Korea MEB timeline (camp humphreys)

H

hb2574

PEB Forum Regular Member
Registered Member
Visited the endocrinologist today, there's a good chance I have diabetes insipidus (neither type 1 nor type 2 diabetes, it is unrelated to blood sugar). I've also spoken to multiple military docs (PAs) about this and they think the same thing. Regs show that this is an automatic referral if or when the diagnosis is confirmed. I'll likely have it confirmed (if I have it) as early as mid nov and as late as early dec.

If I'm facing a medboard, from korea, it's my understanding that I'll have to get orders to an SRU stateside as a soldier cannot medboard from here.

I was wondering what everyone's experience was, and timelines, on how long the entire process took. how long to get orders to an SRU from korea and how long from arriving at the SRU to get the official boot. Any breakdown on the timeline and information is much appreciated.
 
hb2574 said:
Visited the endocrinologist today, there's a good chance I have diabetes insipidus (neither type 1 nor type 2 diabetes, it is unrelated to blood sugar). I've also spoken to multiple military docs (PAs) about this and they think the same thing. Regs show that this is an automatic referral if or when the diagnosis is confirmed. I'll likely have it confirmed (if I have it) as early as mid nov and as late as early dec.

If I'm facing a medboard, from korea, it's my understanding that I'll have to get orders to an SRU stateside as a soldier cannot medboard from here.

I was wondering what everyone's experience was, and timelines, on how long the entire process took. how long to get orders to an SRU from korea and how long from arriving at the SRU to get the official boot. Any breakdown on the timeline and information is much appreciated.
Click to expand...
I can't answer to your experience for MEB going from out of country to in country. How long have you been active duty? If you have been in for 8 or more years the condition will be service connected regardless of if its considered preexisting so that's one thing to think about. Have you looked up how the VA rates that condition? See what your rating would be for it and compare symptoms. If found unfit your DOD% will mirror the VA's rating for the condition.

Lastly, is there any other conditions that you can argue are potentially unfitting meaning you can't do your job because of it. Start now trying to gather evidence, interview attorneys to see if its worth it to you to hire one from the start etc. Doing the work ahead instead of coasting through the process can substantially change the outcome. The goal would be to get 30% or higher because then you get tricare for your and your family for life! Also, if you are going to try to add unfitting conditions know that it probably won't happen until the FPEB stage. Its normal for the NARSUM to state that only the referred condition is unfitting due to medical standards. Knowing this you can try to ensure other unfitting conditions added later by asking your commanders to mention any other conditions that affect your work, by doing a rebuttal at the NARUSM stage and by obtaining private doctor letters that substantiate your assertion that a condition is unfitting.

The best time to work on all of this is before your are referred. So if you get put in MEB you have laid the groundwork to get the best result. That is what my wife did and it made a huge difference between the expected resutl and her actual results!
 
Provis said:
I can't answer to your experience for MEB going from out of country to in country. How long have you been active duty? If you have been in for 8 or more years the condition will be service connected regardless of if its considered preexisting so that's one thing to think about. Have you looked up how the VA rates that condition? See what your rating would be for it and compare symptoms. If found unfit your DOD% will mirror the VA's rating for the condition.

Lastly, is there any other conditions that you can argue are potentially unfitting meaning you can't do your job because of it. Start now trying to gather evidence, interview attorneys to see if its worth it to you to hire one from the start etc. Doing the work ahead instead of coasting through the process can substantially change the outcome. The goal would be to get 30% or higher because then you get tricare for your and your family for life! Also, if you are going to try to add unfitting conditions know that it probably won't happen until the FPEB stage. Its normal for the NARSUM to state that only the referred condition is unfitting due to medical standards. Knowing this you can try to ensure other unfitting conditions added later by asking your commanders to mention any other conditions that affect your work, by doing a rebuttal at the NARUSM stage and by obtaining private doctor letters that substantiate your assertion that a condition is unfitting.

The best time to work on all of this is before your are referred. So if you get put in MEB you have laid the groundwork to get the best result. That is what my wife did and it made a huge difference between the expected resutl and her actual results!
Click to expand...
I appreciate the message and advice.

