Just Starting From Hunter Army Airfield, GA.

Miguel Machocomacho

Miguel Machocomacho

PEB Forum Regular Member
PEB Forum Veteran
Registered Member
Hello all. So My process began in April with the MEB initiated, and I am about to go to my last medical evaluation APT on the 2nd of June. My Peblo said that I will receive a NARSUM within 2-4 weeks after that. I am a little nervous about this whole process, and just dreading each and every moment that i am in it. I see and read all the horror stories about people getting "Trapped in the system" for years.

Its a little impossible to try and get mentally and physically prepaired to get out, find a job, sell my house, move my family... etc. without any realistic timeframe. So.. Hopefully this wont take long, but I will most deffinately not be holding my breath.
 
Sounds like we're on the exact same timeline. I don't have any advice or knowledge but good luck on everything.
 
Well be ready and completely versed in all regulations pertaining to your particular Service. Make sure you keep on em and document document document. I just bought a $265 printer/scanner/fax machine so i could make electronic copies of everything I have. Along with that I just applied for SSDI under wounded warriors. Also, make sure you know what you want and can do. Right now I'm looking at PEB findings to be approx 30 or more percent for medical retirement, with VA disability in the 40-60-80-100 range. Otherwise I request a Formal Board, and hire a lawyer. I have Multiple things including limited movement of only 10-14 percent total on my Range Of Motion due to spinal injury requiring double spinal fusion, depression, insomnia, ED, and a few other things. My quality of life is grossly diminished.

Along with that my condition is in such a deteriorated state that i will apply for UI if possible as well. I have no job and basically take up a computer for my 4 hrs i work. My leadership has NOT helped me out thru this situation which seems to be a running theme as well. Be prepared to get a lawyer if necessary as well. I will also be filing a request to the Board of Corrections within the USAF so I can fight to have my retirement rank be E-5/SSgt and have my EPR's/Fitness Assessments thrown out as they would have clearly been hindered by my condition.

Some individuals on these boards are still ongoing after serving AD and are at the 1300 day mark or more and yes that's not an error in zero's, some have been fighting and have a lot more serious condition than our own, so be kind and welcome to the boards, sorry to hear about your situation, and hope all goes well. Keep us posted.

This is MY TIME FRAME below-
Injured doing routine PT Training 13 Jan 2011
Physical Therapy - February 2011
2 Epidurals thru March 25th 2011,
Neurosurgeon Appt no findings - April 2011
Notified of Demotion Action from E-5 to E-4 18 May 2011
Another Pain management Dr. Identified condition June 2011
Arrested for failure to report for duty July 2011 - (AT WORK was Late and Called in)
Ortho Surgeon informed of surgery on 21 July 11
Demotion Appeal denied- Demoted 15 July 2011 - from E-5 to E-4
Surgery 29 Aug 2011
Administrative Separation Notication 27 Nov 2011,
My MEB was initiated on 28 Nov 2011,
NARSUM signed 30 Nov 2011,
Verified signed by local MTF 5 Dec 2011,
VA Comp and Pensions exam 15 Jan 2012,
Updated NARSUM with VA Findings 28 Jan 2012,
Mailed to AFPC for PEB - 30 Jan 2012,
Recieved by VA 4 April 2012,
Pending Decision Approval VA 10 April 2012,
Notified of Demotion Action Pending from E-4 to E-3 - 12 April 2012.
IG Complaint Filed - 15 April 2012
Informal Hearing with CC his JAG council, First Shirt, and my ADC Rep about the LOR and 2nd Demotion Action - 15 May 2012
Still waiting on the E-4 to E-3 decision from CC and nothing from PEBLO or change in Ebenefits website. 30 May 2012
Received IG Complaint findings - of no gross abuse of power or error in lawful acts by my CC - case dismissed - 25 May 12
Applied online for SSDI Benefits and SSA (probably receive quick denial) - 30 May 2012
On failed PT test #9 in a row now and 6 since injury i believe.
 
The process is long and tedious and each case is different. I would definitely start planning now for your possible outcome. If you feel you have a strong case and your MEB doctor agrees, I haven't seen to many people surprised to be found fit for duty if they were looking at leaving the service. I think that is especially true right now with all the personnel cuts that are happening very shortly. If you can sell your house early and move into a temporary rental, that would be one less stressor to have to deal with months down the road when you find out your results. Some of us have been in the process for almost a year and some even longer. There really is no way to determine how long it will take as each case is different and every PEBLO is different. Hopefully you are assigned to a strong PEBLO who will work with you and update you throughout the process. It's never to early to start planning for your future outside the military, but persuading a possible employer of not knowing when you will be available for work can be difficult. Spend as much time as you can researching this process and reading everything on this forum. There is a lot of great information to be found and never be afraid to ask a question, even if it has been asked a hundred times. Thats one thing I really like about this forum. Not too many people will tell you to just do a search. People actually take their time and respond. We are all going through this process together and all share knowledge from hat we have learned along the way. I wish you the best of luck Miguel.
 
