Multiple Sclerosis and MEB, anyone else currently dealing with this?
- Thread starter MHites
- Start date
I have MS and I'm currently going through the IDES process. I can probably shed some light on some things for you. What are your questions?
There is a code for MS in the vasrd and you'll get at least 30% for it but the VA will most likely break it up by rating each of the residuals (major symptoms in different areas of the body).
I have a similar disease, myasthenia Gravis and that is how they rated me. Issues with leg weakness, breathing and vision when rated on thier own but linked to my disease I was rated much higher than the 30% minimum for just having the disease.
The thing to watch for in your CP exam is that if medication fully resolves a particular symptom, VA can and does then rate that at zero percent. They did this to me for double vision caused by the disease because they deemed it "occasional" vs "constant".
I have a similar disease, myasthenia Gravis and that is how they rated me. Issues with leg weakness, breathing and vision when rated on thier own but linked to my disease I was rated much higher than the 30% minimum for just having the disease.
The thing to watch for in your CP exam is that if medication fully resolves a particular symptom, VA can and does then rate that at zero percent. They did this to me for double vision caused by the disease because they deemed it "occasional" vs "constant".
Read up on MS here, code 8018, it's about halfway down the page:
http://www.militarydisabilitymadeeasy.com/centralnervoussystem.html
http://www.militarydisabilitymadeeasy.com/centralnervoussystem.html
Well unfortunately, after reviewing the regulations and only having a clinical diagnosis; I decided to pursue the fibromyalgia and severe migraines which should still be more than enough to get 30% from AF. VA is not my concern, since I have more issues there documented.
You really should try to claim the residuals you have secondary to MS. Thats what I did and I got 100%. Whatever symptoms that you have that line up with MS they will award service connection for them. Any numbness, weakness, tingling, optic issues, Mental health, erectile dysfunction, back or spine issues etc.
Like LCutta said, claim everything!! MS will be an unfitting condition and it by itself carries a 30% minimum rating that will get you medical retirement. Very good chance of getting a much higher overall MS rating. Be sure to list all of the MS symptoms you have. You can't have MS without some kind of symptoms... Unless doctors discovered it by accident during an MRI for something else but that's highly unlikely
Did the examiner during C&P list them and ask you questions about it? did the rate the numbness weakness etc. as mild, moderate or severe? Thats the key. That determines your rating. I got 40% for right side (dominant) weakness, numb and tingling. They rated the left, right, up and lower all separate. If your residuals equal more than 30% then they will just rate the residuals and not the MS itself. You come out better this way.
Wow! I am glad to find this Forum and thread! I see all of you have gone/going through the processes, but I am at the very initial start of all of this just being diagnosed 12/29/16 with MS. In fact, I am awaiting the results of my LP. MRI was first, and flight doctor said I have "probably" have MS. Had a visit to my new Neurologist last week where we did more blood work, post LP. My symptoms are primarily numbness in hands, loss of balance, hand weakness, and a bit of vision issues, but I do not feel too bad really. I did the 3 day steroids thing early on 1/9/17 at flt doc.
I am a TR in the AF Reserves. I am currently just DNIF from flying for 60 days. My unit has put me on full time orders (3 months) recently and it seems i have "backing" from the leadership at this point.
I know every case is different, but it's a relief to see others experiences with this. As we all know, it's a topsy-turvy life changer and you all offer a bit of hope for me. I feel in my situation of having 29yrs TAFMS, and just short of points for a full AD retirement, I may be in the line of fire to get booted out which scares the bejeezus out of me. I had 4 more years left till I was out anyway, but I would've made the full 20 by then. Now what?
I don't know how long the flt doc has until he must make some sort of determination on what to do next? He used the words IRILO/MEB which i am familiar with having been on one (MEB) 2008 for elbow surgery, but RTD me. I know a MEB must be convened upon 365 days to determine whats next, but not sure if things will happen before that? Anyone have insight/experience with their MS stuff?
