Waiting on Psychiatrist to Complete NARSUM

bobo31313

bobo31313

PEB Forum Regular Member
PEB Forum Veteran
My MEB/PEB evaluation is finally in the hands of the Active Army, and I am very pleased with the way things are progressing. I spent the last week of July at Fort Hood meeting with my PEBLO, JAG, and had the appointments for my physicals. I am going through this process for my Knees and PTSD, both of which I already have a VA rating for.

When I was at Fort Hood the doctor that I saw only evaluated me for my knees and was only able to write that part of my NARSUM. She also rewrote my permanent profile so that it was correct and had reasons and further explanation for my limitations, unlike the one from the National Guard. I was also suprised when the doc that was going to write my NARSUM told me that my knees are definetly a disqualifying condition.

I was told by the doc and my PEBLO that the rest of my NARSUM will be completed once I meet with a Psychiatrist. I was also told that due to the shortage of Psychiatrists it will be 60 to 90 days before I can be seen. I am ok with that, because I was told up front where as the National Guard kept me in the dark about everything.

I am trying to find out if it is possible to have the portion of my NARSUM that needs to be written by a psychiatrist done at another military instalation or does it all have to be done at the same place. I dont expect that they will find anything or come to a different conclusion than the VA or the numerous civilian psychiatrists have seen. Just wondered if there is some regulation out there that would allow me to have this done at another installation where I could be seen sooner.

Any advice is welcome. And if you think I might know something useful go ahead and ask.
 
Does anybody know if there is a time limit as far as how long the Army has to complete my NARSUM once it has been started?

It has already been done for my knees, but I am still waiting on the Psychiatrists evaluation for my PTSD. The request for a consultation with a Psychiatrist was made on August 3rd and all I can get out of my PEBLO is, "They keep telling me its going to be a while".

I just want to get this over with after almost 2 years, if anybody has any info on how to expedite the Psych eval I would appreciate it.
 
I do have a question for you. How long did it take for you to be contacted by the MEB after the National Guard sent them your paperwork. I am going threw the same thing except mine MEB packet is at Ft Leonard Wood. Just curious.
 
Good News!

My PEBLO called me this morning, my evaluation is October 21st at Fort Hood. After that I just have to wait for the Psychiatrist to write up their portion of the NARSUM, then go back to Fort Hood, meet with my PEBLO and JAG Lawyer and decide if I agree with the findings. Then its off to the PEB.
 
I am getting processed through FT leonardwood.They Have a shortage of Psychiatrist.I had my Psychiatrist at Whiteman AFB to call and see if he could finish that part and was approved. The only catch is that the only Psychiatrist. at leonardwood has to sign it also.This is gonna decrease the time from 5 months or longer to a monthe or so.
 
I went to Fort Hood on the 20th and 21st of October for my Psychological evaluation for PTSD. They Psychiatrist that did my eval actually called my psychiatrist at the VA hospital while I was in the room to ask him a few questions.

My PEBLO called me friday to let me know that he had received the NARSUM from the psychiatrist at Fort Hood on Thursday afternoon and was in the process of completing my DA 3947 and getting it approved. I guess after that I get to concur or non-concur with the findings.

I hope that the Army Psychiatrist doesnt try to pull any BS, since the VA diagnosed me with PTSD, says I still have it, and I still get treatment from them for it. I guess I will have to wait and see. I just dont want to have to fight this crap any longer.
 
Today I finally got my DA-3947 now i just have to concur or non-concur. The NARSUM for my knees says that I am unfit for continued military service and the NARSUM from the Psychiatrist has me diagnosed with "Chronic PTSD", a DSM-IV code of 309.81, and states that I am unfit for continued military service.

Those are the two things that are wrong with me, so they pretty much have everything covered. I am debating whether or not I should make the 4 hour drive back down to Fort Hood to seek legal counsel. They dont make it easy for NG/RC soldiers to get this done.

