My little story:Ankylosing Spondylitis

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Hotmic09

PEB Forum Regular Member
Registered Member
I have only made 1 post so far, so I figure I would post my timeline and get involved.

Background: 28 y/o male, 7 years ADAF, 2A071K AIS technician, E5/SSgt

I have had foot, knee, and hip pain for 4 years, starting in 2013. March 2016 blood drawn by Chiropracter, found out had autoimmune antibodies. Sept 2016 diagnosed with AS, put on Humira and prednisone. Off prednisone Dec 2016. Humira kicked off MEB as well as last 3 pt tests waivered waist only (passed though).


13 Dec 2016 Initial NARSUM was accomplished.

16 Dec 2016 NARSUM sent to DAWG/IRILO

19 Dec 2016 DAWG/IRILO recommended full MEB

21 Dec 2016 DAWG/IRILO decision package sent to AFPC for disposition

6 Jan 2017 AFPC said full MEB required

7 Jan 2017 PEBLO inbrief. LDES/IDES decision

13 Jan 2017 Entered into IDES


I have not been contacted by the VA yet, so awaiting that. I have read Col. Parkers' guide to spondyloarthropathy sheet (thank you for making that). Also have Sjogrens, sleep apnea, adjustment disorder with depressed mood and anxiety (caused by AS), plantar faciatis, etc... list goes on. I see the doc atleast once every two weeks to keep my file fresh.

I am a little worried, hoping for medical retirement. I need it, for my wife and kids.
 
it took me 3 weeks to get scheduled for C&P exams. that's the next step. Be patient is all I can say.
 
Sgt zo said:
it took me 3 weeks to get scheduled for C&P exams. that's the next step. Be patient is all I can say.
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Copy that. Took me 4 years of saying "this hurts really bad" and 4 PCM's telling me I'm lying to finally get the diagnosis, and I am JUST NOW getting a referral to pain management. If this has taught me nothing else, it is patience. At this point, finishing school (will grad in Fall '17) and still counting blessings as family has healthcare and a steady paycheck.
 
Hotmic09 said:
Copy that. Took me 4 years of saying "this hurts really bad" and 4 PCM's telling me I'm lying to finally get the diagnosis, and I am JUST NOW getting a referral to pain management. If this has taught me nothing else, it is patience. At this point, finishing school (will grad in Fall '17) and still counting blessings as family has healthcare and a steady paycheck.
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Good on you for being tenacious to get care and your positive attitude about your family and future.
 
Thanks Charlie. Due to my dad being retired military, I grew up as part of the military healthcare system. In particular, Army healthcare. I know that you have to keep getting seen for them to really push anything. Thankfully, I have a great PCM that understands autoimmune conditions, as she actually has lupus herself. My rheumatologist also has AS, and is also a spouse who's husband was seperated medically. I have definitely been blessed in regards to my treatment thus far. Now only if the VA would pick up their feet...
 
I wish you luck. I am at the end of a very long process for AS. You can read my signature block for my timeline so far. I am still waiting on AFPC to give me resluts of my appeal.
 
Thanks AdamRozek. I have been keeping up with your thread and wish the same for you.
 
Well, I figured I would post an update to this old post.

My VA rep finally got me into the system. I am awaiting C&P exams for now. I appreciate all of the input you guys have done so far. I have a total of 34 disabilities listed on my VA claims, 5 of them chronic diseases (and also sleep apnea w/ machine ;)). I originally wanted to fight to stay in, and still kinda do, but I don't want to "lose", so to speak (seperation w/o retirement). Can't PT test and can deploy, and a number of other things that I "can't" do.

Something I am worried about is how fast this will move along. i am expecting May-July 2017 the VA will have an answer, then it is the MEB panel to come to their conclusion. Would this be accurate? Does anyone have any chime in for possible DOS looking at my timeline? I was thinking (and hoping) at least end of year (Oct-Dec 2017), but I am not sure how slow they are now.

I am still just trying to save (i got 3 little mouths and a wife) and keep going to school. I got an extension on my Course 15 (Air Force PME stuff) until Sept 2017. Posed to finish school Dec 2017 (B.S. in Accounting).

I know this post is a little bit long and long winded. But hey, my name is Hotmic for a reason, not just because I was comm/nav :p.
 
