Introduce yourself

Mark,

Good luck with your MEB/PEB process. Hope it all goes your way!
 
Mark,

Good luck with your MEB/PEB process. Hope it all goes your way!

Thanks Jason, I hope for a medical retirement. Issues are obstructive sleep apnea, plantar fasciitis, chronic right knee pain, asthma (allergy and exercise induced), allergic rhinitis, and eczema.
 
Hello everyone, first off thank all of you for your service to this country. Second, im glad I found this forum as a way to learn more about the VA Disability process. Im a Marine Veteran from the 80's (82-87). I was a Heavy Equipment Operator. I got hurt in 86 while TAD off the coast of Cali repairing and reconstructing targets for our destroyers. I hurt my back and neck, wound up paralysed from the waist down, (temp) and alot of pain in my neck. Nothing was broken, and I got my feeling back to my legs within 48 hours. Move ahead to 87 and after physical therapy and alot of time on Perm Light Duty I was sent to the MEB. I got 10% for the back and 0% for my neck. I was told that these injuries WOULD come back and get worse in the years to come. Time warp to 2008. I had been having back pain and neck stiffness, including freq migraines for 2 years at this point. I had a stroke in sept 2008, went to the VA docs, and while doing a MRI on the neck discovered major problems. I ended up having a fusion involving C-2 to T-1. I also have a torn rotater cuff on the left with no feeling in my left arm. I have Thoracic DDD, my back has a buldging disc and severe arthritis. With the back, the sciatic nerve on the left has major muscle spasms, and my left knee needs a brace cause the signal from my brain isnt telling it to walk, so it buckles backwards, lol. I walk with a walker , and now last july got type 2 diabetes. Im rated at 80%, Just had my C&P for IU and A&A. I also have chronic headaches , with 2-3 migraines a month. Im looking forward to learning more in here, and chatting with all my fellow vets, Ive been waiting for over 2 years for IU to be done,lol.
 
Hello, I've been lurking for a while now for my husband. He's quite busy most of the time so I research for him so we can stay informed. My husband had ankle surgery last feb, then in april he suffered a pulmonary embolism. Then in november they took him off the blood thinners, december he had another PE. This time the PE was worse and damaged his lung. They did all the necessary tests and the PE is directly connected to the ankle surgery, no genetic or other medical issues that would aggravate. They put in his p3 a month ago. He had his first PEBLO meeting yesterday and we found out he's in the DOD/VA pilot program. I can't tell you how grateful we are for this forum! If I hadn't found this site we'd be so stressed and lost. Thank you all for your service and willingness to share. Just wanted to finally say hi since my husband met with his PEBLO and it's now officially started.

Thanks!
 
Hello everone,
My name is Steve and Ive currently been active in the Army for just over 8 years now. Ive been lurking around this site for a little while now trying to gather more info on the MEB/PEB process. I was diagnosed with DDD and Chronic PTSD several years ago, and have refused a P3 profile multiple times, however I believe Im going to let them go ahead and accept it now. I am completely new to this process and it is quite scarry as the Army is the only life I have known, so if anyone has any pointers and such on what to expect and or timelines (I know they vary greatly) I would greatly appriciate it. Im hoping for medical retirement but who knows...Should probably throw in here Im currently stationed at JBLM as well.
 
Hi everyone, my name is Chanel. I'm a Marine and I am currently going through a MEB. AD Marine, been in for 9 years. I've been seeing a podiatrist for about 4 years now. During this time I have been diagnosed with all kinds of stuff to explain broken bones, chipped bones, bone spurs, swelling, and everything else that seems to go wrong with my feet. After two surgeries and insisting on tests for underlying conditions, I was FINALLY diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Didn't even know what it was until a few months ago. I'm nervous about this whole PEB process, still a little confused on how it works, but doing my research. My priority is making sure that I receive quality (key word, lol) healthcare now and after I exit the military. I have accepted that I won't be able to live the same type of physical lifestyle I used to, but I refuse to accept living in pain like this for the rest of my life.

Right now I'm doing research and soaking up all the knowledge I can, because I don't trust the system. The way medical has handled my condition over the last few years is either willful neglect or incompetence. Either way, I want to be able to smell the BS if and when it gets thrown my way during this process.
 
