Ft. Cavazos Timeline

Dillon89

Dillon89

PEB Forum Regular Member
Registered Member
Hello everyone, I've followed the forums for a while...I guess it's my turn to document for posterity. I hope someone gets something from this.

I'll update this periodically. I was surprised to find out that only one of my claims failed to meet medical retention standards (the one I was referred for, at least)...so mine will include a legal route that yours hopefully won't.

On that note, we're going to find out all about PTSD as this goes along. C&P Examiner diagnosed me with severe PTSD. MEB says it's incongruent with my high performance records and so has no DSM 5 basis.

Wouldn't have imagined that drowning yourself in work to cope, and wearing a mask for your career would bite you in the rear, but here we are.

My referred condition seems unique because I haven't found really anyone else with it, so let me clarify: "status post left (non-dominant) finger tendon reconstruction with reduced grip strength and flexion." Basically, after two surgeries I've got 5 scars from my pinky to my elbow. Tendon was taken from wrist and put into pinky. But pinky is stuck flexed, hand is weak and can't close, and wrist doesn't bend much, etc.

I'll try to only include the details I would have liked to see, but if anyone is curious about more (like C&P...oddities) just hmu.

Here's what we've got so far:

14 JUL- MEB Initiated
17 JUL- PEBLO Brief
20 JUL- MSC/VA Claims
27 JUL- 1st QTC Appointment
10 AUG- Last QTC Appointment
22 AUG- QTC Requests addendum from examiner *
27 AUG- All DBQs uploaded to TOL **
30 AUG- NARSUM received

--------
* I called QTC to see where things were at and found out a request for clarification had been made
** If you're wondering like I was, DBQs can be uploaded to TOL on weekends
 
Dillon89 said:
Hello everyone, I've followed the forums for a while...I guess it's my turn to document for posterity. I hope someone gets something from this.

I'll update this periodically. I was surprised to find out that only one of my claims failed to meet medical retention standards (the one I was referred for, at least)...so mine will include a legal route that yours hopefully won't.

On that note, we're going to find out all about PTSD as this goes along. C&P Examiner diagnosed me with severe PTSD. MEB says it's incongruent with my high performance records and so has no DSM 5 basis.

Wouldn't have imagined that drowning yourself in work to cope, and wearing a mask for your career would bite you in the rear, but here we are.

My referred condition seems unique because I haven't found really anyone else with it, so let me clarify: "status post left (non-dominant) finger tendon reconstruction with reduced grip strength and flexion." Basically, after two surgeries I've got 5 scars from my pinky to my elbow. Tendon was taken from wrist and put into pinky. But pinky is stuck flexed, hand is weak and can't close, and wrist doesn't bend much, etc.

I'll try to only include the details I would have liked to see, but if anyone is curious about more (like C&P...oddities) just hmu.

Here's what we've got so far:

14 JUL- MEB Initiated
17 JUL- PEBLO Brief
20 JUL- MSC/VA Claims
27 JUL- 1st QTC Appointment
10 AUG- Last QTC Appointment
22 AUG- QTC Requests addendum from examiner *
27 AUG- All DBQs uploaded to TOL **
30 AUG- NARSUM received

--------
* I called QTC to see where things were at and found out a request for clarification had been made
** If you're wondering like I was, DBQs can be uploaded to TOL on weekends
Click to expand...
What's TOL?
 
Dillon89 said:
Hello everyone, I've followed the forums for a while...I guess it's my turn to document for posterity. I hope someone gets something from this.

I'll update this periodically. I was surprised to find out that only one of my claims failed to meet medical retention standards (the one I was referred for, at least)...so mine will include a legal route that yours hopefully won't.

On that note, we're going to find out all about PTSD as this goes along. C&P Examiner diagnosed me with severe PTSD. MEB says it's incongruent with my high performance records and so has no DSM 5 basis.

Wouldn't have imagined that drowning yourself in work to cope, and wearing a mask for your career would bite you in the rear, but here we are.

My referred condition seems unique because I haven't found really anyone else with it, so let me clarify: "status post left (non-dominant) finger tendon reconstruction with reduced grip strength and flexion." Basically, after two surgeries I've got 5 scars from my pinky to my elbow. Tendon was taken from wrist and put into pinky. But pinky is stuck flexed, hand is weak and can't close, and wrist doesn't bend much, etc.

I'll try to only include the details I would have liked to see, but if anyone is curious about more (like C&P...oddities) just hmu.

Here's what we've got so far:

14 JUL- MEB Initiated
17 JUL- PEBLO Brief
20 JUL- MSC/VA Claims
27 JUL- 1st QTC Appointment
10 AUG- Last QTC Appointment
22 AUG- QTC Requests addendum from examiner *
27 AUG- All DBQs uploaded to TOL **
30 AUG- NARSUM received

--------
* I called QTC to see where things were at and found out a request for clarification had been made
** If you're wondering like I was, DBQs can be uploaded to TOL on weekends
Click to expand...
05 SEP- NARSUM signed, IMR requested
11 SEP- IMR (Telephonic): kidney failure added to NARSUM, wrist changed to unfit
22 SEP- MEB Rebuttal Submitted

______
*A lot* has happened behind the scenes. Some notes from my experiences:

1. Don't be discouraged, especially by paralegals, see what an actual attorney says. Mine has been a game changer.
2. Most of us try to avoid the doc through our career & so our documentation does not reflect the reality of our situation. Ask IMR doc what documentation *would* reflect it, and work in that direction. Hound referrals, get on cancelation lists, be proactive.
3. IMR, Rebuttal, Support Statements, new imaging, whatever: it could change MEB, but it's for PEB on the back end. It's *not* a waste of time.
 
