Ok. Long story short. Recently found out that I have a congenital blood clotting disorder. The course of treatment is indefinite blood thinning medication (lifetime). What’s the chances that I will be referred to the med board?
Med board???
- Thread starter pebblesnlani
- Start date
How long have you been in? Are you Reserve/Guard or Active Duty?
Congenital conditions are EPTS, and can’t be compensated, unless you are AD and 8 or more years of service.
Active duty. Been in almost a year.
What is EPTS?
The AF are going to stay it is an EPTS (Existed Prior To Serving). You will be chaptered out and there will be no medical retirement or severance. You will be able to apply for to the VA for disability compensation for any conditions that were caused due to servicing. However, the blood clotting disorder will not be service connected or compensational by the VA.
I'd like to share a bit more context. I had a very minor outpatient procedure that was service connected. Shortly thereafter, I developed 3 DVTs in my leg and multiple PEs throughout my entire right lung. Right before surgery, I started oral contraceptive prescribed by the women's health clinic on base. Was very symptomatic after diagnosis including chest pain (which I currently live with), tachycardia, and SOB (still intermittently). In the interim of all these things, I developed another clot in my radial artery. After being referred to a Hematologist, I was diagnosed with a prothrombin gene mutation. I also failed the first prescribed blood thinner, Eliquis. Now I am on Pradaxa and Aspirin indefinitely. I'm nearly 1 year into my active-duty contract and a Captain.
So you have a very decent chance of getting it connect as existed prior to serving but permanently aggravated by the Air Force. Your case is very complicated and nuanced. The value of getting tricare for life is worth it to fight for medical retirement even if that is all you get. The reason I say that is because any VA compensation will offset a chapter 61 pension if you served less than 20 years.
I strongly recommend that you consult with private dedicated IDES attorneys about your case. Then after they give you their input consider hiring one if they think you have a decent chance of success. Tricare for life for you and your family is worth a fortune and just a couple years of it would offset the cost of a private attorney to assist you. I will send you some qualified options to look at. My wife hired a private dedicated attorney and it made a huge difference! There is no way the free legal that is provided by the AF can beat it! That is because they have too many Soldiers to attend to. In another post today a Solider asked for help with a VARR. That's because legal from the military is more to cover their butts. Not talking down the the actual JAG personnel because they are great! They just can't do their job as well as a private attorney because they have to help everyone.
Thank you very much for this very valuable info and sending me the info for IDES. Hopefully, they will be affordable as hiring a private is just not in my budget. I don't want to get too ahead of myself. There has been no mention of a medical board, however, my diagnosis was made about a month ago. I know eventually my medical records will route to the MTF. How will I even know that I will be referred? Does the clinic reach out to me randomly or is it something I should bring to their attention? Aside from this that is happening, I was also diagnosed with Anemia controlled with IV iron. It feels like things are snowballing and my anxiety is through the roof. I've never fully recovered from the surgery that was the precursor to all of this. It's been a rough few months.
I would call some and ask some questions so that if you get put in IDES you have some options if you choose to hire one. Also, what is your MOS? That matters. For example Doctors are in short supply. Its almost impossible for a doctor to be kicked out medically. They will take you limitations and all!
I’m a nurse (AF) if I didn’t mention before. Most of what I do is admin but of course I do patient care if needed. Plus all of the active duty stuff for readiness, as you know.
I am not sure but if you contact those references they can probably give you an idea if you will or not. Then if you do get put into IDES you can be prepared regardless of if you choose to hire private representation.
I will do just that. Thank you again.