Good Morning,
I am an FCA1 with 13 years, 7 months of service.I was initially diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in October 2018, went limdu for 6 months and was recommended for MEB and PEB. Timeline is as follows:
April 22, 2019 - Medical records scanned and uploaded to VA
June 14, 2019 - PEB package uploaded to PEB
September 11, 2019 - called DC at (202)685-6422 and talked to "Gunny", was told my package was in QA, should hear something within next 2 weeks.
October 1, 2019 - Called DC again, was told still in QA, should hear something in the next week and a half.
October 10, 2019 - Received findings from PEBLO, 10% Sep/Sev.
October 16, 2019 - meet up with JAG to discuss options to appeal determination.
October 25, 2019 - meet up with PEBLO to sign Election of Options.
The main condition for determination of fitness was "Rheumatoid arthritis with Rheumatoid factor, unspecified." For some reason, I was rated 20% for each shoulder, 10% for each wrist and ankles labeled "strain." The part that confuses me is that the only mention of the condition for determination was "lumbar strain (rheumatoid arthritis)" which was rated at 10%. The fact of the matter is that RA affects all of the joints that I received a percentage for except for my lumbar strain. I'm not posting this to point the finger or to accuse the PEB of copying what the VA said and try to give me the bare minimum and send me on my way, but does this make sense to anyone? My plan is to appeal the findings because I feel that my condition was almost completely overlooked. Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated!
I am an FCA1 with 13 years, 7 months of service.I was initially diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in October 2018, went limdu for 6 months and was recommended for MEB and PEB. Timeline is as follows:
April 22, 2019 - Medical records scanned and uploaded to VA
June 14, 2019 - PEB package uploaded to PEB
September 11, 2019 - called DC at (202)685-6422 and talked to "Gunny", was told my package was in QA, should hear something within next 2 weeks.
October 1, 2019 - Called DC again, was told still in QA, should hear something in the next week and a half.
October 10, 2019 - Received findings from PEBLO, 10% Sep/Sev.
October 16, 2019 - meet up with JAG to discuss options to appeal determination.
October 25, 2019 - meet up with PEBLO to sign Election of Options.
The main condition for determination of fitness was "Rheumatoid arthritis with Rheumatoid factor, unspecified." For some reason, I was rated 20% for each shoulder, 10% for each wrist and ankles labeled "strain." The part that confuses me is that the only mention of the condition for determination was "lumbar strain (rheumatoid arthritis)" which was rated at 10%. The fact of the matter is that RA affects all of the joints that I received a percentage for except for my lumbar strain. I'm not posting this to point the finger or to accuse the PEB of copying what the VA said and try to give me the bare minimum and send me on my way, but does this make sense to anyone? My plan is to appeal the findings because I feel that my condition was almost completely overlooked. Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated!
