INSIGHT!

[stickman]

Howdy everyone. Quick back ground, I'm Active Air Force, 7.5yrs in, been in my current careerfield for all of it. I'm currently in the middle of an MEB for Severe Clinical Depression, Anxiety Disorder, and Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder. Here's my concerns (might be a bit lengthy so bare with me),

My commander's letter is not the most supportive , it basically says that I'm able to function at work and deploy. -I believe that is inaccurate, I'm coded red right now (non-worldwide qualified) and it is extremley difficult to get my work out in a timely fashion (flight chiefs have made comments about it). His comment one time was, "well you just need more time in the careerfield, then it'll get better" .

What happens with my family health care if I'm put on TDRL? I know I'll be taken care of, but my wife is due with baby #2 in March. Will she, my son, and the new baby still be covered under TriCare?

I contacted my VA reps at the county to try and get a head start on my VA paperwork, but they said there's nothing they can do until I have a DD-214, is this true?

Lastly, I don't want to get screwed over on anyting in this process. Obviously my main concern is to get better and "back to my oldself" - as my wife puts it. Any advice or 2 cents is much appreciated. Oh and my package is going through local review this week and then being sent out to the board next week. I was told it could be 1-3 months before I hear anything back.

Great site, it's been helpful!

Stickman

 

[Chinook]

Welcome stickman,

Sorry to hear you are going through some tough times...I wish the best for you and that you get back to yourself too, whatever that is and congrats on baby # 2 coming-you have some awesome wonderful experiences ahead of you.

Yes, while on TDRL you are offered TRICARE. The rates are great & you will have full coverage.

As far as the VA goes....I went through, what you are going through....I was told I had to wait until I got my DD214, and I did have to wait. They would not help me. BUT, a lot of people here did get to start there VA process. You can do a search on this site for VA and you can read a lot of previous posts on the subject.

Remember that documentation is critical in this process and once you get on TDRL.

Again, I truly wish you and your family the best. Take Care.

 

[Jason Perry]

Stickman,

Welcome!

Chinook answered your question about the TriCare...while on TDRL, you have the same benefits as any other retiree and your eligible dependents are covered.

As for the VA, the program you are interested in is the Benefits Delivery at Discharge program. Search on this site, or a search engine, or call the VA regional office. This program exists, so don't let someone who is not familiar with it put you off with a snap "no" answer.

If your MEB is not finalized, you want to review it very carefully. If it is not accurate, you want to try to address it before it goes forward. Remember, your MEB is one of the major pieces of evidence used by the PEB in coming to a decision, so if it is messed up, you may get a bad result.

Hope all goes well for you. Hang in there, you can succeed.

 

[stickman]

Thank you both for your replies. I will start doing my research on the Benefits program you spoke of Jason. That's a relief to know my family will still be taken care of under TriCare, from what I hear on the outside, babies being delivered isn't the cheapest so that's a huge load off my shoulders to know when baby #2 comes along we'll hopefully e taken care of.

Chinook, it has been a rollercoaster of a ride the last few years. My mentallity to life used to be "cowboy up" and keep pressing on. But the last years it's just been becoming harder and harder to do that. After a suicide attempt I decided it was time to seek help, and here I am today going through an MEB. I'm over the freaking out part, and now in the "lets just see how this goes, and get better".

Jason, Thanks for the site and the great resources!