I have been having issues with my heart since 2019. SVT caught on EKG requiring cardioversion, suspected to be the WPW/AVRT type. Exercise induced palpitations, as well as syncope and collapse. Because of this I had a RILO and was returned to duty with an ALC-C2 and remained on a strict duty profile for a year and I extended my contract. Here I am one year later being contacted by a PEBLO and undergoing a full MEB. I already have a confirmed normal separation date in April after 5 years of service, would they perhaps just say I’m not worth their time tell me I’m fit and separate me normally? Also, an ablation could solve my issue but I continue to decline the procedure which my PCM writes as “refusing to follow medical advice.” I remain on beta blockers. What effect will this have on the decision of the board? My CC’s statement says I should not be retained, and when speaking to my doctor about it he is also in agreement that I shouldn’t be retained. When I went to the MEB briefing with the base PEBLO’s I was informed that 95% of cases that make it this far usually get something out of it but after doing my own research I’m not so sure. I don’t want to sit here for months thinking I’ll be getting a severance or medical retirement and then just end up way past my original DOS with nothing.
Confirmed normal DOS/Decline surgery effect outcome of a MEB
- Thread starter ParanoidPancake1
- Start date
Can you share why you refuse the ablation? Has your PCM explained the consequences of "refusing to follow medical advice." If not, ask him or her to do so.
What do you want to happen?
What do you want to happen?
Thanks for the reply. My reasoning to refuse the ablation is mostly that I am absolutely terrified of this procedure and don’t believe it is medically necessary at this point. I continue to say I will reconsider if this condition ever starts to affect my daily life, which it currently doesn’t and is under control by meds. From my understanding of what my PCM has said the consequences are not being able to stay in the military. I am fine with this. I want to be found unfit and receive either severance or retirement.
Just for reference, my specialist recommended a procedure which was supposed to be one of the most physically painful- so painful that multiple people told me narcotics didn’t even begin to touch the pain. Meanwhile, the military clinic I go to doesn’t even prescribe narcotics for the procedure, making me even more terrified. I went through with it anyways mainly because I didn’t want a med board to ask me why I never tried it. Guess what? I didn’t feel a thing. The physician doing the procedure told me that I have the highest pain tolerance out of any patient he has ever seen, and keep I mind he’s seen thousands. Moral of the story? Feel the fear and do it anyways.
Oblation is a fairly routine procedure these days. If you are doing well on the beta blocker, I'd expect that VA rating for the heart would reflect that you are doing well. Surgery is a choice, your choice.