Back Problems and Pt Failure

C

cd76

PEB Forum Regular Member
Hello to all, I am new here and have a few things that I would like advice on.

I have been serving on active duty in the AF for almost 14 yrs. My current rank is TSgt. Throughout my career I have never had below a 5 on my EPR's. Last year our shop got a new SMSgt that is a real piece of work. He ordered me to PT test in Sep 08, which I wasn't due to PT test until Mar 09. Well needless to say I failed the PT test. I retested in Dec 08 and doubled my score but still failed due to my waist is over 40". I met with the Commander in Dec 08 where she praised me for doing a great job on doubling my score. 4 days after this meeting I was involved in a car accident. I have been battling lower back pain since. My PCM has had me on profile since 29 Dec 08. I have tried physical therapy and it did little good. Currently I am seeing a pain specialist and Nero-surgeoun. Have had an MRI and just the other day a bone scan. The pain specialist gave me the injection but I was pain free for about 3 days only. On my profile I am not allow to do anything but walk at a very slow pace. So, since I am unable to work out I have failed 2 more PT test due to a "waist measurement" only test. Since all this is happening my EPR recently closed out with a referral 4 b/c of the PT failures. I went to the ADC and wrote a rebuttal due to my inability to exercise and still being tested on a normal basis. Just today I was told by a PTL that the commander said if I can't exercise, she is going to get me kicked out. I discussed this situation with the ADC when I was writing my rebuttal and they told me she can't just kick me out. They would have to medically retire me since I have a medical condition preventing me from meeting standards.

Has anyone ever dealt with anything like this? Can she just kick me out "cold turkey"? Can anyone give me advice on what to do or think about this? I am at a complete loss. The only other thing the ADC told me is if they do try to kick me out, I need to go to MEO and the IG.

Thanks.
 
cd76,

Welcome! Military Disability separations take precedence over all other types of non-misconduct discharges. Bottom line, if you have a condition that fails retention standards, then you should go to the MEB and PEB.

If you are found fit, then they could administratively separate you after. However, you would get an administrative separation board before that happens. Seems unlikely that this would happen, but it is possible.
 
I feel your pain brother. I had back surgery last year. And about 4 months afterwards had a PT test due. I failed a total of 3 times, I did improve my score by about 10 points each time. Got an LOR from the commander and less than a week later got a Referral EPR. I did finally pass the 3-mile walk test. Currently, I am currently waiting a MEB. Unfortunately, the Air Force doesn't see if someone is hurt only that they can't pass the PT test. I am also a trained PTL so if you have questions let me know. So basically its a system that sucks if your hurt. It's like being punished for trying to improve your quality of life by having surgery.
 
Thanks for the replies.

I had a follow up with the base med group about my back. These so called doctors are something else. I went in their and told her about what the off base specialist told me. That I could be possibily be hurting myself more and more everyday doing PT. So, I asked her for an "composite exemption" for 6 months to a year so I can give my back time to heal. She told me they only give composite exemption to women that are pregnant. So I asked her if I was able to have any of these "weight loss" surgeries, nope. So I asked could she give me diet pills, uh nope... So, I asked her; basically what you are telling me is that i have 2 options, 1. Continue doing PT four days a week and potentially hurting myself worse just to get my waist line down, or 2. don't do PT and continue to fail the PT test due to my waist line. Her reply "well if you put it like that, yes." Then people wonder why our medical is free...
 
that's crazy! i've had some back surgeries and you need to take time. i really feel if they hadn't rushed me to get back i wouldn't have needed more then 1. the next time a doc gives you a stupid answer like that ask them to put that in writing for you. i just did it w/a doc that refused to exam me because he stated that "he wouldn't build a house on a broken foundation."
 
It amazes me how the medical system is in the military. So many people tell me "Oh, well at least you do not have to worry about medical care!" I reply with the simple fact, "Yea, but I do. I do not get the care I need because I am in the Army. If I was out (which I will be soon) my doctor at home would make sure everything possible was done to find out the problem." SO many do not know what is going on inside the Army with the medical system. I saw someone post about getting the media involved. There were about 10 of us here that thought of doing that, but can only imagine the repercussions for that.

CD76 - I can not believe they do not want to help you out. I am starting to get out of shape, and I used to be like an Olympic runner - running 4-8miles a day. I know how you feel, and your doctor does not want to help. It is so ashame this what we put up with. Let us know how you make out. I am interested.:cool:
 
I kid you not 2 days after returning from convalescent leave for my back surgery I had to go see the commander in blues b/c I had a BMI over 30. On a side note they made us weigh in a week prior to my surgery after not being able to PT for about a year. So I go in to see him, in blues with the back brace on. Low and behold I get put on the fat kid program and had to lose 5 lbs a month or face punishment. Thank you AFMC for taking the lead on BMI. So yeah it is extremely hard to lose weight without being able to exercise and the hospital nor the HAWC will do anything about it. I wound up having to eat about 1500 calories a day strictly to lose weight.
 
Hey Skru,

I feel for you and the rest of you guys on here with back issues. I have all sorts, snapped my back when I was in and even though I couldnt flush the toilet, had to take a PT Test..lol..yeah that went well. And the most hilarious was, they wanted to send me to Iraq!! So I went to the hospital and had to be put on a no deployment waiver. I also had to go through diet classes and such, playing their reindeer games. Then my PEBLO was a "bitch" and she had no sympothies. She even con'd me in to only putting one diagnosis on my MEB and that was "muscle spasms." I didnt have any of this to look up and research. I was a scared airman just wanting out of it all. Then I get out and the VA gives me the run around in the beginning. Luckily I started doing my homework and got my congressman and American Legion involved. The only advice I can give you guys still in, do the MEB and don't settle for the easy out, add everything you can to it and dont let them trick you. Keep involved in this forum and you will all make it out taken care of. Good luck!

Big Will
 
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