“Getting shot at is, itself, sort of foggy.”
“Getting shot at” is obviously figurative language. You probably know this, but took advantage anyway. You probably collect benefits you don’t deserve.
What is it you meant, non figuratively?
How would you delineate?
I’ll try to help you. It’s not unusual for someone to complete basic training, and then see a doc and find a knee or hip or whatever issue. They got through the running in basic, but it will never last more than a year or two and the service wants more. So they can be drummed out. Medical discharge.
They were on active duty XX days. VA limits eligibility to those with more than XX days. So that would be the sort of thing you’re hunting for — but in that case, it already exists. That person won’t collect.
I can help you further. “Uniformed service”. That includes some weird public health service. It’s not military at all. They never promise to go to combat (that I know of), but they wear a uniform.
So you could exclude them, but I think it’s small potatos.