Just a thought... if you are not already, consider getting outside documentation on your PTSD. I have found great help with my local Vet Center creating a report for me. I also paid out of pocket for a private doc DBQ and medical opinion as backup. I'm guessing it would be hard for the MEB to turn things down if multiple other docs all agree on a different view of the findings. Good luck!
 
Some small updates:

14 JUL- MEB Initiated
17 JUL- PEBLO Brief
20 JUL- MSC/VA Claims
27 JUL- 1st QTC Appointment
10 AUG- Last QTC Appointment
22 AUG- QTC requests addendum from examiner
27 AUG- All DBQs uploaded to TOL
31 AUG- NARSUM received
05 SEP- NARSUM signed, IMR requested
11 SEP- IMR (Telephonic)
22 SEP- MEB Rebuttal Submitted
27 SEP- MEB responds to rebutal, NARSUM signed (1 condition added, 1 changed to unfit)
12 OCT- Asked PEBLO for update, says my case was sent for ratings
17 OCT- VA website says claim is closed*

------------
* Checked on the 19th. PEBLO says ratings still pending. VA site says decision letter is avalailable for download, but says no letter present when clicked. VA says give it a few days.
 
Dillon89 said:
Some small updates:

14 JUL- MEB Initiated
17 JUL- PEBLO Brief
20 JUL- MSC/VA Claims
27 JUL- 1st QTC Appointment
10 AUG- Last QTC Appointment
22 AUG- QTC requests addendum from examiner
27 AUG- All DBQs uploaded to TOL
31 AUG- NARSUM received
05 SEP- NARSUM signed, IMR requested
11 SEP- IMR (Telephonic)
22 SEP- MEB Rebuttal Submitted
27 SEP- MEB responds to rebutal, NARSUM signed (1 condition added, 1 changed to unfit)
12 OCT- Asked PEBLO for update, says my case was sent for ratings
17 OCT- VA website says claim is closed*

------------
* Checked on the 19th. PEBLO says ratings still pending. VA site says decision letter is avalailable for download, but says no letter present when clicked. VA says give it a few days.
Click to expand...
You should get a FSS notification today or tomorrow in your email... So then after that contact your peblo to get your ratings.
 
Called the VA today to see if they could show me the decision letter, and they emailed it to me encrypted. Looks like 20% DOD / 100% VA. The letter says they only rated the conditions I claimed back in July, so I'm eager to speak to my lawyer and PEBLO about everything that's happened since. Feel like I jumped a hoop because I got these before my PEBLO lol. I'll keep y'all posted.
 
Savier45 said:
Did it show the percentages in the letter?
Click to expand...
Yeah, both letters do. The first is a breakdown of percentages for each claimed condition (which is where I pieced together a 20% DOD rating), and the second tells me their proposed combined total rating as 100%.
 
Dillon89 said:
Yeah, both letters do. The first is a breakdown of percentages for each claimed condition (which is where I pieced together a 20% DOD rating), and the second tells me their proposed combined total rating as 100%.
Click to expand...
Did you request anything specific? My claim closed similar timeframe to yours and they will not disclose the breakdown rating for each claim to me as they say “the ratings can change”
 
davitone said:
Did you request anything specific? My claim closed similar timeframe to yours and they will not disclose the breakdown rating for each claim to me as they say “the ratings can change”
Click to expand...
No, I said the VA site was showing that my claim was closed on the 17th, and that my decision letter was available, but that I couldn't see it. He told me the VA sends a physical letter in 10 days of the decision, and then the digital version unlocks/gets emailed. But, he said sometimes he's able to send it then and there as an encrypted message. I don't know what makes the difference, but for some reason he was able to email my decision letters.

Now the PEB has to take those numbers to draft the 199, send that to my PEBLO, and then he'll counsel me, etc. But it's nice seeing these figures ahead of time.
 
Dillon89 said:
No, I said the VA site was showing that my claim was closed on the 17th, and that my decision letter was available, but that I couldn't see it. He told me the VA sends a physical letter in 10 days of the decision, and then the digital version unlocks/gets emailed. But, he said sometimes he's able to send it then and there as an encrypted message. I don't know what makes the difference, but for some reason he was able to email my decision letters.

Now the PEB has to take those numbers to draft the 199, send that to my PEBLO, and then he'll counsel me, etc. But it's nice seeing these figures ahead of time.
Click to expand...
I’m interested to hear if you’ve received you DA199 yet. My case closed on the 24th so about a week behind you. I know my overall rating using some deductions from speaking with my PEBLO but not the individual breakdowns. I may call today to see if I can get information similar to you but was wondering if that DA199 was available to you yet.
 
RickRock504 said:
I’m interested to hear if you’ve received you DA199 yet. My case closed on the 24th so about a week behind you. I know my overall rating using some deductions from speaking with my PEBLO but not the individual breakdowns. I may call today to see if I can get information similar to you but was wondering if that DA199 was available to you yet.
Click to expand...
Nothing yet, but my PEBLO is out of the office until the 6th. Anything on your end?
 
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