM

2019-07-25T10:30:09-04:00

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.