BlasphemousOne
PEB Forum Regular Member
Hi all,
Just like to start out saying this site is great! SO much info I have found to help with some initial questions I had.
I have written in fairly well detail to get a little more help from members who may know more about this, since I was not given much of any help sans a friend of mine who looked at it. I do realize its long, but Im just looking for some answers and insight on what I can do to be proactive with the boards, my life, my career...etc
Ok, So I had posted before back in Sept that I was flagged for having an MEB (my PCM told me over and over he was going to do it) and as of Dec 3rd it was written.
On the 17th I was supposed to have an appointment with someone in tricare/MEB section about the process or what ever. He was out that day so I just asked the Airman that worked there to just give me copies of the entire MEB paperwork.
When I took it home and read it I all ready noticed some glaring errors. Spelling and grammatical errors were present but some other info was also. Not sure if it will have any kind of effect on the outcome but I do not like a lot of the wording in this. They have 1 year off of my length of service too, 12 years instead of 13. I did not sign anything yet all I know is that they have sent it to my commander or are in the process of doing so.
I have on the cover is the Standard Form 600 with some notes from my PCM.
The first line says
Chief Complant (SIC)
The AF member may no longer be suitable for continuation in military service based on his mental health history and his medical hx to include unresolved LBP and cronic Vertigo.
** This to me says he recommends me to be out, correct? As he was looking through my records and talking with me VERY briefly before writing this, he said you should have been MEB'd a year ago".**
The history of preset illness isn't the best either, leaves out a lot and is worded terrible. But the next paragraph says Past Medical History: Anxiety, Thrombosed Hemmorrhoids. Here is my question on that, these are not past, these were service related. So does past on this narrative indicate I had this PRIOR to the military? The present illness addresses my anxiety along with my other ongoing, undiagnosed illnesses. Which BTW I am not even done seeing my doctors so I don't know how or why they could write this MEB yet.
Final Recommendation is missing a ton of things that are still either unknown (still having follow ups with off base specialists) or ongoing but left out.
Final Diagnosis/Recommendations:
DX- Bilateral S1 Radiculitis, Lumbago, DJD, near syncope with Vertigo, Unilateral Vestibular Hypofunction, and anxiety with panic attack disorder. I feel this pt has reached his MMI. (meaning they give up trying to find out whats wrong and just attribute every thing to anxiety...) He will continue to need psychiatric support and medical management that is not conductive to his continuation in the military. I reccommend referral to the IPEB for a retention Decision.
So after seeing just this part, can someone explain it a little better to me about what my future holds? I do NOT, nor does my doc, think I will be returned to duty.
The other 4 pages are from my mental health provider.
Again 12 years when its 13 1/2 service. But in a nutshell here is what it says.
I am a Af cook with 12 years with three non-combat deployments. (Is afghanistan not a combat deployment or does it depend on my job while I am there?) Prior to his most recent deployment to base x, he had no mental health complaints or contact with the MHC. (Which I figure is very good in my favor proving that this was a SC deal). words, words and more words then: but he remains non-deployable due to ongoing severe anxiety and medical issues which do not appear to be improving despite treatment.
Current Condition: words...Patient's self care remains poor and he continually presents as overwhelmed and unable to function. (no kidding! I have been suffering for 3 years with little to no help!)
Psychological Testing: CAPS assessment completed apr 2010 suggested current and lifetime severe PTSD. Current total severity score of 75 and lifetime severity score of 88.
Assessment: Patients level of functioning is low and he remains non deployable.
DSM-IV
Axis I: Panic disorder with agoraphobia
pre-morbid: apparently good
Degree of impairment for military service: Marked
Degree of impairment for civilian, social, and industrial adaptability: Considerable
Hypocrondriasis:
(I will not type out the full words, just 1, 2, 3 since all of the things are just like in the first part pre-morbid...etc
1. Apparently good
2. Marked
3. Considerable
PTSD
1. apparently good
2. Moderate
3. Mild
(so while looking into the CAPS assessment score card, it goes on a scale up to 100 I believe. It said 80+ is sever PTSD and it doesn't even show past that. So if I have severe PTSD according to the caps scale, why would this be moderate and mild??)
Axis II: Deferred
Axis III: Please refer to medical narrative
Axis IV: Per patient, cronic back injury with pain, financial stress, parenting stress, and work stress.
Axis V: Current GAF 55 ( i have looked into GAF a little bit on what it is but not so much on the C&P scale for the VA.
Administrative Line of Duty: yes (both PCM and MH have this as yes, what is it?)
Existed Prior to Service: No ( This is the best part I think, I do not have to go and take a ton of time to prove it)
Last part and one I probably question the most
Disposition and recommendations: SSgt Hill continues to be unstable due to excessive anxiety. The prognosis for complete remission of the PTSD symptoms is guarded. (what on earth does that mean, guarded?) The prognosis for complete remission of the Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia and Hypocondriasis poor. (obviously)
Recommendations onclude continued outpatient treatment inckuding individual therapy and pills. SSgt hill is expected to need and additional 12 months of treatment at a minimum (>365). This last part I had some friends look at and they all said yeah they'll keep you in so you can get this treatment. I wouldn't figure I'd be kept in and get treatment at the VA or something with all else written.
So in summary, and please forgive me for it being a short novel, what do you guys take from this? My anxiety is all ready high enough, shown numerous times throughout, but it makes it worse when I do not know what my future holds. I want to be as proactive as I can about this and have documents ready, statements ready if needed...etc
Any input anyone can give through out this would be greatly appreciated!!
