Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 5/6/2011

Question
Hello Sir, I was discharged from the Navy with RE-3P,JFL. disability, severance pay. I had an head trauma accident while on active duty it gave me migraines and borderline narcolepsy. Unfortunately the Navy misdiagnosed me with epilepsy and the medications caused seizures.It was not until 2 years after the discharge from Navy, during VA examinations that they discovered it was not epilepsy and that the medications was causing the seizures. I did not want to leave the military and wanted to stay my 20 years. I am currently 80% disability rating with the VA. I also work part-time as a sheriff deputy and constable. Can I join the reserve with this rating and will I loose my VA disability pension if I join the reserves. I have tried 3 times at different recruiters and was turned down. I am 40 years old and keep active, I can still pass the physical test. Thank you for your time.

Answer
Christine,
Basically no.
BEFORE you can even attempt to rejoin, you must write to the VA and tell them to stop your disability payments because you are 100% well.  Then if yhe Navy won't rehire you, you're screwed because you just told the VA to stop paying you.  So even if you did rejoin and something went wrong medically. you'll never convince the VA it wasn't related.  Also, at your age only the Army would constder you (but I'll bet they won't take you).

I say just be content in knowing that you've served and you still get a paycheck.

Thanks for your service.
Colonel H

PS.  Sorry for the delay in answering, I've been off on a mission.