I am an 11B in the Army and was informed in December that I am getting medically retired due to my repeated cases of rhabdomyolysis, three times within four months. In September right after morning PT, I went to the bathroom and pissed out what looked to be blood. I don't mean a little bit, I mean the entire time i was peeing was straight coca cola colored. I felt no other symptoms, no soreness, nothing. Went and told platoon doc and he gave me an IV and took me to the ER. They took blood and gave another IV. They told me it is rhabdomyolysis, muscles eating themselves, material goes through kidneys, i piss blood. I was put on dead mans profile and told to hydrate. When I came off profile after about a month I returned to regular duty. Within a month I pissed blood again right after PT. We figured it was the same thing and took blood test which confirmed it was rhabdo. Another dead mans profile, came off it after another month back to regular duty. Pissed blood a third time right after PT after about another month and the PA told me I'm probably getting medboarded and won't deploy in February. I was put through different tests to see why I kept having rhabdo because I had no other symptoms and it occurred after not that strenuous PT sessions. Everything that was tested for came back negative, they don't know what is going on. The PA told me he would take it to the board. Just recieved a call today after no word for two months from some captain and said I'm not getting medboarded, the levels in my blood tests weren't high enough to warrant being medically retired, said "it might be a normal thing for you after exercise." How is pissing blood normal? I talked to an NCO that was tracking my situation and he confirmed this from email he got saying I am not getting medboarded. They said i do not meet all the requirements and that the Army will not take responsibility for what is going on with me, that it could be preexisting, or maybe even genetic. I played sports all my life, lifted weights plenty, never pissed blood before. I feel like the Army is trying to pass up the blame, idk. Sgt told me I could either finish out my contract on a permanent modified profile or get medically chaptered instead of medically retired, meaning the Army takes no blame and I just get out. If i cannot do my job and missed deployment because of this then why would I choose to stay in, so I guess if medically chaptered is an option then I would go with that but I don't understand why I cannot be medically retired. Would I still get benefits from being medically chaptered? Can I fight this? Am I getting screwed? Any information or suggestions would be helpful, thanks.
Am I getting screwed?
- Thread starter Dom98
- Start date
Just a few comments.
If you are honorably discharged, you are eligible for VA benefits. You could file a VA claim for disability compensation.
You would not be entitled to TRICARE which in my opinion is the best benefit from a CH 61 retirement (rather than separation).
Someone else will likely address the other issues you mentioned.
Good luck,
Ron
cc: @chaplaincharlie
If you are honorably discharged, you are eligible for VA benefits. You could file a VA claim for disability compensation.
You would not be entitled to TRICARE which in my opinion is the best benefit from a CH 61 retirement (rather than separation).
Someone else will likely address the other issues you mentioned.
Good luck,
Ron
cc: @chaplaincharlie
First and most importantly take care of your health. Should you have another episode, call an ambulance and go straight to the ER. Have you seen a nephrologist? If not, talk to the patient advocate ASAP and request you be seen by one. Also ask for a case manager to be assigned to your case.
Second, please explain what levels were not high enough in your blood work.
Third, before you leave the USA, be sure you go to medical records and get a copy of all records. If the USA does not change their mind about the MEB. be sure 6 months before separation you request a Benefits Delivery at Discharge from the VA. This will help document your conditions for a BCMR.
Second, please explain what levels were not high enough in your blood work.
Third, before you leave the USA, be sure you go to medical records and get a copy of all records. If the USA does not change their mind about the MEB. be sure 6 months before separation you request a Benefits Delivery at Discharge from the VA. This will help document your conditions for a BCMR.
The levels that they said were not high enough was the CK levels in my blood test, which from my understanding indicates muscle breakdown and the material of that in the bloodstream. My levels were hundreds of times outside the norm, but they said that is not high enough to get medically discharged. Also, how do I get in contact with a case manager or patient advocate? I've never heard of that, no one has told me that is something I can do.
Generally, a patient advocate is a health care professional who looks out for the best interests of an individual patient as well as groups of patients.
You might check with your medical treatment facility for one. Just speculation on my part; I have not gone through a PEB.
cc: @chaplaincharlie
Ron
You might check with your medical treatment facility for one. Just speculation on my part; I have not gone through a PEB.
cc: @chaplaincharlie
Ron
I would definitely be asking for a referral to a nephrologist (kidney doc).
good idea i will mention that at my appointment