 Early tips
Hello,
I am continuing my request for advice from "early issues". I believe he may have posted some of this info on another forum but here is the story again. I am looking for tips that will help us get through the process with the least amount of trouble and if it is good advice to get a lawyer before his process begins as I feel there some gray areas to our case.
He is an O-3 with 7 years AD in the Navy. His designator is URL-must deploy. He was misdiagnosed last year for 9 months (however, Feres doctrine takes care of that) He was a pilot but now has a desk job on shore. His conditions are Bacterial Endocarditis which lead to a stroke leaving him with 90% eye loss (can't/shouldn't drive at night) and it is aggravated in large crowds or stores. He also had to have his mitral valve replaced with a mechanical valve, leaving him with life-long coumadin. He had an aneurysm which they patched up with no known defects and suffered anemia for almost a year though it is resolving itself.
Currently we are trying to get the doctors to figure out if he as atrial fibrillation and hypertension as his BP and Heartrate are both high! They are again not listening to us but I am pushing them to help. He is still easily fatigued and after reading the METS scale I would say he could not do more than 5 METS if he pushes himself, however he will be tired for several days after. He has medically waived two PRTs at this point.
Our concerns are which if any of the items he would be rated on as unfit by the PEB as it affects his benefits. Also, his CO wrote in his LIMDU NMA that he is performing the duties of his job and that he was not hindered by his conditions. True he can perform his desk duties and he is an overachiever so he will do the best he can do but that is usually at the expense of his health. How would a similar NMA form the the CO affect his case?
Our other big issue is that all the cardio doctors forget that he had a stroke and lost his eyesight. How do we make sure we get all the medical addendum attached to the dictation from the other fields of specialty. Do we talk to PEBLO once assigned?
One more random question...after reading the VASRD especially concerning his endocarditis it states different percentages based on the number of occurrences of CHF and embolic events with in a year. Since he won't go through the process until after year of his initial treatment I assume he won't get rated at all for this condition and these events.
Ok enough rambling for now, thank you again for all your guidance on this site. I learn something new each day and I hope all those deserving get what their owed.
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February 7th, 2008
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