Chapter/MEB, NEED HELP!

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olmanburns

PEB Forum Regular Member
I thought I should post on here and hopefully will get some insight. I will try to make this brief.

Frist off, I got back from Iraq July of 2008 after 15 months with 3ID. I then PCS'd to Sill where I deployed Oct 2009 and returned Oct 2010.

Between deployments I didn't know how to handle the PTSD, so I just drank, every night. I got a divorce because of how I was. I couldn't go out in public, driving was one big anxeity attack, not sleeping, etc.

When I got back from Afghanistan, I picked up drinking right where I left off. From November to Jan 11th I was getting out of control with the drinking again and my current marriage was falling apart, as was i.

So Jan 11th I go to mental health for help. I got put on Serequel, some antidepressant and something else I can't remember. After a month, I had no improvement. Was prescribed different anti depressant, Halicon and more sereoquel. Another month goes by and not improvement, so more meds.

About a day after my new meds I was tired. Suicide was the only option I could think of. Living like this is horrible. The only thing that helped was drinking. So I got sent to an inpatient hospital for a month (from Apr 7 to May 11th).

Well when I got out of the hospital I got pushed aside by mental health yet again. So far since Jan, the only thing I got from mental health was a group meeting once a week for 30 min. After the hosptial I was in the same situation.

I called everyone I could to get more help byt never got it. I asked my commander to enroll me in ASAP so I could at least hold on to my sobriety.

In June I was told my mental health I was off hte high risk list and no longer needed to come in despite the fact my condition was getting worse. My ASAP counselor was really helpful and still is.

Here is where I need help, i was just giving some background. About three weeks ago I finally got to see a physciatrist. I see here once a week for an hour. The first session I asked abotu a profile and a MEB, she said I don't qualify but in 6 months she will see where I am at and then possibly recommend a MEB. She said I could take a Chapter 5-17 to get out of the army, so I said yeah, lets do it. I couldn't be in the Army anymore. So last week my command gets the 5-17 paperwork, but my commander was on leave and nothing got done with my packet. My commander came back to work today.

So two weeks ago my ASAP counselor says this MAJ that works at mental health had been gone for two months but would be back in july and she set me up with an appt with him which was last friday. My counselor knows how mental health here screws people over but this MAJ is straight.

So I see this MAJ on friday he says there is no way I can be chaptered because I was an area with imenient danger pay and have been diagnosed with PTSD. He issued me a T3 profile for sike and said he is going to start the MEB process. So last friday I turn in my profile to my 1Sg and tell him about the MEB, he scoffs at me and says he'll let the commander know.

This morning I go to my commander and ask if he knew what was going on, he said he had all the paper work but our battalion commander said I am getting chaptered anyway.

So what do I do? Who do I go to? Can a T3 start a MEB? I know the regulation says that I cannot be chaptered under 5-17 because of being in a combat area and having PTSD but can they go through with the chapter?

The only reason I agreed to the chapter was because mental health was telling me it was the only option or I would be there for two more years!
 
i just went through the same thing with my command untill my new therapist set me up with a vtc with walter reed. from what i learned because i was diagnosed with PTSD i could NOT be chaptered under 5-17 and i started my PEB. if they try to pursue it i'm sure it won't get far or you could take it to legal? i wish i could site some reg for you but all i can tell you is they are in the wrong and i know because i was in the same situation. best of luck to you!
 
Legal won't talk to me until I get the chapter packet which would be in about two weeks. I have my physicals on the 20th. I already tried talking to legal, pointless with out paperwork. Just told to come back.

I called my profiling officer for clarification, he said it's up to my command to chapter me or keep me in for the med board. He also said that a MEB wont start until I my T3 expires (in 90 days) and the civilians at Mental health say I need a MEB. I konw I will not get the MEB because the civilians here won't do any MEB's. Just string you along til you get tired of going and stop.

This place is an out right joke. I have yet to see my paper work from mental health and what condition they are discharging me with. I think it adjustment order.
 
if you have a diagnosis of PTSD they can't do that. hang in there man. worst comes to worst you can appeal your chapter i believe
 
Maybe you can shed light on this situation. Here is what I strongly believe is going on. I have been diagnosed with PTSD from the Inpatient hosptial and by two physcologists. I just started seeing a new physciatrist three weeks ago. I think that she has not diagnosed me with PTSD which is why she won't recommend a MEB even though I have a diagnosis from three different doctors. What do I do in that situation?
 
First off, what you're going through sucks. I'm guessing you're a younger guy, and that's likely why your 1SG scoffed at the idea of an MEB.

