I have had back problems for the last 14 years. I was diagnosed with Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) in 2008. I had surgery last year to repair a large herniated disc and pinched nerve. After six months of recovery, I still feel the pressure on my back and at times feel a tingly-ness and numbness down my leg. I also suffer from depression, mood swings and short term memory. I have need knee, elbow, and shoulder problems. My doctor is now discussing the possibility of an MEB. At almost 15 years, I am not fond of the idea of an MEB. What are my chances of possibly receiving a 30% from the Army and being medical retired?
BACK MEB
- Thread starter Tr3mendo
- Start date
The Army rates on unfit conditions. As a general rule this matches up to what your P3 profile is for. While there are routes to fix it if your profile isn't for the right condition(s), you're at a stage where it makes sense to ensure your profile is correct to make everything easier.
If your back is the only thing profiled, most likely you will receive 20%. Usually they have to measure your forward Range of Motion at 30 degrees or less for a 40%. 30 degrees is not much movement at all, that little movement suggests you're experiencing significant difficulties getting your boots on and off. While a 40% isn't unheard of by any means, especially after years of service and avoiding MEBs, allowing the problem to develop beyond a normal unfit state, it is uncommon.
The stuff with your leg suggests you have nerve involvement in your back. This creates a separate rating, but often the docs do little workup on it, primarily because there is little treatment options for it. That separate rating won't factor into the Army rating unless you can show it separately interferes with your work (think profile again). The MH, knee, elbow and shoulder problems have likely existed for awhile. While they have probably interfered with things, if you do the typical profile avoidance Soldiers do, that will suggest that they have not. Again, think profile to document those limitations they've created.
Its hard to say much about the actual chances of retirement without knowing all the details, which likely won't come out until the MEB is started and you have your C&P exams. I just know most Soldiers with 15 years in have avoided getting medical addressed because they don't want an MEB and then when it finally gets too bad, that lack of documentation works against them. Its a fixable problem, you just have to get whiney for awhile.
Its worth noting that making it to retirement is better, even if the MEB gives you retirement. CRDP allows significantly more money if you make it to 20. I think the doc bringing up the MEB is a hint that things aren't going to get better. I agree, the idea of a MEB isn't fun, and if you can avoid it, its to your benefit. Just be careful that avoiding it doesn't cause you issues due to being too good at hiding your symptoms, but not quite good enough.
If your back is the only thing profiled, most likely you will receive 20%. Usually they have to measure your forward Range of Motion at 30 degrees or less for a 40%. 30 degrees is not much movement at all, that little movement suggests you're experiencing significant difficulties getting your boots on and off. While a 40% isn't unheard of by any means, especially after years of service and avoiding MEBs, allowing the problem to develop beyond a normal unfit state, it is uncommon.
The stuff with your leg suggests you have nerve involvement in your back. This creates a separate rating, but often the docs do little workup on it, primarily because there is little treatment options for it. That separate rating won't factor into the Army rating unless you can show it separately interferes with your work (think profile again). The MH, knee, elbow and shoulder problems have likely existed for awhile. While they have probably interfered with things, if you do the typical profile avoidance Soldiers do, that will suggest that they have not. Again, think profile to document those limitations they've created.
Its hard to say much about the actual chances of retirement without knowing all the details, which likely won't come out until the MEB is started and you have your C&P exams. I just know most Soldiers with 15 years in have avoided getting medical addressed because they don't want an MEB and then when it finally gets too bad, that lack of documentation works against them. Its a fixable problem, you just have to get whiney for awhile.
Its worth noting that making it to retirement is better, even if the MEB gives you retirement. CRDP allows significantly more money if you make it to 20. I think the doc bringing up the MEB is a hint that things aren't going to get better. I agree, the idea of a MEB isn't fun, and if you can avoid it, its to your benefit. Just be careful that avoiding it doesn't cause you issues due to being too good at hiding your symptoms, but not quite good enough.
ScoutCC,
Thank you so much for the information. It is truly useful and I will take you recommendations. As you stated, I have been one of those soldiers that has avoided the docs like a plague. I have documented my depression as I have been prescribe Zoloft. Unfortunately, my knees, elbow and should not so much, but I will. Once again thank you for your information...
Thank you so much for the information. It is truly useful and I will take you recommendations. As you stated, I have been one of those soldiers that has avoided the docs like a plague. I have documented my depression as I have been prescribe Zoloft. Unfortunately, my knees, elbow and should not so much, but I will. Once again thank you for your information...
To add on to the good advice from ScoutCC, the numbness and likely pain in your legs is known as radiculopathy. It's a separate ratable condition for EACH leg. As with all ratings it's dependent on severity, so an occasional tingling or numbness might not be rated at much but even 10% for each leg can be key to achieving the 30% combined needed for Medical Retirement. Your radiculopathy (pain and numbness in the legs) definitely should be brought up during your NARSUM and C&P exams, as well as bringing up where it's noted in your medical records.
In my case, they originally rated my back far lower than the actual condition, due primarily to a messed up (wrong) C&P exam. But even then with the back condition low-balled at 10%, having the radiculopathy recognized as conditions not meeting retention standards during the MEB stage (by filing an appeal), led the original PEB findings to a combined rating of 30% which meet the threshold for Military Retirement.
The Army Regulation regarding retention standards is AR 40-501. It's worth looking over for your specific conditions and severities. Radiculopathy, at least in my case fell under AR 40-501, paragraph 3-30j.
As ScoutCC stated, the spinal injury will most likely be determined based on forward flexion (how far forward you can bend). The VA really doesn't rate for pain or quality of life, but there are other things that "may" be factored as a rating, such as IVDS (Intervertable Disc Syndrome) with periods prescribed bed rest, or unfavorable ankylosis of the spine.
Key points of performance are to get any and all service connected conditions you have addressed during the NARSUM and C&P exams, and then at the MEB stage getting any of those conditions which should be found to not meet retention standards to be listed accordingly by the MEB. The PEB will look at those conditions listed in the MEB to determine which of them are Unfitting, and finally rate you (for the military side) based solely on those Unfitting conditions.
Each step in the process has a profound impact on the next, so it's extremely important to keep engaged all the way through and understand the process, and NEVER sign anything until you have read it thoroughly and agree or exercise your Right to appeal.
Hope this helps...
In my case, they originally rated my back far lower than the actual condition, due primarily to a messed up (wrong) C&P exam. But even then with the back condition low-balled at 10%, having the radiculopathy recognized as conditions not meeting retention standards during the MEB stage (by filing an appeal), led the original PEB findings to a combined rating of 30% which meet the threshold for Military Retirement.
The Army Regulation regarding retention standards is AR 40-501. It's worth looking over for your specific conditions and severities. Radiculopathy, at least in my case fell under AR 40-501, paragraph 3-30j.
As ScoutCC stated, the spinal injury will most likely be determined based on forward flexion (how far forward you can bend). The VA really doesn't rate for pain or quality of life, but there are other things that "may" be factored as a rating, such as IVDS (Intervertable Disc Syndrome) with periods prescribed bed rest, or unfavorable ankylosis of the spine.
Key points of performance are to get any and all service connected conditions you have addressed during the NARSUM and C&P exams, and then at the MEB stage getting any of those conditions which should be found to not meet retention standards to be listed accordingly by the MEB. The PEB will look at those conditions listed in the MEB to determine which of them are Unfitting, and finally rate you (for the military side) based solely on those Unfitting conditions.
Each step in the process has a profound impact on the next, so it's extremely important to keep engaged all the way through and understand the process, and NEVER sign anything until you have read it thoroughly and agree or exercise your Right to appeal.
Hope this helps...