Very appreciative Reservist
I am a TR in the AF Reserves. I am currently just DNIF from flying for 60 days. My unit has put me on full time orders (3 months) recently and it seems i have "backing" from the leadership at this point.
I know every case is different, but it's a relief to see others experiences with this. As we all know, it's a topsy-turvy life changer and you all offer a bit of hope for me. I feel in my situation of having 29yrs TAFMS, and just short of points for a full AD retirement, I may be in the line of fire to get booted out which scares the bejeezus out of me. I had 4 more years left till I was out anyway, but I would've made the full 20 by then. Now what?
I don't know how long the flt doc has until he must make some sort of determination on what to do next? He used the words IRILO/MEB which i am familiar with having been on one (MEB) 2008 for elbow surgery, but RTD me. I know a MEB must be convened upon 365 days to determine whats next, but not sure if things will happen before that? Anyone have insight/experience with their MS stuff?
Very appreciative Reservist
It has been great to find this thread and reaching out to some of the members to see their experiences. I wanted to add part of my story to the thread and see if we could get the thread going again with some information. I am at 15 years Army and currently on AD. I am lucky enough to have Tricare Prime Remote which gets me to private doctors and keeps me off the Army radar for the past couple years. That is going to come to an end soon though since my command now has evidence of my memory issues. They don't know much else but that is going to get me to a Fit for Duty board it appears so all my files will have to come out soon. I just recently was pointed toward MS after several years of seeing specialists for each of my symptoms but none of them really seeing the big picture or not caring. Most thought it was just PTSD and nuerotherapy would help. EEG testing showed right side and right frontal lobe not firing in proper ranges. MRI showed "hyperintensities are present in deep white matter" in 2013 and 2014 didn't specifically say lesions though so new MRI being ordered.
My personal symptoms:
1. Depression, anxiety, mood swings (which they were linking to the PTSD) Social withdraw, social awkwardness, and hypervigilance in crowds (constant)
2. Sharp pain in my joints that motrin or codein does nothing for. I explain it to people as like a hot electric knife is being jabbed into the location. Normally behind knee caps, elbow, neck, and shoulder blades. Xrays of all those areas showed "nothing out of the ordinary". (comes and goes month to month)
3. Bathroom problems. I won't go into detail on that one but lack of control in general. (pretty constant)
4. Memory issues that have been getting worse for 3 years now, started with long term memory loss, moved to add short term memory loss, and finally added in common sense loss. Meaning I do a lot more stupid things now like pour hot grease from my skillet into a plastic trash cash with plastic bag thinking it will hold it. (constant)
5. Dizzinesess, lack of balance, and the world is spinning. (comes and goes from month to month)
6. numbness, tingling pricky feeling in limbs mostly arms, legs, feet and hands. (comes and goes from month to month)
7. Eye pain behind the eye and all around them with blurred vision and problems with halos at night (comes and goes)
8. Uncontrollable whole body shaking or hand shaking (comes and goes)
9. uncontrollable facial muscle twitching (comes and goes)
10. New difficulty in reasoning and problem solving in general. Stare at things trying to figure out how to work it or fix it.
11. Slurred speech, my wife calls mumbling (comes and goes)
12. Fatigue and just plain tired all the time
13. Excessive sweating, like top of head/face legs, check like a faucet.
14. ED
15. problems with names and words in everyday life. I do a lot of describing now like things I can't think of the word for at the moment. I use my hands a lot and get frustrated I can't think of the word.
16. lack of interest in anything I use to find fun. Unable to have true fun with the kids or wife anymore. Enjoy "doing" stuff for them and seeing them happy but the happiness I once had is gone as far as getting in there and doing the stuff with them and enjoying myself.
My doctor is going to do a new MRI, blood tests, and maybe spinal before he makes it official "MS". But he says he can't figure out anything else it would be with all the above symptoms.
