A little reassurance?

T

Talynhawk

PEB Forum Regular Member
Registered Member
Hi,
I did the whole PEB thing back in 2006 for my right knee, which is trashed. I'd had ACL surgery before joining the army, but when I joined my knee was solid. I was in the army for four years until something in my knee snapped. The army doctors told me the only recourse was a knee replacement and since I was 25, they were reluctant to do that. I thought it was an open and shut case, considering the doctors told me there was nothing they could do. But I ended up getting discharged with 0% service connection, after appeal. When I filed with the VA after leaving, I was denied any disability in 2008. I got extremely discouraged and tried to move on with my life with an unstable knee. Since then, I've had to have ACL reconstruction on my other knee because of the stress placed on it. I thought that was the end of the road.

Then in September of 2015, I got a certified letter inviting me to apply to the PDBR and I sent in the paperwork. In March of 2016, I got another letter saying all the information had been forwarded to the PDBR for adjudication. I know there have been people waiting much longer for results, and I'm only at 18 months. I have not had any other communication from the PDBR. I guess I'm just looking for a little bit of hope? Even an upgraded rating would help me when going back to the VA. Is my timeline on track? Does this system work or should I not pay attention to it and go back to the VA? Any and all advice is welcome. Thank you.
 
You most certainly need to go back to VA and reapply. This rating from the military could in effect help you in your application with the VA but the PDBR system is actually designed to work the opposite. They are using the VA comp and pen exams and treatment records to help correct our rates we were given on discharge. You need to submit a new claim with the VA asap.

At 18 months you still have a bit more of a wait so don't worry yet. Have you emailed them to check on the status?

And it does work. Several of us on here have been given retirements from the PDBR. Myself included.
 
Thanks for the quick reply. :) I have actually started a new VA application, I was just confused on which one to wait for PDBR or VA. I'm probably out of the running if they use VA medical records because I don't have any. I got so disgusted with the system, and the closest VA facility was 150 miles away, so all my care has been civilian and only for the most dire of instances because of money. This might be a case where toughing it out was a stupid thing to do. But! I have a direction to go in and I thank you for that.
 
You aren't necessarily out of the running! They will still look over your military medical records and such.

Did you send in your records from private docs?

And have you emailed PDBR to check on status of application?
 
Have you gone ahead with your application? You most definitely should!
 
Hey, thanks for checking back with me. I sent the pdbr an email to find out where my case is. No answer yet. I sent a FOIA request to the VA seven months ago and they still haven't sent me my claims file. To reopen my VA claim, I have to file new and relevant information so I have an appointment with my civilian doc to see how he feels about writing a letter. So long story short, yup I'm working on it! I have my first VA healthcare appointment Tuesday. If nothing happens, at least I won't be worse off than I have been.
 
The VA is very slow to release medical records. But 7 months seems like a long time. I would file another one, or you can go through your Congressman and have them request it.
 
So hey Keebs, wanted to thank you again for your supportive words. Still no word from the PDBR after my email. Had my first appointment with VA healthcare Tuesday. The clinic PA looked at my knees, heard and felt the grinding when I bent them, and declared my knees are terrible and chronic. I never thought I would be happy about that? But it was nice to have someone at the VA believe me. That should help me going forward. I'm trying to find a lawyer for help, but I'm going to get all my medical records together and reopen my VA claim. Whatever the PDBR comes back with, there is at least a glimmer of hope in that direction. Thanks again for your advice, it helped me get through a rough spot of doubt.
 
Just heard back from the PDBR. My case has been forwarded to the Army for final approval. My case number was in the PD-2015-023xx range for those of you awaiting news. Again, I doubt I'm likely to get retirement, but a higher rating would be nice and a little reassuring since I never even got offered any real medical care and the VA treated me like poop.
 
Talynhawk,

i am PD-2015-016xx range and mine was sent in November to the Army and still have not heard anything . I have heard and read that mine still can be 6 months +
 
So after reading the boards for a while, because I do every day, sometimes like four times, I think maybe at the end of January after the holidays quite a few of our cases went to our respective services for review. After reading the Air Force board files for weeks, I'm pretty sure it's a long shot that I will get retirement but that I might get a rating increase. With that being said, I'm directing my attention to the VA while I wait on the PDRB.

