I AM AN ARMY VETEREN THAT WAS MEDICALLY SEPERATED AFTER 14 YEARS OF SERVICE. THE ARMY RATED ME AT 0% BUT PAID ME DISABILITY SEVERENCE PAY. I FILED A DISABILITY CLAIM WITH THE VA AND BECAUSE OF THE RESULTS FROM MY PRE-SEPERATION EXAM, THE VA RATED ME AT 90%. I NOW GET OUTATANDING HEALTH CARE FROM THE VA BUT I LOST ALL BENEFITS FROM THE ARMY. I FELT THAT THE ARMY HAD ABANDONED MY FAMILY WHO HAD STUCK BY ME ALL THOSE YEARS. IF TRICARE WAS EXTENDED TO ALL MEDICALLY SEPERATED VETS AND THEIR FAMILIES, THIS WOULD BE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THE DOD NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF IT'S OWN AND NOT HAND THEM OFF WITH JUST A PAYCHECK. HOPEFULLY THIS TRICARE CHANGE WILL HAPPEN AND MAYBE OPEN THE DOOR TO OTHER BENEFITS THAT ARE ONLY GIVEN TO RETIREES. -VET FROM RAEFORD NC