Neurotherapy did nothing for me and PTSD therapy helps only with calming myself somewhat in public environments. I have tried multiple drugs for depression and anxiety and none have really helped as of yet. So fingers crossed that we are on the right track now and maybe an improved quality of life. Even if that means not making it to my 20 years of service. I won't get to keep retirement and VA in the end because of that but I am OK with that if I can improve my life in general. I know the VA percentages and DOD medical retirement percentages vary greatly from case to case so just roll the dice and hope for the best. At least from what I am told 30% or more DOD and you get Tricare for life which is key with MS I assume.
So next steps are get to the official MS diagnosis.
Probably getting command referred to fit for duty board based on memory alone which will lead me to everyone else's road on here of MEB/PEB.
If anyone else wants to share symptoms, or their experience navigating the military with MS that would be great. This website has helped me a lot understand a lot of different things and I appreciate that it is here.
My personal symptoms:
1. Depression, anxiety, mood swings (which they were linking to the PTSD) Social withdraw, social awkwardness, and hypervigilance in crowds (constant)
2. Sharp pain in my joints that motrin or codein does nothing for. I explain it to people as like a hot electric knife is being jabbed into the location. Normally behind knee caps, elbow, neck, and shoulder blades. Xrays of all those areas showed "nothing out of the ordinary". (comes and goes month to month)
3. Bathroom problems. I won't go into detail on that one but lack of control in general. (pretty constant)
4. Memory issues that have been getting worse for 3 years now, started with long term memory loss, moved to add short term memory loss, and finally added in common sense loss. Meaning I do a lot more stupid things now like pour hot grease from my skillet into a plastic trash cash with plastic bag thinking it will hold it. (constant)
5. Dizzinesess, lack of balance, and the world is spinning. (comes and goes from month to month)
6. numbness, tingling pricky feeling in limbs mostly arms, legs, feet and hands. (comes and goes from month to month)
7. Eye pain behind the eye and all around them with blurred vision and problems with halos at night (comes and goes)
8. Uncontrollable whole body shaking or hand shaking (comes and goes)
9. uncontrollable facial muscle twitching (comes and goes)
10. New difficulty in reasoning and problem solving in general. Stare at things trying to figure out how to work it or fix it.
11. Slurred speech, my wife calls mumbling (comes and goes)
12. Fatigue and just plain tired all the time
13. Excessive sweating, like top of head/face legs, check like a faucet.
14. ED
15. problems with names and words in everyday life. I do a lot of describing now like things I can't think of the word for at the moment. I use my hands a lot and get frustrated I can't think of the word.
16. lack of interest in anything I use to find fun. Unable to have true fun with the kids or wife anymore. Enjoy "doing" stuff for them and seeing them happy but the happiness I once had is gone as far as getting in there and doing the stuff with them and enjoying myself.
My doctor is going to do a new MRI, blood tests, and maybe spinal before he makes it official "MS". But he says he can't figure out anything else it would be with all the above symptoms.
Neurotherapy did nothing for me and PTSD therapy helps only with calming myself somewhat in public environments. I have tried multiple drugs for depression and anxiety and none have really helped as of yet. So fingers crossed that we are on the right track now and maybe an improved quality of life. Even if that means not making it to my 20 years of service. I won't get to keep retirement and VA in the end because of that but I am OK with that if I can improve my life in general. I know the VA percentages and DOD medical retirement percentages vary greatly from case to case so just roll the dice and hope for the best. At least from what I am told 30% or more DOD and you get Tricare for life which is key with MS I assume.
So next steps are get to the official MS diagnosis.
Probably getting command referred to fit for duty board based on memory alone which will lead me to everyone else's road on here of MEB/PEB.
If anyone else wants to share symptoms, or their experience navigating the military with MS that would be great. This website has helped me a lot understand a lot of different things and I appreciate that it is here.
diagnosis with Ulcerative colitis got medication for it called uceris. after 3 months the UC is manageable and stopped bleeding. Been having numbness in face and eyes moving fatigue. Got an MRI done x2 and spinal tap. Findings are showing strong for MS and waiting for diagnosis from doctor. Kinda wondering how things are gonna turn out. been in AF for 12 years AD. deployed 4 times and went to korea. Will give more info when things are said. Would love advice for myself as well.