Monday I have an appointment with my knee surgeon to do a VA DBQ questionnaire for my knees. Is there anyone out there that has done a C&P exam and has experience with knee issues? My particular question is about range of motion. There is a certain point in my knee where the bone/spurs/cartilage/whatever catches and causes pain, but I can technically extend fully and flex fully. Does my range of motion stop at that painful point? If my doctor just notates that painful spot in the notes is that enough? Thanks in advance for any advice.
 
I would say range of motion stops at the pain! The pain is signaling your body that you have gone too far and are out of its range of motion. So stop when it hurts, don't move beyond that point.
 
A 10 percent evaluation will be assigned for "knee infrapatellar tendonitis" if there is evidence of limited or painful range of motion on exam; or, if the evidence shows slight recurrent subluxation or lateral instability of the knee
 
Talynhawk said:
Just heard back from the PDBR. My case has been forwarded to the Army for final approval. My case number was in the PD-2015-023xx range for those of you awaiting news. Again, I doubt I'm likely to get retirement, but a higher rating would be nice and a little reassuring since I never even got offered any real medical care and the VA treated me like poop.
Click to expand...

you can contact [email protected] and ask them to send you your PD report and then once you have that as them if they have your AR number and if they could get a copy of that report. I was able to get mine before it was mailed to me.
 
So I got a little bored today and I'm going to be out of town and away from civilization for a few months. I'm worried something will come in the mail and I won't be here to act on it. I called Al at the infamous Al number and he said they did not have my file. Poor guy must get tired of telling us to wait. But! He was kind enough to give me another email we can use to inquire about the status of our cases. [email protected] for us army folks. I'm going to shoot off an email today and see if I get any update.
 
They gave a prompt response! But no new information. But it does appear to be a good way to find out your AR#.

Good afternoon,

Your application was recently considered by the Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR). Our agency has oversight of the PDBR. The application identified as AR2017****** has been considered by the PDBR and sent to the Army Review Boards Agency for final review and approval by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Review Boards). Once the review is completed, you will be notified of the decision.


v/r,

Customer Service Representative/bsj
Army Review Boards Agency
251 18th Street South, Suite 385
Arlington VA 22202
 
So the story has an end! I just got my decision letter in the mail. I have been upgraded from 0% to 10% based on meniscus problems and patellar femoral pain syndrome. This does not upset me at all. It helps tell me that there was something wrong with me after all and it was not in my head as a VA doctor once told me. Furthermore, it states again that this injury was aggravated by service and that the VA determination that it was not service connected was irrelevant. I might not be joining the ranks of those of you that have been retired, but honestly my injury never warranted it. Thank you all for your support while I slowly went insane.
 
Keebs said:
You most certainly need to go back to VA and reapply. This rating from the military could in effect help you in your application with the VA but the PDBR system is actually designed to work the opposite. They are using the VA comp and pen exams and treatment records to help correct our rates we were given on discharge. You need to submit a new claim with the VA asap.

At 18 months you still have a bit more of a wait so don't worry yet. Have you emailed them to check on the status?

And it does work. Several of us on here have been given retirements from the PDBR. Myself included.
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Hi Keebs,

Just wondering is there a ratio of veterans that get denied, versus those who get retired? Like the veteran above, my knee is shot because of the military as well. Thanks so much for all your knowledgable replies. This forum could use a few people with your expertise!
 
GT-DG said:
Hi Keebs,

Just wondering is there a ratio of veterans that get denied, versus those who get retired? Like the veteran above, my knee is shot because of the military as well. Thanks so much for all your knowledgable replies. This forum could use a few people with your expertise!
Click to expand...

This article below offers some light statistics from the PDBR, mainly in the period prior to 2011, and then after.

http://www.disabledveterans.org/2013/11/04/mmqb-better-check-dod-may-owe-100k-back-pay/

I am unsure where they got the data, but it is the only one I could find.
 
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