Findings back Presumed Fit-venting

Venting-----My package was sent to the board on 20 Oct. This morning I was notified that I was found Presumed Fit--Fit to continue on active duty. As disturbing as that finding is to me it's the paragraph on the second page from the board which makes my blood boil and steam come out of my ears...I'll share it here and maybe sharing misery will somehow make me feel better:

"SM entered IDES 6/27/16 and has approved retirement date of 4/1/17. Case submitted for GI symptoms that began in 2010 and for mental health symptoms that stemmed from the death of her husband in 2005 and her own experiences with casualty reports while deployed in support of OEF 2010 and 2011. These conditions HAVE NOT prematurely terminated her career and she is therefore deemed to be PFIT."

The way this is written makes me feel like my incredible amount of suffering over the course of years, giving every thing I had to my life in uniform at the expense of EVERYTHING out of uniform, sick, in pain, severe chronic major depression and severe, chronic PTSD with dissociative features, yup you got it right board, NONE of that effected my decision to prematurely end my career. Actually the reason I requested retirement was I was suicidal, disconnected, isolated, misunderstood, etc. sure glad I wasted my time doing this board. Now I get to do the va process on my own and hope it somehow works out...not that anything EVER works out for me. Ever. I'll be journaling a letter to the board members.

 

[Ltbarbie]

I'm so sorry this happened. Can you not do an appeal and go to a formal board?

 

[gsfowler]

Venting-----My package was sent to the board on 20 Oct. This morning I was notified that I was found Presumed Fit--Fit to continue on active duty. As disturbing as that finding is to me it's the paragraph on the second page from the board which makes my blood boil and steam come out of my ears...I'll share it here and maybe sharing misery will somehow make me feel better:

"SM entered IDES 6/27/16 and has approved retirement date of 4/1/17. Case submitted for GI symptoms that began in 2010 and for mental health symptoms that stemmed from the death of her husband in 2005 and her own experiences with casualty reports while deployed in support of OEF 2010 and 2011. These conditions HAVE NOT prematurely terminated her career and she is therefore deemed to be PFIT."

The way this is written makes me feel like my incredible amount of suffering over the course of years, giving every thing I had to my life in uniform at the expense of EVERYTHING out of uniform, sick, in pain, severe chronic major depression and severe, chronic PTSD with dissociative features, yup you got it right board, NONE of that effected my decision to prematurely end my career. Actually the reason I requested retirement was I was suicidal, disconnected, isolated, misunderstood, etc. sure glad I wasted my time doing this board. Now I get to do the va process on my own and hope it somehow works out...not that anything EVER works out for me. Ever. I'll be journaling a letter to the board members.

I understand that the language may be difficult, however it is technically correct.

Since you have an approved retirement date, you are technically not unfit as far as the "presumption of fitness rules" are concerned.

A MEB/PEB will cover the loss of a career, once you are accepted for retirement, your career is complete in the eyes of the regulation.

Here is the rule in legal terms:

e. Notwithstanding the above, when a soldier is referred for physical disability evaluation after having applied for length of service retirement or who is within nine months of mandatory retirement or who has been approved for certain separation actions, the soldier enters the disability system under the presumption that he or she is physically fit. This is known as the Presumption of Fitness Rule.

This does not keep you from being able to file with the VA for C&P. If your MEB has not been submitted for rating yet (if you have not had a C&P appointment) you can apply for Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) with the VA to ensure you have a seamless transition from active duty to VA

 

[Pennyfarm]

I could request a formal board but they have the ability to deny it...which at this point I'm sure they would and honestly my nerves can take the bad news.

I completed all my C&P exams before my board was packaged and sent to DC on 20 October.

No, ultimately my package was not forwarded to the VA.

My recovery care coordinator at Wounded Warrior Bn is going to help me submit my C&P claim. I feel well supported at the Bn and very fortunate to be able to end my career under such excellent care.

---------Thanks to Jason all the folks that answer our questions and provide support on this wonderful site. As bad as I feel about my PFIT finding, in the long run, I feel much more educated on the whole VA process because I read nearly every post made to this website over the past 6 months.