Blowing out the back during ACFT - CRSC eligible?

[alsdnd]

Claimed two things;

1. Torn labrum from a 12 mile ruck march in full gear
2. L4-5 disc protrusion from deadlifts during an ACFT.

I was denied. Medically Retired w 70% at 6 years of service. But I feel that the circumstances that I was injured in should have been CRSC qualifying.

 

[RetiredColonel-MikeT]

One question: was it just a ruck march or tactical road march where you're responding to threats

Also, HRC states that physical training to include APFT/ACFT does not constitute a "combat-related" injury, unfortunately. I get what you're saying since it was the ACFT, but it's kinda hard to overcome how they view any physical training. Also, for reference, if you haven't seen it before: https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/Combat Related Special Compensation CRSC Eligibility

 

[alsdnd]

One question: was it just a ruck march or tactical road march where you're responding to threats

Also, HRC states that physical training to include APFT/ACFT does not constitute a "combat-related" injury, unfortunately. I get what you're saying since it was the ACFT, but it's kinda hard to overcome how they view any physical training. Also, for reference, if you haven't seen it before: https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/Combat Related Special Compensation CRSC Eligibility

Thank you for this information retired colonel Mike!

It was the twelve mile ruck march at OCS. Not responding to threats. Thank you again for the clear up.

 

[alsdnd]

One question: was it just a ruck march or tactical road march where you're responding to threats

Also, HRC states that physical training to include APFT/ACFT does not constitute a "combat-related" injury, unfortunately. I get what you're saying since it was the ACFT, but it's kinda hard to overcome how they view any physical training. Also, for reference, if you haven't seen it before: https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/Combat Related Special Compensation CRSC Eligibility

Hello again RC-MikeT,

Seeking advice on.. how I can go ahead and re-apply for CRSC with just one condition - fractured right collarbone due to recoil from M240. I did not seek immediate medical care down range, nor did the doctors annotate (later down the road) that it was precisely because of recoil from an M240. Medical records only show that it was injured during a live fire exercise.. So it lacks hard evidence.

Also, what holds more weight in CRSC claims? Combat-like injury in a noncombat setting (i.e. fractured collarbone due to recoil from shooting an M240 in a live fire exercise) or a noncombat-like injury in a combat setting (e.g. falling and breaking a femur while running from enemy fire)?

Thank you in advance.

 

[RetiredColonel-MikeT]

Hello again RC-MikeT,

Seeking advice on.. how I can go ahead and re-apply for CRSC with just one condition - fractured right collarbone due to recoil from M240. I did not seek immediate medical care down range, nor did the doctors annotate (later down the road) that it was precisely because of recoil from an M240. Medical records only show that it was injured during a live fire exercise.. So it lacks hard evidence.

Also, what holds more weight in CRSC claims? Combat-like injury in a noncombat setting (i.e. fractured collarbone due to recoil from shooting an M240 in a live fire exercise) or a noncombat-like injury in a combat setting (e.g. falling and breaking a femur while running from enemy fire)?

Thank you in advance.

It depends entirely on the supporting documentation, but either would hold the same weight taken at face value. If you can get a Nexus letter stating that the recoil from the M-240 is more likely than not caused your injury, it could go a long way in supporting the claim. Of course, I'm not a CRSC adjudicator but that's my best guess.

 

[Jason Perry]

Claimed two things;

1. Torn labrum from a 12 mile ruck march in full gear
2. L4-5 disc protrusion from deadlifts during an ACFT.

I was denied. Medically Retired w 70% at 6 years of service. But I feel that the circumstances that I was injured in should have been CRSC qualifying.

alsdnd,
As always, more information to understand a poster's questions is better. I could glean from your post about "ACFT" you were in the Army and medically retired. This is more directed to others who post, but providing more information will help to get better responses.

I am going to assume that your later posts are about condition 1 (labrum tear), based on the posts about ACFT not meeting Combat-Related (CR) criteria.

It was the twelve mile ruck march at OCS. Not responding to threats. Thank you again for the clear up.

Again, more info would be helpful. In my opinion, there is a clear distinction between an admin road march (e.g., "ruck up, and we are moving to another training site") and a tactical road mard (e.g., "OPORD- we are moving to our objective to conduct reconnaissance and movement to contact drills. Expect enemy contact, 2-5 man teams with light weapons. Out time to the objective is 3 hours from now, and we will move on foot." etc.)

I am guessing, though, that it was a release ruck march to meet the common standard, i.e., 18th ABN Corps ruck standards.

Seeking advice on.. how I can go ahead and re-apply for CRSC with just one condition - fractured right collarbone due to recoil from M240. I did not seek immediate medical care down range, nor did the doctors annotate (later down the road) that it was precisely because of recoil from an M240. Medical records only show that it was injured during a live fire exercise.. So it lacks hard evidence.

Now, this is again, new info...not beating up on you for asking- that is what we are here for....but, this seems like a new claim. So, the baseline issue is whether or not you applied for this in the first place. If you did not apply before, then all you have to do is submit a new application. Otherwise, you would use "Form 12" https://www.hrc.army.mil/wcmt-api/sites/default/wcmtfiles/files/13251_0.pdf

My bigger concern with the claim is that a "fractured collarbone" is an injury and not necessarily a disability. If the fracture heals well, there is no disability. Did the VA rate you for this condition?

