Lost, Need Directions-Advice

C

crow

PEB Forum Regular Member
Registered Member
I am a Army E-5 12 yrs active duty(June 2001). I have a list of problems I will list below, but first I want to thank anyone who reads and/or responds to this. I have been avoiding MED Boards and Evaluations for a long time. I have been deployed to Iraq for 27 months in total. I am currently stationed in Korea. I have recently undergone a sleep study(info at the bottom) and am beginning to make decisions about the rest of my life. I am trying to base my decisions on expectations on reality and any information I can receive here, or anywhere else, helps in that goal.
I realize some of the info I have on hand is limited and will be more precise at a later time.


Diagnosis
Degenerative disk disease, lower spine with arthritis (possibly in other joints, it feels like it but not confirmed yet) , I have gotten streoid injections from civilian doctors, radiopathy (where they burn out the nerve to limit pain signals) and have had one aprox every 6 months for last 2 years.

PTSD mainly related to OIF 1 (2003-4) with 4ID. I think its moderate, Nightmares regularly, panic attacks (1 a month aprox) Follow up deployment was not bad comparatively.

Compartment syndrome lower left leg (surgery to open the fascia and close the main tissue around it leaving a larger hole to reduce pain, didn't work.

Carpal Tunnel: I had a nerve conduction test at civilian pain management due to loss of feeling in hands. good news not the spine, but I was informed I have carpal tunnel. I took the report to military hospital and was told(without referring to the results I was fine and here are some stretches to do) and will have to fight to get that added i bet.

High Blood Pressure

Sleep Apnea: I have the results but not with me and will update later. I do remember that i severe (37) and woke up aprox 39 times per hour for the test.


Medications
Tramadol
ambien
zanaflex
carisoprodol
lisinopril
Zoloft



So, this is a rough sketch of me right now. I have a p2 because I have always fought not to get a p3. with the sleep apnea and the relative speed with which i feel i am getting worse and not better leads me to question fighting to stay in. maybe its time to get out and start a civilian life. I am utrying to determine as much as i can about what the end outcome might be of this. Main questions listed below:

1. I am in Korea, should I wait till I go to the next duty station (tour 1 yr) next spot FT Lewis?
2. If i do start in Korea does that mean I will have to stay here till the board is over?
3. I have a hard time understanding much of what i can fine, and am having trouble figuring out what percentages I would be looking at. (aprox, i know that nothing is set in stone without the board.)

Thank you for all who took the time to read this wall of text and big thanks to those who respond.
 
If you are recommended for a MEB you will have to do a medical PCS, they don't do them in Korea. If that is what you want I would get it started soon I just left there and it took almost three months to get me out of there. I waited and waited like you are and I ended up staying past my DEROS waiting for PCS orders. Good Luck!
 
First things first...you should be getting the treatment you need for all conditions you listed above.

I don't like the idea of waiting for your next duty station to try to start MEB, but I don't know your entire situation so...yeah.

As far as 'hav[ing] to stay' there 'till the board is over', I would suggest looking into a stateside WTU--this can be discussed with the physician who initiates your med board.

Ratings: research the VARSD.

What's your MOS?
 
I am a 92y20. I have looked up the phrase VARSD but am having some difficulty making heads or tails of what information applies to me, but I will continue reading and I am sure I will get it eventually. I am looking into treatment, but before I can really go into the treatment I would have to allow them to make me p3 and or admit the breadth of the issues which will push strait to med board (or so my Primary Care insinuated). I am willing to answer just about any question (within reason) that may be pertinent to my interests.

Also thank you for taking the time to reply.
 
Very unsure. I want to be able to provide for my family. I have become unhappy with my life in the army. My "little issues" are making it hard for me to perform as well as I know I can. I had planned on doing 20, but I just don't feel that I can give the army what it demands and what I need to be what I need to be.But I am also well aware that much of what I feel is fear of the unknown and I am hoping the information I can gather will prepare me for my choices. I haven't committed to any action yet, but eventually I may not have a choice.
 
Some like the eCFR over the VARSD for ratings: http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-id...;sid=69acbf2264e5cd4086c039a501bc5197;cc=ecfr

I don't think your conditions warrant being characterized as, "little issues." For starters, any time you are having panic attacks, that is sever. And if frequent enough, warrant a high rating regarding behavioral health conditions, such as PTSD. On top of that, you are taking medication for the PTSD, no?

In very few circumstances is it best to hide severity of medical conditions. I know were are programmed to "just drive on" but very rarely is it ever in the best interests of the SM, his unit, or the military to do so regarding a chronic medical condition. Unless you plan on doing some super-hoah job after the military like HRT or something, then you want your conditions documented, regardless of MEB.

