Can I Serve In The Reserves?

[Big Pete]

I am still in the IRR. Once I got off active duty I was having some guilt/anger issues and for my wife I agreed to get evaluated. I receive 50% VA compensation for PTSD. I operate fine daily in all aspects in my life and have found ways to help (looking forward to this group to assist in that also). As of lately I have a burning desire to serve again. The prior service recruiter calls me about once a week about open billets I could fill. I feel that getting back in in a reserve capacity will help me even more. Am I disqualified due to my rating and compensation? I would never attempt to get back in if I didn't feel 100% confident that I am capable of doing the job. Any insight is much appreciated. Thanks fellas.

 

[combatgoldfish]

I'm interested in what others have to say about this. I know guys that are rated 70% and are in guard/reserve units but going in I'm not sure of.

I have a 60% rating and tattoos so I might be a lost cause.

 

[JarHed]

Hey BP

I'd apply and see what happens. You have the desire and the recruiter keeps calling so go for it. All they can say is no. Then you can do something else where your desire to serve will be a help, like a vets group for instance.

Jar

 

[Zenmaster1]

You would still need to pass a physical. Unfortunately, at 50% you woukld essentially be working for free as reserve pay is reduced by your VA payment.


Hope this helps....

 

[combatgoldfish]

My understanding that your va disabilty isn't paid on the days you're active so it would be prorated at 28 days, they wouldn't pay you during your weekend. Maybe that's gone away though.

 

[Big Pete]

Combatgoldfish,

After some more digging I think you are right about the compensation being pro-rated. In all honesty I could care less about the money. I know that is easy to say, but the compensation is the least of my concerns, I just want back in. I spoke with my buddy who is in the unit I am thinking about joining and as far as he told me the unit can't even legally ask me about VA disability. So from what I can tell I will simply have to communicate with the VA my drill and active dates so that my compensation can be pro-rated during that time. I could be wrong but I think this is the way it goes. If anyone knows anything else I'd like to hear their input. And at the end of the day I just want to make sure I am not doing anything wrong. I never claimed disability for the money in the first place, and if I have to give up the compensation for me to get back in then so be it, I have no issues with that.

 

[Grizzly]

To find the law on this check 38 U.S. Code 5304. It covers the prohibition against duplicate benefits. Similar to retirement pay and va compensation. The next thing you'll want to research is the rating requirements for a 50% disabilty.

Here is the rating criteria for 50%

Occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks (although generally functioning satisfactorily, with routine behavior, self-care, and conversation normal), due to such symptoms as: depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, panic attacks (weekly or less often), chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss (such as forgetting names, directions, recent events)

Now ask yourself if you feel you fit this criteria and still fulfill any sort of combat posture.

With all this being said, take into consideration on your next C&P re-evaluation which likely will happen. The files will indicate the patient is in the reserves. The rater will probably take the reserve duty into consideration when reviewing your C&P. I myself would expect a reduction in rating.

"decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks"

That quote echoes to me. There is little room for error during a mission. Even less room for an inability to perform an occupational task.

I get it the VA comp isn't important to you. I am just trying to illustrate my thoughts.

My last thought on this. My PTSD waxes and wanes. The week before I was losing my shit. This last few days I'm relatively in control, except today. But totally my fault.

So you may feel in charge of the beast now....for now...

Good luck brother.

 

[Big Pete]

Grizzly,

Thank you for your input and thoughts, I truly do respect your opinion on this matter. I have some more time to think about this before I make a move and I imagine I can request a re-evaluation. I would not at all be surprised with a reduction in rating, which I am fine with if that is what it takes for me to be able to be a great unit again. At the same time, I would never allow myself to go through with it if I felt I wasn't capable. At the same time I know it does not make a lot of sense to say that I can evaluate what i am capable of and what I am not capable of. It is a very difficult and complex situation of course. Again I really do thank you for your input brother.

 

[combatgoldfish]

I talked to one recruiter and he said va disability rating would be a no go. You might have better luck than I though.

There's always contract work. With the way things are going they might be back in full swing in Iraq.

 

[Spock]

There are thousands of reservists that picked-up service-connected disability ratings from AD service and combat theater service as they moved through their careers. I think it depends on the needs of the service you're applying to, if you were medically boarded out, if you still rate combat fit in your AFSC/NEC/MOS, etc. I know one thing for sure, in the reserves everything has a waiver. It is about who you know, who you speak to and when you speak to them. The Guard even moreso. I agree with CGF about always seeking contractor work.

 

[Razorback]

Before I was diagnosed and knew what the hell was going on, I transferred from my Guard unit into the IRR and then went back to an active drilling status with a Reserve unit for the last year of my contract. I wish I had re-enlisted back into the IRR at the end of that for one VERY good reason...once you get out all together, you will get caught by DoD policy. Right now, if you have received any kind of care for PTSD over a year you are disqualified from signing back up. HOWEVER, if you are currently in, even in the IRR, you can still come back on duty no matter the length of treatment. Like you, Pete, I'm doing good today. I'm holding down a good job, though it can be challenging, and I am a Licensed Social Worker. I'd love to be back to drilling and using the social work skills to help. Unfortunately, every recruiter I've talked to said that the DoD Health Policy stands. I've not actually been actively treated for a year, because the VA only recently acknowledged my diagnosis but they were medicating me over the past year for it, which becomes an interpretation issue with the policy. I have 12 years of service and would love to get my 20. VA ratings come and go, retirement and base privileges are forever! Hopefully. I'm at 70%. Deploying would be the easy part, because I'm great in that environment. Even drill would be okay. It is the piddly civilian shit that I struggle with. I mentioned the DoD rule to my psych and she blew up about how the rule was ridiculous because it wasn't like we are crazy and it discouraged people from getting help. At least I have a psych that gets it. So, if you can stay IRR and wait it out or if you can get on active drilling status then go for it. Just don't get out all together unless you just have to, because getting back in may not be an option.

 

[spc_ralph]

My experience with the Guard and PTSD might shed some light for you. I was NG, spent 16 months in Iraq, and got diagnosed with PTSD when we got back. As for them asking about VA disability, you're right that your unit can't ask. However, during the annual PHA, the health questionnaire will ask about VA disability. If you lie and they find out, that could cause some major shit. I told the truth every time, but when I got bumped up to 70%, they started a med board for me. I was ultimately given PDR because the docs claimed I was unsafe to handle a weapon. That made me undeployable, and unable to perform my MOS. Even if one reason to get back in is for the retirement benefits, give it a try. Because I was medically retired, I still get full retirement benefits even though I didn't get my 20 years in.