Air Force- Bipolar & PTSD

maybeyesmaybeno

maybeyesmaybeno

PEB Forum Regular Member
Registered Member
Hello,

I found this form after talking with Attorney Perry. I am grateful it exists!

I have been in the Air Force for 9 years in August 2021. I am an E5. I experienced SA (sexual assault) while in a hazard duty location in 2013. I have been seeking mental health support since 2019 (on base mental health) from April 2019- November 2019. I was seeing them because of marital and work stress. Then I was going to the vet center off base about the SA from March 2020- April 2021. I saw a civilian psych April 2021 because the stress of PCS’ing back to where the SA occurred. I filed a restricted report with SAPR April 2021. I attempted to contact mental health on base at my losing location but they couldn’t fit me in. The civilian psych put me on lamictal. I went to the hazard duty area again and I went to MH (mental health) immediately because I would run out of my prescription and it was helping me. Due to licensing the civ MH provider couldn’t see me while out of the state. I am active duty and have been this whole time. I am security forces. So I was immediately placed on DNA once I shared I was on lamictal. I’ve had 2 appointments and was referred to psych in Germany. The therapist yesterday told me it sounds like I likely do have bipolar and that I could be experiencing PTSD but the psychiatrist will eval further and I will see him for counseling. He said it is likely my prescription (mood stabilizer) will cause a med board to be started. So, now I am just wondering where I go from here. I have found these resources:

GI Rights Hotline: 1-877-447-4487

Other Designated Physical and Mental Conditions Discharge: Other Designated Physical and Mental Conditions Discharge: Fact Sheet · GI Rights Hotline: Military Discharges and Military Counseling

Disability Discharge Fact Sheet: Disability Discharge: Fact Sheet · GI Rights Hotline: Military Discharges and Military Counseling

​

I want to connect here and see if I can get guidance as my process heads down the road. Thanks for any assistance you can offer! Also, for any advice and your time.
 
The process is usually very slow. Search this forum for timelines and you will understand the definition of slow.

There are two parts to the process. The first part is called a Medical Evaluation Board. The AF will determine if you meet or do not meet retention standards.

If the MEB determines you don’t meet retention standards you will start a Physical Evaluation Board. The PEB is a personnel process to determine if you can be returned to duty, be separated, or retired. The VA will perform an independent evaluation during the PEB process.

That is an overview of the process. Do you have specific questions?
 
I saw it happens in 6 months- 1 year. I am just posting to get additional information on the process and advice. Many of the other posts have helped but I wanted to see if anyone had any specific advice. I am grateful your insight ♥️
 
Update: Received Commander’s impact statement (recc’d do not retain/“separation with authorized entitlements”)

(7/12/2021)

Is this a general recommendation or specific to my circumstances? I asked my first sergeant the same thing.
 
chaplaincharlie said:
The process is usually very slow. Search this forum for timelines and you will understand the definition of slow.

There are two parts to the process. The first part is called a Medical Evaluation Board. The AF will determine if you meet or do not meet retention standards.

If the MEB determines you don’t meet retention standards you will start a Physical Evaluation Board. The PEB is a personnel process to determine if you can be returned to duty, be separated, or retired. The VA will perform an independent evaluation during the PEB process.

That is an overview of the process. Do you have specific questions?
Click to expand...
Do you think what my commander put on my impact statement is the general recommendation?
 
It is hard to say without knowing your commander and your performance. Impact statements are often misguided. My second time through my command put retain, because they likes me. I could barely walk. But they liked that I pushed on. The PEB will see through a statement like that quickly.
 
chaplaincharlie said:
It is hard to say without knowing your commander and your performance. Impact statements are often misguided. My second time through my command put retain, because they likes me. I could barely walk. But they liked that I pushed on. The PEB will see through a statement like that quickly.
Click to expand...
He talked to me a few moments ago. He said the diagnosis drove his decision as a Security Forces commander and thanked me for working hard inspite of the mental health treatment I was seeking. He also apologized for not having the meeting earlier. I felt like it was a general statement. I don’t know what to think now. I spoke with medical and they said they haven’t seen a retention recommendation for bipolar disorder.
 
It sounds like he will recommend do not retain. Many people take the commanders impact statement wrong. It should be about your ability to perform you assigned duties. It is definitely NOT personal.

I went through the process twice, with a retain both times. Got return to duty, then medically retired. The IPEB did the right thing both times. It should be about your medical condition(s).
 
chaplaincharlie said:
It sounds like he will recommend do not retain. Many people take the commanders impact statement wrong. It should be about your ability to perform you assigned duties. It is definitely NOT personal.

I went through the process twice, with a retain both times. Got return to duty, then medically retired. The IPEB did the right thing both times. It should be about your medical condition(s).
Click to expand...
Thanks for the clarity. I started feeling suspicious because there wasn’t a conversation, but I feel better now.
 
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