I once had a neighbor who, though obviously severely crippled due to WWII injuries, worked his entire life as a cardealer. He never received anything from them other than his initial 2 years of hospitalization and rehab. In fact, when he died, we had to help his widow apply for burial benefits at the funeral homes insistence. She said that, after recovering he just wanted to put it all behind him and considered himself blessed to have survived to come home unlike many of his friends..... A rare individual!!
That is cool. And thank you for helping his widow.
My paternal grandfather was much like that. He served during WWII but until he was sick with failing kidneys and lung problems, which killed him, he never went to the VA.