MEB Time

S

Skruball

PEB Forum Regular Member
First the Back story:
In 2001 (pre 9/11) I was training to go to an exercise in Nevada. During First Aid training I was doing a fireman carry and lifted the guy wrong and hurt my back. Well several years later the pain reared its ugly little head and have been dealing with it ever sense. I had a fusion Feb of last year and still have pain from it. So now since it has been a year they are putting me through the MEB process.

I have done all my appointments and now I just have to wait on the doctors to do there thing and then hopefully hear from the Board in the next few months.

Anyone have any inputs from Back Injury MEB's?
 
Welcome aboard,

Lot of back stories on here. Anything ranging from RTD to 0%-70% rating.
 
My back injury was rated 20% by the PEB for range of motion at less than 40 degrees. I included a memo for the PEB stating the specific limitations my back injury put on my job, like not being able to bend to pick up heavy parts in the engine room, going up and down ladders all day, crawling around in the bilge, specific things like that.
 
Yeah my side to side is good but everything else is Extremely limited. What did they give you? Separation, Retirement, or remain in?
 
My back was one of three injuries they rated, so I got a total of 40% and put on TDRL. Anything at 30% or over puts you on retirement. If I had only gotten the 20% I would have been separated with severence pay.

The VASRD (you can read it in the musculoskeletal thread in the Conditions & Ratings part of this forum), has 30 degrees forward motion or less at a 40% rating. Is that what your forward motion is limited to, 30 degrees or less?
 
I know my forward wasn't good but by leaning back was horrible...so much so that physical therapist said "Oh that's not good" when she measured me.
 
This is what the VASRD says about the spine:
[FONT=&quot]The Spine[/FONT]​
[FONT=&quot] Rating[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine[/FONT]​
[FONT=&quot](For diagnostic codes 5235 to 5243 unless 5243 is evaluated under the Formula for Rating Intervertebral Disc Syndrome Based on Incapacitating Episodes):[/FONT]
 [FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
 [FONT=&quot]With or without symptoms such as pain (whether or not it radiates), stiffness, or aching in the area of the spine affected by residuals of injury or disease[/FONT]
 [FONT=&quot]Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine.....................................................100[/FONT]

 [FONT=&quot]Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine...............................50[/FONT]

 [FONT=&quot]Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine; or, forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine 30 degrees or less; or, favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine............................................................................. 40[/FONT]
 [FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
 [FONT=&quot]Forward flexion of the cervical spine 15 degrees or less; or, favorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine.................................................................... 30[/FONT]

