New Member - Timeline and Questions

Hello all, I have been lurking here for a few months and finally decided to make an account and post.

I am a Marine Staff Sergeant and I just hit my 11 year mark.

My C&P exams were in February, and I signed my docs and NARSUM and it was all sent to the board in March. My package was officially accepted by the board on 24 March. I have not heard anything back yet on fit or unfit, and I checked with my PEBLO last Monday 4/18.

My eBenefits still says the following:

(1) Open Claim
Submitted: 2/1/2016
Type: Compensation
Status: Gathering of Evidence
Updates: Requested Documents are Past Due
It still says documents are needed from QTC and due 4/4/2016.

It should be a simple fit/unfit decision, as my DoD condition only relates to my left wrist injury. My orthopedic surgeon is 100% certain that there is no possibility of me being found fit for duty but of course I still worry until I see it for sure.

However due to many other injuries in the last 11 years I have like 27 other VA claims. I have arthritis and tendinitis and spurs on nearly every moving joint in my body. I have had four knee surgeries and that could easily be an unfitting condition just as well. I expect the VA rating portion to take a while.

I am just wondering if it's normal for my eBenefits status to not have changed yet, and looking as some other timelines here it seems like maybe my fit/unfit decision should have come back already.

My entire board process has been handled out of 29 Palms, CA.

Thanks everyone.
 
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I saw no movement until 4 months past the package being accepted. Then it all happened within a week to Prep for decision. If you have a historical claim that means the VA is done and I got the ratings one month after the close date.

I also heard no fit/unfit from the PEBLO until my findings came in and I got the phone call, unfit and ratings.

I hope this helps you with your expectations.
 
I have a similar timeline as my package was mailed off on the same date however im at pending decision approval. To be honest I dont even think those ebenefit statuses are accurate at all.
 
Is there any way, besides my PEBLO, to find out the fit/unfit decision prior to waiting for them to (possibly...) contact me?

Like I said, my ortho said there is no possible way I could be found fit, however until I get that concrete decision of 'unfit' I can't really move forward with my life. I would like to move forward with job offers, finding a house, etc., with more than a few weeks notice.
 
Jeffrey11 said:
Is there any way, besides my PEBLO, to find out the fit/unfit decision prior to waiting for them to (possibly...) contact me?

Like I said, my ortho said there is no possible way I could be found fit, however until I get that concrete decision of 'unfit' I can't really move forward with my life. I would like to move forward with job offers, finding a house, etc., with more than a few weeks notice.
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Hi jeffrey my board is out of 29 palms as well, might I suggest getting all of your orthopedic problems to count toward your board. You state you have had 4 knee surgeries that are not on your board. I know the orthopedic surgeon's up at the 29 hopsital and you might ask them to add them as well. Orto problems are rated low and if you want that medical retirement you need all the ammo you can get.

And the PEBLOS at 29 palms give you an unofficial unfit, basicly there is a system that can show if you're unfit before you get your ratings.

24 March is still really early I hate to say, mine took almost 3 months for that stage. Every case if different but I would expect 2-3 month wait
 
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0311eblow said:
Hi jeffrey my board is out of 29 palms as well, might I suggest getting all of your orthopedic problems to count toward your board. You state you have had 4 knee surgeries that are not on your board. I know the orthopedic surgeon's up at the 29 hopsital and you might ask them to add them as well. Orto problems are rated low and if you want that medical retirement you need all the ammo you can get.

And the PEBLOS at 29 palms give you an unofficial unfit, basicly there is a system that can show if you're unfit before you get your ratings.

24 March is still really early I hate to say, mine took almost 3 months for that stage. Every case if different but I would expect 2-3 month wait
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I'm not sure I want/need the medical retirement. I don't live near a military base so I would never use commissary or exchange privileges, so that benefit is essentially worthless to me. The only reason I can think of worth getting a retirement is the Tricare.

I have been in 11 years and my separations pay would be about $72,000 before taxes. I only have a little bit of debt, and that lump sum would pay off both of my 2015 vehicles and my credit card with plenty left over. So I would be starting my civilian life with zero debt whatsoever and hefty savings in the bank and two new cars. That is pretty compelling over keeping Tricare as a secondary health insurance.

