Chances of staying in with Ankylosing Spondylitis

J

JontheCob

PEB Forum Regular Member
Registered Member
Good Afternoon,

I'm an AD E6 in the Air Force and I've been in for 12.5 years. In 2017 I was diagnosed with bilateral FAI, arthritis and a torn labrum in my right hip. I ended up having joint preservation surgery on my right hip in 2018. in 2020 I was diagnosed with bilateral pars defects in my L5, bulging discs in my L4 and L5, and Facet Arthropathy in the same vertebrae. In 2021 while in Korea I began struggling with chronic fatigue, eye inflammation, and rib pain in addition to the back and hip pain I had. In May 2022 I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis and started Humira in August 2022 after a trial of Prednisone. I had my rheumatology follow-up recently, and they are going to have me do annual check-ups and labs and stay on the Humira. My PCM said that because my follow-ups are annual, I have a better chance of staying in, but they just submitted the IRILO, and after reading some of the information on this forum, it seems pretty much everyone on Humira gets an unift finding. Is there any hope of being able to stay in if I'm deployable with a waiver, and on annual check-ups? Thank you.
 
I was just found unfit in November for being on Humira for Ankylosing Spondylitis and just received my findings 2 weeks ago. I am active duty Navy so i don't know if there is a difference but once I was put on Humira it triggered the MED board for being non deployable.
 
That's what I'm worried about. I'm currently listed as deployable with a waiver requiring CC coordination. I'm not sure if that'll help in the long run or not.
 
Hi.
I recently got referred to a med board because of psoriasis and the use of Humira. I met a Usmc E-6 that also used Humira and was medically retired. If you really want to stay in I’d recommend going on pills. At least that’s what I was told by my dermatologist.
 
Usmckevin said:
Hi.
I recently got referred to a med board because of psoriasis and the use of Humira. I met a Usmc E-6 that also used Humira and was medically retired. If you really want to stay in I’d recommend going on pills. At least that’s what I was told by my dermatologist.
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I'll have to engage with my Rheumatologist to see if that's a possibility. To this point, that hasn't been brought up as an option.
 
I’d highly doubt it, I haven‘t anyone with a similar condition that’s gotten the green light. It’s worth a try though! Everyone‘s circumstances are different.
I’m going through a Medboard for Ankylosing Spondylitis, over 12 months on Methotrexate next step is a biologic. I was on the pills for 8 months at the beginning and have been on injections the last 5 months.
Unfit finding came back in December.

It’s the unpredictability of the condition and the medication that are the issue.
 
abc12 said:
I’d highly doubt it, I haven‘t anyone with a similar condition that’s gotten the green light. It’s worth a try though! Everyone‘s circumstances are different.
I’m going through a Medboard for Ankylosing Spondylitis, over 12 months on Methotrexate next step is a biologic. I was on the pills for 8 months at the beginning and have been on injections the last 5 months.
Unfit finding came back in December.

It’s the unpredictability of the condition and the medication that are the issue.
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I appreciate the input. I've had a lot of hope through this that I'd be able to end up staying in, but it's beginning to feel like that may not be realistic unfortunately.
 
JontheCob said:
I appreciate the input. I've had a lot of hope through this that I'd be able to end up staying in, but it's beginning to feel like that may not be realistic unfortunately.
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Of course, I don’t mean to deflate your hope, I just wanted to share my experience. I’m going on my 22nd month at my LIMDU Command so I’ve seen a few people come and go with similar diagnosis’s as well.

You never know though. It’s worth a try to push for it if you want to stay in.

Take care of yourself and best of luck to you. Fingers crossed you get the outcome you’re hoping for, if not, there’s always another path.
 
JontheCob said:
Good Afternoon,

I'm an AD E6 in the Air Force and I've been in for 12.5 years. In 2017 I was diagnosed with bilateral FAI, arthritis and a torn labrum in my right hip. I ended up having joint preservation surgery on my right hip in 2018. in 2020 I was diagnosed with bilateral pars defects in my L5, bulging discs in my L4 and L5, and Facet Arthropathy in the same vertebrae. In 2021 while in Korea I began struggling with chronic fatigue, eye inflammation, and rib pain in addition to the back and hip pain I had. In May 2022 I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis and started Humira in August 2022 after a trial of Prednisone. I had my rheumatology follow-up recently, and they are going to have me do annual check-ups and labs and stay on the Humira. My PCM said that because my follow-ups are annual, I have a better chance of staying in, but they just submitted the IRILO, and after reading some of the information on this forum, it seems pretty much everyone on Humira gets an unift finding. Is there any hope of being able to stay in if I'm deployable with a waiver, and on annual check-ups? Thank you.
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Odds of being found fit are unlikely to say the least. I've been on Humira a year now and was just found unfit. The fit/unfit decision stems from whether or not you can perform in your current MOS. So if it doesn't affect you being able to do your job, then send in a statement supporting that fact. If you don't deploy for your job, that would definitely support your goal. Your NARSUM and command statements can help as well. Just make sure you communicate with them (your command, PCM, and the PEB) that you want to stay in. At the same time, make sure you get an accurate VA exam and do not downplay everything. In the event you separate/retire, you'll want to have a decent VA rating. Best of luck to you, feel free to reach out.
 
