So over the last year I've had pretty bad lung problems. First thought was allegories did a round of medication nothing helped. Started seeing a plymo. off base he was convinced it was asthma. Did the methocline challenge test and came back negative for asthma. Docs saying doesn't mean its not or you don't have respiratory problems. wondering if anyone else has gone down this route, if so what did Docs do and ultimately what were the findings? I believe my docs next step is a stress test.
possible "we dont know WTF is going on"
- Thread starter rips
- Start date
Did you have a deployment and/or exposure to burn pits? Bob
ya ive deployed and been around burn pits last deployment was 09 though
I have kind of laid out my story in other posts - you might look through those. (USAviator has some excellent posts). I was medevaced out of Afghanistan for respiratory issues. I spent 5 weeks at BAMC. Long story short - Asthma is primary diagnosis, even though there were numerous test results showing other abnormalities. I require oxygen for any exertion - one flight of stairs makes my sats drop. They didn't know what to call it, so they didn't call it anything. We had an IMR done for my NARSUM, and he did a good job of pointing out there were at least two problems going on, even if we don't know exactly what the second is. Even the PEB agreed, and sent the VA two unfitting diagnoses - asthma and dyspnea requiring oxygen. They found restrictive and obstructive problems, and inhalers do not correct to normal.
However, we don't know what the VA will do without a diagnosis.
Get as much testing as you can. The burn pits are leaving a legacy even beyond severe respiratory problems - ALS and other serious diseases. Ask for second opinions. Best of luck...Bob
However, we don't know what the VA will do without a diagnosis.
Get as much testing as you can. The burn pits are leaving a legacy even beyond severe respiratory problems - ALS and other serious diseases. Ask for second opinions. Best of luck...Bob
I was diagnosed with Asthma in May 2012, by a civilian physician as well as by my PCM at the VA.
I take a high dose corticosteroid 2 X a day. I am in the Guard going through this process, so it has been painfully long.
I was rated by the VA at 30% for asthma, and I have a signed LOD from Guard Bureau saying it was a direct result of the open-air burn pit at Taji. Thats just one of my conditions, it is hugely important that you get some sort of diagnosis or it will be difficult to get a rating.
Jeff
I take a high dose corticosteroid 2 X a day. I am in the Guard going through this process, so it has been painfully long.
I was rated by the VA at 30% for asthma, and I have a signed LOD from Guard Bureau saying it was a direct result of the open-air burn pit at Taji. Thats just one of my conditions, it is hugely important that you get some sort of diagnosis or it will be difficult to get a rating.
Jeff
Class I place - they have a Center for Deployment Lung Diseases - everything I've read says they are one of the best. Glad they are sending you there. Bob
rips:
Anything new about the trip to National Jewish?
Bob
Nonetheless, it's good to hear from you that your medical procedure was uneventful! Welcome back and take care!
Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer."
Best Wishes!
At 30% med board you get military retirement for the rest of your life. Sure beats severance!
Also, check out the VA website as the VA is beginning to upgrade how they are treating the burn-pit injury situations.
Please keep us posted how this is going. There a few on this site who have had burn-pit health issues and you will want to "be in the know" about this if the issue(s) you are having are connected to the burn pits.
Also, you can get acquainted with YUKU Vets website, too.
V/R,
nwlivewire
everything i read about the retirement pay is, you get your ratings lets say mine is 30% for the asthma, then you get 2.5% for each year you've served which is 8 for me which is another 20%. So if i read this correctly I will have a 50% military retirement, and then I have to go final my claim with the VA for everything else?
Also should be getting results back from lung biopsy sometime next week! I must say if you are having issues like myself I'd highly recommend requesting to go to these guys! even the people drawing blood from you have some time of degree in pulmonary, all around a great facility and great docs!
Also should be getting results back from lung biopsy sometime next week! I must say if you are having issues like myself I'd highly recommend requesting to go to these guys! even the people drawing blood from you have some time of degree in pulmonary, all around a great facility and great docs!
just got back from the flight doc, he was saying that a lot of guys are getting pushed back with a C code with purely just asthma when going up with the med board, although we are still awaiting final diagnosis from the biopsy it looks like I wont be getting medically retired if my only condition is Asthma (which its not)
update on my situation just got results from the docs down at national jewish, I have cronic emphysema, cronic inflammation of the lining of my lungs which were both deemed as probable lung deployment diseases (the way the doc explained this is she has 3 answers NO, Possible means she believes it less that 50% and probable more than 50%) mild asthma which is possible deployment related, post nasal drip, and GERD. I assume the fun will begin when i get home from leave because im quite sure all this will be a definite MEB
What meds are you on now? Inhaled corticosteroids like Advair or Symbicort warrent 30% regardless of PFT's. If you have the emphysema diagnosis, which would most likely be rated under COPD the 30% criteria are the same.
If you get 30% and found unfit - you get retirement - which would most likely be 30% times high 3. You would get this for the rest of your life. The VA money is tax free, retirement is not. Therefore, if you have under 20 years in, most of the time it is in the soldier's best interest to get the VA Money primary, and if your retirement pay is higher than the VA pay, you would get that difference also (and that difference would be taxable.
If more than 20 years served = disability percentage X high 3 = DOD retirement pay (capped by law at 75% disability percentage) For example : .30 X 2000 = 600 monthly taxable.
Then you would also get concurrent receipt - VA money, which is not taxable.
If less than 20 years served, you cannot get concurrent receipt without combat connection pay. That gets a little more complicated so I'll leave it alone for a minute.
So DOD would pay you potentially .30 X 2000 = $600
Let's say the VA rated you for multiple conditions at 50% - which is like 963 or something.
In this case you would waive DOD retirement and get $963 tax free.
If retirement pay was higher - let's say .30 X 4000 = $1200 taxable DOD
and VA was 50% = $963
You would get the VA amount non taxable, and the difference of $237 from DOD taxable.
Hope I didn't confuse you more.
If you get 30% and found unfit - you get retirement - which would most likely be 30% times high 3. You would get this for the rest of your life. The VA money is tax free, retirement is not. Therefore, if you have under 20 years in, most of the time it is in the soldier's best interest to get the VA Money primary, and if your retirement pay is higher than the VA pay, you would get that difference also (and that difference would be taxable.
If more than 20 years served = disability percentage X high 3 = DOD retirement pay (capped by law at 75% disability percentage) For example : .30 X 2000 = 600 monthly taxable.
Then you would also get concurrent receipt - VA money, which is not taxable.
If less than 20 years served, you cannot get concurrent receipt without combat connection pay. That gets a little more complicated so I'll leave it alone for a minute.
So DOD would pay you potentially .30 X 2000 = $600
Let's say the VA rated you for multiple conditions at 50% - which is like 963 or something.
In this case you would waive DOD retirement and get $963 tax free.
If retirement pay was higher - let's say .30 X 4000 = $1200 taxable DOD
and VA was 50% = $963
You would get the VA amount non taxable, and the difference of $237 from DOD taxable.
Hope I didn't confuse you more.
They are all diagnosis now I was on advir prior not sure what they are going to put me on now since we couldn't control the asthma as far as combat related the copd is considered deployment related from the docs findings also if I have multiple unfit ratings I.e asthma at 30 and copd at 30 they don't stack for military retirement ? The crsc pay is what I am confused about because from what I have read I should be entitled to thanks man