I just saw ortho today and we reviewed the MRI I got last month and I have a torn ligament in my right wrist which will require surgery and would be another boardable condition, since my current board is only on my left wrist. I will fight to make sure I get all the proper VA ratings, I am just not sure it's worth getting the 30% or more on the DoD side.
 
Jeffery,

I strongly suggest you slow down and seriously considered and take in effect everything a military retirement entails vs. a lump sum.

Understand you are young and having a pile of money at front sounds tasty, but money runs out, a military retirement will last you a lifetime.

Compound that with VA disabilities benefits which will also last at lifetime and the two together form a very strong team. If you deserve to be medically retired, opt for it, you will not regret it.
 
Craig2356 said:
Jeffery,

I strongly suggest you slow down and seriously considered and take in effect everything a military retirement entails vs. a lump sum.

Understand you are young and having a pile of money at front sounds tasty, but money runs out, a military retirement will last you a lifetime.

Compound that with VA disabilities benefits which will also last at lifetime and the two together form a very strong team. If you deserve to be medically retired, opt for it, you will not regret it.
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That is really what I am trying to figure out. I don't know how a military retirement benefits me except for Tricare.

I'm enjoy my career field and put a lot of effort in to improving myself. I will be starting around $75k/year when I get out later this year, and the kinds of jobs I seek offer full benefits packages. In under 10 years I expect to be in the $135k/year range if I finish off a few more certifications. I'm only 30 right now, so I feel like I can set myself up for success.

I am pretty financially savvy, and never make large money decisions without a plan mapped out. I have been talking to some civilians that work where I do asking them about their VA benefits, military retirements, and other questions.

Large piles of money upfront do run out, but when I fully own two brand new vehicles and have zero debt and my property paid cash for, literally my only focus in life will be to build my forever home on my property and enjoy life, working and raising my children. I don't have a lot of vices and I keep careful track of my money. I have a large TSP I will roll over after I get out.

I'm not an investing genius or anything, I just save and spend on what makes my family happy instead of frivolous things. We don't eat out much and plan for large purchases, that sort of thing.

That is mainly why I am here to ask for advice. I understand Tricare would last a lifetime, but with a solid job and plan for the future, it might not enhance my quality of life the way a large lump sum could now. I only plan to build and live in one house the rest of my life, so having zero debt and my property paid for would leave me to only have to worry about money to finish building the actual home. I won't have to worry about vehicles for the next 10 years or so, and my children get part of my 9/11 G.I. Bill and I have some money put away for them so a good chunk of their college is paid for.

Since I am not accessing a commissary or exchange and don't live near any military bases, that entire portion of the retirement equation is worth zero to me. I'm not sure what other benefits there are to retirement. I won't work in the government sector again so anything that has to do with federal job benefits that could be related to retirement does not interest me. I'm going over all my options just trying to see what a military retirement actually offers, since I will never see any of the retirement check as it will always be trumped by VA pay. I don't rate any concurrent receipt or anything.

If you see points that I am missing please let me know. I have a few more months before I will make final decisions and I will spend every minute of that time on my future budgets, long-term and short-term plans, etc. I just want to learn everything I can about options available to me and how they will affect me now and down the road.
 
Let's make it simple, this of course is your decision to make and live with it:

Lump Sum of 70K will do what you mentioned, not doubt and specially if you are as frugal as you portray to be (kudos for that), your write ups entail an educated person and you mention a job/career that will catapult you to 100K plus a year -- strong bonds among those two and well done!

However; military retirement will offer you a lifetime paycheck plus the benefits of TRICARE among other perks (understand you will get insurance through your potential employee but it doesn't hurt to have both?)

You are 30, the 70K will run out in a year, two or 10 from now, the military retirement paycheck will stay there for life, so figure out how much the military would pay you monthly if medically retired and multiply that times the many months you have in front of you to live.

If the latter doesn't surpass the 70K lump sum, I'll be dazzled.

Maybe the 70K will get you the cash you need to pay cash for the vehicles and the house and have some left over right now, but it will diminish considerable as time goes on.

The military retirement paycheck, although smaller and coming in batches will be there every month for a lifetime. You are good with money, educated and with a good potential job -- buddy you could have it both ways if you opt for the retirement.

Food for thought.
 
Craig2356 said:
Let's make it simple, this of course is your decision to make and live with it:

Lump Sum of 70K will do what you mentioned, not doubt and specially if you are as frugal as you portray to be (kudos for that), your write ups entail an educated person and you mention a job/career that will catapult you to 100K plus a year -- strong bonds among those two and well done!

