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Mendieta01 JoelPettit Mendieta01 wrote on JoelPettit's profile.
I am currently an active-duty Marine stationed in Garden City, NY, and I have been referred to the medical evaluation board (MEB) process due to multiple physical and mental health issues. Over the past three years, I have experienced severe challenges, including two suicide attempts related to sexual assault cases. I am in therapy through the VA healthcare system, and all incidents have been documented. My last suicide attempt resulted in a 3-4 day stay in the ICU, and I was later admitted to Laurel Ridge Medical Treatment Center for a month-long inpatient mental health program. Despite this, I returned to the same toxic command environment that continues to affect my mental health.
I am currently taking medication for PTSD, depression, and anxiety, all stemming from my experiences with my command since I arrived in February 2021. In addition to my mental health challenges, I am undergoing physical therapy for a left knee injury and lower back issues, both of which originated in boot camp. I also contracted COVID-19 and pneumonia during boot camp, which severely impacted my lungs. Since then, I have been unable to run long distances as I used to, often experiencing intense pain and difficulty breathing after short runs.
Over the last three years, I have developed additional health conditions, including chronic wrist pain, daily migraines, left hip pain, shin splints, insomnia, sleep apnea, IBS, random nosebleeds, and female sexual arousal disorder. These issues have affected my ability to perform my duties as an admin Marine and have caused friction with my chain of command when I am unable to work due to symptoms.
I have met with my PEBLO and recently had a consultation with an attorney to discuss my options between the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) and the Legacy Disability Evaluation System (LDES). My EAS is 2025-06-27, and while I am willing to extend if necessary, I do not want to remain on active duty for more than 3-6 months past my EAS due to the ongoing negative impact my command environment has on my mental health. I am concerned about the risks to my well-being if I am forced to stay in this toxic environment any longer than necessary.
Questions and Concerns
1. What is the best path for me to take (IDES or LDES)?
• I want to ensure I receive the maximum benefits and proper care for my conditions.
• I am also looking to transition out of active duty as soon as possible while securing my long-term health and financial stability.
2. What can I do if my VA doctors do not provide me with proper diagnoses?
• Some of my conditions, like my lung issues, migraines, and wrist pain, have not been fully addressed, and I am concerned about receiving incomplete evaluations.
• How do I advocate for myself to ensure these issues are documented and properly diagnosed?
3. How can I protect my mental health while navigating this process?
• My toxic command environment has already led to significant mental health challenges.
• What steps can I take to ensure my mental health is not further jeopardized during this process?
4. What can I do to ensure my physical injuries are properly rated?
• I am worried about certain conditions, such as my knee, back, and wrist pain, being overlooked or underrated.
5. How do I ensure I receive the proper disability ratings for my mental health conditions?
• PTSD, depression, and anxiety have severely impacted my life, and I want to make sure these conditions are rated appropriately.
I appreciate your guidance on how to approach this process to maximize my benefits and protect my overall well-being. If there is anything specific I should do to strengthen my case or advocate for myself more effectively, please let me know.
I am currently taking medication for PTSD, depression, and anxiety, all stemming from my experiences with my command since I arrived in February 2021. In addition to my mental health challenges, I am undergoing physical therapy for a left knee injury and lower back issues, both of which originated in boot camp. I also contracted COVID-19 and pneumonia during boot camp, which severely impacted my lungs. Since then, I have been unable to run long distances as I used to, often experiencing intense pain and difficulty breathing after short runs.
Over the last three years, I have developed additional health conditions, including chronic wrist pain, daily migraines, left hip pain, shin splints, insomnia, sleep apnea, IBS, random nosebleeds, and female sexual arousal disorder. These issues have affected my ability to perform my duties as an admin Marine and have caused friction with my chain of command when I am unable to work due to symptoms.
I have met with my PEBLO and recently had a consultation with an attorney to discuss my options between the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) and the Legacy Disability Evaluation System (LDES). My EAS is 2025-06-27, and while I am willing to extend if necessary, I do not want to remain on active duty for more than 3-6 months past my EAS due to the ongoing negative impact my command environment has on my mental health. I am concerned about the risks to my well-being if I am forced to stay in this toxic environment any longer than necessary.
Questions and Concerns
1. What is the best path for me to take (IDES or LDES)?
• I want to ensure I receive the maximum benefits and proper care for my conditions.
• I am also looking to transition out of active duty as soon as possible while securing my long-term health and financial stability.
2. What can I do if my VA doctors do not provide me with proper diagnoses?
• Some of my conditions, like my lung issues, migraines, and wrist pain, have not been fully addressed, and I am concerned about receiving incomplete evaluations.
• How do I advocate for myself to ensure these issues are documented and properly diagnosed?
3. How can I protect my mental health while navigating this process?
• My toxic command environment has already led to significant mental health challenges.
• What steps can I take to ensure my mental health is not further jeopardized during this process?
4. What can I do to ensure my physical injuries are properly rated?
• I am worried about certain conditions, such as my knee, back, and wrist pain, being overlooked or underrated.
5. How do I ensure I receive the proper disability ratings for my mental health conditions?
• PTSD, depression, and anxiety have severely impacted my life, and I want to make sure these conditions are rated appropriately.
I appreciate your guidance on how to approach this process to maximize my benefits and protect my overall well-being. If there is anything specific I should do to strengthen my case or advocate for myself more effectively, please let me know.