Blackhawkgeo
PEB Forum Regular Member
Hello all!
First of all, I would like to thank everyone on this forum. I've been lurking for about two weeks and have already found enough information to help my case. A bit about me and my situation; I am in the Army National Guard and I'm also a Federal Technician. I've got 5 years active and 8 years in the Guard. I've been a technician for 6 years. While deployed in Iraq (2004), I began to have a series of breathing problems. I went to the TMC 5 times in the first 2 months that we were there and was given breathing treatments and inhalers. It never really got better, so I just lived with it for the next 10 months. About 3 weeks before we were sceduled to come home, I had a severe attack in Balad, Iraq. The doctors there said that I was 2 hours away from respiritory failure and I was medivaced back home. While in med-hold, the doctors dignosed me with asthma! I was 41 years old and had never been diagnosed and had no family history. They wanted to med board me out, but I pleaded with them to stay in. They let me stay in and for the past 4 years, my breathing has gotten worse. I'm on daily inhailers and I no longer can do PT. My civilian doctor says that it will not get better, that it can just be managed and he recomends that I get out. In fact, he wrote on my medical record " Reactive airway more likely than not secondary to smoke inhalation in Iraq." I also have medical records from 3 Army doctors who diagnosed me with asthma. I have all of my medical records from my deployment and from being medivaced and from med-hold. I also have medical records for the past 3 years from civilian doctors. My unit has recommended a MMRB. I just got a letter from my doctor that says I should not do PT or any strenuous activity. I have talked with my VA rep and have filed a claim for asthma. Just waiting for a response. Sorry about the novel!
I just wanted to let everyone know of my situation and that I will be on here keeping you posted. I guess the only question I have is, Can anyone offer any advice as to what to do, ask, say? Thanks for a FANTASTIC website!
First of all, I would like to thank everyone on this forum. I've been lurking for about two weeks and have already found enough information to help my case. A bit about me and my situation; I am in the Army National Guard and I'm also a Federal Technician. I've got 5 years active and 8 years in the Guard. I've been a technician for 6 years. While deployed in Iraq (2004), I began to have a series of breathing problems. I went to the TMC 5 times in the first 2 months that we were there and was given breathing treatments and inhalers. It never really got better, so I just lived with it for the next 10 months. About 3 weeks before we were sceduled to come home, I had a severe attack in Balad, Iraq. The doctors there said that I was 2 hours away from respiritory failure and I was medivaced back home. While in med-hold, the doctors dignosed me with asthma! I was 41 years old and had never been diagnosed and had no family history. They wanted to med board me out, but I pleaded with them to stay in. They let me stay in and for the past 4 years, my breathing has gotten worse. I'm on daily inhailers and I no longer can do PT. My civilian doctor says that it will not get better, that it can just be managed and he recomends that I get out. In fact, he wrote on my medical record " Reactive airway more likely than not secondary to smoke inhalation in Iraq." I also have medical records from 3 Army doctors who diagnosed me with asthma. I have all of my medical records from my deployment and from being medivaced and from med-hold. I also have medical records for the past 3 years from civilian doctors. My unit has recommended a MMRB. I just got a letter from my doctor that says I should not do PT or any strenuous activity. I have talked with my VA rep and have filed a claim for asthma. Just waiting for a response. Sorry about the novel!
I just wanted to let everyone know of my situation and that I will be on here keeping you posted. I guess the only question I have is, Can anyone offer any advice as to what to do, ask, say? Thanks for a FANTASTIC website!