I received a notification of Involuntary Separation is it too late for a MEB

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bronco

PEB Forum Regular Member
Registered Member
I have 13yrs in, and today I have been notified of Involuntary separation due to the drawdown. I have been delaying permanent profiles for couple years. Actually, I believe I can be 100% disable due to my multiple health issues: ankle, knees, hip and hand arthritis, plus migraines, surgeries etc. Does any one know if it is too late to request a MEB.
I have been told by my commander I will receive a severance pay (only one time) but I don't qualify for TERA because I have less than 15yrs.
Thanks,
 
No, it is not too late. The bigger question is what will happen if the MEB takes longer than the year they give you to separate. If already in the MEB when notification is received, the letter is supposed to be responded to with the MEB information so that they can ensure the MEB takes precedence.

I know of one example of someone who got the P3 started the same month as receiving notification. His MEB was finished 4 months prior to the separation date. Our theory was the normal MEB ETS extension would work if his MEB took longer, but we didn't test it. MEB ETS dates are changed at the division level, where the QMP ETS dates are set at HRC level, so there was some concern about who could do the DB transaction and what evidence they'd want to see. I'd probably keep your career counselor informed as s/he may need to get involved if you need an ETS date changed.
 
Wow that is rough!

Enlisted? Officer?

How were you selected, QMP? QSP? OSB?

13 years and how many months?

The timeline absolutely matters. 13 and 0 months makes it damn near impossible but 13 years and 11 months makes it very possible to get to 15 and TERA.

That said, you'll need to get a doc to submit the MEB asap. The doc doesn't need to know you wet selected for separation that is not in their lane at all. If your commander is worth a shit (some are some are not) then he/she will help you and not hinder you getting a MEB.
 
tony292 said:
That said, you'll need to get a doc to submit the MEB asap. The doc doesn't need to know you wet selected for separation that is not in their lane at all.
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This is accurate. However, I know in my example the Soldier just went to the doc and laid it out. Said, in effect, yeah, looks like we need to pull the trigger on the MEB. The QMP said I'm out, so guess I wasn't doing as good a job hiding the problems as I hoped. Most docs do understand the struggle of dealing with hiding issues. Most seem to appreciate the effort. He said they had talked about the MEB before and he was trying to avoid it. QMP simply took the question away from him.

If anyone does give you push back, it's likely pretty easy to show how the medical lead to the performance reports which lead to the selection board. It should be obvious that medical was the first domino, so MEB is the right answer.
 
I am an officer separated under OSB, yes 13yr and 4 months... yesterday I talked to the doctor but she insisted I am fit ... I have multiple joints with arthritis hands, ankles, knees, shoulder and hip (all documented). I can't take medicine due to Irritable Bowel syndrome (ISB) which due to change to diet created hemorrhoids ..., receiving shots for migraines, couple more surgeries, total hysterectomy and arthroscopy .... but yet she said I am fit. Where to go?
 
bronco said:
I am an officer separated under OSB, yes 13yr and 4 months... yesterday I talked to the doctor but she insisted I am fit ... I have multiple joints with arthritis hands, ankles, knees, shoulder and hip (all documented). I can't take medicine due to Irritable Bowel syndrome (ISB) which due to change to diet created hemorrhoids ..., receiving shots for migraines, couple more surgeries, total hysterectomy and arthroscopy .... but yet she said I am fit. Where to go?
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Wow, indeed; maybe the below information is not specifically helpful to your current dilemma albeit...

If a military officer believes his or her selection via the force reductions board was caused by a material error in their personnel file, they can file a claim with the Army Board for the Correction of Military Records, or other similar Military Department Branch-specific appellate board(s).

Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer!"

Best Wishes!
 
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bronco said:
I am an officer separated under OSB, yes 13yr and 4 months... yesterday I talked to the doctor but she insisted I am fit ... I have multiple joints with arthritis hands, ankles, knees, shoulder and hip (all documented). I can't take medicine due to Irritable Bowel syndrome (ISB) which due to change to diet created hemorrhoids ..., receiving shots for migraines, couple more surgeries, total hysterectomy and arthroscopy .... but yet she said I am fit. Where to go?
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You should consider contacting a civilian PEB lawyer, it is going to be hard to get advice from the office of the soldiers counsel, since you have not been referred.

I am going to tag @Jason Perry to see if he can chime on on this, his website is www.peblawyer.com
 
So, I still fighting with the system, I got an option to retract back to E6 and continue in the Army... and I guess to prove to the system that I indeed was "not fit". The issue I see here is that my potential retirement could substantially decrease.
 
After the five (5) more difficult months of my military life, and ready to receive my separation orders to start clearing, I have received the news that I have fibromyalgia, this has trigger a P3 profile and I guess I will be soon notified to be referred to a Med board process. I am not familiar with this process, only I know that this will override the OSB and might take longer of my initial separation day. I have a lengthy list of medical issues but an advisor explained to me that unless they don't qualify me as unfit for the Army, they won't matter. Now it is hard to say that all this medical problems are not related to the fibromyalgia: chronic migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, and joint pains that might be confused with plantar fasciitis, patella syndrome, elbow golf syndrome, hip dysfunction etc. I am not sure if during the process they will re-evaluate all these issues and determine its origin or should I go to my PCM and keep complaining....
In another hand this beautiful syndrome comes with depression which I had it few years before. Now the PCM tells me that everything comes all in ONE package calls fibromyalgia. Any insight?
 
Wish I had some... sounds like you are in a similar boat symptom wise... mine is crohns... serology and colonoscopy with biopsy confirmed for me. With that said... most of the issues if formally diagnosed as a separate issue often remain separate for rating unless they can prove base upon a preponderance of evidence that the conditions are related to the new diagnosis. my Patella femoral can be related to crohns due to inflammation but because it existed before I was diagnosed... it was rated separately. I hope that you get a PEB and medical retirement because that shit sounds painful. I have migraines from post concussive tbi, light induced vertigo, crohns, perianal disease, fistulae, fissures, ulcers, joint pain... list goes on.
 
bronco said:
After the five (5) more difficult months of my military life, and ready to receive my separation orders to start clearing, I have received the news that I have fibromyalgia, this has trigger a P3 profile and I guess I will be soon notified to be referred to a Med board process. I am not familiar with this process, only I know that this will override the OSB and might take longer of my initial separation day. I have a lengthy list of medical issues but an advisor explained to me that unless they don't qualify me as unfit for the Army, they won't matter. Now it is hard to say that all this medical problems are not related to the fibromyalgia: chronic migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, and joint pains that might be confused with plantar fasciitis, patella syndrome, elbow golf syndrome, hip dysfunction etc. I am not sure if during the process they will re-evaluate all these issues and determine its origin or should I go to my PCM and keep complaining....
In another hand this beautiful syndrome comes with depression which I had it few years before. Now the PCM tells me that everything comes all in ONE package calls fibromyalgia. Any insight?
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I know about the craziness of fibromyalgia because close family member is afflicted. There is something called 'latent infection' which basically means hidden infection of some kind which is hard to diagnose because even a rheumatologist will likely tell you have a 'latent infection' but without any revelation of what it is really, you get symptom treatment most times...unfortunately too with multiple chronic pain conditions most physicians want to set you up with multiple antidepressants because you are so depressed about your chronic pain and spasms, but sadly, antidepressants are not the answer for fibromyalgia...obviously the ideal is to get you suppressed so you complain less.
 
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