Hey there people,
The last week has been rather stressful for me. I am stationed at Ft. Stewart GA in the Warrior Transition BN. I have spoke with Jason pertaining to this subject and come to find out the things that we had spoken about were completely true.
Heres the thing I dont want others to have to go through the big maze of Bullshit that I have had to deal with.
So it all starts back when they wanted to start my MEB. I went through my Phase 1+2 physicals and began my process. When they were starting my paperwork they convinced me that the condition that I had in my foot was not on thier rating scale and that I was going to be boarded for pain. I didn't care made since to me right to easy no problem. I went through my dictation all the stuff with my foot looked fine but they had recently diagnosed me with Narcolepsy so I had to appeal right off the bat to get that added. They sent me to Behavioral Health, I dont understand this at all due to the fact that narcolepsy is a nuralogical illness not a mental illness. Anyways that was off point just another thing I dont get other that it says to do it in regalations. I had be doing some research for some time and I found Jason and after talking with him and discussing information I had found, we come to the conclusion that the DOD is giving way to many the big hard shaft.
There is a policy out there that states that you can be rated for chronic pain which is good for the lifers that do have pain from running everyday for 20 years. Great for them but the thing is they have slowly began rating people for pain and not the conditon that causes because the pain rating is capped at 20% but the condition that they have may very well be much higher then that.
For example myself. My doctor at Ft. Gordon sent down a list of stuff he wanted put on the board, however none of which were included. I was rated for plantar facisiitis, chronic pain and narcolepsy. Now just focusing on the foot. We are looking at the fact of that I will get 20% for the pain because how the documented it but the plantar facisiitis I will get 10% for and thats it. The problem is my condition is much worse. I can no longer do anything that I use to be able to do as a healthy 21yo. If I'm not carefull I will mess up my previous two surgerys if I sustain to much impact. The funny thing is if they rated for all the stuff that is suppose to be on the board. They would be boarding me for my aquired flat foot 30%. It can't get any lower than 30% that just that that doesn't include the fused bones the permenat facture the elongated tendon the lose of movement and the lose of a tendon in a different part of my foot need for surgery so they transfered it. All of that together would be far more that the 20% cap for pain. Just seems kinda odd that they didn't add it. When I contacted them to find out why they said it was because the pain is what is keeping me from doing my job not the other stuff that causes the pain. Thats when I contacted Jason and he gave me some resources and contrary to what they told me, they must list all boardable conditions on your MEB. And once agian they can not board you for pain as long as there is an underlying boardable condition that causes the pain.
So they sent all my stuff down to the PEB all jacked up knowing that when it got back I was going to nonconcure do to the fact none of that information was on the board. They say percedure I say they try to annoy you enough so you just give up. I am just to bull headed for that HA.
Anyways once they add my narcolepsy with the correct information with the foot I should get far more than just 30% and I better. As of yesterday I no longer have driveing rights. They are taking my DL away from me which I accepted the fact that it is not safe for me to drive because of the daily narcotics and the fact that even with my 4th round of meds I still fall asleep due to my narcolepsy the fact is that in the long run I might kill myself or even worse my family. So I guess thats when I have to stop being selfish and accept the fact. Anyways they are telling me that all of that plus the fact I cant drive anymore and the commanders letter stating that I am unemployable. I should have no problem getting at least 80% from the Army but I am hoping for 100%.
This isn't me asking for help. I just wanted others to know about this policy on pain and to know their rights and how they employ it incorrectly and to protect yourselves and your family.
However if you do know anyone similar I would like to know the out come with the VA and the Army.
The last week has been rather stressful for me. I am stationed at Ft. Stewart GA in the Warrior Transition BN. I have spoke with Jason pertaining to this subject and come to find out the things that we had spoken about were completely true.
Heres the thing I dont want others to have to go through the big maze of Bullshit that I have had to deal with.
So it all starts back when they wanted to start my MEB. I went through my Phase 1+2 physicals and began my process. When they were starting my paperwork they convinced me that the condition that I had in my foot was not on thier rating scale and that I was going to be boarded for pain. I didn't care made since to me right to easy no problem. I went through my dictation all the stuff with my foot looked fine but they had recently diagnosed me with Narcolepsy so I had to appeal right off the bat to get that added. They sent me to Behavioral Health, I dont understand this at all due to the fact that narcolepsy is a nuralogical illness not a mental illness. Anyways that was off point just another thing I dont get other that it says to do it in regalations. I had be doing some research for some time and I found Jason and after talking with him and discussing information I had found, we come to the conclusion that the DOD is giving way to many the big hard shaft.
There is a policy out there that states that you can be rated for chronic pain which is good for the lifers that do have pain from running everyday for 20 years. Great for them but the thing is they have slowly began rating people for pain and not the conditon that causes because the pain rating is capped at 20% but the condition that they have may very well be much higher then that.
For example myself. My doctor at Ft. Gordon sent down a list of stuff he wanted put on the board, however none of which were included. I was rated for plantar facisiitis, chronic pain and narcolepsy. Now just focusing on the foot. We are looking at the fact of that I will get 20% for the pain because how the documented it but the plantar facisiitis I will get 10% for and thats it. The problem is my condition is much worse. I can no longer do anything that I use to be able to do as a healthy 21yo. If I'm not carefull I will mess up my previous two surgerys if I sustain to much impact. The funny thing is if they rated for all the stuff that is suppose to be on the board. They would be boarding me for my aquired flat foot 30%. It can't get any lower than 30% that just that that doesn't include the fused bones the permenat facture the elongated tendon the lose of movement and the lose of a tendon in a different part of my foot need for surgery so they transfered it. All of that together would be far more that the 20% cap for pain. Just seems kinda odd that they didn't add it. When I contacted them to find out why they said it was because the pain is what is keeping me from doing my job not the other stuff that causes the pain. Thats when I contacted Jason and he gave me some resources and contrary to what they told me, they must list all boardable conditions on your MEB. And once agian they can not board you for pain as long as there is an underlying boardable condition that causes the pain.
So they sent all my stuff down to the PEB all jacked up knowing that when it got back I was going to nonconcure do to the fact none of that information was on the board. They say percedure I say they try to annoy you enough so you just give up. I am just to bull headed for that HA.
Anyways once they add my narcolepsy with the correct information with the foot I should get far more than just 30% and I better. As of yesterday I no longer have driveing rights. They are taking my DL away from me which I accepted the fact that it is not safe for me to drive because of the daily narcotics and the fact that even with my 4th round of meds I still fall asleep due to my narcolepsy the fact is that in the long run I might kill myself or even worse my family. So I guess thats when I have to stop being selfish and accept the fact. Anyways they are telling me that all of that plus the fact I cant drive anymore and the commanders letter stating that I am unemployable. I should have no problem getting at least 80% from the Army but I am hoping for 100%.
This isn't me asking for help. I just wanted others to know about this policy on pain and to know their rights and how they employ it incorrectly and to protect yourselves and your family.
However if you do know anyone similar I would like to know the out come with the VA and the Army.
