Good morning all,
I am currently going through the PEB (active duty Marine) and am awaiting my decision from the board. I have questions after reviewing some of the articles on this page. My command wrote up a non-medical assessment and knows that I wish to be found unfit due to two hip surgeries (one hip surgery was for a fractured femoral neck bone with internal screw fixation/the other was orthoscopic surgery for FAI and a torn labrum where they had to shave some bone and put some anchors in/same hip for both surgeries), as well as PTSD.
For my hip injuries, the doctor I worked with was very supportive and eager to help me out and we worked on the NARSUM together. This is what the doctor says for my hip injuries;
PRESENT CONDITION: Stable
PROGNOSIS: XXXXX has tried a variety of medications, treatment, and surgical intervention with minimal relief. It is likely that he will have ongoing problems with these medical conditions and is likely to require ongoing therapy and medical follow-up by clinicians for these conditions. Return to full duty status is unlikely to ever occur.
PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS: Currently XXXXX us under medical orders to ambulate with the assistance of a cane at all times. He is unable to run or participate in physical training. He is unable to meet the physical requirements of a Marine such as movement under fire maneuvers or complete a PFT or CFT without aggravation of pain in the right hip.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. XXXXX’s current medical conditions preclude him from continuing active service and he is therefore referred to Medical Evaluation Board for evaluation and disposition. Continue care with primary care manager, orthopedics, and behavioral health until final determination is advised as needed.
2. Engage in activities as tolerated and avoid activities that aggravate pain.
3. XXXXX’s disability inhibits his ability to complete the PFT or CFT. His psychiatric diagnoses are further compounding of his duty situation, see psychology addendum. Medical separation from active duty is recommended.
For my mental health addendum, the doctor wrote this about my limitations;
SM has been administered the Detailed Assessment of Post-Traumatic Stress (DAPS). His results were valid and his re-experiencing, avoidance, over-arousal and total PTSD score were all highly elevated (1=100), indicative of PTSD. I also administered the PTSD checklist-5 (PCL-5) with the stressor being XXXXX and his score was also high (46).
LIMITATIONS/IMPAIRMENTS: In my opinion there are moderate impairments on his social and occupational functioning. What is unfortunate is that SM has only been in treatment for a short period of time, so in my opinion it is too early to say he cannot improve with further treatment. (He then recommends that I be returned to command, psychologically unfit for full duty. No weapons).
This doctor did nothing the entire time but talk at me, instead of to me, and made up his own assessment in the course of one hour that resembles NOTHING of what my actual psychiatrist stated, who wrote his own addendum, which he does not do for many people, because he knew that this doctor had a reputation for minimizing issues (note that the psychiatrist that did my thorough addendum is also a retired Navy Captain who is the clinical director of his department). He went on to explain all of my symptoms and setbacks in extreme detail, how it has impacted me both occupationally and socially, and ended with “The SM has reached MRDP (medical retention decision point) due to PTSD and GAD. It should be noted that due to his desire to continue on active duty, the SM only disclosed his symptoms in June, 2015. While treatment has been for only a 6 month period, including individual psychotherapy, group therapy, intensive outpatient psychiatric treatment of 8 weeks, as well as medication management, due to the nature, intensity and frequency of his symptoms it is believed that the SM would not be returned to full duty status within the for seeable future, let alone one year.” This paperwork was also forwarded to my PEBLO, who placed this addendum in my package and routed it to the PEB with the original mental health NARSUM.
**I also wrote a personal statement at the guidance from a JAG lawyer, in which I explained my social and occupational issues and said that my mental health NARSUM was written by a doctor who only saw me one time. I explained that I understood that must not be an easy thing to do, but that I believed that my additional addendum/assessment is more accurate.
This now brings me to the Non-Medical Assessment portion of my package. I can say that my command has been nothing but supportive of me and have worked with me every step along the way. I was content with my NMA and liked what my CO had to say about me, but after reading some of the forums I have become a little concerned. He starts with saying how I am a hardworking, intelligent and resourceful Marine, and then gets in to how my current condition limits my mobility and restricts me from performing any annual training requirements. Then he says “although it does not affect his performance in his military occupational specialty, his injuries do require he miss three days out of the week to attend medical appointments. I recommend that XXXXX be appropriately assessed, evaluated, and approved on this physical evaluation board.” He does state that he believes that I should not be retained, but it seems like some of this information that I initially thought was just trying to speak highly of me is going to hurt me in the end.
With all of this laid out there, I have a few simple questions;
1. What are my overall chances of the board coming back with an unfit finding with the routed package above?
2. Will the board take into consideration the psychiatric addendum of the individual that I actually worked with on a daily basis or is my MH narsum from the doc I only met with for one hour going to cause issues for me?
3. Is my NMA from my CO going to cause me to be found fit for duty?
4. If the board comes back with a fit finding, do you think that I have a good case to fight with in a FPEB if it comes to that?
5. Should I get civilian representation to help me if a fit finding comes back? Is there any civilian attorneys on this site that can say whether they would be confident with my package (with what little information they know at this time)?
I know this is a really long posting, I am just worried about what is going to happen when this all comes back. Any help or guidance on my case would be greatly appreciated and I thank you in advance for your time.
