Next Steps f/ ANG Aircrew w/ PTSD

[Young23]

Hi all,

I am in need of some sort of timeline and suggestions for what to do next.

For background, I am coming off of 8 years active duty as an enlisted aircrew member and palace fronted into the ANG. Previously, I hadn't been flying for a couple of years due to a coded tour I was doing. For a few years now I have been having a bunch of symptoms of PTSD and General Anxiety, and decided recently to see a therapist about it because it's just been getting worse at home. She told me I definitely have it, diagnosed me with both, and is working with me on how to handle it moving forward. The stressor is flight related and so I'm wondering how to go about this all.

I have been trying to research all of this and it seems like a medical retirement is the way, to go, however, I am unsure of this while process and haven't even brought it up to anyone yet. I just started going through my requal and the anticipation and training is getting me more anxious and jittery, and I'm having some troubles at home with explosive bouts of irritation and frustration.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do next? I am aware roughly of the process, but do I get things documented with certain verbiage first before going to anyone? Should I talk to the Chaplain and have his support for when it gets disclosed? From how my therapist was suggesting it seems like I would fall in around the 50% disability area in terms of symptoms, could be wrong though she didn't specify and I didn't ask.

My goal would be to medically retire, I just don't know what would happen for my situation, do they retrain you in the ANG? Do they just cancel your contract? Or would I just be put on DNIF, be evaluated to see if I'm unfit for duty, and then just med board me?

Just looking for some guidance on the before, during, and after stages if anyone has gone though the same as me. Thank you all in advance!

 

[Provis]

Hi all,

I am in need of some sort of timeline and suggestions for what to do next.

For background, I am coming off of 8 years active duty as an enlisted aircrew member and palace fronted into the ANG. Previously, I hadn't been flying for a couple of years due to a coded tour I was doing. For a few years now I have been having a bunch of symptoms of PTSD and General Anxiety, and decided recently to see a therapist about it because it's just been getting worse at home. She told me I definitely have it, diagnosed me with both, and is working with me on how to handle it moving forward. The stressor is flight related and so I'm wondering how to go about this all.

I have been trying to research all of this and it seems like a medical retirement is the way, to go, however, I am unsure of this while process and haven't even brought it up to anyone yet. I just started going through my requal and the anticipation and training is getting me more anxious and jittery, and I'm having some troubles at home with explosive bouts of irritation and frustration.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do next? I am aware roughly of the process, but do I get things documented with certain verbiage first before going to anyone? Should I talk to the Chaplain and have his support for when it gets disclosed? From how my therapist was suggesting it seems like I would fall in around the 50% disability area in terms of symptoms, could be wrong though she didn't specify and I didn't ask.

My goal would be to medically retire, I just don't know what would happen for my situation, do they retrain you in the ANG? Do they just cancel your contract? Or would I just be put on DNIF, be evaluated to see if I'm unfit for duty, and then just med board me?

Just looking for some guidance on the before, during, and after stages if anyone has gone though the same as me. Thank you all in advance!

You really don't get any say in it. Just seek treatment and make sure you report everything to the Guard. If needed they will issue you a profile. They may retain you. They may separate you. Your chances are slim that you are medically retired in the Guard/Reserves. More often than not you would be sent to a non duty related IDES with no retirement or severance.

 

[Young23]

Could you explain why you say they would be slim? My therapist diagnosed me with ptsd/GAD after I came to her about my issues. She determined it to most likely be caused by combat related events during my active duty time, so would that not be duty related? Also, if my PTSD stressors are caused by flying would that not dictate a medical separation/retirement? The DOD rating would determine which based on the disability rate, but based on my symptoms I would think at the very least I would be given a 30%.

 

[MNgopher1]

The thing is a SM doesn't determine "I want to be medically retired now". A SM seeks treatment and if they are unable to RTD or some other substantial issues a provider may refer for an MEB. The provider referring does not decide whether you medically retire. The MEB determines whether a SM will be medically retired. So like Provis says. Continue getting treatment if you need it. I was never Reserve so I am not sure how it works with them, but maybe you could talk with someone at your unit regarding the situation.

 

[Young23]

The thing is a SM doesn't determine "I want to be medically retired now". A SM seeks treatment and if they are unable to RTD or some other substantial issues a provider may refer for an MEB. The provider referring does not decide whether you medically retire. The MEB determines whether a SM will be medically retired. So like Provis says. Continue getting treatment if you need it. I was never Reserve so I am not sure how it works with them, but maybe you could talk with someone at your unit regarding the situation.

