IPEB--2nd Go-around--Questions

So, I'm about to be submitted to my second IPEB. Last year I was found FIT and was thrilled, because I wanted to stay in, so I didn't appeal. Unfortunately, about 2 months later, my conditions worsened and I started missing a lot more work for SIQ and appointments. I again, was waived from the PRT, so again, it triggered a 2nd MEB. I had the same Dr. do my MEB, and again, recommended PEB. However, this time, he only included 1 condition as opposed to 3 like last year, so that concerns me. My Psych wants to add an addendum, since he stated he's seen too many PEBs come back as FIT if not convincing enough, and I have quite a psych profile--several conditions--that need to be added.

My question, as since I feel, unfortunately, my time is done, and still not eligible for voluntary retirement due to commissioned years requirements, I am looking for an UNFIT condition. I have at least 2 other conditions I feel are potentially unfitting as well. I forget, do I get an opportunity to write a letter to the PEB regarding these conditions, along with any other concerns I may have?

I will appeal if it comes back as FIT, as I feel that, since I am stationed in a remote location, I'm seeing several civilian specialists that I feel if I were in a major fleet concentration area with access to a full-blown military hospital, I believe if these 'specialists' were Military physicians, their write-ups would 'hold more weight' at the board than my civilian docs. Does anyone know if this belief is true or not? I did get one write-up/summary from the civilian psychologist. Would a letter from a Pain Mgmt Dr. be warranted? How about a civilian Neurologist?

Anyway, I'm really hoping to avoid having to go through a Formal PEB and Appeal, but I get the impression that my pkg, on the military side, may not be strong enough, yet following my C&P Exam, and my demonstrated, to me and the examiner, rather poor or moderate-to-severe 'Range-of-Motion' measurements for my back (as well as fingers and shoulder), I feel as if my VA Rating would comeback rather high, but if the Military comes back a FIT, I'll never know. Will the PEB Members review the VA C&P exam along with my record, and would the use that as evidence for their decision?

I feel a lot of these questions could easily be answered in a VA or Navy document, and feel too much of this PEB process is too secretive; kind of like promotion and commissioning boards.

Thanks for any assistance in advance!

 

[NAV LDO]

Another question. Is it true that while up to 3 conditions may be listed on IPEB, the Board will only 'pick' the most potential for an UNFIT rating and consider that one condition only? I just head that today from a Navy Psych filling in for my normal Navy Psych, who is out for another three weeks.

I'd appreciate any answers anyone might have for this post or the above. Which I the actual 'ground truth'?

 

[OUSooner]

That sounds shady, The are supposed to use "All unfitting conditions for rating on the DOD side" the VA will rate EVERYTHING you have. If they cherry pick "Which I agree it seems they do to save the Govt Money by giving separation pay" you need to fight it and go through the appeals process especially if it is listed in your services medical standards directory as unfitting.

 

[NAV LDO]

That sounds shady, The are supposed to use "All unfitting conditions for rating on the DOD side" the VA will rate EVERYTHING you have. If they cherry pick "Which I agree it seems they do to save the Govt Money by giving separation pay" you need to fight it and go through the appeals process especially if it is listed in your services medical standards directory as unfitting.

Thanks, OU. That sounded shady to me as well. Right now, I have but one condition on the DoD side listed--R Groin Neuropathy. This, now going on 6 year condition, has exacerbated my already existing Anxiety/Panic conditions. To me, I think the board should be provided all potentially unfitting conditions to review, then determine WHICH of the conditions is most 'UNFITting', and go from there.

I'm also hearing that, since I am stationed in a remote location, and do not have Military, PhD-level/MD-level Psychologists or Psychiatrists, that my 30 plus visits to a civilian Psychologist, who has diagnosed me as having GAD and Panic Disorder, as well as about 5-6 visits to a civilian Psychiatrist, who is also treating me for the same conditions, basically those 'do not count' because they are civilian. Well, what am I supposed to do? I can't help where I am stationed, but you better believe that if I'm found FIT, my next duty station will be in the D.C. area or San Diego or San Antonio, or wherever else they have these military facilities/Drs. available.

Anyway, I have a PEBLO who is trying to 'rush' my pkg through with only one condition written by one Doctor in ONE field...Neurology, and I have 3 different Psych NP with three differing opinions on how this 'works', and nobody providing me an instruction--DoD or Navy--that spells this out. I'm getting frustrated--(LOL..it's a first for any members here, I know!!).

I'm about to e-mail my JAG, because I'm getting nowhere on my own.

 

[OUSooner]

Once you exams are don't the NARSUM is written and sent to IPEB. They will review all conditions and add any that are unfitting

 

[NAV LDO]

Once you exams are don't the NARSUM is written and sent to IPEB. They will review all conditions and add any that are unfitting

Really? I wasn't aware of that. So the IPEB will do a scrub of my entire record and determine if the MEB 'missed' an unfitting condition?

The reason I ask is that my pkg was mailed out yesterday with only the one condition listed, though my NMA AND my Personal Statement definitely speak to other conditions.

 

[fazwich]

If there are conditions you believe are not sufficiently addressed once the summary is back after your VA C&P exams (which should cover all your conditions, not just the unfitting ones), request an Impartial Medical Review before signing the 618 for submission to the IPEB. This is your first opportunity to state disagreement with the findings of the MEB, and could result in a change to the list of unfitting conditions. If it doesn't result in change (which is a likely outcome) it at least starts a written record that can show consistent disagreement with the package as written should you have to go before a formal board. If you are already past this point, requesting a formal board if the findings are unacceptable will probably be your only option to correct it from here on. DoD is supposed to consider and rate all of your unfitting conditions, and if they try not to, fight it.

