MEB Need advice!

[NWhawkdriver]

Hi,
I just recently completed the MEB phase of IDES and I have Ankylosing Spondylitis, PTSD, Anxiety and Depression all documented in my med records. My BN CDR who I see in passing maybe once each week, asked my immediate supervisor to fill in the CDR Eval form (because he admitted that he doesn’t see me enough to give an accurate eval) and my immediate supervisor asked me to assist by filling it in for accuracy and clarity. When he saw what I had written he told me ‘I have a hard time believing this’ then wrote his own eval statement painting me as having no restrictions among other bits of irrelevant info that weren’t even true. Basically stated in other words ‘I think the SM is lying’.
This resulted in all of my claimed conditions ‘meeting retention standards’.
My ability to do my job is very much affected by my conditions and I will be rebutting this using MEB Counsel, and have considered going to a civilian attorney for representation, but cost is a big factor.

What advice would you give in order to ensure I am given a chance to be heard and show the accuracy of my statement as first presented to him?
would you use professional civilian legal counsel for this?
With him stating inaccurate information, is this something I should also take to the IG office?

 

[Guardguy11]

Your commanders impact statement is only a small portion of the IDES process. If you desired to get out and your NARSUM supported your desire, those two "typically" outweigh the CIS. The IDES / MEB people know that commanders are not doctors and know very little about conditions, but it is factored into the equation.

I say all of this to say, you need to lawyer up and have him/her help you with your rebuttal. The IG office really won't help you on this because the CIS is subjective in nature and would be hard to prove inaccurate information unless it's really egregious.

Bottom line - follow your lawyers advice, and do it quickly.

 

[NWhawkdriver]

Your commanders impact statement is only a small portion of the IDES process. If you desired to get out and your NARSUM supported your desire, those two "typically" outweigh the NARSUM. The IDES / MEB people know that commanders are not doctors and know very little about conditions, but it is factored into the equation.

I say all of this to say, you need to lawyer up and have him/her help you with your rebuttal. The IG office really won't help you on this because the CIS is an subjective in nature and would be hard to prove inaccurate information unless it's really egregious.

Bottom line - follow your lawyers advice, and do it quickly.

Thanks for all that great info! What’s your take on MEB counsel vs a civilian law firm?

 

[Guardguy11]

Free versus paid. In your case, due to you already fighting a negative result, I would recommend paid legal counsel. You get more attention and are more likely to have a positive outcome. Obviously is dependent on your ability to pay for a service. The MEB counsel is better than nothing.

 

[beckynbach]

What ended up being your outcome for this? I just recently was told I may be med boarded because of Ankylosing Spondylitis and need for monitoring while on Enbrel. They are waiting for my follow up appointment to make a decision. I have an LOD from 2009 for lower back and hip pain but I wasn't diagnosed until a couple months ago. I have a VA rating for lyme disease arthritis. Just curious if anyone had a successful outcone. Ive been dealing with this for 13 years and the whole time i was told it was bursitis, chronic lyme arthritis and put on pain medication.