Oh I understand neither me nor my civilian therapist makes those calls. I just feel like it might lead to that because I've been having this build up of symptoms since I've been flying. It got better when I stopped flying, but it's been festering, and now that I'm preparing to requal and fly again, I can feel it getting worse and the stress getting to me and my family more. I thought I would be okay, but I guess not. It's causing a pretty significant social impairment. I just don't know how any of it works really or what they would be looking for to determine if I'd be headed for an MEB.

 

[Provis]

Could you explain why you say they would be slim? My therapist diagnosed me with ptsd/GAD after I came to her about my issues. She determined it to most likely be caused by combat related events during my active duty time, so would that not be duty related? Also, if my PTSD stressors are caused by flying would that not dictate a medical separation/retirement? The DOD rating would determine which based on the disability rate, but based on my symptoms I would think at the very least I would be given a 30%.

What your therapist thinks doesn't hold a lot of weight with your branch of service. It may sway the VA but your military branch has all of the power and discretion. The Guard/Reserves does not give out medical retirements easily. I am assuming you have no LOD. No LOD = not duty related and they kick you out and there isn't a way for you to get a fair shake/appeal. I am not saying it isn't possible. Just that your chances are slim. Your therapist can state what he or she wants. Your branch can say that's not the case and they don't have the burden of proof in this. So if no LOD just know the odds are strongly stacked against you regardless of the truth. Focus on your health and let the Guard know. Get a profile if need one and see where it goes.

Just understand that your chances of medical retirement is slim. You have a better chance of being found fit or unfit non duty related. If you are close to hitting 15 good years I would work hard to reach that point. If they kick you out and you have 15 or more good years you will get to have an earned guard retirement at age 60 or less if reduced by qualified deployments. You get issued a 15 year letter instead of a 20 year letter if you have between 15 and 19 good years and are kicked out medically. regardless of if its duty related or not.

 

[Young23]

What your therapist thinks doesn't hold a lot of weight with your branch of service. It may sway the VA but your military branch has all of the power and discretion. The Guard/Reserves does not give out medical retirements easily. I am assuming you have no LOD. No LOD = not duty related and they kick you out and there isn't a way for you to get a fair shake/appeal. I am not saying it isn't possible. Just that your chances are slim. Your therapist can state what he or she wants. Your branch can say that's not the case and they don't have the burden of proof in this. So if no LOD just know the odds are strongly stacked against you regardless of the truth. Focus on your health and let the Guard know. Get a profile if need one and see where it goes.

Just understand that your chances of medical retirement is slim. You have a better chance of being found fit or unfit non duty related. If you are close to hitting 15 good years I would work hard to reach that point. If they kick you out and you have 15 or more good years you will get to have an earned guard retirement at age 60 or less if reduced by qualified deployments. You get issued a 15 year letter instead of a 20 year letter if you have between 15 and 19 good years and are kicked out medically. regardless of if its duty related or not.

So how do you get a LOD? I was 8 years active and just transferred over to the Air National Guard and the events that caused my PTSD and anxiety have all been associated with active duty flying/missions. I'm not sure how it would be assessed that my conditions are non duty related? Could you explain why that could be an option?

 

[Provis]

So how do you get a LOD? I was 8 years active and just transferred over to the Air National Guard and the events that caused my PTSD and anxiety have all been associated with active duty flying/missions. I'm not sure how it would be assessed that my conditions are non duty related? Could you explain why that could be an option?

See that's the issue. You are claiming that you have PTSD from issues while AD. However, if you can't show symptoms were severe enough while serving at the end of AD then you really aren't a candidate for medical retirement.

Really you should seek out VA rating for PTSD as service connected. The Guard/Reserves didn't cause your issue and so no LOD is possible. LOD is for having medical issue while on orders in the Guard/Reserves.

I think the main issue is trying to get medical retirement. Just seek treatment and let the chips fall where they may. You will get VA compensation for it. Also, since you are in the Guard you can apply for VA compensation now and can receive it while in the Guard but can't get pay for it on the days you are at drilling or on orders for the Guard. If your PTSD was severe enough at the time AD ended you could petition BCMR to be retroactively medically retired if the active duty army should have put you through MEB.

