Second Hegseth Aide Escorted From the Pentagon As Leak Probe Widens

“Every military member is on duty 24/7! That means any injury incurred while on active duty is considered duty-related.”

That’s simply incorrect. Duty day ends most days at 1700 with the Retreat. After that ppl are still subject to UCMJ but they are not on duty. They are responsible for what they do from that point forward, not the military/USG. Maybe it’s different on a vessel but for bases it’s On Duty and Off Duty. UCMJ always applies but USG obligations do not.

There are plenty of VA patients and disability recipients whose disabilities are not “Service-Connected”. I believe this is what the VA is considering now.

My VA ID card says “Service Connected” because all my injuries/claims occurred while on duty, deployment, etc. I was not Off Duty, at the Hoffbrauhaus or Burger Bar, etc. Those injuries should not receive a VA disability rating imo.

I served in the Marine Corps, Air Force Reserve, and Navy, You are flat WRONG. I also dealt with the VA regularly, not only for myself but as part of my job with the DOD.

Those who must prove service-related are those who waited to file a claim. They will be routinely denied service-related benefits because they have no documentation to show an injury occurred while on active duty. I served over 25 years in uniform, and 15 years with the DOD, you are never not in a duty status. Service connected does not mean you get money from the VA. Smart people submit their claims and file appeals because of service connect, a 10% rating at 25 can become 30% or greater by age 50. I did this for a living, and every scenario I presented were actual cases.

What branch of service were you in that work ended at 1700? I can assure you that that is hardly the case in the Navy and the Marine Corps. I was a Security Cop in the Air Force Reserve, and our day often began at sunrise and ended at the next sunrise. I suspect you were in the Army Reserve or Guard or something like that. Most Air Force MOSs are like working for United Airlines, so I can see them believing their job ends at 1700.

You are dead wrong. Retreat has nothing to do with whether you are on duty or not. The rule remains the same if the VA can "no more prove than disprove." You will receive a disability rating, and it will be service-connected. If you came in the military 100% able and you leave 70% able, for whatever reason, as long as it is not like the DUI scenario I gave you, they will receive a disability rating. Whether or not they get a disability payment depends on how damaged their bodies are.

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