Serving with a VA Disability Rating: NOT a Career Killer

As a member of the U.S. Army Reserve, you may be eligible for VA benefits. However, there are some myths around how these benefits impact your military pay and career progression. You may have been told you cannot serve in the military with a disability. You may have heard that you will kill your career - or perhaps you will be separated outright with a disability rating. Some may think that a VA disability can only be filed once you separate from the military. These statements are not entirely true and if you have avoided applying for what you’re entitled to because you’re worried about how it will affect your career, this is for you.


You CAN Serve in the Army Reserve with a VA Disability Rating

First, an Army Reserve Soldier can absolutely serve in the military with a disability rating. A disability rating does not explicitly exclude someone from continuing their military service. In fact, there is a process and paperwork (surprise!) to ensure members who collect disability do so in accordance with the 38 U.S. Code § 5304.

It's important to understand that you cannot receive both VA benefits and Army Reserve pay for the same period of time; this is considered “double dipping” and is against the law/regulations.
VA benefits are reduced by the number of days you are paid for Army Reserve duty each year. This means that if you receive a VA disability payment, and you are also paid for 30 days of Reserve duty in a year, your VA payment will be reduced by 30/365 or 8.2% of the monthly rate. However, since you’re getting paid for your service in the Reserve for that time, in almost all cases you’ll get paid more overall with a VA disability rating than without. An exception would be an Army Reserve Solder with a 70% or higher VA rating, which is a rare combination (more on serving with a VA rating, below).


A VA Disability Rating MAY or MAY NOT Impact Your Career Progression

Second, disability ratings can impact your career progression depending on your status within the Reserve, but they do not mean they are career killers. It all depends on your rating percentage, what it’s for, and how you want to continue to serve. If you are in the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR), your disability rating does not affect your ability to be recalled to active duty. However, if you are in the Selected Reserve or on active duty, a disability rating can impact your ability to meet medical readiness standards which could affect your ability to deploy. Additionally, a disability rating could also impact any future plans to commission as an officer. Like everything in the military, do your research on what doors you want to keep open for your career first, then make decisions about what is best for you.

Understand that the Army's Disability Evaluation System (DES) evaluates an Army Reserve Soldier’s fitness for continued military service based on their medical condition and the impact it has on their ability to perform their duties. If an Army Reserve Soldier’s disability is determined to be severe enough to affect their ability to perform their duties, they may be medically retired or separated from the military.

All that being said, having a disability rating does not necessarily mean the end of your Army Reserve career! Many Army Reserve Soldiers with disabilities continue to serve in roles that align with their abilities and limitations. In fact, the Army has programs in place to provide accommodations and support to service members with disabilities, including the Wounded Warrior Program and the Army Career and Alumni Program.

Finally, there are benefits to having a VA rating while serving in the Army Reserve. For example, if you have a service-connected disability, while you may miss out on full Troop Program Unit (TPU) pay, you’ll more than make that up in monthly payments through the VA all while generating retirement points. Additionally, you may be eligible for VA healthcare, which could save you money on medical expenses and provide additional education benefits that may further offset any costs you may have. Again, everyone has a unique situation and goals, and what makes sense for one, may not for another


Knowledge is Power

VA benefits will have an impact on your life while you serve in the Army Reserve, but it's important to understand how they work so you can make informed decisions about your career and benefits. A VA disability rating can affect your career progression, but it can also provide benefits that could improve your overall quality of life. An Army Reserve Soldier with a VA disability rating may make a little less over a drill weekend, but overall may more than make up for it in health and education benefits.


Join the Army Reserve: https://rly.pt/3UT5FZP

File a VA Disability claim: https://rly.pt/3LhlNQD