I was reading about the recent PACT act and realize that maybe I actually should apply.
I was an active duty Air Force pilot for 12 years, with 180 combat sorties and 9 deployments to Southwest Asia since 2011. I was medically retired for Bipolar II (70% DoD) and the rest of my numerous other disabilities add up to 100% P&T. To keep it simple, that means that I receive about $4000 tax-free VA disability and $1000 of taxable DoD pension, for a total compensation of $5000 (70% of my high-3 base pays).
Here's what I think may qualify for CRSC followed by some concerns:
1. Bipolar II disorder (also claimed as insomnia) 70%. My medical record indicates that it was likely triggered by a giant cell tumor of the bone. My medical record also indicates that this tumor first developed while I was deployed to Southwest Asia (it was one of those post-deployment health assessments). Interestingly, I was prescribed ranitidine for heartburn on those missions because breathing the pure oxygen gave me debilitating GERD, and ranitidine is now banned because it's extremely carcinogenic. Also, we had to fly with radiometers because we flew in the stratosphere and were not protected from cosmic rays by the atmosphere. Is there any way to tie either of those to the bone tumor, then to bipolar disorder? We were issued amphetamines and ambien while deployed for combat missions, which certainly aggravated my insomnia.
2. Obstructive sleep apnea with chronic bronchitis 50%. I see chronic bronchitis is listed in the PACT Act as a presumptive condition, but does that also mean it's now automatically combat related? I meet the qualifications for presumptive exposure to burn pits.
3. Dermatitis with pseudofolliculitis barbae and melasma (claimed as dermatitis, face, scalp, and both eyelids, pseudofolliculitis barbae face and neck and melasma, both cheeks on face) 30%. This condition was primarily aggravated by wearing the space suit/helmet with neoprene mask on combat missions that lasted anywhere from 8-12 hours.
4. Accessory navicular syndrome 10%. This was aggravated by wearing both combat boots and the space suit boots while deployed.
5. GERD 10%. I noticed that, under the new PACT Act, "functional gastrointestinal disorders" are listed under Gulf War Illnesses. The two requirements are:
- Caused you to be ill for at least 6 months, and
- Resulted in a disability rating of 10% or more
I'm really not sure how I'd demonstrate that GERD has caused me to be ill for at least 6 months--it seems like it's more of a permanent condition.
6. I have a handful of other conditions, like the painful surgical scar for the tumor (which first developed while deployed to a combat zone), lumbosacral sprain (from sitting in an ejection seat for 8-12 hours wearing a space suit in a cramped cockpit), tinnitis (from sitting in that awful cockpit), limitation of flexions, etc...
So is there anything here worth pursuing? My DD214 says my separation code is SEJ (permanent disability (enhanced), so combat related?), and my AF Form 356 says my Bipolar Disorder is NOT combat related nor was it incurred in a combat zone, but is it possible to link the tumor to a combat zone, then the tumor to bipolar? Thank you for all the help!