Thank you very much for what you all do,
SSgt Hill
Just like to start out saying this site is great! SO much info I have found to help with some initial questions I had.
I have written in fairly well detail to get a little more help from members who may know more about this, since I was not given much of any help sans a friend of mine who looked at it. I do realize its long, but Im just looking for some answers and insight on what I can do to be proactive with the boards, my life, my career...etc
Ok, So I had posted before back in Sept that I was flagged for having an MEB (my PCM told me over and over he was going to do it) and as of Dec 3rd it was written.
On the 17th I was supposed to have an appointment with someone in tricare/MEB section about the process or what ever. He was out that day so I just asked the Airman that worked there to just give me copies of the entire MEB paperwork.
When I took it home and read it I all ready noticed some glaring errors. Spelling and grammatical errors were present but some other info was also. Not sure if it will have any kind of effect on the outcome but I do not like a lot of the wording in this. They have 1 year off of my length of service too, 12 years instead of 13. I did not sign anything yet all I know is that they have sent it to my commander or are in the process of doing so.
I have on the cover is the Standard Form 600 with some notes from my PCM.
The first line says
Chief Complant (SIC)
The AF member may no longer be suitable for continuation in military service based on his mental health history and his medical hx to include unresolved LBP and cronic Vertigo.
** This to me says he recommends me to be out, correct? As he was looking through my records and talking with me VERY briefly before writing this, he said you should have been MEB'd a year ago".**
The history of preset illness isn't the best either, leaves out a lot and is worded terrible. But the next paragraph says Past Medical History: Anxiety, Thrombosed Hemmorrhoids. Here is my question on that, these are not past, these were service related. So does past on this narrative indicate I had this PRIOR to the military? The present illness addresses my anxiety along with my other ongoing, undiagnosed illnesses. Which BTW I am not even done seeing my doctors so I don't know how or why they could write this MEB yet.
Final Recommendation is missing a ton of things that are still either unknown (still having follow ups with off base specialists) or ongoing but left out.
Final Diagnosis/Recommendations:
DX- Bilateral S1 Radiculitis, Lumbago, DJD, near syncope with Vertigo, Unilateral Vestibular Hypofunction, and anxiety with panic attack disorder. I feel this pt has reached his MMI. (meaning they give up trying to find out whats wrong and just attribute every thing to anxiety...) He will continue to need psychiatric support and medical management that is not conductive to his continuation in the military. I reccommend referral to the IPEB for a retention Decision.
So after seeing just this part, can someone explain it a little better to me about what my future holds? I do NOT, nor does my doc, think I will be returned to duty.
The other 4 pages are from my mental health provider.
Again 12 years when its 13 1/2 service. But in a nutshell here is what it says.
I am a Af cook with 12 years with three non-combat deployments. (Is afghanistan not a combat deployment or does it depend on my job while I am there?) Prior to his most recent deployment to base x, he had no mental health complaints or contact with the MHC. (Which I figure is very good in my favor proving that this was a SC deal). words, words and more words then: but he remains non-deployable due to ongoing severe anxiety and medical issues which do not appear to be improving despite treatment.
Current Condition: words...Patient's self care remains poor and he continually presents as overwhelmed and unable to function. (no kidding! I have been suffering for 3 years with little to no help!)
Psychological Testing: CAPS assessment completed apr 2010 suggested current and lifetime severe PTSD. Current total severity score of 75 and lifetime severity score of 88.
Assessment: Patients level of functioning is low and he remains non deployable.
DSM-IV
Axis I: Panic disorder with agoraphobia
pre-morbid: apparently good
Degree of impairment for military service: Marked
Degree of impairment for civilian, social, and industrial adaptability: Considerable
Hypocrondriasis:
(I will not type out the full words, just 1, 2, 3 since all of the things are just like in the first part pre-morbid...etc
1. Apparently good
2. Marked
3. Considerable
PTSD
1. apparently good
2. Moderate
3. Mild
(so while looking into the CAPS assessment score card, it goes on a scale up to 100 I believe. It said 80+ is sever PTSD and it doesn't even show past that. So if I have severe PTSD according to the caps scale, why would this be moderate and mild??)
Axis II: Deferred
Axis III: Please refer to medical narrative
Axis IV: Per patient, cronic back injury with pain, financial stress, parenting stress, and work stress.
Axis V: Current GAF 55 ( i have looked into GAF a little bit on what it is but not so much on the C&P scale for the VA.
Administrative Line of Duty: yes (both PCM and MH have this as yes, what is it?)
Existed Prior to Service: No ( This is the best part I think, I do not have to go and take a ton of time to prove it)
Last part and one I probably question the most
Disposition and recommendations: SSgt Hill continues to be unstable due to excessive anxiety. The prognosis for complete remission of the PTSD symptoms is guarded. (what on earth does that mean, guarded?) The prognosis for complete remission of the Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia and Hypocondriasis poor. (obviously)
Recommendations onclude continued outpatient treatment inckuding individual therapy and pills. SSgt hill is expected to need and additional 12 months of treatment at a minimum (>365). This last part I had some friends look at and they all said yeah they'll keep you in so you can get this treatment. I wouldn't figure I'd be kept in and get treatment at the VA or something with all else written.
So in summary, and please forgive me for it being a short novel, what do you guys take from this? My anxiety is all ready high enough, shown numerous times throughout, but it makes it worse when I do not know what my future holds. I want to be as proactive as I can about this and have documents ready, statements ready if needed...etc
Any input anyone can give through out this would be greatly appreciated!!
Thank you very much for what you all do,
SSgt Hill