 

[alsdnd]

alsdnd,
As always, more information to understand a poster's questions is better. I could glean from your post about "ACFT" you were in the Army and medically retired. This is more directed to others who post, but providing more information will help to get better responses.

I am going to assume that your later posts are about condition 1 (labrum tear), based on the posts about ACFT not meeting Combat-Related (CR) criteria.

Again, more info would be helpful. In my opinion, there is a clear distinction between an admin road march (e.g., "ruck up, and we are moving to another training site") and a tactical road mard (e.g., "OPORD- we are moving to our objective to conduct reconnaissance and movement to contact drills. Expect enemy contact, 2-5 man teams with light weapons. Out time to the objective is 3 hours from now, and we will move on foot." etc.)

I am guessing, though, that it was a release ruck march to meet the common standard, i.e., 18th ABN Corps ruck standards.

Now, this is again, new info...not beating up on you for asking- that is what we are here for....but, this seems like a new claim. So, the baseline issue is whether or not you applied for this in the first place. If you did not apply before, then all you have to do is submit a new application. Otherwise, you would use "Form 12" https://www.hrc.army.mil/wcmt-api/sites/default/wcmtfiles/files/13251_0.pdf

My bigger concern with the claim is that a "fractured collarbone" is an injury and not necessarily a disability. If the fracture heals well, there is no disability. Did the VA rate you for this condition?

Hello Jason,

Thank you so much for taking your time for the long and detailed response. I just learned that injuring your lower back from doing the deadlift in an ACFT does not qualify for CRSC.

I have four injuries each rated at 10%, totaling 40%, which I believe qualify for CRSC under the 'simulating war' condition. These include..

1. Fractured right clavicle (as stated above).
2. Subjective nerve pain in right trapezoid (for the same reason from M240 recoil).
3. Left ankle (I have a picture of myself on the ground while being treated by a medic during a tactical road march, while others are pulling guard).
4. Right hip(torn labarum from a tactical road march from basic training which progressively got worse overtime at OCS and at the first unit I was assigned to).

I have a doctor's note on all four injuries stating that they simply occurred from the 'field', (I understand that the writeup is very vague...). Other than a buddy statement/nexus letter(I don't exactly know what this is btw..), what can I do to increase my chance of approval?

Again, thank you for your time.

 

[Jason Perry]

I am not at all clear about your procedural status, where you are in the process, and your current question. Your first post in this thread states that you "Claimed two things;

1. Torn labrum from a 12 mile ruck march in full gear
2. L4-5 disc protrusion from deadlifts during an ACFT.

I was denied. Medically Retired w 70% at 6 years of service. But I feel that the circumstances that I was injured in should have been CRSC qualifying."
Denied application leaves 2-3 options. Reconsideration to to CRSC board, BCMR application, or lawsuit in Federal Court (most likely, US Court of Federal Claims).

I am not sure about what you are asking.

 

[alsdnd]

alsdnd,
As always, more information to understand a poster's questions is better. I could glean from your post about "ACFT" you were in the Army and medically retired. This is more directed to others who post, but providing more information will help to get better responses.

I am going to assume that your later posts are about condition 1 (labrum tear), based on the posts about ACFT not meeting Combat-Related (CR) criteria.

Again, more info would be helpful. In my opinion, there is a clear distinction between an admin road march (e.g., "ruck up, and we are moving to another training site") and a tactical road mard (e.g., "OPORD- we are moving to our objective to conduct reconnaissance and movement to contact drills. Expect enemy contact, 2-5 man teams with light weapons. Out time to the objective is 3 hours from now, and we will move on foot." etc.)

I am guessing, though, that it was a release ruck march to meet the common standard, i.e., 18th ABN Corps ruck standards.

Now, this is again, new info...not beating up on you for asking- that is what we are here for....but, this seems like a new claim. So, the baseline issue is whether or not you applied for this in the first place. If you did not apply before, then all you have to do is submit a new application. Otherwise, you would use "Form 12" https://www.hrc.army.mil/wcmt-api/sites/default/wcmtfiles/files/13251_0.pdf

My bigger concern with the claim is that a "fractured collarbone" is an injury and not necessarily a disability. If the fracture heals well, there is no

I am not at all clear about your procedural status, where you are in the process, and your current question. Your first post in this thread states that you "Claimed two things;

1. Torn labrum from a 12 mile ruck march in full gear
2. L4-5 disc protrusion from deadlifts during an ACFT.

I was denied. Medically Retired w 70% at 6 years of service. But I feel that the circumstances that I was injured in should have been CRSC qualifying."
Denied application leaves 2-3 options. Reconsideration to to CRSC board, BCMR application, or lawsuit in Federal Court (most likely, US Court of Federal Claims).

I am not sure about what you are asking.

disability. Did the VA rate you for this condition?

I was denied the first time. I have not submitted any buddy letters and feel that the medical documents lacked evidence. This time, I am trying to attach buddy statements along with nexus letters if I have to. I wasn't aware of the reconsideration option and have lost the denial letter from the first time.

Anything I can do to increase my chances? Thank you for your reply.

Edit: I forgot, this post was from a while back. Apologize for the late response.