Does anybody have any thoughts on the Chronic PTSD, I have been receiving treatment at the VA hospital for a little less than 4 years, does the Chronic PTSD statement mean that I may not be put on TDRL?

Can the PEB change the diagnosis' that were given to me during the MEB phase?

I would appreciate any feedback or advice, I am just ready for this process to be overwith.
 
bobo31313 said:
Those are the two things that are wrong with me, so they pretty much have everything covered.
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Because they have covered both of your conditions as failing retention standards, you at least do not have a battle on that front. When I look at MEB's, I look for (among other things) notation that a condition fails retention standards, I look for information necessary for the PEB to give an accurate rating (usually the information covered in the VA General Medical Exam or individual condition worksheet), an assessment of ability to perform duties, and prognosis. So, it is hard to say if they have covered all the information you would want. They may have done a good job and covered everything, but if they did not, this is one of the more common problems that results in lower than appropriate ratings.

Does anybody have any thoughts on the Chronic PTSD, I have been receiving treatment at the VA hospital for a little less than 4 years, does the Chronic PTSD statement mean that I may not be put on TDRL?
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Remember that there is now the 50% minimum temporary rating being applied to PTSD. So, unless your condition is rated at 50% or higher based on the schedule and is stable, you are almost certain to end up on the TDRL. Remember, as well, that stability is not just determined by length of diagnosis, but also by things like success in medical management/treatment, and if you have had remissions/exacerbations, changes in treatment, etc. If everything has been the same for a long period of time and you have not had significant change, then it may be stable. In the last year, I have had one client who was found unfit and permanently retired for PTSD without going on TDRL. He had been treated for several years with little change in his condition or treatment.

Can the PEB change the diagnosis' that were given to me during the MEB phase?
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Yes, for purposes of what they rate you on (they technically are not giving a medical diagnosis, they are determining what code you are rated under....though, I have seen instances of errors). It is usually pretty rare, though, and would almost certainly not happen unless there was some ambiguity in your records (which, I would argue should require them to return your case to the MEB for an addendum...sometimes this happens, sometimes not).

I would appreciate any feedback or advice, I am just ready for this process to be overwith.
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I hope everything goes well for you! Best of luck!
 
Jason,

Thanks for your input. Both of my NARSUMs (knees and PTSD) outline the limitations my conditions have on my job and the inability to perform my job duties.

I also have a VA rating for both conditions.

If I agree with everything do you think it would be foolish not to seek counsel from a JAG lawyer before I concur with the MEB findings?
 
I wouldn't say for these reasons. It may be that going to the JAG is not necessary or helpful because the MEB as written is great. But if it is not, then going may have been helpful. Given that the only "cost" of going to the JAG is the "opportunity cost," and the fact that I don't know what is in the MEB, I am hard pressed to tell you not to bother or worry. You may have a great MEB, but I have come across a number of people who have thought they did, too, and then later come to me to review their case and I find problems with the MEB. Again, it could be that you are all set and are fine with signing the MEB. It is just that I am in no position to tell you that.

After it is all said and done, I hope that it is a great MEB and the IPEB comes back with the rating you are hoping for.
 
I got the results of my PEB back today, 60% TDRL. I am definitely happy with that. I have already been told that I will have me re-evaluation for PTSD in October 2010. I am curious how that will go since I have already been dealing with PTSD for the last 4 years.

Does anybody know if they take in to consideration how long you have had PTSD when you get re-evaluated?

Thanks for everbodys advice. I do not think I would have gotten these positive results without the advice and information that I received from this forum.
 
Congratulations! I would tell you that the length of time you have had PTSD will not impact the schedular rating. What it may impact is continuation on TDRL (i.e., if you have had the condition for a long time and it is relatively unchanged, then this makes a "stable" finding more likely).

I hope all goes well for you in retirement. Please keep us posted from time to time on how you are doing.
 
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