Bipolar II Pilot IDES Timeline

I don't think the ratings are there, but here's the conditions listed:

Accessory Navicular Syndrome, Right Foot
Bilateral Hearing Loss
Bipolar Ii Disorder - Meb
Brain Lesion, Left Frontal Lobe
Bronchitis
Chronic Low Back Pain
Dermatitis - Face, Scalp And Both Eyelids
Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease
Giant Cell Tumor Of Right Tibia
Hypertension
Insomnia
Melasma, Both Cheeks On Face
Migraine Headaches
Pituitary Adenoma, Skull
Pseudofolliculitis Barbae, Face And Neck
Right Anterior Knee Pain
Right Leg Pain
Scar, Right Tibia Tender To Touch
Tinnitus
Varicose Vein In Left Testicles Pain
 
TallTree said:
Yeah it was just a form saying they've only found one uniftting condition (BIPOLAR II). I'm trying to access the VA.gov website and ebenefits to see if I can find any ratings, I'll come back when I find them.
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Gotcha, I must’ve misread your earlier post. I thought you were saying your ratings came back. You probably just signed your AF 618 so your stuff should be going to the IPEB now so another 20-30 days. Thought your stuff would be further along by now based on your timeline.
 
14 Feb 21: Told flight doc I'm not fit to fly due to mental health
24 Mar 21: First appointment with Behavioral Health Psychologist
19 May 21: Referred to Mental Health by Behavioral Health
24 Jun 21: First appointment with Mental Health Psychologist
28 Jul 21: First appointment with Psychiatrist
23 Aug 21: Diagnosed with Bipolar II by Psychiatrist
26 Aug 21: IRILO initiated by PEBLO
14 Sep 21: AFPC directs full MEB
16 Sep 21: Inbrief with PEBLO/IDES selected/AAC 37 established
14 Oct 21: First VA Exam
14 Jan 22: Final VA Exam
9 Feb 22: Brief with PEBLO about VA results--Bipolar II is only MEB condition
 
randomairman27 said:
Gotcha, I must’ve misread your earlier post. I thought you were saying your ratings came back. You probably just signed your AF 618 so your stuff should be going to the IPEB now so another 20-30 days. Thought your stuff would be further along by now based on your timeline.
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My VA exams took WAY TOO LONG because QTC's computers glitched out and deleted my record, lolololol
 
TallTree said:
My VA exams took WAY TOO LONG because QTC's computers glitched out and deleted my record, lolololol
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Damn, that’s ridiculous. I was already irate I had to wait 2 months and drive 300 miles for an eye exam, I’d be so pissed if that happened to me. So ready for all of this to be over.
 
SSgtFutureCivilian said:
On what date did you receive the email from MyPers saying that they received your case?
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This is the first email I got from myPers on Feb 10, I'm guessing this is what you mean:

The Physical Evaluation Board Liaison Officer (PEBLO) at your base Medical Treatment Facility (MTF) sent your Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) package to the Air Force Personnel Center Physical Disability Operations Branch.
 
Well, I got my ratings back, and I'm pretty happy with the results:

Bipolar II (MEB condition, combined with insomnia): 70%
Dermatitis with pseudofolliculitis barbae and melasma: 30%
Accessory navicular syndrome, right foot: 10%
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): 10%
Limitation of extension due to iliopsoas tendonitis, right hip (claimed as right leg pain): 10%
Strain, lumbosacral spine (claimed as chronic low back pain): 10%
Strain, right knee, status post resection of giant cell tumor from lateral aspect of proximal tibia (also claimed as right anterior knee pain): 10%
Tinnitus: 10%
Chronic Bronchitis: 0%
Limitation of abduction, adduction and/or rotation due to iliopsoas tendonitis, right hip (claimed as right leg pain): 0%
Limitation of flexion due to iliopsoas tendonitis, right hip (claimed as right leg pain): 0%
Migraine headaches: 0%
Brain lesion within the left frontal lobe: 0%
Pituitary adenoma: 0%
Surgical scar, right knee, status post giant cell tumor excision (claimed as scar, right tibia, tender to touch): 0%
Varicose vein, left testicle: 0%
Bilateral hearing loss is not proposed.
A decision on entitlement to compensation for hypertension is deferred.