Do you think you would have a supportive command if you were to do med board?

Worse case scenario is that you get to the point where you are forced into med board and you don't have adequate documentation of your conditions and receive a lower rating than you should/would have had you had more medical evidence.
 
Thank you very much for the link. It is proving very helpful. I am in no way the super hooah guy. But i would do anything to take care of my family, and it comes down to that.
My unit may be supportive but I am in Korea and it wouldn't matter. Someone else suggested looking into a WTU. Sounds like if i did this my next unit orders would be killed and be redirected somewhere else. Not necessarily a bad thing in an of itself.
 
From my experiences, here is a single case in point to ponder... :(

I have been telling my military clinicians after the return from my last OIF/OEF combat operational tour (in 2007) that my "memory is shot" and no one believed me until transferring to my current Neuropsychologist last year. I was diagnosed with Post-Concussion Syndrome (to say the least) and sustained numerous concussions with loss of concussion (LOC) thereafter for years.

My point is never default from what you believe is accurate in reference to incorrect medical diagnoses. Stay the course and remain strong until successful completion of the result(s) you are trying to achieve.

Thus, possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer.

Best Wishes!
 
Thank you all for your kind and informative words. I feel a little better about my prospects now. I am just afraid if I don't act soon I may be forced into a less acceptable situation. With ETS in May 2014, I should either start now, or re-enlist. Just ETSing wouldn't provide even a small chance to be taken care of as well as MEB, would it?
 
NO...well...nope, not even going to entertain the idea of "Just ETSing" and getting taken care of after. Med board is the way to go if you have sever medical condition(s), which warrant medical separation.
 
I figured as much. Guess I just wanted an unbiased opinion. Most people I could talk to about this would turn around and crucify me for it in some way.
 
crow said:
I figured as much. Guess I just wanted an unbiased opinion. Most people I could talk to about this would turn around and crucify me for it in some way.
Click to expand...

Again, never default from what you believe is accurate in reference to incorrect medical diagnoses. Stay the course and remain strong until successful completion of the result(s) you are trying to achieve.

Thus, possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer.

Best Wishes!
 
Well it has begun, I spoke to my PCM today and jave an appointment to get my P3 and begin MED Board Paperwork next week. He also called in to tricare about my CPAP machine.
 
crow said:
Well it has begun, I spoke to my PCM today and jave an appointment to get my P3 and begin MED Board Paperwork next week. He also called in to tricare about my CPAP machine.
Click to expand...

Good deal...:)

Thus, now the fun has just begun.

Best Wishes!
 
I spoke to my PCM today. He is going to begin writing my NARSUM tomorrow. The portion of my records that deals with the injections and off post pain management has not been sent to the medical records office, though I have requested it repeatedly(from Off post). He says he does not need this info to write the narsum, just the knowledge that I have perused this avenue is sufficient. Is this correct ?
 
crow said:
I spoke to my PCM today. He is going to begin writing my NARSUM tomorrow. The portion of my records that deals with the injections and off post pain management has not been sent to the medical records office, though I have requested it repeatedly(from Off post). He says he does not need this info to write the narsum, just the knowledge that I have perused this avenue is sufficient. Is this correct ?
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, that is a valid response;. But, it's not advantageous to the military service member. :(

Off post civilian providers do not possess the authority to make a "military" medical diagnosis. Meaning, their medical diagnosis is potentially sound objective evidence supportively used by the MTF PCM for official annotation into the Armed Forces Health Longitudinal Technology Application (AHLTA) electronic medical record (EMR) system.

Moreover, from my experiences, the off post civilian provider is required to forward their progress note(s) to the MTF upon completion if the patient was referred to them by a MTF PCM; otherwise, it's the military service member's responsibility to ensure that their medical documentation is received at the supporting MTF.

Thus, possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer.

Best Wishes!
 
crow said:
I spoke to my PCM today. He is going to begin writing my NARSUM tomorrow. The portion of my records that deals with the injections and off post pain management has not been sent to the medical records office, though I have requested it repeatedly(from Off post). He says he does not need this info to write the narsum, just the knowledge that I have perused this avenue is sufficient. Is this correct ?
Click to expand...
I would recommend going to the off post provider's office and request a copy of all your records to be mailed to you in addition to your MTF. You want a copy of those records for your MEB packet. Once you get your copy, make another copy and give them to your PEBLO to include in MEB packet.

I wouldn't worry too much about your PCM not having looked at your actual records from off post, especially, if it's just for pain management--just make sure PCM includes the pain management details in the NARSUM. But, again, you want those records for yourself and MEB packet.
 
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