I have done my MEB for the army. I am going to share my leasons learned from the process while I am still waiting on my IPEB. I am going to share what I learned about MEB.
First I will share what my general mission is, followed by my specific mission for the MEB.
General Mission: To obtain a Medical discharge from the army with maximum compensation for my injuries.
Specific mission for MEB: Provide all documentation I bealive supports my case for PTSD and medical discharge from the army. To participate to maximum effect to ensure my condition is documented correctly.
What I did right -
1. I faxed all documentation I had on my condition to my peblo.
2. I followed up with my peblo after every fax for verbal confirmation it was received.
3. I sought an escourt from my unit who is familiar with fort lewis, to ensure timely attendance at all appointments and reduced stress so as to maximize my ability to participate in process
4. I made all appointments on time. I properly filled out all documenation on time.
5. I brought copies of folders with my treatment history to every appointment.
6. I verified the contents of the file at Fort.Lewis for accuracy. to include checking all documents faxed had been placed into the file, social security number, name, rank.
What I did wrong -
1. I attended all appointments however I did not actively participate in appointments or upon my own volition volunteer additional information I was not asked that was important to my case.
2. I made assumptions, I assumed If I provided medical history documenting my condition it would be placed into the written narrative summary of the doctors I saw.
3. I was hung-over, possibly leading to reduced ability to focus through the appointments.
4. I was not vocal about my percieved problems with the durations and questions asked during appointments. I felt they where too short, but did not quistion it at the time.
5. I did not seek legal counsel early enough to understand the specific nature of the exams.
6. I did not document complaints I had in writting in a reasonable amount of time. I did not address my complaints to my peblo in writing.
What was supposed to happen -
I was supposed to attend a MEB with all appointments and receive a decision of PTSD with recomendation for medical discharge. The medical NARSUM was supposed to justify maximum compensation for my injuries to the board through detailed accounts of my medical history.
What did happen - I received a recomendation of Medical discharge for PTSD. I however did not get a NARSUM I liked. It had several issues I disagreed with and also had false and misleading information quoted out of context from my private doctor reports.
What I can sustain -
1. Documenting and checking all documents. Do not assume they know your name rank and social security number just because it is correct on your orders. Check everytime. For me it was often OFTEN!!! wrong.
2. following up with my peblo on documentation. If I didn't do this alot of information I sent never would have gotten in the file. Alot of things get lost, especialy if you fax them even if you have confirmation is was received from the FAX.
3. bringing full copies of my file ( as it is on file in fort lewis ) to all appointments. Some people do not have information they need and it speeds thing up when you have copies.
What I could do different -
1. I would ask at the start of an appointment with those doing my NARSUM how much time I was scheduled for. I would then make sure that I filled that time, going into as much detail as possible about my condition, how it effects me, and what medical evidence I have of how it effects me.
2. I would take control of appointments. I would not accept any perceived prejudice during the appointment. I would have recorded all appointments and informed the doctor I was recording in advance so he did not make in-appropriate jokes or ask in-appropriate questions during the interview. I would do this a proffesional way. But I would insist on recording my medical appointments.
3. Talk to my legal cousel and PEBLO early and in detail about the proccess. They educate you about the process and tell you where to go for more information. What they do not do is provide you with all relevant and current manuals. You get a ABRIDGED version often leaving out very fine details in the law that can be important. Legal counsel is best way to find out important details you will not find floating around.
4. Do not drink more then you normaly would just because you want to pass the time.
5. File any and all complaints in a timely manner. Do so in writing because verbal complaints no one recalls ever being told. if it is not in writing you never made a complaint. keep copies. I did not file my complaints this way I am paying for it now.
I feel the mission is in part a success. I got a decision to be sent to a PEB with a recomendation of medical discharge for PTSD. I did not however get a narrative summary I feel reflects accuratly or in any detail my condition or military service. I am to blame as much as the treating doctors for appointments that lasted for very short periods of time, when hours, literaly 2 hours, where schedule for just me to talk during each. I should have used the full amount of time to maximize my chance of getting a detailed narrative summary. Instead I assumed ( yea assumption is still a mother ****er ) that the doctors would write what was in documenation i provided in their reports.
Number 1 leason learned: If you are given time to talk to someone about your condition, no matter how much you do not want make sure you use every second possible. Talk about every thing you feel is evidence is detail.
Number 1 Idea for next time - Tape recorder. Lots of spare tapes.
Yea its a a informal AAR, not exactly perfect. But the best part about an AAR is we can all do one.
If you did a MEB and want others to know what you learned write your own. If enough of us do a AAR perhaps we can all learn enough from each others mistakes to make fewer in the future.
I realized that I made two post with my problems with the MEB. What I left out was what I could have done different. I had plenty of things others could have done different. But the truth is I could have prevented alot of things from happening had I just done a few things different. I could have made my case stronger, by focusing on my goals.
I recomend everyone write a AAR after each phase of the process. Do not focus on anything someone else did wrong. Focus only on what you could have done right to try and prevent it.
It is easier to point out mistakes of others, then mistakes you have made. I admit now that I had a psychiatrist who did my MEB who met with me for under 15 minutes, I knew it was wrong but I didn't want to talk and was happy for it at the time. I was as much a party to poorly documenting my condition as the psychiatrist, I am an NCO I should have known better. It does not excuss him, but still 2 parties involved not 1.