Overall, that's a VA rating of 90%, and a "permanent" designation for my retirement. I honestly wasn't expecting that based on how the exam went, but I am pretty happy. Now, I know for MEB purposes, I will concur and the process will continue. But I also feel like I'm so close to 100% that I should try and push for that. I'm really wracking my brain but I can't think of any way to really get that done. I did notice that my scar is 0%, even though it's painful to the touch and thus should be 10%. But if that goes to 10% my total disability still remains 90%. I know I'll still receive care either way, but what do you guys think?
 
I also see they gave me 0% for migraines, when that should've been 10%
 
14 Feb 21: Told flight doc I'm not fit to fly due to mental health
24 Mar 21: First appointment with Behavioral Health Psychologist
19 May 21: Referred to Mental Health by Behavioral Health
24 Jun 21: First appointment with Mental Health Psychologist
28 Jul 21: First appointment with Psychiatrist
23 Aug 21: Diagnosed with Bipolar II by Psychiatrist
26 Aug 21: IRILO initiated by PEBLO
14 Sep 21: AFPC directs full MEB
16 Sep 21: Inbrief with PEBLO/IDES selected/AAC 37 established
14 Oct 21: First VA Exam
14 Jan 22: Final VA Exam
9 Feb 22: Signed AF Form 618 with PEBLO--Bipolar II is only MEB condition
10 Feb 22: AFPC receives MEB Package
1 Mar 22: Ratings received (70% for Bipolar II, permanently retire, overall VA rating of 90%)
 
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Wow, that's great you got PDRL right off the bat, big win for sure. If I were you I'd start a migraine log if you haven't already and submit a supplemental to hopefully get that up to at least 30% once out. Get the scar up to 10% and maybe try to get GERD up to 30% and you should be there. That or file TDIU but of course that's a whole other beast with income restrictions. Glad you got the outcome you wanted, my stuff was submitted 2 days before you so hoping to get some good news soon!
 
Thanks! Yeah I know about the TDIU option and although it would be pretty sweet, I know I wouldn't be able to just sit tight. I'm pretty dead set on grad school, but I'm trying to figure out if I should use the GI Bill or the VR&E program
 
TallTree said:
Thanks! Yeah I know about the TDIU option and although it would be pretty sweet, I know I wouldn't be able to just sit tight. I'm pretty dead set on grad school, but I'm trying to figure out if I should use the GI Bill or the VR&E program
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I don't think it matters too much, very similar benefits, just more requirements for VR&E in terms of justifying how your path/degree will directly lead to future employment. I already transferred my GI bill to my spouse and kids so pretty easy decision for me.
 
Once I sign the Form 1180, about how long does it take for me to receive my date of retirement? And how long is that date of retirement from when I sign the 1180?
 
I spoke with my PEBLO, and basically I'll get my orders about a week after submitting the 1180, and they try to give me 50 days to outprocess. Damn this is coming up fast.
 
Nope.
 
Would my date of retirement/separation be uploaded to any system while I'm waiting for my PEBLO to contact me?
 
Within the span of 2 hours I received an email from my PEBLO, wounded warrior rep, and mypers saying I had an approved retirement. Logged into vMPF and my DOS was reflected and an hour later I checked PRDA and my orders were there.
 
Well I totally misheard my PEBLO. I thought he said fifty days to out process, but he actually said FIFTEEN. AFPC called today to ask me about my separation worksheet, which I wrote with 50 days in mind. They clarified the error and I’ll be getting my orders next week, with a separation date in the near future!
 
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