Found FIT...Now what??

[NAV LDO]

On another thread, buried in the reply to another reply, I posted this:

"I was absolutely SHOCKED to find out I've been found FIT for my conditions. I will be counseled on the paperwork here shortly. So now I need to decide if I'm going to request a Formal PEB or not. I want to stay in the Navy, but not at the cost of going through this process every year until either a) they find me UNFIT eventually, or b) I make it to retirement. This process is nerve racking, to say the least, and since they started the process back in August, I've developed a shoulder issue, but I'm still in the phase of figuring out the issue behind the pain. So far, all I have is an X-Ray that shows I have a calcification, but haven't gone through any other diagnostic method yet, and am in the midst of changing Drs., so it may be a few weeks before I get an Ultrasound done."

So, anyone have thoughts? It took them almost TWO months to find me fit, so that makes me wonder if they had to do some additional research to make this determination--basically, it makes me wonder if the board was 'on the fence', so to speak.

My question is, if I have this newly developed shoulder issue, and if I've started new medicine/new treatment (Psychologist), should I request a Formal PEB? And in case I don't get the answer in my counseling here soon, if I go through a screening here within a month or so for overseas/sea duty, and fail the screening, will they initiate another MEB? And when I get, yet another waiver for the PFA, will they start the MEB again?

Basically, I am, and have had, a very difficult time dealing with this from an emotional standpoint. The PEB did not consider my psychological aspect at all, as the MEB said that my psychological issues, as last determined by a Navy Psychologist almost 3 years ago was that it was a 'Phase of Life Issue'. But since then, I've only seen civilian mental health providers, and the MEB said those diagnoses didn't matter because they are civilian.

I'll post more later after my counseling, but, I would love to stay in, but I don't want, and can't deal with going through this process every 6-12 months. Thoughts?

 

[gsfowler]

I'm sorry to read that you did not get the PEB outcome that you were anticipating. I think you may have answered you question already though, it appears that you have two options, you can request a FPEB and introduce new evidence to support your desire for an unfit finding or you can wait until your next screening and potentially fail.

If it were me I would request the FPEB, you have nothing to lose since the PEB has already come back with a fit finding.

 

[NAV LDO]

I'm sorry to read that you did not get the PEB outcome that you were anticipating. I think you may have answered you question already though, it appears that you have two options, you can request a FPEB and introduce new evidence to support your desire for an unfit finding or you can wait until your next screening and potentially fail.

If it were me I would request the FPEB, you have nothing to lose since the PEB has already come back with a fit finding.

Thank you for the reply. And yes, I am leaning toward going for the FPEB, which just literally, makes me 'ill', because I got the finding I wanted, but based upon the extraneous information about what I will have to go through for the next 3-4 years, I am potentially going to ask the Navy to change their mind and give me the finding that I DON'T want.

I really wish the Navy would change their policy on a couple of items:

1) When a member goes for a PEB, they are able to provide ALL conditions, and accept input from more than one specialist--in my case, I honestly believe the Navy should have required me to see a Neurologist, Orthopedist, and Psychiatrist/Psychologist, and taken input from all three Drs, instead of just one, the Neurologist.

2) The Navy takes input from civilian Doctors, rather than having a Doctor at the MEB-level determine that what a Psychiatrist determined/diagnosed in June of 2013--2 1/2 years ago, suffices for not including what a Civilian Psychologist diagnosed in August 2015. Basically I was told that since this Navy Psychiatrist said I was going through a 'Phase of Life' Issue, and nothing more, that what a civilian Psychologist diagnosed within the last month (at the time) shouldn't be considered.

3) Once found FIT, the Navy no longer considers the conditions the member was found fit for, unless the condition gets worse. Basically, if I need a waiver for the PFA for the same condition, I won't be required to go through another MEB. Yes, I now have a shoulder issue, but not sure it will be MEB/PEB worthy until I actually get a diagnosis other than having a calcification. But even that fact wasn't considered.

So, in short (ha ha) if the Navy would just say FIT, and then 'let sleeping dogs lie'. Because by finding me FIT, they are basically saying they are ok with the fact that I've had a waiver for every PFA since 2011, and that I can't go on sea duty (don't ask how I managed to not get forwarded to MEB before now--I did, but it stopped there). So how is me getting waived for future PFAs any different? Why do I have to endure this process anymore? Either find me UNFIT because I can't go to sea or pass a PFA, or if 'you' are saying I'm still FIT, then let it be and not waste more time, money, and effort going through this same process 6 months from now--that's why I'm considering FPEB; I'd rather fight for an UNFIT finding now, than 'hope' the next group that sits my IPEB in 6 to 9 months, doesn't decide differently.

Sorry for the rant!