Hello all! My name is John and I am married with two kids (6 and 2). I just joined this site as a reference from a friend's referral who will final out next week. So far I am impressed with all the information I have been able to attain in such a short period of time. I have some additional questions but first I will give some background to help with answers from those with experience. I am a SSG with 12 years in the Army. I have deployed four times, twice to Iraq and twice to Afghanistan. I have a Purple Heart and some shrapnel still in my face from an ambush in '03 in Iraq (this fortunately bothers me the least of my other issues). After my first two years of service I almost entirely stopped going to see any kind of military doctor b/c it seemed to be a complete waste of time just for me to get Ibuprofen three hours later. I have had two knee surgeries on my left knee (The first to replace my PCL and the second was a chrondal microfracture or something like that.) I finally decided to go see the doc for multiple issues that have caused me pain for quite some time. I have three MRI's this month. The first one I discovered I have a tear in my right PCL which may be surgical as well. My left shoulder is in incredible pain and I am still awaiting the doctor to call me for that and it's been over 3 weeks. I have an MRI tomorrow for the pain in my lower back. I am highly concerned that my career is over and I am preparing for the possibility of PEB/MEB with the "tightening of standards" going on across the board. I am already on a P2 profile for the issues with the left knee and with the APFT changes coming soon it looks bleak to me. The way I understand this process it seems that you either get a rating of less than 30%, medically seperated and receive severance pay to go on your merry way or you get a rating of more than 30%, medically retired, w/o severance pay but an ID card and access to post and Tricare. Is this accurate or am I missing something? I also understand that whatever % you are rated for as combat-related disability is tax free but based on what? The whole process/benefits/retirement vs. seperated thing is confusing. Answer you can provide would be great based off the above info. Thank you all in advance.
 
Hi everyone, my name is Chanel. I'm a Marine and I am currently going through a MEB. AD Marine, been in for 9 years. I've been seeing a podiatrist for about 4 years now. During this time I have been diagnosed with all kinds of stuff to explain broken bones, chipped bones, bone spurs, swelling, and everything else that seems to go wrong with my feet. After two surgeries and insisting on tests for underlying conditions, I was FINALLY diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Didn't even know what it was until a few months ago. I'm nervous about this whole PEB process, still a little confused on how it works, but doing my research. My priority is making sure that I receive quality (key word, lol) healthcare now and after I exit the military. I have accepted that I won't be able to live the same type of physical lifestyle I used to, but I refuse to accept living in pain like this for the rest of my life.

Right now I'm doing research and soaking up all the knowledge I can, because I don't trust the system. The way medical has handled my condition over the last few years is either willful neglect or incompetence. Either way, I want to be able to smell the BS if and when it gets thrown my way during this process.
Have you been evaluated by a VA doctor yet? If so what did they rate you and how did they come about the rating during the physical eval
 
Hi everyone, my name is Chanel. I'm a Marine and I am currently going through a MEB. AD Marine, been in for 9 years. I've been seeing a podiatrist for about 4 years now. During this time I have been diagnosed with all kinds of stuff to explain broken bones, chipped bones, bone spurs, swelling, and everything else that seems to go wrong with my feet. After two surgeries and insisting on tests for underlying conditions, I was FINALLY diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Didn't even know what it was until a few months ago. I'm nervous about this whole PEB process, still a little confused on how it works, but doing my research. My priority is making sure that I receive quality (key word, lol) healthcare now and after I exit the military. I have accepted that I won't be able to live the same type of physical lifestyle I used to, but I refuse to accept living in pain like this for the rest of my life.

Right now I'm doing research and soaking up all the knowledge I can, because I don't trust the system. The way medical has handled my condition over the last few years is either willful neglect or incompetence. Either way, I want to be able to smell the BS if and when it gets thrown my way during this process.

I was just told I have RA as well and they are starting an MEB. What have you done so far? I am still waiting on my exam from the doctors all I have done is fill out some papers the doc emailed me.
 
Hello my name is Nico(le) and hope to get lots of info on the hole process. Hubby is stationed in Ft sill and oh boy don't get me started on anything with that post lol!
 
First off I have been a Member for 3 Monthes and didn't check in and introduce myself, My name is Rob I joinrd the national guard in 1995 and served with pride in artillery till 2005 when I went active duty for a grand total of 17 years in which I get paid for. Now after 3 deployments to Iraq I have severe chronic PTSD, in which i wasfound unfit by the peb I claimed my lower back ankle knee shoulder on the VA side. so when my 199 comes back and you get the choice va or dod. Any one have a clue on this one?
 