The temp profile that you were given should have the box on it checked "Needs MEB". I understand that it's only a temp. profile, but that's how they begin the MEB process. Soon, you'll be told that you have to go get your labs done and meet with the MEB doctor, as well as your PEBLO. You will not receive a permanent profile until the local portion of your MEB is complete and your packet is ready to go to the PEB.

Do not, under any circumstances, take the chapter out. Let the MEB/PEB take it's course. Ask your squad leader/PSG if there is any way you can be moved to the WTU. At the WTU, they're used to seeing crazy guys (myself included) and, while they still get annoyed with the crap that we give them, they're trained to deal with it a little better than your average squad leader or platoon sergeant. The MEB/PEB process will take an eternity, but you'll find out what benefits you're be entitled to when you get out. It's worth the wait.

-Jeff
 
jjthiv76 said:
First off, what you're going through sucks. I'm guessing you're a younger guy, and that's likely why your 1SG scoffed at the idea of an MEB.

The temp profile that you were given should have the box on it checked "Needs MEB". I understand that it's only a temp. profile, but that's how they begin the MEB process. Soon, you'll be told that you have to go get your labs done and meet with the MEB doctor, as well as your PEBLO. You will not receive a permanent profile until the local portion of your MEB is complete and your packet is ready to go to the PEB.

Do not, under any circumstances, take the chapter out. Let the MEB/PEB take it's course. Ask your squad leader/PSG if there is any way you can be moved to the WTU. At the WTU, they're used to seeing crazy guys (myself included) and, while they still get annoyed with the crap that we give them, they're trained to deal with it a little better than your average squad leader or platoon sergeant. The MEB/PEB process will take an eternity, but you'll find out what benefits you're be entitled to when you get out. It's worth the wait.

-Jeff
Click to expand...

I'm only 28, so I guess I'm younger. I talked to my Battery Commander about 30 min ago. My 1SG is on leave. While I was in there the battalion MEDO ( a 2lt) came in, looked at my profile and said not to take the MEB becuase it takes 2-2 1/2 years. I told him that was incorrect and he said I didn't know what I was talking about. My BC said the chapter is going through and all that stuff. So I guess I'm waiting til I can go to legal. I told my commander to look up the reg and that I cannot be chaptered under this but he said he didn't know anything about that. He wouldn't even look it up.

I'm pretty screwed in this situation. I don't think anything will turn out right for me. I know I'll never get a P3 profile. If I don't get chaptered, when my T3 is up, mental health will say I'm fine and send me on the way. There is no winning with those guys. It's just mind blowing how insane this system is.

Oh, and the profiling officer used the old profile form so the MEDO told my BC the profile is not legal and doesn't count cause it's on the wrong form.
 
WOW!!! All I have to say is HOLY S***. Yesterday I talked to my Commander with the BN MEDO there and the MEDO kept telling my BC that with the IDES the med boards take a minimum of 2 years and he advised my commander to push forward with the chapter cause I wouldn't want to be caught up in the MEB process. I said but at least I would get benefits and whats owed to me.

I then told them to look up the AR 635-200 and see for them selves I cannot be chaptered under 5-17 cause I have PTSD. So this morning I see the MEDO he said he looked up the regs and that I cannot be process for a chapter 5-17 but that I need to take it anyway cause I wont get anything from a MEB. I said at least I'll get benefits. He said I won't get much. maybe 20% at the most. I said wrong sir, its a minimum of 50%. Thats a law passed by congress, he said I didnt know what I was talking about and that even if I was right, Ft. Sill isn't following that law.
 
wow man that's ridiculous! sorry to hear about all the trouble you're going through. just remember your chain of command can't argue with army regs. check with the va they should be able to print of something saying the scale they rate ptsd on. and you should really try to get into the WTU i was there before i was sent back to the line and the WTU is 100% better
 
Does anyone know where I can find in black and white about the PTSD ratings for a MEB? My command refuses to listen to me. I need to show them that they are screwing my over by chaptering me. And I am also trying to find out the information on the new MEB process. I found it like two days ago but I'm so pissed right now I can't find anything.
 
And teach your command how to "Google", or to read the Army Times for that matter. It's this wonderful tool that I guarantee they have on their government use computers, as well as their Blackberries.
 
Thanks alot man! I really needed that. I'm trying to get someone on my side here on Sill but am having no luck! No one will talk to me until I get my chapter packet. I requested a copy of my mental health records so I can show the diagnosis of PTSD along with my low GAF scores, but it is going to take a minimum of 30 working days to get the records!
 
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