What were your results? Dr is thinking Humira is my next step or infusions. I'm a reservist and was already at 100% disability before my UC diagnosis. Base dr said they would MEB but nothing has been done yet
Humira MED board Retirement ???
- Thread starter mcatus217
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What were your results?
I'm about to be on SkiRizi injections for psoriasis. Army reservist. 10 years active and a couple national guard prior.
So far I've yet to get a profile. The process has me going to see my VA doc and have her do paperwork to then push to USAR for a profile.
How I'm understanding it is that I've got to have a profile to have the MEB initiated...
Recommendation on how to start the process? Per AR 40-501 I do not meet retain criteria. I'm close to my 20 good years of time for a USAR retirement, but that would still be a long ways out and a couple year process to get started and my readiness has declined a lot in the last couple years.
So far I've yet to get a profile. The process has me going to see my VA doc and have her do paperwork to then push to USAR for a profile.
How I'm understanding it is that I've got to have a profile to have the MEB initiated...
Recommendation on how to start the process? Per AR 40-501 I do not meet retain criteria. I'm close to my 20 good years of time for a USAR retirement, but that would still be a long ways out and a couple year process to get started and my readiness has declined a lot in the last couple years.
The use injections might be enough to trigger a MEB without being on a profile. Talk to your med group. Your CC can also initiate a MEB if they feel your readiness has declined. Might need to schedule a chat with them and explain your situation if you're not making any ground with medical.
@PiperAtTheGatesOfDawn @HucksDad
Any immunosuppressive medication prescription for a prolonged period of time is a huge red flag. Unless you can get an exception not to deploy (all Services but the Marine Corps potentially have ways to do so, technically speaking), you are highly likely looking at an IDES referral at some point. The vast majority of IDES cases are referred at the direction of your healthcare provider. Some referrals come via Service headquarters, by way of failing a deployment screening of some kind. Beware of "pushing" for an IDES referral too forcefully, as doctors start to question your motives if things aren't clear to them or they disagree on the need. Like I said, IDES referrals are largely left up to the healthcare provider's discretion. Woking with your provider to achieve a referral is always preferable to working against them for the same goal.
I hope this helps.
S/f,
Joel
Disclosure: I was a Marine JAG, Active Duty and Reserve IPEB & FPEB attorney, federal government civilian FPEB & TDRL-focused attorney at the Navy PEB, and now a private attorney focused solely on IDES cases at Joel Pettit Law. This post is meant as procedural insight only and should not be construed as legal advice related to a specific case or a legal analysis of facts thereof.
Any immunosuppressive medication prescription for a prolonged period of time is a huge red flag. Unless you can get an exception not to deploy (all Services but the Marine Corps potentially have ways to do so, technically speaking), you are highly likely looking at an IDES referral at some point. The vast majority of IDES cases are referred at the direction of your healthcare provider. Some referrals come via Service headquarters, by way of failing a deployment screening of some kind. Beware of "pushing" for an IDES referral too forcefully, as doctors start to question your motives if things aren't clear to them or they disagree on the need. Like I said, IDES referrals are largely left up to the healthcare provider's discretion. Woking with your provider to achieve a referral is always preferable to working against them for the same goal.
I hope this helps.
S/f,
Joel
Disclosure: I was a Marine JAG, Active Duty and Reserve IPEB & FPEB attorney, federal government civilian FPEB & TDRL-focused attorney at the Navy PEB, and now a private attorney focused solely on IDES cases at Joel Pettit Law. This post is meant as procedural insight only and should not be construed as legal advice related to a specific case or a legal analysis of facts thereof.
Thanks a ton for the insight and for all that you do. I'll be referring back here to PEFforum often while I try and sort things out.
18 Year, AF E-8 here, adding my 2 cents.
I have psoriatic arthritis and was very careful what meds I got on b/c as others have stated, there is no "safe" zone to avoiding a MEB and being separated. IF you are medically separated after 20 years, it is considered a medical retirement and you can collect your military retirement pay and VA disability (mil retired pay is calculated using the standard method for you, in my case it is high-3, OR you can chose to take your disability rating that the military rates you for the medical condition you're being separated0). So, if you have >20 years and are medically retired for PA and get rated by the military at 60%, you can choose that to be your disability pay. The VA will automatically carry over the military's 60% rating for the condition you were retired, and then they will evaluate all of your other conditions. IF you are not eligible for retirement (ie, shy of 20 years) then you will not get dual mil pay and VA disability.
For the medical condition itself, I talked to my Rheumatologist and PCM and ended up on Methotrexate. Not an ideal drug for PA, but my skin has cleared up and my joints feel a little better. For the Air Force, Humira is a no-go because it has to be refrigerated. I also saw a medical document showing what meds can get exceptions and I believe Humira said no exceptions. However, my Rheumatologist told me she treats pilots that are on Humira.
What I can tell you from experience is, when your commander has to make a recommendation to the IRILO team (this is to determine if you go to MEB) the CC's words REALLY matter. If the CC says you can perform your job and are fantastic, it is likely you'll be returned to duty. I've had a P2 code for 5 years now, haven't deployed since Afghanistan in 2011 and am still serving. I am however hesitant to get on Humira, I will probably wait until I reach 19 years and hit the retirement button before I switch to that drug. The process of being med-separated should take over a year with appeals and all so I'd be safe.
To the original posters point about commissioning and needing to stay in for 22 years, keep in mind if they medically retired you at 20 years then you'd still get to retire and get dual mil retirement pay and VA disability BUT if you had a service commitment for commissioning and you didn't meet the commitment then you wouldn't get to retire at the officer rank. Your retirement pay would still be officer pay though, assuming you pinned on for 3 years.
I have psoriatic arthritis and was very careful what meds I got on b/c as others have stated, there is no "safe" zone to avoiding a MEB and being separated. IF you are medically separated after 20 years, it is considered a medical retirement and you can collect your military retirement pay and VA disability (mil retired pay is calculated using the standard method for you, in my case it is high-3, OR you can chose to take your disability rating that the military rates you for the medical condition you're being separated0). So, if you have >20 years and are medically retired for PA and get rated by the military at 60%, you can choose that to be your disability pay. The VA will automatically carry over the military's 60% rating for the condition you were retired, and then they will evaluate all of your other conditions. IF you are not eligible for retirement (ie, shy of 20 years) then you will not get dual mil pay and VA disability.
For the medical condition itself, I talked to my Rheumatologist and PCM and ended up on Methotrexate. Not an ideal drug for PA, but my skin has cleared up and my joints feel a little better. For the Air Force, Humira is a no-go because it has to be refrigerated. I also saw a medical document showing what meds can get exceptions and I believe Humira said no exceptions. However, my Rheumatologist told me she treats pilots that are on Humira.
What I can tell you from experience is, when your commander has to make a recommendation to the IRILO team (this is to determine if you go to MEB) the CC's words REALLY matter. If the CC says you can perform your job and are fantastic, it is likely you'll be returned to duty. I've had a P2 code for 5 years now, haven't deployed since Afghanistan in 2011 and am still serving. I am however hesitant to get on Humira, I will probably wait until I reach 19 years and hit the retirement button before I switch to that drug. The process of being med-separated should take over a year with appeals and all so I'd be safe.
To the original posters point about commissioning and needing to stay in for 22 years, keep in mind if they medically retired you at 20 years then you'd still get to retire and get dual mil retirement pay and VA disability BUT if you had a service commitment for commissioning and you didn't meet the commitment then you wouldn't get to retire at the officer rank. Your retirement pay would still be officer pay though, assuming you pinned on for 3 years.