AF IPEB anyday now

[Ford]

Greetings ,
I have been lurking in the background trying to absorb as much info as possible and now have a few questions. I have been in the PEB system for 6 months now and am curios how the board will review my case.

Does the IPEB only go by the PCMs recommendation on the front page of the submitted package (AF IMT 618) or do they consider the narrative summary from the MEB report?

I was submitted for OSTEOARTHRITIS BILATERAL KNEES on the 618 but have a laundry list of injuries listed in the summary; multiple surgeries, hearing loss, PTSD, TBI, Meniere’s disease, most acquired or significantly aggravated by deployment to OIF/OEF in 2004 when a majority of my problems started.
Returned from my last deployment (2004) and work special duty while I healed from bilateral knee repair surgery, never healed to 100%. Removed from deployment status as SF in February 2006 and officially had my SF AFSC removed in 2007 (not worldwide qualified); replaced with the 9A000 (airman waiting retrain - this will never happen due to 22 years in service) and have worked around the base ever since.

My PCM was clueless on how to submit the package for the 9A000 AFSC so he just asked the PEB to make a determination on my deployment status and to return me to worldwide for 9A000 or just let me stay in service until my DOS in 2010.

I am just waiting to hear from the IPEB and getting ready for the FPEB, any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated!

Also while collecting my medical records for this process I found a large gap in coverage from my hard copies and the E-copies the PCMs use to document treatment. The AF is transferring all record to electronic format (ALTA ? maybe) so be sure and ask to have your electronic records printed from the system. The techs are required to print all e-files and post in your hard copy – but I found many missing documents and appointments in my case. The service counter can usually do this for you while you wait.

Chris

 

[Jason Perry]

Chris,

Welcome! Here are my thoughts on your post:

Does the IPEB only go by the PCMs recommendation on the front page of the submitted package (AF IMT 618) or do they consider the narrative summary from the MEB report?

They have to consider all of the information in the MEB Report. This includes the AF IMT 618 and the Narrative Summary. Obviously, the Narrative Summary contain more information, but a very important factor is the conditions found to fail retention standards. This is not to say that the PEB sometimes finds conditions not stated as failing retention standards as actually being unfitting. But, in my opinion, it is very helpful if the MEB finds a condition to fail retention standards to getting an unfit finding for that condition.

I was submitted for OSTEOARTHRITIS BILATERAL KNEES on the 618 but have a laundry list of injuries listed in the summary; multiple surgeries, hearing loss, PTSD, TBI, Meniere’s disease, most acquired or significantly aggravated by deployment to OIF/OEF in 2004 when a majority of my problems started.
Returned from my last deployment (2004) and work special duty while I healed from bilateral knee repair surgery, never healed to 100%. Removed from deployment status as SF in February 2006 and officially had my SF AFSC removed in 2007 (not worldwide qualified); replaced with the 9A000 (airman waiting retrain - this will never happen due to 22 years in service) and have worked around the base ever since.

My PCM was clueless on how to submit the package for the 9A000 AFSC so he just asked the PEB to make a determination on my deployment status and to return me to worldwide for 9A000 or just let me stay in service until my DOS in 2010.

I am just waiting to hear from the IPEB and getting ready for the FPEB, any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated!

Are you pending retirement for length of service? If so, this will greatly impact the PEB findings. A huge factor is how your conditions impact your duty performance. Do the other conditions limit your duty performance? Did your command state these additional conditions as significantly impacting your duty performance?

As you may have read elsewhere here on PEBFORUM, having 20 years of service is a huge advantage. Any unfit finding will result in a minimum rating of 50% and you will be eligible for CRDP (allowing dual DoD and VA compensation).

I hope all goes well for you!

 

[Ford]

Jason,
Great information – keep up the good work
-- this is the most comprehensive resource I have found, if for no other reason a real person responds to your questions.

Thank you for the reply, yes I am retirement eligible - AD 22 yrs,
my current enlistment is up in December 2010, but my HYT is 2012, but do not think I will be granted any further extensions on my enlistment. I have been at my current location for over 7 years and would like to return to CONUS.

I was determined unfit and removed from primary duties in 2005 after returning from OIF/OEF 2004.

I work for the Wing CC and he has been able to keep me around for the past 4 yrs working outside of my primary skill code – now it is impacting my promotion and PCS status.

I cannot PCS or promote with the 9A000 AFSC and AFPC has flagged me for action/separation. Command has placed me in a special duty position and allows me to perform at my own pace “without limitation or restriction” under current AFSC 9A000.

Also states “unable to withstand the rigors and deployment requirements of the 3P071 AFSC (primary), it has been determined by competent medical authority and AFPC he is no longer eligible for the 3P071 (Security Forces) AFSC and has been placed into the 9A000 (Airman awaiting retraining - disqualified for reason beyond control) AFSC.