Wow! Well I honestly was not expecting any of this. I came back from a mission and had some serious back pain and numbness, within the first couple weeks the Doc was already talking about a possible MEB. I started Flipping out. Was not what I had in mind. Now that Ive accepted the fact that i probably will no longer be quit like i was, i get shunned from people at work. Its very hard because i come from a "Unique" unit and type A personality just gets water boarded by everybody i work with. I wanted to stay in, but at this point im done, and over it.

I am no where close to being as intricate or knowledgeable as you guys, so ill just keep reading up and expect the worst and hope for the best.

Again thanks for the Guidance and the info guys. I greatly appreciate it all. I will deffinately keep this updated and let you all know how it goes.
 
Well I just finished my QTC apointments. I had 3 to go to. 1 for general, one for hearing, and 1 for psyc. I only have 1 condition for the actual MEB. So I guess I wait a few weeks to get my NARSUM.

How are you moving along macduff?
 
You will be fine, make sure you stay on top of your paperwork and don't throw anything away. Everything that you get, keep it until the whole ordeal is over. I will tell you that the VA is behind and so is Fort Sam Houston on boards and ratings. That is by far the longest parts. Once you get there, you will be fine. I am awaiting orders here at Fort Stewart. Just stay focused, once you get your fit/unfit decision everything else will fall into place.
 
My last day in the military is 08 July I started my MEB in late September. Good luck, stay on top of paperwork, do your own research, call and back check that stuff you where told is getting done is actually getting done and be patient it'll be over before you know it.
 
Well I just got a call from my PEBLO today. She told me that I have 2 dictation APTS. One for general, and one for psyc. The Psyc one is actually a VTC. So hopefully soon after these i can get my narsum, and if all goes well it will be sent out sooner than later. I really wish i had a more definitive timeline, but... who needs to get things organized for life after the military anways. LOL
 
Well... Now I am waiting for my narsum to get returned from being signed. Should be another week or two from what the PEBLO said.
 
Status update, I go review my NARSUM on monday. They changed my profile and added some things. I gues that they are adding those on the actual unfit conditions, but im not sure yet. I also had to have my commanders intent redone so i can get promoted before I get out. I just really hope that I don't have to appeal what the narsum says, I do not want this to take any longer than it has to. One step closer!
 
New update! Friday I was told I was found unfit and now awaiting VA rating. No I am hoping it doesn't actually take 4 months for VA rating. Now is it true that I will only be getting 1 check if tha army rates me at 60% and VA at 80%? Or would I get 2 separate checks?
 
Congrats! I found out myself Friday that my package was sent from the PEB to the VA on Sept 4th. Unless you qualify for CRSC, you will only receive one check.
 
So i am not at a verry frustrating point in this whole process and I can not get any clear answer at all whatsoever. My PEBLO has been amazing but has no info to give me. I am currently waiting for my ratings and according to the ebenefits website i am "waiting for raiting approval", however when I call the 1800 number they tell me that they are still waiting for my unfit decision. My unfit decision was sent to the VA 2 months ago. I can not believe that there is nobody that I can talk to directly that can tell me what is going on.
 
Miguel Machocomacho said:
So i am not at a verry frustrating point in this whole process and I can not get any clear answer at all whatsoever. My PEBLO has been amazing but has no info to give me. I am currently waiting for my ratings and according to the ebenefits website i am "waiting for raiting approval", however when I call the 1800 number they tell me that they are still waiting for my unfit decision. My unfit decision was sent to the VA 2 months ago. I can not believe that there is nobody that I can talk to directly that can tell me what is going on.
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Miguel, I am in the same boat as you. I am here at Ft Stewart and this process is rediculous. I was found unfit 14 AUG 12 and received my proposed ratings of 70% Army 80% VA. I thought all was going well. But here it is 3 months later and my PEBLO can only tell me they sent it to the VA. I told her I already knew that and I received my proposed ratings I now just need my 199. She is totally clueless to the process. A week later I get a phone call telling me I now have a new PEBLO. I am thinking great someone who knows what they are doing......NOT!! She is worse than the first one and never returns my phone calls or emails. I am ready to go to the OMBUDSMAN to get something done.
 
Im sorry to hear about your bad luck with the PEBLO. I am fortunate to have an amazing and awesome PEBLO. I was found unfit the beginning of SEP and i still have no proposed rating. Hopefully something happens soon. Good luck with yours, it sounds like you are right there at the finish line.
 
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