Service connected?

M

MaesterWizard777

PEB Forum Regular Member
Registered Member
I have a blood condition that I get weekly treatments for. It does not meet retention standards per MSD. Currently pending irilo.

When this issue was being investigated I found out from my parent that I had similar blood abnormalities in my youth (I told many doctors this). It is unclear if it was an acute blood issue at the time or long term but i was not having symptoms then. I was not aware of this issue during enlistment so it hadn’t been reported at meps.

I started having symptoms with the blood abnormalities 4 yrs into service.

Do I need to be concerned about this not being service connected or being accused of fraudulent enlistment?
 
I believe if you are at 8 years or more - for DOD purposes, it will be service connected.

Service-Connection After 8 Years of Active Duty Service (DoD ONLY)​

EPTS and genetic conditions are normally not eligible for DoD Disability or VA Disability unless they are service-aggravated. If a service member served in the military on active duty for 8 years or more, however, then their EPTS or genetic conditions are automatically considered service-aggravated, and thus eligible for DoD disability, unless it can be proven otherwise.

It must, however, also make the service member Unfit for Duty since the DoD will only rate conditions that are unfitting.

Basically, if the service member served 8 years or more and the condition has worsened until it now makes them unfit, then the EPTS or genetic condition is considered service-aggravated and ratable. It’s a bit of a gift for giving so much of their life to the service.

While this rule does not directly apply to the VA, the VA usually considers EPTS conditions that have progressed enough to make a service member unfit as service-aggravated and so will usually rate these conditions as well.
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JustAMuggle said:
I have a blood condition that I get weekly treatments for. It does not meet retention standards per MSD. Currently pending irilo.

When this issue was being investigated I found out from my parent that I had similar blood abnormalities in my youth (I told many doctors this). It is unclear if it was an acute blood issue at the time or long term but i was not having symptoms then. I was not aware of this issue during enlistment so it hadn’t been reported at meps.

I started having symptoms with the blood abnormalities 4 yrs into service.

Do I need to be concerned about this not being service connected or being accused of fraudulent enlistment?
Click to expand...
Definitely consult a JAG or VA rep to ensure everything’s documented properly for your IRILO and possible service connection.
 
JustAMuggle said:
I have a blood condition that I get weekly treatments for. It does not meet retention standards per MSD. Currently pending irilo.

When this issue was being investigated I found out from my parent that I had similar blood abnormalities in my youth (I told many doctors this). It is unclear if it was an acute blood issue at the time or long term but i was not having symptoms then. I was not aware of this issue during enlistment so it hadn’t been reported at meps.

I started having symptoms with the blood abnormalities 4 yrs into service.

Do I need to be concerned about this not being service connected or being accused of fraudulent enlistment?
Click to expand...
Fraudulent enlistment usually happens when someone knows they have a disqualifying condition and hides it on purpose when they join. But in your case, you didn’t know about the condition when you enlisted, and you weren’t having any symptoms at the time. Once it became an issue, you made sure to tell your doctors. This isn’t fraud, it’s a good-faith enlistment based on what you knew.

The military gets that not all conditions show up or get diagnosed right away. As long as you didn’t lie or hide anything on purpose, I don’t think you have something to worry about.
 
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