MEB Question 10yr Active Duty facing MEB for C6-C7 Fusion

[cabway]

I have been in the A.F. for 10 years and am facing a Medical Eval Board. I injured my neck/back at PT and have had surgery fusing C6 and C7 but still have a lot of pain radiating to both shoulders and preventing me from any real exercise besides the elliptical. All I know at this point is that I will probably be separated from the AF. I am married w/3 children and any sort of benefits or medical care would greatly help my family. Can anyone offer any advice as to what steps i should take to prepare? Is medical retirement even a possibility or should i expect just separation?

[Purple]

cabway,

Welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear of your aliments. You may want to read the MEB/PEB overview process in Jason's signature block: Jason
Physical Evaluation Board Forum Administrator
New Members- Read OVERVIEW OF MEB/PEB PROCESS

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If the condition is considered unfitting for continued service by the IPEB based on medical evidence (and your commander's letter), then the medical condition will be rated by the IPEB.

If you are rated at 30% or higher, you could be placed on the TDRL (used when the condition is not stabilized) or PDRL (used when the condition is stable).

If rated less than 30%, then the member could be separated with severance pay.

Based on medical evidence, the member could be RTD.

If retired by the IPEB, you and your family will qualify for TRICARE.

You can register at the VA for care. The VA told me they do not accept dependents, only veterans. It's income based, but if your rating is high enough, it will not matter what your income is per the advice I was given by the VA clerk.

I'm seen at the VA due to my 80% IPEB disability rating, and I have TRICARE Prime (I pay $460 per year for my family and I under TRICARE Prime).

My spouse (a veteran too) can not be seen at the VA even though over 20+ years was served because our income was too high last tax year. They told my spouse to try again for services in Jan 09.

I hope this information helps.

[cabway]

Thanks much. I am pretty sure I am looking at getting seperated due to the fact that i am not deployable. Should i request my commander to write a unfit for duty letter to help my chances of getting rated? I am going to call the VA today and look into the stipulations concerning tricare for the family. Thanks again for you insight.

[robs42]

welcome!
i'm going through the same thing as you right now. i'm going through the DES for a back injuryin 2006. i have 10yrs. in, 8 AD. i had an l5-s1 micro-discectomy in oct 2006. in may of 2007 i had the l5-s1 fusion. in april 2007 i had the trial for the (SCS) Spinal Cord Stimulator. in may 2007 i had the Perminante SCS implanted. i had my 1'st MEB conducted in Nov 2007 and my med. section (air nat. guard) let the paper-work expire, so they had to do an addendum to my origional MEB and since then i've been diagnosed w/sleep apnea also, depression, anxiety, PTSD af i hadnd i've been having a TON of neurological issues (dizzy spells,seizure-type symptoms). if i had to do it over again, i would have not had the surgeries. all my issues develope after the 1'st surgery and got worse after the fusion.
if i can be of any help to you, do not hesistate! i would HIGHLY suggest starting the paper-work w/the VA. if you run into any issues w/the VA you can use the DAV of VFW. but i would get that done ASAP, because by the time you go through the process w/the DES your date of application w/the VA will be retroactive to the date you apply. i'd do the same with social security, because the whole process takes so damn long. i filed all my stuff for the VA and SS after my 1'st surgery and i'm on my appeal for both
good luck and i hope this helps!

[cabway]

Wow, thanks Robs42. My MEB will probably be in a month or two and my current enlistment goes until Feb 2009. Should I still go ahead and start VA paperwork? What exactly is the S.S. paperwork?

[Purple]

cabway,

The VA and TRICARE are two seperate entities. You have to register for each one (VA & TRICARE) if you qualify.

Here are some helpful numbers:

The VA Benefit # is: 1-800-827-1000

TRICARE for the North region is: 1-877-874-2273

TRICARE for the South region is: 1-800-444-5445

The commander's letter will be sent with your MEB package. I didn't have to request the letter. I believe the request came from my MTF. You could ask your PEBLO how it works with the letter (i.e. if they request it or if you need to request the letter).

Call the VA about starting the paperwork now, or you could ask this question at Transition Assistance Program (TAPs, usually Air Force attend) or the Benefits Delivery at Discharge (I think this is what it is call for one of the other services, someone chime in if I'm wrong).

I believe robs42 is referencing social security when he typed SS. The number for the social security office is: 1-800-772-1213
Social Security Income (SSI) is based on your annual income, and Social Security Disability is based on the actual disability. I filed for SSD while I was active duty.

Let us know of any other questions.