Info needed please

B

Blackhawkgeo

PEB Forum Regular Member
Hello to all and thanks for the fantastic website! I posted my situation in Intros and I'll give you the short story. In Dec 2004 I had to be medivaced out of Iraq due to respiratory problems. Diagnosed with asthma and after much pleading and begging was found fit for duty.By the way, I'm in the Army National Guard (12 years, 4 years active duty) and I'm a Federal Technician (6 years). Over the past 4 years, my condition has become worse and I can no longer do PT. I went thru my chain and was told to get a letter from my doc staying that I should not be doing PT, which I did. I was just now told that I have to go have a pulmonary test ( on my own dime ) and the results have to show that my condition has gotten worse before a med board process is even started. Is this right? I have 3 years of medical records from my civilian doc stating that I have to have corticosteriod shots at least 3 times a year and I'm on Symbicort and Singulair daily. I also have spirometry results from 2007 and 2008 from our PHA showing a decline in my problem. Something just doesn't seem right. Mabey I'm being paranoid, but any info on this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
 
Blackhawkgeo,

Diagnosed with asthma and after much pleading and begging was found fit for duty...

I was just now told that I have to go have a pulmonary test ( on my own dime ) and the results have to show that my condition has gotten worse before a med board process is even started. Is this right?
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Are you asking if you paying out of your own pocket is right? Or are you asking if prior to going through the PDES again (MEB/PEB) than your test must show your condition has worsened?

To the former, I don't think it is right! But I'm not clear on any regulations or SOPs to how that works in the NG. So hopefully someone else can address that for you.

In regards to the latter, the reasoning makes sense. You were found fit by the PEB when originally diagnosed, so if there is not proper evidence i.e. a pulmonary test showing a worsened condition, than I would conclude the PEB would simply find you fit again since there is no new evidence to support the assertion that your condition has worsened.

I have 3 years of medical records from my civilian doc stating that I have to have corticosteriod shots at least 3 times a year and I'm on Symbicort and Singulair daily. I also have spirometry results from 2007 and 2008 from our PHA showing a decline in my problem. Something just doesn't seem right. Mabey I'm being paranoid, but any info on this matter would be greatly appreciated.
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I understand your feelings, if you look at any of my posts from when I first became a user on this forum you can see the paranoia in the tone of my writing!

I would think that medical records showing an increased need for treatment and PHA's will be good supporting evidence. The key is identifying what medical test/procedure the PEB will use to determine the progression of your condition. If it is the pulmonary test, then I would estimate that you would eventually be ordered to take this test (perhaps if you waited until the PEB ordered it the military would have to pay for it, but like I said earlier, not sure on how the NG handles these issues).

However, I wouldn't advise waiting for them to send a case back. At least if you do it now you can see the results yourself and compare and contrast with the results of your pulmonary test taken during your original PEB. This can be an indicator as to how they may decide your case.

Good luck going through the PDES again and I hope you receive your desired outcome!
 
BHG,

I think the first thing I would do in your case is take the DD214 and medical records from Iraq to the VA and file a claim for service connection for your problem. Even if they find EPTS it would still show it was aggrevated by military service.

I think you are going down the same road I did - my service-connected conditions caused a general health decline, which affects military service. My federal employment as a technician is dependent upon my continued reserve service. You are in risk of losing two careers - is this your case?

CSM
 
I guess that I am being a bit paranoid! I'm just not sure what to expect, but reading thru this website has given me a wealth of info! Right after I typed this thread, I called my doc and asked him to schedule me a pulmonary test. He called me back 20 minutes later and said "Can you be at the Pulmonalogists' office in an hour?" I went and had the test done and sure enough, all of my levels are down from last year. I'm glad that I went. It will give me that much more ammo to go to the board with. CSM493, your absolutly right. If I'm medicaled out of the Guard, I lose my technician job. Thanks for all of the help and by the way, I'm still a little paranoid!
 
So BHG, you need to file your VA Claim. You can start the process on-line, but do it now. Seriously.

My medical issues caused me to lose my technician job, but I got a full FERS disability retirement. Actually, the FERS diasability was a minor effort compared to the military disability process.
 
Blackhawkgeo,

Apologize for not reiterating/originally mentioning the same advice the good Sergeant Major gave you. I'm active duty so I must admit ignorance in regard to the best courses of action for National Guard soldiers.

However, I am sorry to hear your condition has worsened. Hopefully navigating through the PDES gets you the desired outcome!
 
Thanks for the replys! I filed for VA Compensation about 3 weeks ago. I got a letter from them last week that said they recieved all of my medical records. Now it's a wait and see game. As far as the med board, my unit has been pretty good so far. They just don't know alot about the process. I did find out about the Federal medical retirement. That softens the blow a bit! I'll keep everyone posted!
 
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