I am not much of an expert to give any advice as I am still in the MEB process. It has been 19 months I have been 'down not flying' and just working on orders doing squadron stuff keeping the wheels turning. I work in Kansas but live in OKC so commute on a weekly basis for the last 22 months. No words on where my MEB package is at?
As of now : they did indeed diagnose me with MS. Have been seeing mental health for a few months anxiety and such. They said I would go though a MEB but I’m sure they will attempt to make things better. I have a full profile which works with my symptoms. eyes bouncing /strees/ect/reading head aches. They have not addressed my back pain eather but I “joust” with whats going on.
Leadership is awesome which helps with my stress no arguments there. Just waiting on MEB to start up and I imagin when it does they will view the other things wrong in that process. I also project being in the military for 3 more years past my enlistment from this forum and other people I talked to going though this. Still curious how things will pan out. Will keep updates in case someone else is going though this in hopes of giving insight.
OkiBum out
Leadership is awesome which helps with my stress no arguments there. Just waiting on MEB to start up and I imagin when it does they will view the other things wrong in that process. I also project being in the military for 3 more years past my enlistment from this forum and other people I talked to going though this. Still curious how things will pan out. Will keep updates in case someone else is going though this in hopes of giving insight.
OkiBum out
When you said documented does that mean you just told them or does this mean u had a sit down? I have been seeing mental health about anxiety which MS makes the tingling and my eyes bounce n such. Also I asked the PCM make a specific waver for things so as to not cause it to flair up which they provided.
Not trying to speak for them, but i would imagine that 'documented' means it is in their medical records somewhere. I went and did my C&P exams (assigned to a contractor in OKC), listed all of the attributing factors that I believe MS has created for me (bouncing eyes, disturbance of balance, numbness, tingling, fatigue, stress, etc.) and the examiner did not take into account any of these things when my results came out? The things that I was VA rated for were from past documented things in my records. But the fact that my MS diagnosis was new, there were none of these things documented.
I got C&P appointments done. They claimed alot of stuff for me and labeled the 3 which are unfitting.
My only question is the ulcerative colitus which shows on the website mydisabilitymadeeasy and said “If it is severe, but not constant, with many attacks a year that cause malnutrition which then causes overall bad health that cannot be fully recovered during the periods in between attacks, it is rated 60%. If it is somewhat severe and causes some attacks a year, but less than a severe condition, it is rated 30%.”
The C&P exam lists alot of stuff in the 60% but not all. Its constant and they had to change my medication twice. The anemia is there but it was in the past and there is no weight loss listed as well as malnutrition either. So does that mean it would truncate? Curious. Its like that on several of the conditions. This example would give me some insight on that matter as well for the other things listed.
I’m in the waiting stage basically. I wish I could post pictures. The woulded warrior program gave me the list of claims and I thank them being apart of this process too.
Any insight u give would be appreciated.
V/R Okibum out
My only question is the ulcerative colitus which shows on the website mydisabilitymadeeasy and said “If it is severe, but not constant, with many attacks a year that cause malnutrition which then causes overall bad health that cannot be fully recovered during the periods in between attacks, it is rated 60%. If it is somewhat severe and causes some attacks a year, but less than a severe condition, it is rated 30%.”
The C&P exam lists alot of stuff in the 60% but not all. Its constant and they had to change my medication twice. The anemia is there but it was in the past and there is no weight loss listed as well as malnutrition either. So does that mean it would truncate? Curious. Its like that on several of the conditions. This example would give me some insight on that matter as well for the other things listed.
I’m in the waiting stage basically. I wish I could post pictures. The woulded warrior program gave me the list of claims and I thank them being apart of this process too.
Any insight u give would be appreciated.
V/R Okibum out
Any recommendations for someone who was just diagnose with MS? Had problems for 2 years and the AF is just now figuring out my diagnosis.