The 30% from DoD for my heart is what I was expecting, but the 60% from VA is higher than I expected. The PDRL is what I was hoping for given the unfit finding, but I was a little nervous that I would somehow get TDRL or something and have to appeal.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in Japan
- Thread starter Laika
- Start date
Thanks! I'm pleased with the outcome, and the ratings look fair to me. I plan to sign for them.
Indeed, congratulations and enjoy you military disability retirement to include DoVA disability compensation benefits!
Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer!"
Best Wishes!
Thank you very much!Indeed, congratulations and enjoy you military disability retirement to include DoVA disability compensation benefits!
Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer!"
Best Wishes!
Indeed, you are quite welcome!
Take care! 
Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer!"
Best Wishes!
Any Air Force guys or gals have any experience with getting a promotion line number right before medical retirement? I just found out that I made MSgt, but my line number is pretty high so I will be retired by the time it comes up. I called my MPF and they directed me to the AFPC Total Force Service Center, who in turn told me to get with my PEBLO because they would route the info up and get my orders amended to reflect the promotion with a DOR of my first day of retirement. They said my DD214 would still say TSgt because I won't be a MSgt until the day after I separate. Sounded kinda weird to me that it wouldn't be on the DD214.
I told my PEBLO about the promotion, and she sent an e-mail to my case manager a couple days ago and got no response. She said there is nothing else she can do about it and said there was nothing else to tell me. I start PTDY/terminal and depart Japan on June 14th, so I'm afraid I'm going to leave here with no answer and have a much harder time getting anything done while in the states on terminal since my PEBLO will be so much harder to get a hold of... and not have a lot of incentive to help me out since I will be out of sight, out of mind. Since my PEBLO is my only POC for this entire MEB process aside from the VA, I don't know who else to contact.
Anyway, has anyone else been through this or can offer any advice?
I told my PEBLO about the promotion, and she sent an e-mail to my case manager a couple days ago and got no response. She said there is nothing else she can do about it and said there was nothing else to tell me. I start PTDY/terminal and depart Japan on June 14th, so I'm afraid I'm going to leave here with no answer and have a much harder time getting anything done while in the states on terminal since my PEBLO will be so much harder to get a hold of... and not have a lot of incentive to help me out since I will be out of sight, out of mind. Since my PEBLO is my only POC for this entire MEB process aside from the VA, I don't know who else to contact.
Anyway, has anyone else been through this or can offer any advice?
Per my IDES package..."If selected (officer) for promotion or your line number (enlisted) is prior to the date of the SAF memorandum approving your retirement, you may be retired in the regular or Reserve grade to which you had been selected and would have been promoted had it not been for the physical disability for which you are being retired." Also see AFI 36-3203 para. 7.2.6...it speaks a bit to this. My gut tells me that if you have a line number prior to getting retirement orders, you'll probably get your next rank. But...it's the AF..so....
Its been a while, but to update my case...
I asked my PEBLO about a rank determination a few times before I left Japan for PTDY/terminal but her response was always that she e-mailed my PEB case manager and never got a response. So I ended up leaving country without an answer. While on terminal leave I tried e-mailing both PEBLOs to re-engage but they wouldn't even reply to me. Next I tried my shirt, but he wouldn't reply either. Out of sight, out of mind I suppose...
So I ended up retiring as a TSgt afterall. Not a huge deal since it really doesn't matter for anything besides me not being able to say I retired as a MSgt. Pay would have been the same because of my VA rating. Still a little frustrating that nobody was willing to put forth even a bit of effort on my behalf though. I would have accepted a "no" answer, I just wanted an answer.
Got my DD-214 on the morning of 27 Sep, and uploaded to eBenefits immediately under the claim that was still open "pending decision approval." Today a new claim popped up as "IDES" with a status of "under review." I take it this means they are finalizing my claim now? Hope so, because I am ready to get my VA letter already and be done with this process!
I asked my PEBLO about a rank determination a few times before I left Japan for PTDY/terminal but her response was always that she e-mailed my PEB case manager and never got a response. So I ended up leaving country without an answer. While on terminal leave I tried e-mailing both PEBLOs to re-engage but they wouldn't even reply to me. Next I tried my shirt, but he wouldn't reply either. Out of sight, out of mind I suppose...
So I ended up retiring as a TSgt afterall. Not a huge deal since it really doesn't matter for anything besides me not being able to say I retired as a MSgt. Pay would have been the same because of my VA rating. Still a little frustrating that nobody was willing to put forth even a bit of effort on my behalf though. I would have accepted a "no" answer, I just wanted an answer.
Got my DD-214 on the morning of 27 Sep, and uploaded to eBenefits immediately under the claim that was still open "pending decision approval." Today a new claim popped up as "IDES" with a status of "under review." I take it this means they are finalizing my claim now? Hope so, because I am ready to get my VA letter already and be done with this process!
So you got 30% DoD even though its a genetic condition? i have a genetic heart condition that was just diagnosed, and ive been in for 13 years. just trying to get an idea of it itll be counted.
Also going through an MEB in Japan. Does anyone know if they tend to take any longer than normal being OS? At the beginning of the process and just wondering what I'm up against. Thanks!
I'm in Japan going through an MEB as well. My PEBLO sent an email stating that they are behind and are taking longer then normal to give ratings. My packet was sent to up 28 Sept and I am still waiting on a fit/unfit decision.
Yes, they gave me 30% for the heart despite it being genetic. That being said, I wasn't diagnosed until 2015 after 11 years in the military. Although I had significant family history, no symptoms had presented until last year and a echocardiogram, heart MRI plus a genetic test gave the docs what they needed for a diagnosis. Since I had already been in the military over 8 years, the condition was considered service-connected. Check out http://www.militarydisabilitymadeeasy.com/service-connected.html#eight for some good info. Since you're at 13 years in and just diagnosed, I would think you should be in the same boat as me as long as it is considered to make you unfit for duty.
I'm no expert, but I assume they can take longer than being stateside due to logistics and communication delays. For example, instead of going to a local VA hospital for C&P exams, they had to send me TDY to Sacramento for a week (which of course involves scheduling with aerovac office, hotel availability, etc). Communication in general is tricky and sometimes prolonged because of the time difference. One example - the MSC for my base in Japan was located at Travis AFB, CA so I had to do a teleconference with him early in the morning as part of the MEB process. I'd say communication was the toughest part of being part of an MEB from OS because nothing was simple as a phone call. To reach the VA I would have to stay up to the middle of the night and call from home, and anytime I wanted to email anyone stateside I could count on waiting an extra day for a response. But overall patience is key to getting through it to see that light at the end of the tunnel.
Oh wow ok then I guess I'll settle in for a long process! Thanks for the feedback. Good luck in your process.
Yeah, that makes total sense. Thanks!