Anyway once again I am typing at 4:40 in the morning. I really should try typing when I am awake.
First I will share what my general mission is, followed by my specific mission for the MEB.
General Mission: To obtain a Medical discharge from the army with maximum compensation for my injuries.
Specific mission for MEB: Provide all documentation I bealive supports my case for PTSD and medical discharge from the army. To participate to maximum effect to ensure my condition is documented correctly.
What I did right -
1. I faxed all documentation I had on my condition to my peblo.
2. I followed up with my peblo after every fax for verbal confirmation it was received.
3. I sought an escourt from my unit who is familiar with fort lewis, to ensure timely attendance at all appointments and reduced stress so as to maximize my ability to participate in process
4. I made all appointments on time. I properly filled out all documenation on time.
5. I brought copies of folders with my treatment history to every appointment.
6. I verified the contents of the file at Fort.Lewis for accuracy. to include checking all documents faxed had been placed into the file, social security number, name, rank.
What I did wrong -
1. I attended all appointments however I did not actively participate in appointments or upon my own volition volunteer additional information I was not asked that was important to my case.
2. I made assumptions, I assumed If I provided medical history documenting my condition it would be placed into the written narrative summary of the doctors I saw.
3. I was hung-over, possibly leading to reduced ability to focus through the appointments.
4. I was not vocal about my percieved problems with the durations and questions asked during appointments. I felt they where too short, but did not quistion it at the time.
5. I did not seek legal counsel early enough to understand the specific nature of the exams.
6. I did not document complaints I had in writting in a reasonable amount of time. I did not address my complaints to my peblo in writing.
What was supposed to happen -
I was supposed to attend a MEB with all appointments and receive a decision of PTSD with recomendation for medical discharge. The medical NARSUM was supposed to justify maximum compensation for my injuries to the board through detailed accounts of my medical history.
What did happen - I received a recomendation of Medical discharge for PTSD. I however did not get a NARSUM I liked. It had several issues I disagreed with and also had false and misleading information quoted out of context from my private doctor reports.
What I can sustain -
1. Documenting and checking all documents. Do not assume they know your name rank and social security number just because it is correct on your orders. Check everytime. For me it was often OFTEN!!! wrong.
2. following up with my peblo on documentation. If I didn't do this alot of information I sent never would have gotten in the file. Alot of things get lost, especialy if you fax them even if you have confirmation is was received from the FAX.
3. bringing full copies of my file ( as it is on file in fort lewis ) to all appointments. Some people do not have information they need and it speeds thing up when you have copies.
What I could do different -
1. I would ask at the start of an appointment with those doing my NARSUM how much time I was scheduled for. I would then make sure that I filled that time, going into as much detail as possible about my condition, how it effects me, and what medical evidence I have of how it effects me.
2. I would take control of appointments. I would not accept any perceived prejudice during the appointment. I would have recorded all appointments and informed the doctor I was recording in advance so he did not make in-appropriate jokes or ask in-appropriate questions during the interview. I would do this a proffesional way. But I would insist on recording my medical appointments.
3. Talk to my legal cousel and PEBLO early and in detail about the proccess. They educate you about the process and tell you where to go for more information. What they do not do is provide you with all relevant and current manuals. You get a ABRIDGED version often leaving out very fine details in the law that can be important. Legal counsel is best way to find out important details you will not find floating around.
4. Do not drink more then you normaly would just because you want to pass the time.
5. File any and all complaints in a timely manner. Do so in writing because verbal complaints no one recalls ever being told. if it is not in writing you never made a complaint. keep copies. I did not file my complaints this way I am paying for it now.
I feel the mission is in part a success. I got a decision to be sent to a PEB with a recomendation of medical discharge for PTSD. I did not however get a narrative summary I feel reflects accuratly or in any detail my condition or military service. I am to blame as much as the treating doctors for appointments that lasted for very short periods of time, when hours, literaly 2 hours, where schedule for just me to talk during each. I should have used the full amount of time to maximize my chance of getting a detailed narrative summary. Instead I assumed ( yea assumption is still a mother ****er ) that the doctors would write what was in documenation i provided in their reports.
Number 1 leason learned: If you are given time to talk to someone about your condition, no matter how much you do not want make sure you use every second possible. Talk about every thing you feel is evidence is detail.
Number 1 Idea for next time - Tape recorder. Lots of spare tapes.
Yea its a a informal AAR, not exactly perfect. But the best part about an AAR is we can all do one.
If you did a MEB and want others to know what you learned write your own. If enough of us do a AAR perhaps we can all learn enough from each others mistakes to make fewer in the future.
I realized that I made two post with my problems with the MEB. What I left out was what I could have done different. I had plenty of things others could have done different. But the truth is I could have prevented alot of things from happening had I just done a few things different. I could have made my case stronger, by focusing on my goals.
I recomend everyone write a AAR after each phase of the process. Do not focus on anything someone else did wrong. Focus only on what you could have done right to try and prevent it.
It is easier to point out mistakes of others, then mistakes you have made. I admit now that I had a psychiatrist who did my MEB who met with me for under 15 minutes, I knew it was wrong but I didn't want to talk and was happy for it at the time. I was as much a party to poorly documenting my condition as the psychiatrist, I am an NCO I should have known better. It does not excuss him, but still 2 parties involved not 1.
Anyway once again I am typing at 4:40 in the morning. I really should try typing when I am awake.