I just got an update today from my PCM that they will be pushing my RILO on Tuesday and that my PEBLO will be reaching out shortly. The accompanying code 37 for a MEB comes at a slightly inconvenient time as I had just gotten a training RIP for a TDY.

- Jacob
 
JontheCob said:
I just got an update today from my PCM that they will be pushing my RILO on Tuesday and that my PEBLO will be reaching out shortly. The accompanying code 37 for a MEB comes at a slightly inconvenient time as I had just gotten a training RIP for a TDY.

- Jacob
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Were you able to get your proposed DOD Rating? Im going through one right now for AS. Just curious what I have to look forward to fighting if i need to. I planned on staying in. I have 4 years left until retirement and now being med boarded for AS and the use of Enbrel.
 
beckynbach said:
Were you able to get your proposed DOD Rating? Im going through one right now for AS. Just curious what I have to look forward to fighting if i need to. I planned on staying in. I have 4 years left until retirement and now being med boarded for AS and the use of Enbrel.
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I haven't gotten a rating yet, but AFPC did decide on my RILO and directed a full MEB. As of now I'm enrolled in IDES and have been enrolled in TAP. I have my C&P exams coming up soon.

I also just got a line number for E7, but I'll likely be out before I would put on. I was told AFPC ultimately decides what rank I'll be retired in, but there's no guarantee.
 
Just an update on my case. I accepted my MEB findings on 24 August and my case was sent to the PEB on 25 August. My PEBLO is on leave so I called the VA for a case update. They said it's currently in the decision phase, but I'm unsure if that means I was found unfit, or if it doesn't really mean anything. I'm trying to get a handle on when I should tell potential jobs I've applied for when I might be available to work.
 
JontheCob said:
Just an update on my case. I accepted my MEB findings on 24 August and my case was sent to the PEB on 25 August. My PEBLO is on leave so I called the VA for a case update. They said it's currently in the decision phase, but I'm unsure if that means I was found unfit, or if it doesn't really mean anything. I'm trying to get a handle on when I should tell potential jobs I've applied for when I might be available to work.
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How did everything go with your MEB case? Im still waiting on my findings for my NDR PEB to see if they went with fit or unfit.
 
beckynbach said:
How did everything go with your MEB case? Im still waiting on my findings for my NDR PEB to see if they went with fit or unfit.
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I ended up being found unfit on September 2. From there ratings development was pretty quick, coming in before the end of September, and my final out was October 6. I am PDRL 40DOD/80VA
 
Thats great news for you. I was told I wont be getting any ratings from.the DOD because theres no specific LOD for my condition. So the only thing im going through right now is the PEB to decide whether im fit/unfit to continue service. I have a VA rating for my condition but that was through me filing on my own. Just waiting on my 199 now.
 
TmoneyWO said:
I was just found unfit in November for being on Humira for Ankylosing Spondylitis and just received my findings 2 weeks ago. I am active duty Navy so i don't know if there is a difference but once I was put on Humira it triggered the MED board for being non deployable.
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I was just placed on a MEB for Psoriasis (use of Humira). Do you mind messaging me? I have a few timeline questions/concerns.
 
RockyRoad said:
Odds of being found fit are unlikely to say the least. I've been on Humira a year now and was just found unfit. The fit/unfit decision stems from whether or not you can perform in your current MOS. So if it doesn't affect you being able to do your job, then send in a statement supporting that fact. If you don't deploy for your job, that would definitely support your goal. Your NARSUM and command statements can help as well. Just make sure you communicate with them (your command, PCM, and the PEB) that you want to stay in. At the same time, make sure you get an accurate VA exam and do not downplay everything. In the event you separate/retire, you'll want to have a decent VA rating. Best of luck to you, feel free to reach out.
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Were you found unfit due to Humira use? I am AD Navy, was referred for MEB for psoriasis. Hvae began C&P exams. Will any of my new BH reports affect my finding in regards to fit or unfit if it has nothing to do with why I was placed on MEB?
 
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