Why is it that I completed basic and AIT yet the government is telling me I'm not a veteran?

2014-09-07T15:07:03-04:00

Why is it that I completed basic and AIT yet the government is telling me I'm not a veteran? I chose to join if their had been a war during my time in I would've went no questions asked my Co went shortly after I got out. I was hurt during basic training and still suffer from complications of those injuries not to include the cocktail of contamination I was drinking while at Ft. McClellan, AL my body is turning on itself one thing after another going wrong I'm only 34 yrs old I've got vertebral issues muscle spasms kidney disease (Addissons) but yet the military and Monsanto won't own up to the crap they put me and countless others through including my Father who served at McClellan for over 6 years. He's dead now some rare form of cancer doctors had never seen before. So why is it I am having to fight to be considered a veteran? Oh yea the buearocratic loop holes gotta love those. Well maybe I will still be alive to see justice for me and my father and maybe my kids won't inherit this jacked up crap our military has put so many of us through. I'm beyond pissed when I went to the VA after 15 years of being out of the service not knowing what was happening to me and they look me dead in the eyes and say sir ur not considered a veteran. I have my dd214 that says I served honorably so why am I not? The only reason they are considering that decision is I got hurt during active duty Boot Camp. But of course their aren't any medical records to prove this I don't even know what facility they took me to.

Response by SSgt Gregory Guina made Sep 7 at 2014 3:16 PM

2014-09-07T15:16:46-04:00

Trying to read through that I am trying to determine how you were discharged. Was it honorable? Medical? Why did you only do three years was that the contract?

Response by SSG(P) Auston Terry made Sep 7 at 2014 7:15 PM

2014-09-07T19:15:46-04:00

By statute, a “veteran” is defined as a “person who served
in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable."
38 U.S.C. § 101(2); 38 C.F.R. § 3.1(d)

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 7 at 2014 11:08 PM

2014-09-07T23:08:46-04:00

That is a unique situation. I have never heard of this. I have had soldiers that got out of the guard, Med Board, and still get care after they got out. I did my OCS at Mcclellan as it is still used by the National Guard. There must have been some sort of admin separation that might have stripped any benefits. I have yet to see anyone get booted prior to their first ETS without a Med Board. I have a feeling that the separation code is something that is holding you up. What is the Code on your DD214.

Response by PVT Cory Rountree made May 12 at 2015 10:13 PM

2015-05-12T22:13:20-04:00

Don't feel too bad I've never had asthma but was given an honorable medical discharge with ability to return with waiver. I've been considered a veteran since I returned way back in '96. I got my discharge while in basic.

Response by PFC Luis Valdivia made Apr 17 at 2018 12:14 PM

2018-04-17T12:14:04-04:00

I enlisted on the CT National Guard , I did my basic training on feb of 1997, I was admitted to the hospital on base, ended up with several facial paralysis , I was discharge to a unit in Niantic , NEVER WENT TO DRILLS I WAS IN BAD SHAPE .
I moved to Jersey and started drilling there , got activated on 2003, in 2005 my contract was done. I recently thought of getting my paralysis check out.
I cant get a VA card not consider a vet even do I was on active duty for more
then 90 days. I should qualified because the accident took place during active duty but they don't seem to have my records. I'm lost how can I get my records.

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made Apr 17 at 2018 12:17 PM

2018-04-17T12:17:31-04:00

If you don't have medical records, that's a big reason why you may not be getting an VA compensation or medical assistance.

https://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/apply/veterans.asp

Minimum Duty Requirements

Most Veterans who enlisted after September 7, 1980, or entered active duty after October 16, 1981, must have served 24 continuous months or the full period for which they were called to active duty in order to be eligible. This minimum duty requirement may not apply to Veterans who were discharged for a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, for a hardship or “early out,” or those who served prior to September 7, 1980. Since there are a number of other exceptions to the minimum duty requirements, VA encourages all Veterans to apply so that we may determine their enrollment eligibility.

Did you go higher than the person you talked to at the VA? Why did you wait 15 years?

veterans.asp

Response by PV2 Miles Hicks made May 31 at 2021 6:24 PM

2021-05-31T18:24:28-04:00

Basically the 180 day rule. If you were Vietnam Era you probably would qualify if I'm not mistaken. As long as you were Honorable or General under honorable conditions you are still eligible for the Veterans ID card and some states the Veteran designation on your license. In terms of benefits... another story.