 [FONT=&quot]Forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees; or, forward flexion of the cervical spine greater than 15 degrees but not greater than 30 degrees; or, the combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine not greater than 120 degrees; or, the combined range of motion of the cervical spine not greater than 170 degrees; or, muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour such as scoliosis, reversed lordosis, or abnormal kyphosis................................................................................................ 20[/FONT]
 [FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
 [FONT=&quot]Forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 60 degrees but not greater than 85 degrees; or, forward flexion of the cervical spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 40 degrees; or, combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 120 degrees but not greater than 235 degrees; or, combined range of motion of the cervical spine greater than 170 degrees but not greater than 335 degrees; or, muscle spasm, guarding, or localized tenderness not resulting in abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour; or, vertebral body fracture with loss of 50 percent or more of the height.......................................................................................................10[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Note (1):[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] Evaluate any associated objective neurologic abnormalities, including, but not limited to, bowel or bladder impairment, separately, under an appropriate diagnostic code.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Note (2):[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] (See also Plate V.) For VA compensation purposes, normal forward flexion of the cervical spine is zero to 45 degrees, extension is zero to 45 degrees, left and right lateral flexion are zero to 45 degrees, and left and right lateral rotation are zero to 80 degrees. Normal forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine is zero to 90 degrees, extension is zero to 30 degrees, left and right lateral flexion are zero to 30 degrees, and left and right lateral rotation are zero to 30 degrees. The combined range of motion refers to the sum of the range of forward flexion, extension, left and right lateral flexion, and left and right rotation. The normal combined range of motion of the cervical spine is 340 degrees and of the thoracolumbar spine is 240 degrees. The normal ranges of motion for each component of spinal motion provided in this note are the maximum that can be used for calculation of the combined range of motion.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Note (3):[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] In exceptional cases, an examiner may state that because of age, body habitus, neurologic disease, or other factors not the result of disease or injury of the spine, the range of motion of the spine in a particular individual should be considered normal for that individual, even though it does not conform to the normal range of motion stated in Note (2). Provided that the examiner supplies an explanation, the examiner’s assessment that the range of motion is normal for that individual will be accepted.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Note (4):[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] Round each range of motion measurement to the nearest five degrees.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Note (5):[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] For VA compensation purposes, unfavorable ankylosis is a condition in which the entire cervical spine, the entire thoracolumbar spine, or the entire spine is fixed in flexion or extension, and the ankylosis results in one or more of the following: difficulty walking because of a limited line of vision; restricted opening of the mouth and chewing; breathing limited to diaphragmatic respiration; gastrointestinal symptoms due to pressure of the costal margin on the abdomen; dyspnea or dysphagia; atlantoaxial or cervical subluxation or dislocation; or neurologic symptoms due to nerve root stretching. Fixation of a spinal segment in neutral position (zero degrees) always represents favorable ankylosis.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Note (6):[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] Separately evaluate disability of the thoracolumbar and cervical spine segments, except when there is unfavorable ankylosis of both segments, which will be rated as a single disability.[/FONT]

 [FONT=&quot] 5235 Vertebral fracture or dislocation[/FONT]

 [FONT=&quot] 5236 Sacroiliac injury and weakness[/FONT]

 [FONT=&quot] 5237 Lumbosacral or cervical strain[/FONT]

 [FONT=&quot] 5238 Spinal stenosis[/FONT]

 [FONT=&quot] 5239 Spondylolisthesis or segmental instability[/FONT]

 [FONT=&quot] 5240 Ankylosing spondylitis[/FONT]

 [FONT=&quot] 5241 Spinal fusion[/FONT]

 [FONT=&quot] 5242 Degenerative arthritis of the spine (see also diagnostic code 5003)[/FONT]

 [FONT=&quot] 5243 Intervertebral disc syndrome[/FONT]

 [FONT=&quot]Evaluate intervertebral disc syndrome (preoperatively or postoperatively) either under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine or under the Formula for Rating Intervertebral Disc Syndrome Based on Incapacitating Episodes, whichever method results in the higher evaluation when all disabilities are combined under §4.25.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Formula for Rating Intervertebral Disc Syndrome Based on Incapacitating Episodes[/FONT]​

 [FONT=&quot]With incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 6 weeks during the [/FONT]
 [FONT=&quot] past 12 months................................................................................................................ 60[/FONT]

 [FONT=&quot]With incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 4 weeks but less than [/FONT]
 [FONT=&quot] 6 weeks during the past 12 months................................................................................ 40[/FONT]

 [FONT=&quot]With incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 2 weeks but less than [/FONT]
 [FONT=&quot] 4 weeks during the past 12 months................................................................................ 20[/FONT]

 [FONT=&quot]With incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least one week but less than [/FONT]
 [FONT=&quot] 2 weeks during the past 12 months................................................................................ 10[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Note (1):[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] For purposes of evaluations under diagnostic code 5243, an incapacitating episode is a period of acute signs and symptoms due to intervertebral disc syndrome that requires bed rest prescribed by a physician and treatment by a physician.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Note (2):[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] If intervertebral disc syndrome is present in more than one spinal segment, provided that the effects in each spinal segment are clearly distinct, evaluate each segment on the basis of incapacitating episodes or under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine, whichever method results in a higher evaluation for that segment.[/FONT]
Click to expand...
 
