Medical Discharge or Early Retirement from USAF?

Question

After 22 years in the USAF I am having medical issues and I am trying to decide is it best to get medically discharged or early retirement from my current enlistment which I have one year left to serve. Any advice or resources that will help will be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

You can request non-disability retirement. But, make sure that all of your medical problems are documented. If you have been performing your duties, without significant periods of hospitalization or prolonged outpatient treatment, you might fall under what is called the "Lavelle Rule" which says that if you have been performing your duties then you are considered to be physically fit for retirement.
The name of the rule comes from a former Air Force Chief of Staff in the 1970s who flew his aircraft on a Thursday to qualify for his flight pay entitlement, then went onto the temporary disability retired list the next day with a 70% disability rating. It almost caused the dome of the Capitol building to tilt and forced a very quick change in the disability laws. LOL!
I see your choices as going to the non-disability retired list or going through the medical evaluation board process and the disability evaluation system for placement on the disability retired list. The only advantage to the latter is that your retired pay will be partly tax-exempt. The downside is that you will be physically examined every four years and, if your disability shows improvement, you may be called back to active duty just for the purpose of placing you on the non-disability retired list.
Given all that, I'd opt for non-disability retirement. Then gather up your records and file a claim for disability with the VA. The law has changed recently and you may be able to gain and accept VA disability pay without having to forfeit any of your non-disability retired pay from the Air Force.

Answer 2

I don't know if they will give you a choice since you already have twenty years in. Have you checked into it? And as the other guy stated, which one will get you a bigger retirement check from the USAF as well as from the VA? What you get from the VA will be tax-exempt.

But whatever you do, MAKE SURE that you get at least 30% disabled! That way, should you want to work for the VA, DoD, DOE, etc. at some point in time, you get an extra 10 points preference torwards the job of your choice.

Answer 3

If it is anything like the Navy
then MEDICAL, but ONLY if the VA is going to rate you over 30 per cent disabled, anything else hurts your G.I. bill and you only get a severance pay instead of a pension.
Wait until this latest Bill going through Congress passes, start doing research, the VA is about to change their rating processes. Go to www.military.com and start paying attention.
Also, call your local VA and start asking the case managers some heavy duty questions about what will happen.
They are busy, but you will get some much needed websites to start out.
GOOD LUCK
it takes about six months before you start getting any feedback once you start a medical board.
I hope you make the right choice, but it really depends on if the disability is severe and chronic or mild and temporary.

Answer 4

My husband just got discharged for medical but they totally screwed him and put him under an other than honorable discharge instead of a general. I wouldnt want this nightmare to happen to anyone else so dont get discharged if you can help it, they are trying to tell him hes never been to Iraq and that he has no health benefits so really it not worth getting discharged with the chance for them to screw you. Good Luck

Answer 5

Your father needs a copy of his DD214, and then he should go to the veteran's affairs office close to him to what else he qualifies for. His retirement ID card (blue) is not enough, he needs to show his discharge. If he is collecting a retirement pension his discharge was honorable.

Answer 6

I would say he should get early retirement. Wants he out he can always put in a disability claim with the VA.

Answer 7

It depends if you can make it another year..

Going med board will prolly take 6 months to even get the paperwork going..

if you can do it, hang in there and retire..

i still have 17 years before retirement :( lol

Answer 8

Retire.


You can get retirement and medical money for the rest of your life.

Answer 9

Which option will pay you the most money between now and when you're dead? That's how I'd base my decision. You should be able to get disability benefits through the VA once you're out too.

Answer 10

Take what ever gives you an honorable/ expiration if term of service, discharge.
it requires less explanation.