[DonDavis]

It's a case by case basis. Many, many moving parts and conditions dictate what happens. There was a guy in my boot camp that had severe scalp psoriasis and when his head was shaved, he bled like hell. He was separated and sent home. A co-worker of mine was leaving Naval service and found he was diabetic. He was put on medical hold until his condition was thoroughly evaluated. He was eventually given a medical retirement.

Service delayed due to injury takes the conversation in a different direction. Without nit-picking the details ( which is very complex, refer to my "retirement" statement in my earlier post), if he completed 180 days active service, ( injured or not ) he's a veteran. If he was medically separated with less than 6 months service, I don't think he qualifies as a vet. It depends solely on the condition of separation.

Btw, if some guy down at the bar thumps his chest and calls someone a Veteran based on his opinion, it officially means exactly what cost....nada. If that same chest thumper wants to buy the guy a beer and shake his hand, that's his choice. It doesn't mean that guy is or isn't a Vet.