-DevilDawg
I am currently going through the PEB (active duty Marine) and am awaiting my decision from the board. I have questions after reviewing some of the articles on this page. My command wrote up a non-medical assessment and knows that I wish to be found unfit due to two hip surgeries (one hip surgery was for a fractured femoral neck bone with internal screw fixation/the other was orthoscopic surgery for FAI and a torn labrum where they had to shave some bone and put some anchors in/same hip for both surgeries), as well as PTSD.
For my hip injuries, the doctor I worked with was very supportive and eager to help me out and we worked on the NARSUM together. This is what the doctor says for my hip injuries;
PRESENT CONDITION: Stable
PROGNOSIS: XXXXX has tried a variety of medications, treatment, and surgical intervention with minimal relief. It is likely that he will have ongoing problems with these medical conditions and is likely to require ongoing therapy and medical follow-up by clinicians for these conditions. Return to full duty status is unlikely to ever occur.
PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS: Currently XXXXX us under medical orders to ambulate with the assistance of a cane at all times. He is unable to run or participate in physical training. He is unable to meet the physical requirements of a Marine such as movement under fire maneuvers or complete a PFT or CFT without aggravation of pain in the right hip.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. XXXXX’s current medical conditions preclude him from continuing active service and he is therefore referred to Medical Evaluation Board for evaluation and disposition. Continue care with primary care manager, orthopedics, and behavioral health until final determination is advised as needed.
2. Engage in activities as tolerated and avoid activities that aggravate pain.
3. XXXXX’s disability inhibits his ability to complete the PFT or CFT. His psychiatric diagnoses are further compounding of his duty situation, see psychology addendum. Medical separation from active duty is recommended.
For my mental health addendum, the doctor wrote this about my limitations;
SM has been administered the Detailed Assessment of Post-Traumatic Stress (DAPS). His results were valid and his re-experiencing, avoidance, over-arousal and total PTSD score were all highly elevated (1=100), indicative of PTSD. I also administered the PTSD checklist-5 (PCL-5) with the stressor being XXXXX and his score was also high (46).
LIMITATIONS/IMPAIRMENTS: In my opinion there are moderate impairments on his social and occupational functioning. What is unfortunate is that SM has only been in treatment for a short period of time, so in my opinion it is too early to say he cannot improve with further treatment. (He then recommends that I be returned to command, psychologically unfit for full duty. No weapons).
This doctor did nothing the entire time but talk at me, instead of to me, and made up his own assessment in the course of one hour that resembles NOTHING of what my actual psychiatrist stated, who wrote his own addendum, which he does not do for many people, because he knew that this doctor had a reputation for minimizing issues (note that the psychiatrist that did my thorough addendum is also a retired Navy Captain who is the clinical director of his department). He went on to explain all of my symptoms and setbacks in extreme detail, how it has impacted me both occupationally and socially, and ended with “The SM has reached MRDP (medical retention decision point) due to PTSD and GAD. It should be noted that due to his desire to continue on active duty, the SM only disclosed his symptoms in June, 2015. While treatment has been for only a 6 month period, including individual psychotherapy, group therapy, intensive outpatient psychiatric treatment of 8 weeks, as well as medication management, due to the nature, intensity and frequency of his symptoms it is believed that the SM would not be returned to full duty status within the for seeable future, let alone one year.” This paperwork was also forwarded to my PEBLO, who placed this addendum in my package and routed it to the PEB with the original mental health NARSUM.
**I also wrote a personal statement at the guidance from a JAG lawyer, in which I explained my social and occupational issues and said that my mental health NARSUM was written by a doctor who only saw me one time. I explained that I understood that must not be an easy thing to do, but that I believed that my additional addendum/assessment is more accurate.
This now brings me to the Non-Medical Assessment portion of my package. I can say that my command has been nothing but supportive of me and have worked with me every step along the way. I was content with my NMA and liked what my CO had to say about me, but after reading some of the forums I have become a little concerned. He starts with saying how I am a hardworking, intelligent and resourceful Marine, and then gets in to how my current condition limits my mobility and restricts me from performing any annual training requirements. Then he says “although it does not affect his performance in his military occupational specialty, his injuries do require he miss three days out of the week to attend medical appointments. I recommend that XXXXX be appropriately assessed, evaluated, and approved on this physical evaluation board.” He does state that he believes that I should not be retained, but it seems like some of this information that I initially thought was just trying to speak highly of me is going to hurt me in the end.
With all of this laid out there, I have a few simple questions;
1. What are my overall chances of the board coming back with an unfit finding with the routed package above?
2. Will the board take into consideration the psychiatric addendum of the individual that I actually worked with on a daily basis or is my MH narsum from the doc I only met with for one hour going to cause issues for me?
3. Is my NMA from my CO going to cause me to be found fit for duty?
4. If the board comes back with a fit finding, do you think that I have a good case to fight with in a FPEB if it comes to that?
5. Should I get civilian representation to help me if a fit finding comes back? Is there any civilian attorneys on this site that can say whether they would be confident with my package (with what little information they know at this time)?
I know this is a really long posting, I am just worried about what is going to happen when this all comes back. Any help or guidance on my case would be greatly appreciated and I thank you in advance for your time.
-DevilDawg