Hi, I just recently found this excellent resource when I was doing research on the process of MEB/PEBs last week. My name is Tim, I am from Massachusetts. I have been in the military off and on since 1996, in the Army & Air Guards. Currently on medical hold due to an injury incurred when I was deployed this past April in which my heart went into sustained V-Tach with several symptoms. My unit has started me on the long arduous MEB/PEB journey this past week due to a surgery that I had which was an implantation of an AICD, as a result of a diagnosis in July 2012 of ARVD/C. I started my research in July once I knew that my doctors ordered for me to get implanted with AICD because I heard this device would most likely end my military career. Since finding this site last week, I have gained more knowledge and education then any other research avenue. This site is amazing and I'm very lucky to have found it before I officially start and meet with the MEB/PEB agencies. Thank you all for your service to our great nation and for sharing your experiences with the rest of us it will truly help out future service members.

Tim B
 
Hello all,
My name is John and I was in the Coast Guard for a little over 18 years. it is extremely hard to find anything like this for my service. I will talk about my case on other boards, which is still going on even though I was discharge in 2006. Look forward to speaking with some of you.
 
Hey everyone my name is Dave, 13 years AD Army had a couple explsions 2 building falls and 1 vehicle roll over. So I have a couple medicle things going on. Appreciate all the advice
 
Thanks for this forum!

I am new to the military and very new to PEB.

My story: Originally from India, decided to live an independent life. Came to States, joined the Navy due to my multiple language skills. Less than two years in, got raped by a supervisor. Everything went downhill from there.....

Diagnosis and symptoms: severe/chronic PTSD. Can't be on the base, can't see a man in uniform, nightmares, flashbacks, can't leave the house without my husband or the service dog, constant migraines, panic attacks, anxiety attacks, due to the assault...can't properly hear from one ear anymore, shoulder never properly healed, G.I issues, constantly nauseated, can't sleep, wake up with bad headaches everyday due to clinching my teeth every night and trying to struggle(physically).....list goes on....

I am too nervous about this board because my husband has Crohn's disease and he needs $10,000 infusions every other month....I can't loose tricare or my paycheck right now but I'm also useless to the military due to my PTSD....
 
Greetings all !!

Im Tim orginally from Alabama (Roll Tide) but now live in the DC Metro area since 97. Im currently undergoing the MEB @ Ft Belvoir and just received my Narsum last week and will meet again with legal counsel tomorrow.

I have over 31 YOS...17 AD..14 Guard. Just hope to learn some things here along with sharing lessons learned.

Good Luck everyone !!
 
Hello All,

My Name is Sascha. I did 17yrs AD in the AF and was Medically separated with severance. I am currently working as a PEBLO at FT Carson and before that I started my GS career working in TRANSITIONS doing medical separations (orders/DD214). I would say I have a pretty good grasp on the MEB process for the Army side. I have assisted several soldiers on this site and will continue to do so. Just let me know what I can do and I will do my best.
 
Thanks for volunteering to offer support Sascha! My husband just ets-ed. He was medically separated and will be receiving severance. I am pouring over all of the info here (and have been for a while now because I am a little apprehensive.) I am uncertain how long it will take to receive the severance deposit. They told us 7-10 days at the finance brief (he had me attend with him because one of his disabilities makes understanding and retention difficult) but I have read everything from two weeks to four months as possible timeframes. He's trying to find a job and I'm currently working, but I worry (I know most of you can relate). Does anyone know about how long it is currently taking Indianapolis to process severance pay?
 
I am a 15 year active duty Army CPT with sleep apnea, hearing loss, tinnitus, and some sort of movement disorder (still undiagnosed). My symptoms are many: ataxia, resting tremor in jaw, left hand left leg, tingling and numbness in both feet and left hand, fasciculations, fatigue, weakness. In legs (have had to crawl up the stairs to get to bed some nights) sometimes I stumble like a drunk, other times I shuffle like an old man. Have had 2 MRIs, nerve conduction study, lumbar puncture, numerous blood tests, seen 2 neurologists and a nueromuscular specialist. The closest I have got to a diagnosis was a civilian doc who told me I have some of but not all of the symptoms of Parkinson's or Parkinsonism, but I would have to show him progression of symptoms over 6-12 months. At this point I want a diagnosis worse than I want to stay in because I can no longer hide the tremor or poor gait, my Soldiers see it, my BN CDR sees it, everyone sees it. The best I can hope for at this point is a compassionate reassignment that could get me to 17 years and a diagnosis/medication that would improve my symptoms.
 
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