I have been in for 6 years, I was anticipating staying longer but that might be cut short and I wont fight to stay in with this diagnosis. I have another appt next week (to my first PA, that's unrelated to DI) that I'll be addressing minor stuff that i've been hiding to avoid profiles.

the big Diabetes Insipidus is a disease that affects 3 in 100,000 people so it is very rare with no cure. However, it can be mitigated with medicine (3x a day, but diagnosis of diabetes insipidus is a referral based on current army regs). There are some genetic cases but about 30–50% of DI cases have no known cause (based on NHS), which is called idiopathic. That's what the military doc (second PA) soft diagnosed me with on paper, "idiopathic diabetes insipidus", (outpatient notes) but wants the endocrinologist to confirm his diagnosis. Which I visited today and she said she concurs but wants final blood work. This has only been an issue in the in the last 2 ish years.

I'll definitely push back and appeal if I don't get 30%.
 
hb2574 said:
I appreciate the message and advice.

I have been in for 6 years, I was anticipating staying longer but that might be cut short and I wont fight to stay in with this diagnosis. I have another appt next week (to my first PA, that's unrelated to DI) that I'll be addressing minor stuff that i've been hiding to avoid profiles.

the big Diabetes Insipidus is a disease that affects 3 in 100,000 people so it is very rare with no cure. However, it can be mitigated with medicine (3x a day, but diagnosis of diabetes insipidus is a referral based on current army regs). There are some genetic cases but about 30–50% of DI cases have no known cause (based on NHS), which is called idiopathic. That's what the military doc (second PA) soft diagnosed me with on paper, "idiopathic diabetes insipidus", (outpatient notes) but wants the endocrinologist to confirm his diagnosis. Which I visited today and she said she concurs but wants final blood work. This has only been an issue in the in the last 2 ish years.

I'll definitely push back and appeal if I don't get 30%.
Click to expand...
Also, if they try to say it was a preexisting your argument can be that it even if it was preexisting that your military service permanently aggravated the condition. If designated permanently aggravated even if found preexisting such as a genetic condition they will service connect it and have to award you severance below 30% or medical retirement if 30% or higher.

Don't count on having that be your only condition to get to 30%. Look over your medical files and see if there is something else that you can argue should be added as unfitting too. That's why I say to plan ahead and have a game plan going in. Too many soldiers are not being proactive and get lesser results. Treat it like you are in a criminal trial. The difference is that instead of being put behind bars you are put in a financial bind for life. These results affect you for the rest of your life. My wife is still very sick. She gets her VA%, her pension leftover after VA offset & CRSC in addition to SSDI. If she didn't get everything she deserved we would have had to lower our lifestyle after medically retiring due to her losing her ability to achieve a 6 figure salary. She was on O4 AGR with 20 good years and 17 AFS. She was only one more PCS away from being able to earn her active duty retirement.
 
Did you receive a DOD rating for Diabetes Insipidus? I read the VA rates Diabetes Insipidus 30% for three months and then 10% thereafter, barring any significant residuals.

I left Active Duty for the Reserves due to extreme fatigue, headaches, daily dehydration/excessive thirst, etc. I simply lacked the stamina to work 80+ hours a week as an Active-Duty officer due to the fatigue. An MRI within my first year of leaving Active Duty revealed I have Empty Sella Syndrome, where a weakened diaphragm sella (the membrane that covers the pituitary gland), allows cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to leak into the sella turcica (the bony cavity containing the pituitary gland). A doctor recently referred me to an Endocrinologist because he believes my fatigue and excessive thirst could be Diabetes Insipidus from my Empty Sella Syndrome. On one hand, I'm glad to have a possible reason for my extreme fatigue, that is treatable with medication. On the other hand, I'm concerned, if I'm diagnosed with Diabetes Insipidus, I'll get rated less than 30% and forced into the Retired Reserve without affordable medical insurance for my family until I get Tricare for life at age 60.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top