When Smaller Counts: Percentages of Disability

Eligibility for use of Military campsites are not limited to 100% disabled veterans, as indicated in Authorized Users. Veterans with Military connected disabilities of 30%, and above, are also entitled to use the facilities. Hopefully, any misunderstanding over percentages would not discourage other veterans from enjoying the facilities as well.

Perhaps I'm misunderstanding your comment. The regulations only state "100% service connected disability with an honorable discharge" are eligible to utilize MWR facilities. Now, f they are retired, then they can have a 0% disability, because they are authorized from their retirement.

This article has copies of the applicable regulations.

If I'm wrong, please let me know your source so we can investigate and correct the information.

Dear larryf,

I think we are both right, and to that extent both wrong. When a Veteran has been separated from Military service due to a "service connected" disability and received a permanent Military rating of 30%, or above, that Veteran becomes medically retired and issued a regular retiree's Military Identification Card, authorizing the Veteran to full Military privileges (medical, commissary, PX, etc.). However, when circumstances has brought forth recognition of a disability after discharge from Military service, and that rating has only assigned by the VA, then the rating must be at 100%. Whether that Veteran also has a right to apply for retroactive rating from the Military is beyond my knowledge.

I think confusion over eligibility to Military campgrounds centers on usage of the term disabled Veteran. Although both examples, above, involve disabled Veterans, the process used in obtaining the assignment, unfortunately can make a difference in Campground eligibility. Hopefully, between the two of us, a little more clarity has been brought to the issue. Perhaps, others can provide additional information regarding a rather complicated subject. Yet, could still be useful those Veterans, and their family members, wishing to enjoy some of the outdoors available through these resources. Thanks.

"CA State Parks and Recreation Pass"

As a caveat to the above descriptions, any California resident who has a 50 percent or greater service-connected disability, is eligible for a free, lifetime, California State Parks "Distinguished Veteran Pass." A letter provided by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs is acceptable evidence. Whether that means a VA rating "alone" would qualify may be important for some Veterans to determine. Most of our States have similar benefits for their residents as well.

If " a regular Military Retired ID card" is issued to the disabled Vet by the his/her service branch, then they should present that when using the CG. but the ID must have "MWR privileges marked" on it along with the PX, Commissary, etc. 100% VA disabled Vet is just that....which requires a different ID card from the military which is issued when the 100% Disabled VA Vet presents his/her VA paperwork to the proper authorities for that ID....

The state of GA offers about the same deal that you quoted from CA, which gives them discounted pricing at state parks. but unless the VET has either the Retired ID with MWR Privileges or the 100% Disabled VET ID, they are not authorized to use the MCGs....

But if the Vet was first discharged,(not retired) from the service then went to the VA, received a disability rating less than 100%, then they are not eligible to use the MWR facilities...

This issue is very familiar to us as we learned the difference as Camp Hosts over 5 yrs.....

Hope this helps with clarifying the issue (but I'm sure there will be some who will have issues even with the explanation).....but this is how it was explained to us.

I am probably stepping beyond my level of knowledge here, but if I am interpreting your information correctly, we seem to be saying the same things, but perhaps with different emphasis. Active duty personnel, who leave Military service due to "service connected" disabilities, eventually receive a permanent Military rating. When that rating is between 30% and 100%, the individual become medically retired, and is issued a retired Military ID card that not only looks the same, but also has the same rights and benefits, of all other retired Military personnel. To my knowledge, there is no place on that card that distinguishes MWR/Commissary privileges, because those, and other privileges, automatically go with a Retired Military ID Card.

The differences between the colors, where some 100% disabled veterans have ID Cards that look the same as a Dependent's ID Cards (light brown), and are different colors (light blue) from other 100% disabled veteran, and those veterans having "Military" ratings of 30%, or greater, are brought about by the process where the cards were issued. In these instances, the veterans were issued a Military ID Card after being discharged from Military service by authority provided through the DVA, by the U.S. Legislature. I believe these so-called Dependent cards have places for certain privileges to be marked because not all holders have been awarded the same benefits (dependents, versus 100% Veterans, Medal of Honor recipients, Prisoners of War, etc.).

Since this information is strictly based on memory, and may not be completely accurate, clarifications should be obtained from DVA. My only intended point was veterans having service connected disabilities, but do not have 100% ratings, should not be turned away from Military camping facilities (when they have Retired ID Cards, or other Military ID Cards indicated with those privileges).

Hopefully, we have at least provoked further thought on the topic. Thanks for your input!