So I am a USAF Veteran served as a Weapons Loader from Oct 02 to to Apr 07. I was Diagnosed with a Hereditary optic nerve disease that affects the central vision. As you would expect I was unfit for duty and go Medically Boarded. First informal Board was unfavorable of EPTS and the Formal was service connection Permanent Retirement. To good to be true the USAF got a whole of it again and said EPTS and booted out the door. I was awarded service connection for the same disorder and directly related to military service. I also have secondary service connection related to is as well. I am baffled that it was service connected dated to the day I got out and wasn’t connected while I was in. So I will get to my point I saw the PDBR is looking over records I am sorry I never saw this before but I am not sure if I am eligible to file can anyone help clear this up? I know I am late to file for BCMT but should I go that route and hope that they see it in the interest of justice and good cause?
PDBR or BCMR
- Thread starter Ed2w1
- Start date
I am sorry I don't know if you are specifically eligible, I am just not that knowledgeable. Below is from the PDBR website:
To be eligible for the Physical Disabiltiy Board of Review (PDBR) you must have:
- Been medically separated between September 11, 2001 and December 31, 2009
- A combined disability rating of 20 percent or less
- Not been found eligible for retirement
- Were you permanently separated from military service after September 10, 2001 but before January 1, 2010?
- Was the reason for your separation from military service due to a disability?
- Was the disability level awarded by your military department at the time you were permanently separated for your disability less than 30% combined?
- At the time you were permanently separated from your military service by reason of disability, you were not otherwise eligible for retirement from your military service.
If you can't answer yes to all of these questions, then you're not eligible to have your disability rating determination reviewed by the PDBR. However, you should consider other options for review, including your military department’s board for correction of records.
PDBR Application Process
Information about eligibility for the Physical Disability Board of Review and how to apply.
www.health.mil
You didn't disclose the disease so it is a little harder to assist you. Some diseases are positively genetic, like Downs Syndrome. Other other diseases, like heart disease, are polygenetic (effected by multiple genes) and epigenetic (a combination of genes and environment). So your specific diagnosis is very important in the EPTS discussion. My suggestion is to talk to your eye doctor and ask him/her about how genetics effect the disease.
Yes your right it’s so the name of the disease is Lebers hereditary Optic Neuropathy. It affects the central vision by cell death in the optic nerve. It’s a mitochondrial disease. So I been looking at my ophthalmologist letter to th board where she describes that more than likely there would have to been an environmental trigger to ignite the genetic process that starts the deterioration of the eye disease. I researched a lot and many toxic causes tot he disease is benzene and hexane a component inside JP8 and other jet fuels and exhaust. The Air Force kept pushing that it took its natural course. I disagree, it was coincidental that I happened to be in the USAF but also subject to an environment that was a perfect for manifesting the disease working on the flightline. I never got the chance to try and prove that when I was in I was a young stupid kid stunned by what happened to me
I am sorry I don't know if you are specifically eligible, I am just not that knowledgeable. Below is from the PDBR website:
To be eligible for the Physical Disabiltiy Board of Review (PDBR) you must have:
Answer the following questions to help determine if you meet the criteria:
- Been medically separated between September 11, 2001 and December 31, 2009
- A combined disability rating of 20 percent or less
- Not been found eligible for retirement
If you answer 'yes' to all of these questions, you are eligible to apply to the PDBR to have your disability rating determination at separation reviewed.
- Were you permanently separated from military service after September 10, 2001 but before January 1, 2010?
- Was the reason for your separation from military service due to a disability?
- Was the disability level awarded by your military department at the time you were permanently separated for your disability less than 30% combined?
- At the time you were permanently separated from your military service by reason of disability, you were not otherwise eligible for retirement from your military service.
If you can't answer yes to all of these questions, then you're not eligible to have your disability rating determination reviewed by the PDBR. However, you should consider other options for review, including your military department’s board for correction of records.
PDBR Application Process
Information about eligibility for the Physical Disability Board of Review and how to apply.
Thanks for the response I had also emailed the PDBR and they also said I was ineligible but said to go the rout of the AFBCMR. I am about ready to send in my paperwork. I hope they look at it as I am past my 3 years. If they at least look at it I will consider it a small victory
No worries. Have you considered using a VSO or getting legal representation? It may be prudent given the circumstances and the complex nature. I hope someone far more knowledgeable than me on here can point you in the right direction.
Thanks for the Advice sir. I sent it off with all my supporting evidence. I don’t know if I will even he looked at I will consider it a small victory if they do that at least. I prolly should have used a VSO but they can be hot or miss to. I am taking my chances I guess. I hope something goes in my favor if not well i didn’t lose anything I had already lost I will just gain if it falls in my favor.