I hope I'm putting this in the correct spot, but I'm awaiting a solid diagnosis of fistulous crohn's disease, where I have a 'fistula in ano' being caused by my crohn's disease and according to the GI doc I'll most likely have the rest of my life. I've also been diagnosed with esophigitus, internal/external hemerroids, hyetal hernia, ulcers (small one near where I had a hemerroidectomy and two larger deeper ones where the CT scan shows I have crohns) as well as iron deficiency anemia. The 'nail in the coffin' will be a balloon endoscopy that I'm waiting for the VA to schedule, then my MEB will be initiated. I've been dealing with all this for only a few months and have already had one flair up, Im not on any meds yet bc of no solid diagnosis. I'll spare alot of the details as far as the fistula in ano bc they're rather grotesque, but you can research if you want. My question is what are my chances of getting medically retired considering everything thats wrong with me? I've already decided Im going to fight for medical retirement versus anything else, but any sugestions/advice would be greatly apprecited.
USAF for 8yrs, awaiting Fistulous Crohn's Disease Diagnosis
- Thread starter FSoska
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I'm thinking TDRL...
Jason Perry
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Yes, seems like TDRL may be likely....but, because they have just diagnosed and you are not on meds yet, I can see a delay for some time before you are MEB'd. Also, hard to judge much at this point, because it is not clear how you will respond to treatment and what impact this will have on your ability to perform your duties. The waiting and uncertainty are some of the hardest issues with the disability evaluation process, but it seems that there are a wide range of possibilities and you probably have some time before you will have a good indication of the likely outcome.
Best of luck!
Best of luck!
FSoska,
I'm also going through an MEB for Crohn's Disease.
Details:
First Symptoms: October 2009 while deployed
Diagnosed: February 2010
Started medication: February 2010 (Humira for 1 month then Remicade since then, flight doc didn't tell me Humira wasn't on approved waiver list for flying but Remicade is)
Symptoms gone: March 2010
MEB initiated in August 2010
MEB package submitted: Hasn't been done yet, this process is amazingly slow. Average turn around for an MEB once package is submitted at MacDill is 242 days (Once package is submitted!)
Colonoscopy in August 2010 confirmed in complete remission
If one were to read my initial colonoscopy and endoscopy results from February they would think that my insides were going to explode. This includes hemerroids, gastritis, ulcerations in stomach and intestine... No fistulas, abscesses, or blockages though. All symptoms were gone within 1 month of starting medication which was a huge relief. Not sure how you're feeling but if you are doing pretty crappy by all accounts I've heard to include my own, the medication works. I've also got the iron issue so I'm taking an iron supplement. Looks like you're pushing for medical retirement. I'm sure everyone has told you that you need to document everything. If you look around the forum it seems that 10% disability with severance is the going rate for our condition. Check out the VA disability rating scale for our condition. To get 30% it almost reads that we must be near death (joking of course but it looks like we've got to be in the worst shape of our lives, which, one the medication starts, will not be the case). For me they wanted at least six months on medication, then scoping to check it out again before MEB would be initiated. Like I wrote up top, it's been 3 months since my MEB was initiated and my CC and I still haven't got the memo to write the CC letter for the package. I have tried multiple times to speed up the process but there is nothing you can do but make your appointments, get any info asked of you turned in early, and then wait. For me this has been especially frustrating because I haven't been able to fly for 11 months. Docs say that they don't see any reason as to why I'd be kicked out but this forum seems to show otherwise. My advice to you is to get a good GI doc that actually cares about you. Inform them of the MEB process and how they'll be involved. Don't let anyone hold up your treatment either! Let me know if you've got any questions.
I'm also going through an MEB for Crohn's Disease.
Details:
First Symptoms: October 2009 while deployed
Diagnosed: February 2010
Started medication: February 2010 (Humira for 1 month then Remicade since then, flight doc didn't tell me Humira wasn't on approved waiver list for flying but Remicade is)
Symptoms gone: March 2010
MEB initiated in August 2010
MEB package submitted: Hasn't been done yet, this process is amazingly slow. Average turn around for an MEB once package is submitted at MacDill is 242 days (Once package is submitted!)
Colonoscopy in August 2010 confirmed in complete remission
If one were to read my initial colonoscopy and endoscopy results from February they would think that my insides were going to explode. This includes hemerroids, gastritis, ulcerations in stomach and intestine... No fistulas, abscesses, or blockages though. All symptoms were gone within 1 month of starting medication which was a huge relief. Not sure how you're feeling but if you are doing pretty crappy by all accounts I've heard to include my own, the medication works. I've also got the iron issue so I'm taking an iron supplement. Looks like you're pushing for medical retirement. I'm sure everyone has told you that you need to document everything. If you look around the forum it seems that 10% disability with severance is the going rate for our condition. Check out the VA disability rating scale for our condition. To get 30% it almost reads that we must be near death (joking of course but it looks like we've got to be in the worst shape of our lives, which, one the medication starts, will not be the case). For me they wanted at least six months on medication, then scoping to check it out again before MEB would be initiated. Like I wrote up top, it's been 3 months since my MEB was initiated and my CC and I still haven't got the memo to write the CC letter for the package. I have tried multiple times to speed up the process but there is nothing you can do but make your appointments, get any info asked of you turned in early, and then wait. For me this has been especially frustrating because I haven't been able to fly for 11 months. Docs say that they don't see any reason as to why I'd be kicked out but this forum seems to show otherwise. My advice to you is to get a good GI doc that actually cares about you. Inform them of the MEB process and how they'll be involved. Don't let anyone hold up your treatment either! Let me know if you've got any questions.
Jason Perry
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Well, I think it bears repeating, the deciding factor of whether you are returned to duty or separated/retired is your ability to perform your duties (though, in some cases, if duty poses a risk to you or the service, you can be found unfit based on that). If you respond to treatment and have no residual disability, you should be returned to duty. In looking at the OP question, the symptoms appear severe...so, given that it appears that an unfit finding would be forthcoming. However, I am not sure that the "given" assumption that the condition would be the same at the time of the PEB would be a correct assumption.