If I may ...
I'll never understand the VA, my grandfather was missing part of a hand and foot from a Japanese attack, never took anything from the VA and I see someone getting 100% for depression.
Maybe he never filed for a claim? The VA is not proactive. In that it does not search out veterans that might have a claim.
There are folks who have a 100% VA disability yet are able to pass a first class medical every 6 months to fly for an airline. There are others with a medical discharge and high % disability rating who pass the physical tests to become career firefighters or cops. Part of the problem is how the VA adds different percentages without a process that looks at the overall ability to hold meaningful employment. Lots of little things can add up to a high rating when the person in front of you is still able to do all the things required do do a regular job.
It's a system that rewards those who know how fill out forms and answer questions in just the right way to qualify under 5 different categories. A few percent for 'loss of range of motion',. a few percent for a meniscus torn while playing basketball. A contact dermatitis from some maintenance grease and suddenly you have 75% total.
It is a disability, "rating", for compensation purposes, for money that is calculated for the loss of the potential earnings measured over a veteran's working lifetime. In addition to no-charge medical care. Ever been injected with experimental vaccines? Even been exposed to burn pits? Ever been exposed to environmental toxins on an everyday basis? Ever been exposed to nerve agents delivered by the enemy, or unknowingly detonated by EOD personnel, (with little or no mention in the media)? Ever been exposed to agent orange? Ever been exposed to, and ingested, depleted uranium microscopic dust after the projectile disintegrates upon impact of its target? Have you ever had to bag the mangled body of a man in your squad? Ever held a man in your lap while sitting on the ground reassuring him everything was going to be ok while you watched the life ebb out of his body? Ever been exposed to the constant after effects, and seeing the results, of your rifle fire, grenades, etc, upon the enemy body?
For Vietnam veterans. Agent Orange presumptive diseases. Chronic B-cell leukemia: A type of cancer that affects your white blood cells (cells in your body’s immune system that help to fight off illnesses and infections) Hodgkin’s disease: A type of cancer that causes your lymph nodes, liver, and spleen to get bigger and your red blood cells to decrease (called anemia) Multiple myeloma: A type of cancer that affects your plasma cells (white blood cells made in your bone marrow that help to fight infection) Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma: A group of cancers that affect the lymph glands and other lymphatic tissue (a part of your immune system that helps to fight infection and illness) Prostate cancer: Cancer of the prostate (the gland in men that helps to make semen) Respiratory cancers (including lung cancer): Cancers of the organs involved in breathing (including the lungs, larynx, trachea, and bronchus) Soft tissue sarcomas (other than osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma, or mesothelioma): Different types of cancers in body tissues such as muscle, fat, blood and lymph vessels, and connective tissues. AL amyloidosis: A rare illness that happens when an abnormal protein (called amyloid) builds up in your body’s tissues, nerves, or organs (like your heart, kidneys, or liver) and causes damage over time Chloracne (or other types of acneiform disease like it): A skin condition that happens soon after contact with chemicals and looks like acne often seen in teenagers. Under our rating regulations, it must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year of contact with herbicides. Diabetes mellitus type 2: An illness that happens when your body is unable to properly use insulin (a hormone that turns blood glucose, or sugar, into energy), leading to high blood sugar levels. Ischemic heart disease: A type of heart disease that happens when your heart doesn’t get enough blood (and the oxygen the blood carries). It often causes chest pain or discomfort. Parkinson’s disease: An illness of the nervous system (the network of nerves and fibers that send messages between your brain and spinal cord and other areas of your body) that affects your muscles and movement—and gets worse over time. Peripheral neuropathy, early onset: An illness of the nervous system that causes numbness, tingling, and weakness. Porphyria cutanea tarda: A rare illness that can make your liver stop working the way it should and can cause your skin to thin and blister when you’re out in the sun.
For those that served in the Navy during Vietnam on ships. The Blue Water Navy (BWN) Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 (PL 116-23) extended the presumption of herbicide exposure, such as Agent Orange, to Veterans who served in the offshore waters of the Republic of Vietnam between Jan. 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975.
For those that served in the Gulf War. The VA presumes certain medically unexplained illnesses are related to Gulf War service without regard to cause. These include: chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, functional gastrointestinal disorders, and undiagnosed illnesses with symptoms that may include but are not limited to: abnormal weight loss, cardiovascular disease, muscle and joint pain, headache, menstrual disorders, neurological and psychological problems, skin conditions, respiratory disorders, and sleep disturbances.
For current veterans. Since there is no current presumptive service connection, veterans must file claims for direct service connection for diseases and illnesses related to burn pit exposure. In order to establish direct service connection for a related illness or disease, there must be (1) medical evidence of a current disability; (2) evidence of burn pit exposure; and (3) evidence of a nexus between the burn pit exposure and the current disability.
Add also the mental aspect. PTSD. A very real condition that changes a person's outlook and behavior. Why do you think so many veterans commit suicide? Or become alcoholics? Or drug users?
Now, I don't know about you? But I would wager that just by looking at any of the above veterans, with any of the listed ailments, that filed claims and were granted a disability rating, even up to 100%, you would not be able to see a visible injury or disability.
Are there those that game the system? Sure. Are there those that game Social Security? Sure. Are there those that game welfare? Sure. Are there those that game any government benefit program? Sure. But do not just assume, because you cannot see a visible injury or disability on a veteran, that that veteran isn't dealing with one. Because you do not know what that veteran has been through.