However; military retirement will offer you a lifetime paycheck plus the benefits of TRICARE among other perks (understand you will get insurance through your potential employee but it doesn't hurt to have both?)

You are 30, the 70K will run out in a year, two or 10 from now, the military retirement paycheck will stay there for life, so figure out how much the military would pay you monthly if medically retired and multiply that times the many months you have in front of you to live.

If the latter doesn't surpass the 70K lump sum, I'll be dazzled.

Maybe the 70K will get you the cash you need to pay cash for the vehicles and the house and have some left over right now, but it will diminish considerable as time goes on.

The military retirement paycheck, although smaller and coming in batches will be there every month for a lifetime. You are good with money, educated and with a good potential job -- buddy you could have it both ways if you opt for the retirement.

Food for thought.
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Craig, thanks for your replies.

As I understand it, since I have not hit 20 years then I can not receive both VA disability pay and military retirement pay together. I will get whichever is higher which will undoubtedly be my VA disability. My key factor is I am expecting at or near a 100% VA rating.

I get VA disability regardless of whether I take the separations pay or retirement.

So does it not come down to choosing either disability separations pay (and VA payments) or Tricare (and VA payments)?

I realize I will have to pay back the separations pay through a portion of my VA disability payments. If my VA rating is at or close to 100% for all conditions, and my "PEB condition" is only at 20% then that is still a hefty VA disability check. I'm only losing $230-ish a month and still receiving at least $2999 for the next 23 years until my seps pay is recouped.

I paid mostly cash for my truck when I bought it, and both the truck and the car are only carrying a 1.74% interest rate so the total interest penalty isn't much, but I do hate debt sitting over me. I don't have a large CC balance and it's easily manageable and I pay way more than minimum payments but again I hate debt.

This is how I am looking at it:

**Seps Pay: ($72,000 lump sum, taxed, get back most of those taxes in 2017) + ($2999 VA disability check)
2015 truck - paid off right now
2015 car - paid off right now
credit card - paid off right now
property - paid off right now
house - can finance with a VA loan as soon as property is purchased

**Retirement: (Tricare) + ($3268 VA disability check) (commissary and exchange are N/A)
2015 truck - paid off within 1-2 years, putting almost all $3268 per month towards debt
2015 car - paid off within 1-2 years, putting almost all $3268 per month towards debt
credit card - paid off within 1-2 years, putting almost all $3268 per month towards debt
property - need to save money, purchase in a couple years
house - can finance with a VA loan, but not for a couple years after property is purchased

Nobody will finance for undeveloped property, so I have to pay cash outright. Once I have the property paid for I can start building my house. The longer I rent before I can purchase property and build, the more money I basically throw down the drain paying someone else's mortgage.

Again, if I am missing a key point or something is wrong please let me know. I've spent so many hours reading laws and policies and instructions and everything else that I could be confusing items or making mistakes.

But from my point of view, it seems like I could be living in my dream home in about 12 months with zero debt to anyone except for a VA mortgage. I realize the healthcare situation in America is dire for the average citizen and it won't necessarily be cheap, and Tricare would be a great secondary insurance to back everything up.

I'm trying to give as much information as I can so that I can invite you to find flaws in my plan that I am missing. I appreciate your suggestions and I am taking what you say in to account for my final decisions.
 
@Jeffrey11 I applaud your attention to detail. With everything you have shared I'm not sure if you've looked into it or not but I suggest you look into the cost of health insurance in the civilian sector. That price alone might convince you to fight for retirement. I believe there is a program that covers insurance if you're 100% VA for your family but just in case you're not 100% I'd look into the costs.

Tricare is my #1 reason for fighting for my retirement as opposed to the separation w/ severance they keep offering to me.
 
I really need some answers here. Regarding a final rating of 30% from DOD.My son needs surgery and he is about to get off champva. How long after the rating will it take to get tricare for him.Worried :(
 
bryanscandy said:
I really need some answers here. Regarding a final rating of 30% from DOD.My son needs surgery and he is about to get off champva. How long after the rating will it take to get tricare for him.Worried :(
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So you don't have a 30% dod rating currently. It is not easy to get that just FYI I dont know but i hope someone can help you maybe @Jason Perry
 
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