i am a SSG been active Army 16 years been being treated for Migraines since 2007 tried every known medication and test treatment. Everytime neurologist changes my meds she writes a profile. Pt at my tolerance no organized PRT and no APFT for 30 days. I work in a higher echelon I was made to take a APFT. Had a seizure on Push up event. Superviser is old army thought profile is recommendation not order. So my neurologist thought best I be put for MEB and it should have happened 6 years ago. I was being suck it up drive on hiding the pain and now it has caught up. Now almost everything triggers my migrains I am afraid I won't be able to work on outside. Like crowds, lights, noise, I an stressed
MEB for Chronic Migraines
- Thread starter Artilleryman33
- Start date
I am 13 years in and migraine workup for about 2 years which spawned an MEB, so I can understand the stress, I think. Even with the 50% DoD and 100% VA finding I got, the stress is still strong.
My recommendation:
Make sure neuro documents frequency and severity of migraines. Most recommend a migraine diary to help this out. What days your migraines slowed you down, which ones forced you to stop, and which ones layed you out. Frequency of abortive medications used. Consider going to the PA for all the various ills you have been ignoring, some may need a specialist to fully develop a claim. Consider going to BH, most I know have things they should have addressed long ago but didn't for fear of their career. When you see the VA to list your conditions, just list everything that's been bothering you starting at the head and going to the feet, they'll sort it out was my experience.
Once the MEB is started, you will be eligible for all the WTU services, so I recommend going down there and finding out their schedules for classes. OWF is a good program so you can get a internship. Voc Rehab can also set you up with work trials. These are good ways to test out work. The ADA protects you in the non-military a bit. You don't have to disclose your disabilities, they can't ask you about them and they have to give you reasonable accomidations to help you be productive (including a certain amount of non-paid leave). So while you likely feel unable to be productive right now, there are places that can work with it better than the military can. This stuff helped with the stress more than the PEB/VA findings.
Migraines makes me wonder. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3094670/ is an interesting read IMO. I would be very concerned about the seizures being tracked and treated. At any rate, even though migraines maxes out at 50%, there are cases where migraines are so severe there is no real option of working. VA can bump you to 100% rating if you have such a case. Social Security Disability Insurance will add to that.
There is a chance you can fight the MEB, but from your story I don't see a route to that, or the wisdom.
My recommendation:
Make sure neuro documents frequency and severity of migraines. Most recommend a migraine diary to help this out. What days your migraines slowed you down, which ones forced you to stop, and which ones layed you out. Frequency of abortive medications used. Consider going to the PA for all the various ills you have been ignoring, some may need a specialist to fully develop a claim. Consider going to BH, most I know have things they should have addressed long ago but didn't for fear of their career. When you see the VA to list your conditions, just list everything that's been bothering you starting at the head and going to the feet, they'll sort it out was my experience.
Once the MEB is started, you will be eligible for all the WTU services, so I recommend going down there and finding out their schedules for classes. OWF is a good program so you can get a internship. Voc Rehab can also set you up with work trials. These are good ways to test out work. The ADA protects you in the non-military a bit. You don't have to disclose your disabilities, they can't ask you about them and they have to give you reasonable accomidations to help you be productive (including a certain amount of non-paid leave). So while you likely feel unable to be productive right now, there are places that can work with it better than the military can. This stuff helped with the stress more than the PEB/VA findings.
Migraines makes me wonder. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3094670/ is an interesting read IMO. I would be very concerned about the seizures being tracked and treated. At any rate, even though migraines maxes out at 50%, there are cases where migraines are so severe there is no real option of working. VA can bump you to 100% rating if you have such a case. Social Security Disability Insurance will add to that.
There is a chance you can fight the MEB, but from your story I don't see a route to that, or the wisdom.
Welcome to the PEB Forum!
Despite the advances in modern medicine and the best efforts of patients, some military service members cannot be returned to a full-duty status. In this event, it will be necessary for the military service member to be referred to the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES).
As such, the IDES process begins whenever a military service member's medical providers determine that the military service member's ability to continue military service is questionable due to a physical or mental impairment. It is the impact of the medical condition(s) upon the military service member ability to perform duties appropriate to his or her rank and job skill that is important.
Moreover, it is important to remember that the DoD IDES process is a performance-based system. Simply because a military service member has a medical condition does not mean that the military service member cannot continue to serve on active duty or in the reserve component/national guard.
To that extent, a military service member with a serious medical condition can be found fit when the evidence establishes that the military service member can perform his or her duties. The mere fact that one or more medical conditions exist does not constitute an unfit determination. Also, the inability to deploy to austere environments is only one factor in determining unfitness.
In reference to the DoD IDES MEB/PEB process officially published timeline, please view my following PEB Forum URL thread for a detailed explanation about the entire DoD IDES process:
http://www.pebforum.com/site/threads/a-detailed-explanation-of-the-dod-ides-meb-peb-process.22807/
Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer."
Best Wishes!
Well I know everything will work out for good under 30% severerance or medical retirement. I sat with my TBI doctor we looked at my medical records since the beginning of my career he said I am good with all my secondary conditions gave me a lot of advice on what to claim head to toe stuff I never would have thought of. I am 44 done basic in 1989 did 10 years National Guard before going Active in 1999. So came to terms time to take off the boots. I task at work that used to take me 10 minutes now take me 45. I forget stuff. Due to meds. My only fear is I don't know how to be a Civilion.
Indeed, giving your "heart and soul" to the U.S. military then it's cut short or involuntarily terminated can be a traumatic event unfortunately in my opinion!
Now, it's definitely your time to get well as a civilian or better yet as a "military veteran" with an abundance of life experiences!
Take care and please continue to enjoy life! 
Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer."
Best Wishes!
Greetings,
Very informative and almost aligns with my situation. 22 years active and diagnosed with chronic migraines. I meet with my TBI Neurologist on Monday to formulate initiation of the MEB process.
Any advice for this meeting or should I request a permanent profile?
Very informative and almost aligns with my situation. 22 years active and diagnosed with chronic migraines. I meet with my TBI Neurologist on Monday to formulate initiation of the MEB process.
Any advice for this meeting or should I request a permanent profile?