Time Hack

My NARSUM was done for my IRLO and was nothing changed or redone when it was before it went to the IPEB. MY PCM just wrote a short "I concur" type blurb on it after my C&P's and signed it again. From the time of my last C&P to the time I signed my package to go to the IPEB it was 16 days. (24 Aug-10 Sep)
 
Good to know. My PCM PCSd and was in the process of outprocessing when he was supposed to be writing my original NARSUM so I have all new eyes on it now...
 
Just got the word that my NARSUM is ready to review and that there isn't much changed. That isn't a good thing really... My PCM was on the way out of the AF when he wrote it and if my current PCM didn't find anything that he could at least amend, then I guess I have my expectations set a little high for the IMR... Speaking of which, the PEBLO is under the impression that the IMR is nothing more than having a doc review and either concur or non-concur with the package, nothing more. When I read the DODI, I read the part about the physician advising and counseling the service member, to mean that they will meet with me and have some type of rapport, in an effort to come to a decision of rebuttal or not.
The PEBLO also wants the decision on the LOE right away, regardless of the decision for the IMR, I was thinking it would be contingent on the IMR, at least in part... Thoughts?

I was told the package from the VA is 294 pages, that should be a fun read...
 
I am meeting with another doc tomorrow for the IMR. I'm hoping they will make a few changes to the NARSUM and get this thing moving!
 
So, I think the package will get sent in this afternoon or tomorrow. The IMR doc concurred with the PCM on the MEB and I really don't have anything to rebut, so, I decided to agree and let it go. If there is anything that needs to appeal then I can play my cards at that point. All of us thought that there wouldn't be an issue being found unfit, and being over 20 ensures me retirement...
 
I just got word today that I was found unfit yesterday and that my package was forwarded to the VA. VA's eBenefits still shows me as "Under Review" with completion times in the middle of next year. I have quite a number of claims so I wouldn't expect them to meet the 15 day window for completion, but here's to hoping!
 
During my daily look at eBenefits, I noticed I have a three claims now. The third one opened yesterday and is preparation for decision.

It is interesting that I would have three claims... The first one for all the original claimed disabilities, the second for dependency and the third, I imagine, is for the decision of all the claimed items, I would have thought it would be a continuation of the original claim...
 
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AEmedic said:
Speaking of which, the PEBLO is under the impression that the IMR is nothing more than having a doc review and either concur or non-concur with the package, nothing more. When I read the DODI, I read the part about the physician advising and counseling the service member, to mean that they will meet with me and have some type of rapport, in an effort to come to a decision of rebuttal or not.
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Yes, the regulation suggest something more substantive than just a finding from the provider. VERY RARELY have I seen more than just a curt statement agreeing or disagreeing with the NARSUM and/or findings.

AEmedic said:
The PEBLO also wants the decision on the LOE right away, regardless of the decision for the IMR, I was thinking it would be contingent on the IMR, at least in part... Thoughts?
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You always have the option to submit a rebuttal and/or LOE. With the IMR, it triggers the obligation from the MEB Approving/Convening Authority to respond in writing.

AEmedic said:
The IMR doc concurred with the PCM on the MEB and I really don't have anything to rebut, so, I decided to agree and let it go.
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I haven't dug down to your previous posts as to what your issues are. If there is nothing to rebut in the first place, not sure why you didn't agree/sign off on the MEB (unless, you just weren't sure. This is plausible and fine, but, preferably, going into each step, you have an idea of goals and desired outcomes).

Just yesterday, in an Army case, I went through this scenario. MEB/NARSUM was incomplete. Requested IMR (which, I sent a memo explaining the concern- PEBLO got all confused, thought this was rebuttal to MEB, even though the memo was addressed to IMR physician and stated that the info provided was meant to assist with the review), got no change in recommendation from IMR physician. Submitted rebuttal asking for addition of conditions to MEB. Was curtly denied. Case went up to PEB.....and, within 3 days, the PEB returned the case to the MEB to address the additional conditions I argued for.

