Is VA disability backdated to the beginning of illness?

Question

My husband was supposed to be deployed to Iraq in '02 but got pneumonia right after receiving several inoculations and couldn't go. He subsequently got pneumonia two more times (total of 3 times), all within 12 months. He then started getting numerous other symptoms (severe joint pain, weakness, fatigue, edema, malaise, skin lesions, rash/burning/itching skin, vasculitis, muscle weakness/spasms/twitching, night sweats, depression, difficulty walking, nose bleeds, stomach spams/vomiting, high blood pressure, tachycardia, mucous discharge with urination/testicular pain, chest pain, eye pain-it affects many systems of the body) and it is believed he has Wegener's, a serious autoimmune disorder that is treated with chemotherapy. Since the disorder started in '02 and the military didn't refer him to a specialist (the dr. said 2 bouts of pneumonia per year is indicative of an autoimmune problem-they just kept putting him back in the airplane), would the disability be backdated to the onset of the illness? He retired in February '08 after 24 years (Air Force).

Answer 1

I don't think so. You will get your payment starting from the date of the exam to determine disability. Don't try to work with the VA alone. Get the DAV or AM-VETS, VFW, someone to be your POA with the VA. they have offices right there in the VA and can file the proper paperwork in a timely fashion. And, they'll fight like mean dogs to get your husband all he has coming to him. I'm partial to the DAV but it's your call. Look them up one the web. Good luck. The folks above are right, It's not the date of the exam but the date you file.

Answer 2

It is "Officially Called"  from Date of Claim...

I have to agree with some others here...

Get a DAV or other Veterans Service Officer to represent him...

It is a Free Service...(Cause you can't get a Lawyer...)

You try to go it alone...it may take years or never.

I have to chuckle at some of the wait times...

I was discharged on 30NOV1972 it took

over 30 years to get a 100% for the samething

I was Medically discharged for in 1972..

Wounds & PTSD...

Answer 3

It is only back dated from the time that he files a claim.  

Answer 4

It will be back dated to the 1st of the month, the month after he got out, if the V.A. awards him a disability rating. It can take a while.

Answer 5

The claim must have been made within a year of the incident to get backpay to that date. He will not get anything through the VA till after his retirement date of Feb. 08 since he was getting paid through the military. So he should have till Feb. 09 to get the paperwork rolling and settled to get backpay from that date.

How do I know, I am doing the same thing now for other reasons and that is what the county VA rep told me.