 

[Young23]

See that's the issue. You are claiming that you have PTSD from issues while AD. However, if you can't show symptoms were severe enough while serving at the end of AD then you really aren't a candidate for medical retirement.

Really you should seek out VA rating for PTSD as service connected. The Guard/Reserves didn't cause your issue and so no LOD is possible. LOD is for having medical issue while on orders in the Guard/Reserves.

I think the main issue is trying to get medical retirement. Just seek treatment and let the chips fall where they may. You will get VA compensation for it. Also, since you are in the Guard you can apply for VA compensation now and can receive it while in the Guard but can't get pay for it on the days you are at drilling or on orders for the Guard. If your PTSD was severe enough at the time AD ended you could petition BCMR to be retroactively medically retired if the active duty army should have put you through MEB.

So the reason that nothing was disclosed was because I didn't really realize I had a mental health issue, not until I finally had the courage to go recently. There is also the stigma of mental health in active duty, or any issue that would cause you to be DNIF, atleast there was for me in my unit. I never really liked to disclose any issues with me because I would be questioned about it and even made fun of for it, even with issues with family members that would cause me to not be able to fly a mission or something similar. So now that I transitioned out and over to the Air National Guard, I now have tricare select and felt more comfortable going to see a mental health provider because it is a bit more private. So now noticing that all those symptoms are associated with PTSD/GAD, I understand I had issues that have just festered and in anticipation of flying again, are getting worse. There are minor things documented about it, like some OTC medication I tried to take to help my mood, etc.

 

[Provis]

So the reason that nothing was disclosed was because I didn't really realize I had a mental health issue, not until I finally had the courage to go recently. There is also the stigma of mental health in active duty, or any issue that would cause you to be DNIF, atleast there was for me in my unit. I never really liked to disclose any issues with me because I would be questioned about it and even made fun of for it, even with issues with family members that would cause me to not be able to fly a mission or something similar. So now that I transitioned out and over to the Air National Guard, I now have tricare select and felt more comfortable going to see a mental health provider because it is a bit more private. So now noticing that all those symptoms are associated with PTSD/GAD, I understand I had issues that have just festered and in anticipation of flying again, are getting worse. There are minor things documented about it, like some OTC medication I tried to take to help my mood, etc.

That makes sense but unfortunately it is what it is. Also, chances are you would be found fit. Having issues doesn't mean you get medically retired. The symptoms must be severe at the time. So if you didn't report anything at the time the military is going to say it wasn't on them. The VA can look into those issues and find them service connected and compensational. The bar is much higher for a chapter 61 medical retirement. There are many out there that are 100% VA disabled but don't reach the threshold to be medically retired in the military. There are different regulations and the standard is much higher for medical retirements than for awarding VA service connected compensation.

 

[Young23]

That makes sense but unfortunately it is what it is. Also, chances are you would be found fit. Having issues doesn't mean you get medically retired. The symptoms must be severe at the time. So if you didn't report anything at the time the military is going to say it wasn't on them. The VA can look into those issues and find them service connected and compensational. The bar is much higher for a chapter 61 medical retirement. There are many out there that are 100% VA disabled but don't reach the threshold to be medically retired in the military. There are different regulations and the standard is much higher for medical retirements than for awarding VA service connected compensation.

Yeah, sounds about right. I'm just wondering if my social impairment at home would constitute an unfit categorization as continued service is actively worsening my symptoms and could then leak over to issues at work in terms of stress management and actions in a very stressful career field.

 

[Provis]

Yeah, sounds about right. I'm just wondering if my social impairment at home would constitute an unfit categorization as continued service is actively worsening my symptoms and could then leak over to issues at work in terms of stress management and actions in a very stressful career field.

They may find you unfit but if they do it most likely will be non duty related. There isn't much more advice I can give. That's why I say to focus on your treatment and if you haven't already file with the VA for compensation. Most who medically retire don't get to see any of the pension anyway since VA compensation must offset a chapter 61 pension. That means that you are most likely only losing out on Tricare. If you end up 100% VA P&T you can get CHAMPVA which is coverage for you and your family so you aren't losing a lot. The ones who have the most to lose are near 20 years. My wife was AGR with 20 year letter and 17 AFS. She got medically retired and wasn't able to finish her regular retirement. That was really scary since she was so close to the finish line.