The point of a rebuttal is, on its face, to get a change from the MEB. However, it can also serve a very valuable purpose in alerting the PEB as to your position. In the above instance, this caused the PEB to immediately send the case back to MEB for comment/further documentation. In some cases, it would just result in PEB being alerted to your concerns and considering them. At least, if the IPEB does not agree, it sets up a more receptive environment for consideration of the issues at the FPEB. (Also, knocks down/prevents any argument that you have agreed with the findings previously and are now "changing your story").
 
Thank you Jason! My primary issue during this process has been lack of communication. My PCM told me that he was going to call me or have me come in during the drafting of the NARSUM so that he/we could create an accurate written sight picture of the issues. During the months that he was supposed to be writing it and when he ultimately out-processed and separated from the AF, that didn't happen. When the NARSUM was completed, he turned it in and signed out the next day. I think it was written well, but I feel that it does not tell a very complete story of the stated issues. It mentions the issues that do not meet retention standards but does not discuss each one equitably. Given the opportunity, I would have talked to the PCM about these issues but since he left I wanted to make sure I had the chance to discus it with the IMR doc, someone that had the opportunity to become versed in the NARSUM and my record. In the end, while there were some omissions in the narrative, the IMR doc got me to understand that the information could be found in other ways, either in other portions of the NARSUM or in attached test results and supporting data. She, the IMR doc, thought that the package was very strong and that there was nothing that we should change, in fact, she thought that it was one of the stronger packages she had seen. Having that feedback helped me decide to let it go as it was.
 
Today eBenefits shows my original claim changing status to Preparation for Decision also. So, now I have a claim that says New (Misc) and my original compensation claim, both sitting at Preparation for Decision. I thought for sure the New (Misc) claim represented all my compensation claims, now I have no idea what it's for...
 
This afternoon my main compensation claim's status changed to "Review Of Evidence - Development Letter Sent". Does anyone know what that means? Some searches on Google turn up everything from being close to finished to the potential of needing another C&P appointment.
 
AEmedic said:
This afternoon my main compensation claim's status changed to "Review Of Evidence - Development Letter Sent". Does anyone know what that means? Some searches on Google turn up everything from being close to finished to the potential of needing another C&P appointment.
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I cant tell you will 100% certainty but i think whats going to happen is the same thing that happened to mine, since you are still active they open another claim and then a day or 2 later they close it with proposed ratings for the board and keep you original at prep for decision until DD-214 and your actual claim can go through. again this is just what ive been told and what ive seen with others
 
@ jameswags74 - I think I may already have that new claim. I've had an uncategorized claim for the last two weeks, it says that it is for New (Misc). For the last two weeks it has been at Prep for Decision.
 
My main compensation claim is back to showing "Preparation for Decision". Maybe we'll move another step forward soon...
 
I checked eBenefits when I got home and my status changed to "Pending Decision Approval". I guess hoping for things to move forward worked!
 
So, I'm not sure what really happened today...

At the beginning of the day, my main compensation claim went back to Prep for Decision, by lunch it was back at Pending Decision Approval and right now it is Review of Evidence. All alone I would say that they were just working on my case and ignore it, except to be happy that something was happening.

This afternoon both of the other claims (Dependency & Misc (New)) closed and moved to Historical Claims. I still have no idea what the Misc (New) claim is for, whatever it is, it's closed now and a decision packet has been mailed, supposedly.
 
Yesterday, the VA sent my ratings back to PEB - VA rating 100%! Of course I have no idea if it is P&T... But that is good news!
 
samcurler8 said:
Did you PEBLO call to tell you your VA ratings, or how did you find out?
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I called her, she was able to get the total number but not any of the details. I'm not sure where she got the number from... I want to find out if it is P&T but she said she wasn't sure how I might find out other than to wait.
 
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