Confused Guardsman

C

Cheesehead

Member
Registered Member
Thank you Jason, you are doing a wonderfully amazing job for us all...
Well, filtering though the thousands of threads, I am in the same boat as many, and just as confused.

I am a 10% service connected (non combat) with LOD. However, I just got back from Iraq and have a few LOD's from there, as well as a whole lot of others from way back in my earlier days that I am finally now in the process of potentially rating through the VA.

I have 18 years in the Guard and over time, was either ignorant or playing the tough guy roll about all these injuries (struck by lightning, TMJ, Broken Ribs, spinal fusion, sleeping issues, hearing loss, bicep tendon tear, HBP, fractured tailbone, knee surgery, etc...) all duty related and documented.

I would imagine my service connection % through the VA will go up, but my concern is that the cumulation of all of these injuries, as well as the the spinal fusion is really effecting my world wide deployability now...
In the guard, from my understanding, is that you cant be in a permanent non-deployable status. Either you can deploy or not. If you cant, you are out.

If at sometime, the VA/Military med boards determine that I am unfit for duty, and I dont have my twenty in (18 years w/ 2700 points), what are my options?

I am confused as to the percentages, and with those percentages, what is the outcome?

I understand the VA %, but is it best to try to tough out everything till my 20? What are the advantages/disadvantage of going through it pre-20 years.

Seems as if the reserves and guard are getting hosed, and or/ lost in the shuffle. Not a lot of info out there.
Im sure some of this is in a nother post, but I am having trouble finding it. Sorry for the redundancy.


Thank you for any future replies.
 
Welcome Cheesehead,

Do you have any hard indication from the guard that you are no longer deployable? A P3 or higher in any category of your PUHLES would trigger a non-deployable status until you go through the MEB process.

CSM (RET)
 
First, are you currently undergoing the MEB/PEB process or have you even gotten a P3 or P4 profile yet? If not then don’t worry too much. I got my P3 Profile from the Guard in June of 2008; was notified that I did not meet retention standards in November 2008 and then started the MEB process for my State; my Fit for Duty packet was sent to Ft. Sam in April 2009; Meet with the MEB Doctor in June 2009: completed all of my appointments by August 2009; was MEB’d in August; then PEB’d in September 2009; I am currently waiting for my VA percentages to be given to the PEB; at which time I will request a Formal PEB; and so on and so on.

If you have 18 years and you have not started the MEB/PEB process then you should be able to make 20 years. There are ways to slow the process.

You will be probably be going through the “Pilot Program.” This program is different from the way that it was in that the VA will be rating you, not the military. The MEB will decide which of your conditions fail to meet retention standards. The PEB will then select from the list which conditions prevent you from performing in your MOS. It is those conditions that will marry up with the VA ratings that will determine what your Medical Military Retirement will be. If you receive less than 30% but have greater than 15 years you may chose early retirement or severance pay. I have not looked too much into the early retirement because I have greater than 20. If you receive less than 30% but have greater than 20 years you may chose Individual Retirement Reserve, Discharge Retirement or severance pay. If you receive 30% or greater you will be medically retired with full benefits. You should be able to get with the “Retirement Specialist” in your state that can help explain some of this to you. Your Points for Retirement” are a factor in both your regular retirement and a medical retirement.
 
Thanks guys for the reply. I have started the VA process, but not the MEB/PEB yet. So I gather I have time, based on your responses. Just by speaking with the base docs and the VA docs, sounds as if I may end up P3 or higher.... After leaving the VA I was happy with amazed at the care given and the direction they are headed, however, I was freaked out about getting to my 20. The next wave that hit me was, oh crap... what now? and the reality of being medically retired early and what that entails.
Ive been very naive to this up to now, since my 10% rating was a long time ago.

Well, I will keep up with the forum and try to learn from everybody as this process continues. Im trying to get together all my medical records, and all that now. Any tips on what can help me or hurt me? Anything that speeds up or slows the process?

Thanks everybody.
 
There has been past issues with guard and reserve units trying to admin discharge individuals who can't deploy due to servcie connected disabilities. You must be referred to a MEB/PEB if your conditions are affecting your retention status. Demand no less. There is a USAPDA brief about this issue in the reserve area of this board.

Mike
 
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