There's no doubt that I beat up my body while I was in the service, but no more than most tradesman do in their first years of life. I still train jiu jitsu regularly and am capable of doing most things (save for running).

You're correct in assuming that I receive some of my benefits due to my disabilities, such as my property taxes and my disability payments, but lots of benefits are available to those without any disability rating.

Some of the non disability related benefits include:

Education benefits via the post 9/11 GI Bill cover 4 years of schooling and provide a housing stipend during your time in school.

Education benefits for your family via Chapter 35

Access to the VA Loan program, which is a federally guaranteed loan. I used one to buy my house and did not have to pay a down payment

Again I am considered a disabled veteran, so some of the benefits I gain from that are:

Education benefits via Chapter 31, which is what I'm using currently to receive my bachelor's. It's similar to the GI Bill, but will pay for trade school as well

Health benefits: I am 100% disabled, so I receive free healthcare from the VA, but I'm also eligible for CHAMPVA health insurance, which is what my family is under

Disability pay: I get paid at the 100% rate, which is about $50k a year. There are lower rates all the way down to 10%, which is $171.23/ month. You can be awarded 10% for something as simple as tinnitus, which I assure you everyone in the Army has.

Property tax exemptions: a lot of states will exempt you from some or all of your property taxes if you're a disabled veteran, which lowered my house payment by $400.

All of my injuries are what I would call "wear and tear", I have shin splints and back pain and what have you, things that everyone gets on their way to their 30s regardless. I'm just lucky enough to have been in a place where I can receive compensation for that wear and tear. The only exception to my injuries that most people won't have is a genetic blood clotting condition that I'll be on thinners for for the rest of my life, but they only awarded me 20% for that.

You also don't need to be 100% disabled to collect these benefits, things like Chapter 31 are given out pretty liberally, and property tax exemptions are usually pretty well laid out.

All this to say that while yes some benefits are locked behind a disability rating, you will receive one for regular wear and tear on your body