Welcome Skruball,

Builtgypsy has been down the painful back injury road and his advice is on the spot. Hang in there and good luck.
fdm
 
I would try to get in to the VA and get your Back rated by them before you go. It should help your case.

When I went thru the AF MEB process my PEBLO (???) had no clue. I didn't know what to do or ask for from my Dr's or what was expected at the board. I had to Dr's claim that my flexion was 50degrees but never measured it. This was in the reports. I also had a neck injury that was measured at 26 degrees. The board gave me the 20% for my back based on the 50 degrees and nothing for my neck because it didn't state that they measured my neck using the proper tool. They didn't bother contacting the Dr to check.

Since then the VA has measured and rated both my injuries, my back at 40% and my neck at 20%. If I had done that before I boarded last May I would have had a very strong arguement for the higher rating and that would have meant another 20% or $1022.00 a month in my DOD retirement pay.

One point I will make is that you know what you want the board to understand. Make sure you write those points down and any facts that support them. Then insure the board understands them before you leave.
You will have a attorney but the questions will be asked of you and you will be the one that has to answer.

I was an E-8 with over 28 years in the military and didn't think there was much that would make me feel like a newbie but when your career and the rest of your life are at stake you get nervous. Be prepared!
 
skruball,

i've been going through the DES for a back injury in 2006. i had the fusion (l5-s1) in may 2007. it didn't help. anyway...you've come to the right place. there are TONS of people here w/the same issues. don't hesistate to ask questions. there are so many good and knowledgeble people here. to ensure that you do what ever you can to assist in your MEB, i would make sure from this point on, that everything that gets documented in your med. records. get copies of everything. also if you are having any other med. issues, get them addressed. even if they seem minimal to you, they may have a big impact on receiving a higher rating. some of the common issues that come along w/a back injury are sleep and mental health issues. also if you have the time now to initiate treatment @ the VA, you can do that now to get into the system and it helps to make a smooth transition over. i've been going to the VA and the Vet's Center, since last year and i love it! i really feel the care i get there, is far superior to the care i get on the AD side of the house. you will most likely run into hurdles @ the unit level, due to lack of eduation to the DES. you are doing the right thing by educating yourself here. deffinately cross referance your injuries to the VASRD and i would also become familar w/AFI 48-123 vol 2. if you have any questions or need any help along the way, feel free t contact me. i try to check in here @ least once a day. good luck!
 
OK well update...several months later. I just got a recent updated profile that doesn't expire until Nov. On it it stated that I will be going up for an MEB. I had to talk to my providers nurse, and apparently he had been sitting on it for several months. She told me however that it should have been submitted last week of this coming week. It has been REALLY frustrating for me because my DOS is in Nov. I have just been trying to run all the scenarios in my head and have a plan, a back up plan, and a back up to the back up plan. It's a little hard when you have no idea when anything or what is going to happen.
 
Finally!! I got my Initial MEB briefing today and went and talked to the VA. Hopefully I will hear something back within the next couple of weeks. I am still hoping for retirement. I seriously doubt the local board will give me that but I am willing to fight since my surgeon want to go back in since the fusion still hasn't fused. I am happy though that the ball is finally in motion.
 
So update time, I got my decision back last week I got Temporary Retirement and rated at 40%. I got my orders today and will be out at the end of may.
 
Skruball said:
So update time, I got my decision back last week I got Temporary Retirement and rated at 40%. I got my orders today and will be out at the end of may.
Click to expand...

Skruball,
I am currently tracking AF IPEB packages on this forum. Do you mind providing me with when you package was submitted to AFPC/IPEB and when you received your results? Also, if and when you received your orders? Thanx a lot!
 
abyss, My package was submitted to AFPC the first week of November (Nov 3rd-ish). I got my decision back the 8th of March, and orders 15 March.
 
Congrats skruball!!
Hopefully this means mine is being shipped off (I'll be pissed off if it's chilling out on my PEBLO's desk because he's been out of the office)
ARRGG...
 
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