So..I see the MEB Doc on Monday. But I intend to call behavioral health tomorrow to set up an appointment with them to deal with other issues then what I am being Med boarded for. Will any findings at behavioral health be added into my disability rating? Nothing is in my records as far as anxiety or PTSD or anything like that. So will this just get pushed under the rug because of just now seeking help AFTER the MEB has started..Sad thing is one of my first post on here back in december was about wanting to see help for anxiety issues....but ended up getting caught up in the MEB refferal with my knee. So not really sure what to do and what I should expect...?
Behavioral Health
- Thread starter Chris1103
- Start date
If your having other health issues, I would highly encourage you to seek help and have it documented. Your still actively serving. If any new conditions are daignosed or treated, it would still most likely be considered service connected. Rather it deems you unfitting or not is another story. I am in the peb process awaiting percentages and during a recent sleep study was diagnosed with osa that requires a cpap. When I receive my 199, I plan to make mention about this. Considering my referring condition was not properly rated accroding to the rating scheme. Not for sure rather it will be added while I am actively serving or if I have to claim it after I exit the military. But, what is important, is that it was diagnosed while I am still actively serving and possibly may have contributed to my unfitting condition.
why i strongly agree with neco to be honest about your conditions, every individual is different. as i mentioned in a previous post, i am in the peb process and just being referred to pain management for my fibro condition or just getting a referral for chiro due to ddd in my back. my only condition for being found unfit is fibro but it has other symptoms associated with it. so glad i had a sleep study done showing i have osa, insomnia. although insomnia and sleep difficulties are listed in my medical records. but, had i gotten out of the military without having a sleep study done and it was discovered later do anyone think the army would own up to it being service connected?
I would guess that Chris1103 was just asking a question on how the system works for his situation. My question is why not claim it, if it is indeed an issue and he wanted to seek help on this matter prior to his MEB, no matter how severe? Lets not discount the MH issues of our service members like the DoD does. Were better than that.
I never said I had PTSD or was trying to claim it. Maybe you should read my very first post on this forum. Talking about issues I was having LONG before I even new I was getting an MEB. I never sought help through the military because of the fact that once you do it seems all your credibility is gone. My intention is not to take advantage of the system but to take advantage of the docs available to me before I get out. 10 percent or 0 percent..as long as I can get better. Thanks for assuming though...But you are a new member so maybe you do not have the common sense to read this post. " I wanted to get help in dec" I didn't find out about an MEB till feb 1st. Had no idea. My very first post in dec on this forum express the issues I was having with panick attacks and an anxiety after returning from Afghanistan. I agree with A99 if anyone will discount my condition I would rather it be DOD then someone on this forum. Thanks
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Here is my answer to the first post. Whether you BH/MH conditions are going to be "added" to your MEB or will be found unfitting really depends on the facts of the case. (I have been involved with many cases where a condition is NEVER mentioned in the MEB or in the medical records that went up with the MEB but were later found unfitting by the PEB. Sometimes, it is a newly discovered condition. Sometimes, a change in diagnosis. And, sometimes (though rare), just the members testimony is enough to show a condition not mentioned before is unfitting). The first step is to seek help for the condition. Also, see if the condition is explicitly listed as requiring an MEB. If it is, then it is an easier argument. However, the most important thing is to disagree with and rebut the MEB if it does not adequately cover your condition.
A comment about this "taking advantage of the system" idea. A few points I would offer for consideration. First, it is the MEB and the military that have the obligation to conduct a COMPLETE exam and to address ALL conditions. Over the past few years, there have been improvements on this point. However, I still get cases where the MEB or a doctor or a PEBLO will state that "Oh, we don't board that condition" (there was a recent post stating that this happened to a member, too). So, as a starting point, a full and accurate evaluation is required to be done by the military. My second point is that I don't think it is taking advantage of the system to go through the system and get awarded a percentage for a condition. That is what the system is for- to address disabilities. If the PEB or the VA correctly denies a rating, well the system has worked. But, when the PEB or the VA incorrectly denies a rating, this is a failure of the system. The process is what is in place and I don't understand how it could be taking advantage to ask a condition be rated. Assuming no failure in the system (a big assumption in some cases), a denial will issue or a rating will be awarded as appropriate.
Here is my answer to the first post. Whether you BH/MH conditions are going to be "added" to your MEB or will be found unfitting really depends on the facts of the case. (I have been involved with many cases where a condition is NEVER mentioned in the MEB or in the medical records that went up with the MEB but were later found unfitting by the PEB. Sometimes, it is a newly discovered condition. Sometimes, a change in diagnosis. And, sometimes (though rare), just the members testimony is enough to show a condition not mentioned before is unfitting). The first step is to seek help for the condition. Also, see if the condition is explicitly listed as requiring an MEB. If it is, then it is an easier argument. However, the most important thing is to disagree with and rebut the MEB if it does not adequately cover your condition.
A comment about this "taking advantage of the system" idea. A few points I would offer for consideration. First, it is the MEB and the military that have the obligation to conduct a COMPLETE exam and to address ALL conditions. Over the past few years, there have been improvements on this point. However, I still get cases where the MEB or a doctor or a PEBLO will state that "Oh, we don't board that condition" (there was a recent post stating that this happened to a member, too). So, as a starting point, a full and accurate evaluation is required to be done by the military. My second point is that I don't think it is taking advantage of the system to go through the system and get awarded a percentage for a condition. That is what the system is for- to address disabilities. If the PEB or the VA correctly denies a rating, well the system has worked. But, when the PEB or the VA incorrectly denies a rating, this is a failure of the system. The process is what is in place and I don't understand how it could be taking advantage to ask a condition be rated. Assuming no failure in the system (a big assumption in some cases), a denial will issue or a rating will be awarded as appropriate.
I have seen too many soldiers going in for 1 or 2 years and claiming conditions that are researched for and getting out with more than soldiers that completed years and deployments, simply because they know how to research symptoms. It is odd to see so many soldiers coming with symptoms that never came up before the MEB. I served honorably, deployed under combat conditions, but is sad to see how the system is being abused these days.
I have served honorably under combat conditions as well and I am by no means trying to abuse the system.