**Help**

Help

Hello, I'm a 26 year old female that has been having chronic ab pain since Aug 2005, I've been thru the tricare referral process and the off base specialist stated I needed a "Gastric Pacemaker" and has the test, lab results etc to prove this... So now, I found out that the base "SGH" denied the procedure stating that it is still "experimental" and that it cost to much for tricare he then informed me that he us going to start a MEB on me to have me medically discharged. Help, I've been in the Air Force for 8 years and 3 months, and just reenlisted for 5 more years. I want to feel better, currently I'm given Vicodin, Hydrocodne, etc for pain but nothing to fix me, if they say I'm unfit fine, but I want to be retired not just separated, I've given my all to the Air Force and believe I deserve more than a separation. Please respond with what I should do.

 

[Jason Perry]

A few ideas

Alove98,

I see a few different issues here.

First, the medical treatment. Did you appeal this decision to not give you the gastric pacemaker? I would first call Tri-Care to see about the process for appealing. If you feel you are getting the run around, I would consider asking for assistance from the Inspector General. None of this guarantees that you will get what you want, but if you don't try, it won't happen. This AFI may be helpful: http://www.e-publishing.af.mil/pubfiles/af/41/afi41-115/afi41-115.pdf

Have they given you a specific diagnosis? What are your symptoms (other than pain)? Do they interfere significantly with your duty performance? Do you have any other duty limiting conditions?

These questions will help answer the second issue I see which is whether or not you are fit for duty. If you are clearly not fit, you should strive to document all your duty limitations from every condition so as to best maximize your rating and so you have the best chance to get to 30%. Take a look at this thread http://http://www.pebforum.com/showthread.php?t=24 .

I think it is important to come to a decision fairly early in the process about which direction you want to go (fit or unfit with the best rating possible). Some other facts that can help in figuring out if you will likely be found fit is whether your chain of command supports you, how have your last evaluation reports been, have you completed any military schools recently, been given any awards, and have you deployed recently. I would try to assess whether you think you would likely be found fit. If you are not sure, you are in a tough spot because it is hard to initially argue that you are fit, and then later say, "well, if I am not fit, I am really disabled." If you just aren't sure, I would consider gathering all the evidence of your fitness, continue to say that you want to continue on active duty, but hold back submitting the evidence until you get the results from the informal Physical Evaluation Board. At that point you will have a better idea if a fit finding is a possibility or if they already have determined you to be at 30%.
These are just some thoughts. If possible, I suggest you get in touch with either a legal assistance attorney or see if the JA at the PEB can meet with you now.