So, I was sent to the formal board once and returned without action due to lack of medical information.
I had my knee cartilage removed almost 2 years ago and was boarded because I will never be deployable, etc. I was sent to another medical facility to get scheduled for a procedure to fix or relieve my pain. The surgeon there did not think I was a candidate for the surgery. When I returned my original surgeon was still trying to find someone to do the procedure. My original surgeon had to PCS before I was referred. This was one of the main reasons for my return. So I went back to my ortho department to get my options but the new doc just stared at me like she didn't know what was going on. On my follow up to that to get the information AFPC requested for the follow up FPEB she still did not have any recommendations and even said she cannot make a recommendation without my surgical pictures and apparently, they do not keep them in my ortho records. They are only kept in my surgery records in a different part of the hospital. In 2 month she was not able to get them to make a determination on my request for a knee replacement to improve my quality of life. So I went to a civilian doctor here in Japan. While waiting for my appointment I received my next FPEB date.
During my civilian appt the doc said I need another knee surgery to remove the remaining bits of cartilage and several acid treatments to smooth out the remaining cartilage. The doctor also indicated I now have 2nd stage osteoarthritis in my knee. Looking back through my records the only reference to arthritis before was, "patient shows degenerative changes in knee." So in the year since the "shows signs" I have gone to stage 2 or 3 osteoarthritis. The doctor also noted that if my osteoarthritis worsens I will need a total knee replacement (which I was asking for since my return from Hawaii).
Appointment Summary:
-IPEB: 10% for pain
-FPEB 1: returned without action (need more medical opinions)
-Follow up ortho appt 1 (military): Blank stare, no referral.
-Follow up ortho appt 2 (military): Did basic exam, no referral after 2nd request, no recommendations for treatment given after 2nd time requesting. Noted in medical notes that decision cant be made without surgical pics after 2 month wait (Pics are down the hall, never attempted to help).
- Follow up ortho appt (civilian): Recommended surgery to fix residuals from original surgery. Recommended Knee replacement if next surgery fails to repair problem. Added additional diagnosis of osteoarthritis stage 2.
- Next FPEB: ??
So I was given a 10% rating for pain. Have new diagnosis and recommendation. Recommendation of knee replacement would entitle me to 100% disability for 1 year following surgery, with a minimum of 30% after that (if I understand that rating).
What would you fellow PEB'ers recommend?
Thank You,
Josef
I had my knee cartilage removed almost 2 years ago and was boarded because I will never be deployable, etc. I was sent to another medical facility to get scheduled for a procedure to fix or relieve my pain. The surgeon there did not think I was a candidate for the surgery. When I returned my original surgeon was still trying to find someone to do the procedure. My original surgeon had to PCS before I was referred. This was one of the main reasons for my return. So I went back to my ortho department to get my options but the new doc just stared at me like she didn't know what was going on. On my follow up to that to get the information AFPC requested for the follow up FPEB she still did not have any recommendations and even said she cannot make a recommendation without my surgical pictures and apparently, they do not keep them in my ortho records. They are only kept in my surgery records in a different part of the hospital. In 2 month she was not able to get them to make a determination on my request for a knee replacement to improve my quality of life. So I went to a civilian doctor here in Japan. While waiting for my appointment I received my next FPEB date.
During my civilian appt the doc said I need another knee surgery to remove the remaining bits of cartilage and several acid treatments to smooth out the remaining cartilage. The doctor also indicated I now have 2nd stage osteoarthritis in my knee. Looking back through my records the only reference to arthritis before was, "patient shows degenerative changes in knee." So in the year since the "shows signs" I have gone to stage 2 or 3 osteoarthritis. The doctor also noted that if my osteoarthritis worsens I will need a total knee replacement (which I was asking for since my return from Hawaii).
Appointment Summary:
-IPEB: 10% for pain
-FPEB 1: returned without action (need more medical opinions)
-Follow up ortho appt 1 (military): Blank stare, no referral.
-Follow up ortho appt 2 (military): Did basic exam, no referral after 2nd request, no recommendations for treatment given after 2nd time requesting. Noted in medical notes that decision cant be made without surgical pics after 2 month wait (Pics are down the hall, never attempted to help).
- Follow up ortho appt (civilian): Recommended surgery to fix residuals from original surgery. Recommended Knee replacement if next surgery fails to repair problem. Added additional diagnosis of osteoarthritis stage 2.
- Next FPEB: ??
So I was given a 10% rating for pain. Have new diagnosis and recommendation. Recommendation of knee replacement would entitle me to 100% disability for 1 year following surgery, with a minimum of 30% after that (if I understand that rating).
What would you fellow PEB'ers recommend?
Thank You,
Josef