 

[NAV LDO]

If there are conditions you believe are not sufficiently addressed once the summary is back after your VA C&P exams (which should cover all your conditions, not just the unfitting ones), request an Impartial Medical Review before signing the 618 for submission to the IPEB. This is your first opportunity to state disagreement with the findings of the MEB, and could result in a change to the list of unfitting conditions. If it doesn't result in change (which is a likely outcome) it at least starts a written record that can show consistent disagreement with the package as written should you have to go before a formal board. If you are already past this point, requesting a formal board if the findings are unacceptable will probably be your only option to correct it from here on. DoD is supposed to consider and rate all of your unfitting conditions, and if they try not to, fight it.

Thank you. And yes, it's a long story, but I had a visiting NP Psych inform me that I really needed a Psych Addendum. My regular Psych NP came back for a couple of days and basically agreed, but then left again. I had an appointment with a visiting Psych Dr. a few days later. At this point, my MEBLO was getting a little irritated with this seemingly going nowhere, so I relayed that tot his Dr. He proceeded to write up an Addendum that basically stated "Nope, no unfitting condition here...BUT...he has this problem and that problem, which have never been addressed in any of my records. So after discussing with the JAG, he agreed that I should just request this Psych Dr. revoke the Addendum, which I did, and he did, and said the only reason he did it was because "I wanted it."

At this point, I was pretty much done. I addressed two conditions that were listed last year, but seemingly fixed themselves, because the same Dr. did not write those two up, again. When I asked, he said "Well, if I were your normal Physician..." (he's in San Diego, and I'm a days drive away) "...I could "fix" (yes, he said "fix") your Migraines." Anyway, those were addressed both in my Personal Statement (in a professional manner, not whining) and in my NMA.

Also, from the looks of things, I'll have some "new evidence," should I be found FIT, that I will be able to present at the FPEB. The JAG seems to think my pkg is definitely 'leaning' towards UNFIT, but also believes that since I'm over 20 (yet unable to retire due to Commissioned length of service), and have had some pretty decent FITREPs, which are not showing any decline in performance (FITREPs signed 31 January, with my service/performance not taking a big hit until February), that the board may not put 2 and 2 together, and simply say "FIT" and "...just let him drop his papers for voluntary retirement..."

So, we'll see, I guess. Thanks again for the info!

 

[tony292]

How long until you hit the commissioned service requirement?

 

[NAV LDO]

If nothing changes (meaning, reversion of designator back to 10 year Req) about 10 months. But though it doesn't make sense that I'll fight it if it comes back FIT, because I can retire and drop my retirement request, I will on principle.

And also, if the Navy is going to tell me I'm FIT, even after and FPEB, I don't know that I'll be in a rush to get out. I didn't "ask" for this Med Board, and subsequent PEB. My current billet is kind of 'morphing' from a "Shore Tour" billet into an "Operational" billet, so I shouldn't be wasting this command's ONLY billet with my designator by staying here, but I CAN still sit behind a desk somewhere in a place that, has better Military Health facilities, and a 'slew' of billets with my designator that I won't be a drain on the command.

Basically, I'm conflicted. I like what I do, but unfortunately, I can only 'do' what I 'do' on a "Shore Tour," and I also don't want to be stigmatized as a non-deploying 'gold-bricker'. It's tough, but I'm hoping the Navy will make the right decision for the Navy and I, and if they see a Officer that can still be productive, even after the FPEB, than again, I'm not sure what I will do.

 

[NAV LDO]

Also, in discussions with my detailer, he seems to believe that if I come back as FIT again, he can place me in something called a "Quad 9" billet at a command that has several personnel with my same designator, to which I'm not negatively affecting the Command, but at the same time, getting cared for at a major military medical facility like Walter Reed in DC, Balboa in SD, or Wilford Hall in San Antonio, TX.

The way he explained it was, that I would still serve, as able, but if I missed several hours of work each week for medical appointments, etc., I wouldn't be a hindrance to my command as I am now. But at the same time, I can see several types of medical professionals in one location, and each doctor is aware of how the other doctors are treating me, and they can collaborate for the best continuity of care.

So in my case, I would see an Orthopedist, Neurologist, Pain Manager, Physical Therapist, Psychologist, and Psychiatrist, all 'under on roof', until I'm in a position to retire.

So, I guess my point is, while I feel I should be found UNFIT, and I will request a FPEB, but if they come back as FIT again, then I'm ok with staying in, so long as I can be placed in a position to where I'm not 'hurting' the command I'm stationed at.

 

[NAV LDO]

OK, all, need a little help here. I'm extremely confused. Yesterday, I received a call from someone in the VA out of the blue, asking if I wanted to claim Tinnitus, because it wasn't on my original claim, but the audiologist who did my hearing test in my C&P Exam said I had Tinnitus, and he wanted to know if I wanted to claim for it, because they wanted to complete/finish my 'claim' that day. He said that my MSC would be in touch with the paperwork, since I couldn't be near a computer yesterday (had several med appts. out of town; wasn't going to be home 'til after business hours)

So I called my MEBLO--no help. Then called my MSC. He said when this happens, it usually means that yes, I've been found UNFIT, and it would be anoyher 2-4 weeks to finish up some paperwork, then I would receive my results.

Well now, today, my e-benefits states "Status Changed-Pending Decision Approval." So I clicked on my date, and my case now says it will not be until "02/25/2017 - 05/22/2017", instead of 12/10/16-3/6/17...WHY would it extend out 3+ months, when it appears they are done now??? Anyone???

ANY input would be greatly appreciated!