HI all

S

ssgmike

PEB Forum Regular Member
Hi my name is mike and i have been in the army for 19 yrs July 09 is my 20 year mark. I was in Kuwait during desert storm with the 3 ACR i was a combat engineer with Lima troop. I got in the army Nov 85-Oct 94 and then i taught at FT Wainwright AK as an training instructor GS -7 till 99 when father got ill and took a leave oo absence and never returned. After 9 11 I wanted to servre my country again so i enlisted in the National Guard and as luck would have it my unit was mobilized for OIF3 in july 04 I returned home Jan 06 . This return was quit diffrent tho not like after desert storm where i was young dumb and well u know . I am not the same person that i was wow almost 5 years now. I have struggled like most just to find myself again with no such luck. I have a very long story so i wont bore you with all the details , thanks for letting me be a part of this community its the first time in years ive beeen able to try and ask for some help with the problems and delemas that i am currently facing. I was put on a leave of absense from my job by my LCSW at the VA due to PTSD symtoms in Mar 07 i recieved incap from MAR 07 thru Aug 08 yes thats right almost 18 months without a MEB . My unit did do an MRP2 packet on me in April 07 but nothing every happened with it. I have asked but they just say it went to the NGB and was approved but then vanished.I was compensated by Va beginning in June 07 with a decision of 30% PTSD to include deppression and 10% tennitus . While on on incap in 07 my job terminated me because of policy of being on loa for more than 6 months i didnt fight the issue ,they were gonna fire me anyway. I have not made a drill since May 06 but my unit codes me supossidly a h for medical. In June 08 my wife finally got tired of dealing with me and left said her husband left for iraq and never returned . You can imagine what that did to me . IN the same month i asked Va to increase my eval for PTSD and also risiduals of TBI .In july had 3 c&p exams and by 1 Oct 08 was rated at 100% PTSD 10% tbi 10% tinnitus and several 0 % ratings. Of course none of this is total and permenent i have future exams because its said to be more than likeley to get better , well it hasnt to date i am on a whole lot of meds ,such as Geodon,klonpin,trazadone,celexa,and some head ache stuff and stomach pills , . The reason i joined ths forum is because i need some help I got a phone call yesterday from my unit asking me if i just wanted to get out ,I asked you mean retire they said no just be released from service , keep in mind i have 19 yrs in service i paused a min and said hell no why would i just get out i should be retired or something the answer was well your already 100% thru VA what more do you want . You can imagine the crap thats been beating around in my head since then alonng with the other things that i have going on. I am stressed to the max .... They did call back and said they have started the MEB packet and asked if thats what i wanted , My reply was yes i think the regs say that should have been done over 2 yrs ago after being on incap for more than 6 months , Any way if somone can please help me get throught this i would appreciate it. i AM NOT VERY COMPUTER ILLITERATE SO please be kind i dont concentrate well so patience is appreciated thanks ....mike
 
Mike, I want to extend a warm welcome to the forum and this community. :)

We're always happy to help, and I very much hope your experience with the disability system goes well.

-Guy
 
Thanks atleast somone answered me . I have no patience but i am trying so hard not to lose it . I feell like i have cancer eating me away from the inside . HOPE small word ....
 
Mike,

Welcome! Yes, you want an MEB. Do not let them separate you, with PTSD, you will be able to get CRSC, resulting in additional compensation, plus securing your medical benefits.

I hope all goes well for you and please ask any questions you may have.
 
mike,

welcome. you've come to the right place. we are all in the same boat or others have been through it before. if you have any questions, need any help or just want to vent, i spend most of my "free time" here:). good luck and keep us updated on everything.
 
Hi Mike and Welcome,

Well of course we're going to reply...;)

I actually wrote a nice long blog-and it vanished. If I get pulled away from the computer and I come back to finish, I get logged out and I lose everything...I must say that it was one of my better reply's too...now, we'll never know.

Starting from scratch...sorry to hear that you've been through so much. But, as you can tell from reading all the threads-you are not alone. Far from it. The forum is of course an avenue to help us be informed /inform others on the physical disability evaluation....but it has definately become a way for us to grow and heal as well. We are all here for eachother.

I know you feel like you are just going crazy and that you are frustrated ...we've all been there...then we feel better and we go back there again:rolleyes:LOL. You are going to get it together again. One day at a time and one thing at a time.

I can sense you have a lot of anxiety and stress. It appears that you are already being seen-my clue: all the meds..(:
In addition to the meds are you working out, taking walks, anything to get your mind away from all this-for just 30 minutes a day? Eating right? We have all, at one time or another, gotten just totally wrapped up in our stressors, MEB's, etc...but its important to walk away from this for a little bit, and Re-Group. You might have seen DragonFlys post about the ski trip...just a chance to get away. With all that you've been through I just hope you've given yourself a break-a chance to relax.
Remember that there are some things that you DO have control over, and that's how well you take care of yourself. What you eat, how much you exercise (for body, mind,and spirit!) and not stressing over things that are out of your control...

Which leads me to...your unit. Ok, it took them awhile to get a clue and start the MEB, but now its been initiated and that's great. I know you've been through a lot, but this is just the start of that...and its in your best interest to be patient and to relax( both are in your control). Follow up when necessary and make copies of everything!!! all the way through-you're an "oldtimer", you know the drill. Always be polite, even if the people you are dealing with are clueless---they have their hands on your paperwork :eek:...play nice.

And one last piece of advice.. to help you get through..are you keeping yourself busy and productive? Meaningful work, having a purpose is so very important. Having a daily routine? Working out like previously mentioned. Take care of yourself. You're worth it!!! Talk to you soon.
 
This is too thank all for such kind words and encouragement. I do not fell alone anymore thanks to this forum and its wonderfull members. I do see a LCSW 2 times a week at the VAmemphis.. I have my two dogs that are taking care of me ,well thats how i feel. I do have questions but im not sure were to put them .I ll be honest i have a hard time reading them dang words you gotta put down to post ,they looked jumbled to me and well it takes me awhile to get them correct . Not the forums faought its just mine . Thank you again for the kind words of encouragement it means a whole lot to me.Maybe somoone can point me in the right direction on where to go to ask queastons i seem to have a hard time navigating this forum do to my lack of knowledge thanks ALL ...
 
There's no problem at all if you want to put all your questions here in this thread you've already started. We do it all the time. Your questions will be answered here just as easily as anywhere else. :)

The words you have to put down to post anything can seem really difficult to read. If you can't read it, there's a red circle-looking thing (it looks like two arrows making a circle) under the words that you can click on to get different words. Sometimes I do this until I find words I can easily read. I hope this helps.

-Guy
 
Mike,

If you want, you can click on the forum link describing the topic you want to post about, then click the New Thread icon, and you can post that way.

An example, Go to www.pebforum.com/forum.php . Then click on the Medical Evaluation Board forum on the left hand side (under Physical Evaluation Board Forum General Overview section). Scroll down a little and you will see New Thread button. Click there and you will be able to post about MEBs.

No one gets out of sorts around here if you post in the "wrong" place. In some cases, we will move it for you. In others, we will leave it where it is. If it really stumps you, go ahead and post your question as a reply to this thread. The only real importance of having a separate thread in an appropriate forum is that more people will see it and respond.

Good to have you here!
 
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