I'm an active duty 26M E5 in the Navy with 7 years in and my EAOS is in 2 years. After experiencing severe pain in my shoulder I was diagnosed with Bursitis from urgent care. After a shot of Lidocaine I went on my way until the pain returned the next day. My PCM was informed of my insomnia, constant pain and diagnosed bursitis so he ordered an MRI which revealed I had a baseball sized benign tumor called a "Subscapularis Intramuscular Hemangioma". I had surgery to remove it but months later my dominant arm ROM is still very limited (>25° abduction and >70 ° flexion/extension). The constant pain I was experiencing before recently came back and might actually be worse then ever before so i got another image taken and the tumor has grown back to over 3/4 the size it was before the surgery with enlarged lymph nodes surrounding it. Even with physical therapy twice a week for over 4 months I can't do basic things like put groceries away or walk my dog with my dominant hand holding the leash. I haven't had a good nights sleep in months usually waking up in the middle of the night in pain and if I do sleep through the night I wake up with head/neck or back pain from sleeping on my stomach which inevitably leads to a headache most days (3-4 times a week).
1) Please be real with me, what are my chances of getting medical retirement instead of medical separation? I feel like I would be completely screwed if I got medical separation and would rather lie about this pain and somehow pass the range of motion of my arm test which I don't think is remotely possible unless my doctor turns a blind eye.
2) I was told to ask my PCM to include as many things in my "Referred Conditions" before my MEB to hopefully get a DOD rating of above 30% do you think he would do that?
3) How screwed am I?
I found a list of VA ratings for conditions involving ROM of the arm and I'm no medical expert but I think "Diagnostic Code 5200 – Scapulohumeral articulation, ankylosis (abnormal stiffening and immobility) of: 50% (major)/40% (minor) – unfavorable, abduction limited to 25 degrees from side" OR "Diagnostic Code 5201 – Arm, limitation of motion of: 40/30% – to 25 degrees from side 30/20% – midway between side and shoulder level 20/20% – at shoulder level" would apply to me. I've been seeing him my PCM for a few years but I don't necessarily think he would look out for me or try to help push retirement over separation. I see him later this week and will ask about what my "refereed conditions" will be if we go through with an MEB.
1) Please be real with me, what are my chances of getting medical retirement instead of medical separation? I feel like I would be completely screwed if I got medical separation and would rather lie about this pain and somehow pass the range of motion of my arm test which I don't think is remotely possible unless my doctor turns a blind eye.
2) I was told to ask my PCM to include as many things in my "Referred Conditions" before my MEB to hopefully get a DOD rating of above 30% do you think he would do that?
3) How screwed am I?
I found a list of VA ratings for conditions involving ROM of the arm and I'm no medical expert but I think "Diagnostic Code 5200 – Scapulohumeral articulation, ankylosis (abnormal stiffening and immobility) of: 50% (major)/40% (minor) – unfavorable, abduction limited to 25 degrees from side" OR "Diagnostic Code 5201 – Arm, limitation of motion of: 40/30% – to 25 degrees from side 30/20% – midway between side and shoulder level 20/20% – at shoulder level" would apply to me. I've been seeing him my PCM for a few years but I don't necessarily think he would look out for me or try to help push retirement over separation. I see him later this week and will ask about what my "refereed conditions" will be if we go through with an MEB.
I hope you can help this guy (please and thank you), you saved my life! Love you Mr. Gately!