Hotmic09 said:
Well, I figured I would post an update to this old post.

My VA rep finally got me into the system. I am awaiting C&P exams for now. I appreciate all of the input you guys have done so far. I have a total of 34 disabilities listed on my VA claims, 5 of them chronic diseases (and also sleep apnea w/ machine ;)). I originally wanted to fight to stay in, and still kinda do, but I don't want to "lose", so to speak (seperation w/o retirement). Can't PT test and can deploy, and a number of other things that I "can't" do.

Something I am worried about is how fast this will move along. i am expecting May-July 2017 the VA will have an answer, then it is the MEB panel to come to their conclusion. Would this be accurate? Does anyone have any chime in for possible DOS looking at my timeline? I was thinking (and hoping) at least end of year (Oct-Dec 2017), but I am not sure how slow they are now.

I am still just trying to save (i got 3 little mouths and a wife) and keep going to school. I got an extension on my Course 15 (Air Force PME stuff) until Sept 2017. Posed to finish school Dec 2017 (B.S. in Accounting).

I know this post is a little bit long and long winded. But hey, my name is Hotmic for a reason, not just because I was comm/nav :p.
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I completely understand with wanting to know a better timeline for you and your family. I've been looking at timelines on this site daily for the past several months trying to get an idea myself. Once you get your C&P appts, you will have somewhat of a better gauge. My C&P's were completed on 23 Feb. It didn't take but a week for my providers to get the results back. They concurred with findings, and it was sent to the IPEB on 6 Mar. If you are wanting to stretch your time out a bit, take advantage of the IMR option. If you choose not to do that, once your package is sent to IPEB, it's about a 2-3 month wait to get your ratings.... at least that is what i'm being told, and can see occurring on other peoples timelines as well. You can then submit for VARR, which takes about a month. You also want to add up your leave + 20 days of outprocessing. That will give you your estimated DOS. Of course, this can all be extended with the IMR and Appeal options.
 
ZoZo said:
I completely understand with wanting to know a better timeline for you and your family. I've been looking at timelines on this site daily for the past several months trying to get an idea myself. Once you get your C&P appts, you will have somewhat of a better gauge. My C&P's were completed on 23 Feb. It didn't take but a week for my providers to get the results back. They concurred with findings, and it was sent to the IPEB on 6 Mar. If you are wanting to stretch your time out a bit, take advantage of the IMR option. If you choose not to do that, once your package is sent to IPEB, it's about a 2-3 month wait to get your ratings.... at least that is what i'm being told, and can see occurring on other peoples timelines as well. You can then submit for VARR, which takes about a month. You also want to add up your leave + 20 days of outprocessing. That will give you your estimated DOS. Of course, this can all be extended with the IMR and Appeal options.
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ZoZo,
This is really good information. Thank you for taking the time to give this detailed reply.
 
I think it's important to remember that a lot of these timelines are just opinions. I started my process almost a year ago and was told I would be out by Christmas (Did they mean Christmas of 2017? ;-). There is some cold hard facts in the above post, but also some guesses. I have noticed much shorter timelines with the VA and in the end it's all just a guess. It's unfortunately very hard for us in the process to plan out a future life.
 
freedomforcegal said:
I think it's important to remember that a lot of these timelines are just opinions. I started my process almost a year ago and was told I would be out by Christmas (Did they mean Christmas of 2017? ;-). There is some cold hard facts in the above post, but also some guesses. I have noticed much shorter timelines with the VA and in the end it's all just a guess. It's unfortunately very hard for us in the process to plan out a future life.
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I agree...it is a big guess and very hard to estimate the amount time, especially in the beginning of the process since it is more dependent on your providers and the PEBLO office for getting your package together. The NARSUM, DAWG, & C&P Appts can eat up a lot of time, and it sure it appears it did in your situation. However, I've been keeping more of an eye on how long it takes after it gets sent to the IPEB. I see by your timeline that it only took you about a month and a half to receive your ratings back once it was sent out, which is on point for the time period in the above post. From what i can see, this is the only part of the process, minus IMR and appeals, that has somewhat of a consistency to possible estimate a 2-3 month wait. Of course, it is only a guesstimate that ebbs and flows without notice.
 
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