Almost Dying On Active Duty

Contracted encephalitis in June, 1988, and almost died. Was in the hospital for 8 days and was not expected to live. Each morning the doctors and nurses were surprised that I didn’t die during the t. I was in Intensive Care Unit the whole time and suffered brain damage. Short term memory loss, seizures, and several other issues. Was medically retired in April, 1989, with 40% disability rating after 16 years, 2 months, and 3 days service in the USAF. VA, with the help of the DAV, raised disability to 80%, with individual ability unemployable enhancement, raising disability to 100% payable.