The impact statement is very positive and CC wants me to remain on AD - but still no AFSC and I have major physical restrictions on my profile (PULHES) 133311 .

Do I just wait and see what the IPEB recommends and go from there?

Waiting is the hardest part of planning!

 

[AFPEBLO]

I wish I could offer some meaningful advice or perspective, but you have a very unique case.

My PCM was clueless on how to submit the package for the 9A000 AFSC so he just asked the PEB to make a determination on my deployment status and to return me to worldwide for 9A000 or just let me stay in service until my DOS in 2010.

I am just waiting to hear from the IPEB and getting ready for the FPEB, any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated!

Has your primary AFSC already changed to 9A or is that what they are looking at doing after the PEB returns you duty? It’s odd to see someone changed to a 9A without an MEB first.

If you were still Security Forces the PEB would compare you against the reasonable expectations of a XSgt 3P to help determine your fitness for duty but since 9A is more of a status than an actual job I do not know for sure what they can/will measure you against.

I presume they will mainly go off the commander’s statement which may help return you to duty if it is as good as you say it is. However, being returned to duty as a 9A will not speed up any cross training actions so it won’t likely help with the hurdles of being a 9A.

Good luck, I wish I had something more concrete or positive for you.

p.s. I love Aviano, best assignment I ever had. Also, not trying to be a smart axx, but the whole AF would really appreciate it if you could use some AFSO21 concepts to help with the 9A process.

 

[Ford]

All,
IPEB result returned today Permanent Retirement – finding of 21% total - 10% for each knee and 1.9% for the bilateral factor.
Looks like the PEB only rated the single item on the 618: OSTEOARTHRITIS BILATERAL KNEES.

All involved tried to keep me on AD duty but this did not sway the board opinion. On to the FPEB, we turned the IPEB result down with very little hesitation. I will present my case in person.
It does not look like the board even considered any of the secondary items listed in the narrative but went with the only item presented on the 618 – something to think about in the future. I was trying to stay in service so the doc minimized as much as possible, hindsight shows maybe we left out too much info.
Any words of wisdom for those that have walked this FPEB path before would be greatly appreciated? I am in Italy and have very limited contact with any service orgs or other support agencies.

I will probably be scheduled in early May for my FPEB in San Antonio.
How much time do get and whet the heck do I do now!?!

Thanks from Italy

 

[Texan1003]

Chris,

If you don't mind could you tell me how long the IPEB took? When was it sent to San Antonio. There are alot of us out here biting at the bit and any idea of the wait helps.

Thanks and good luck with the FPEB>

 

[Ford]

Chris,

If you don't mind could you tell me how long the IPEB took? When was it sent to San Antonio. There are alot of us out here biting at the bit and any idea of the wait helps.

Thanks and good luck with the FPEB>

Texan1003,
AF MEB – IPEB– FPEB time line for FORD:
Doc started local MEB process 1 Dec 2008 Complete Dec 22 – 2008 (HO HO HO Merry Xmas)
Jan 2009 Completed IPEB paperwork with PEBLO – he is very good, no questions unanswered. PEBLO waited very patently while I collected all supporting documents through chain of command.
Sent from Aviano Italy, 23 Jan 2009; advised I was # 600 in queue.
IPEB result returned 14 April 2009 (82 days) – request for FPEB returned same day.
14 April 2009 FPEB date pending (anticipate early May 2009)
I will update as information comes in.
Chris

 

[Ford]

[FONT=&quot]Greetings All,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Scheduled to be at the AF FPEB in Lackland (Tuesday 26, May) only 43 days from the request for formal action from my IPEB. Any word if the board works a holiday schedule – contacted the JAG and they advised me to have an IMA review my package and resubmit. Memo NDAA 08 2 PM outlines the process, but my PEBLO advised I was too far into the process to use the IMA, this is used after the MEB but before the IPEB, looks like I am still moving forward? [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I did get my PCM to an in-depth entry to my medical record to clearly ID all items that would make me unfit if I were still in my original SF AFSC. All items were listed in the original NARSUM but not listed as unfitting/only past history , the IPEB must have overlooked them.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Unfiting this time: Menieres Disease, Osteoarthritis shoulder, Sensorineural hearing loss,Ataxia, Memory loss or lapses still missing a couple of things, but I think I am wearing my PCM thin (after 5 years).
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]To add insult to injury -no pun intented - my case was turned down for processing thru the BDD " We regret that we will not be able to process your VA claim through BDD program here at Landstuhl because you are claiming undiagnosed gulf war disabilities and disabilities that are due to exposures" Guess I wait and do the process when I get to the states as stated before waiting is the hardest part.

Thanks for allowing me to vent
Chris
[/FONT]