Ok all you Military people, need help

[Guesswho]

So I'm in the AF, have almost 15 yrs in and my dr told me last week I have to go thru the dreaded MEB (Medical eval board) process! nooooo! All because 2 years ago i had a tiny mole removed from my leg and it's never closed. I've had 5 surgeries on it since then and the @#$% won't close! So the dr has no clue what to do with me now. And to make things worse, today I got an assignment to Osan AB Korea...currently i'm stuck in ***** hole MT....so I should be super excited about getting out of here...but as far as I know as long as I'm going thru the MEB process I won't be going anywhere any time soon. Anyone been thru this MEB process and can give me some insite on how it works? I see the dr again next friday so he can go over it with me and build my package but would like some clue what i'm getting into before I see him again. What kinda questions should I ask him at the appt? Thanks for any and all insite on this!!!

[bruiser]

I went through the MEB in 1978. I had an assignment. I had to go to another base for refresher training prior to my PCS. While there, I got sick. I was sent to a military regional medical center. Had it not been for a very good flight surgeon I would have been out the door at ten years with $10,000.00 and no benefits. As it was, I was returned to duty and completed 20 years. Now, getting the VA to step up is a different story. Your pending assignment will be probably be canceled if an MEB is pending.

How many doctors have you seen for this issue? Has the doctor referred you to a specialist? If not, why? Was the mole cancerous? Where is the MEB being done? Hopefully at a regional military hospital and not a clinic. Are you still eligible for world wide duty and deployment? Has it had an effect on your job? Can you still do your job? Don't sign anything without reading it closely and understanding implications.

Unfortunately,and I'm sure you know, the Air Force is looking for any way to cut manning as directed by DoD. And you are a prime target. Good luck my friend. Keep us posted.

[Gray Ghost]

I was Army so my experience may vary. I have sat on a MEB as part of the board and when I was recalled as a retiree I ended up going through one myself.

The big issue for the two I was involved in was, is the individual still capable of performing service for the service. In your case, we would be asking from you and the doctors is whether or not you could continue in your current field, or is there another field that you could qualify for, etc. Some of it, at least in the Army, came down to what the individual felt about the issue. My issue was a hole in one eardrum, with resulting hearing loss. I was quizzed very thoroughly by the board to ensure that I was aware that most soldiers were returning with hearing loss which would be worse for someone who already had problems. I was allowed to continue and did deploy. Unfortunately the soldier who appeared before the board I sat on had a back injury and while he wanted to remain in we could not come up with a job skill he could be reclassified into.

Good luck to you

[acinpcola]

I went through a med board in the Navy. The doctor who did my evaluation was the one who sent the medical findings to the board and I never did stand in front of a board in person. The result of the board was that they found that I could no longer deploy therefore they rated me at 30% and placed me on the Temporary Disabled Retired List, (TDRL). What that meant was a Medical Retirement due to the 30%, when I challenged the findings because I was on my last tour of duty before retirement, I was told to accept the results of the Board or they will change the percentage to 20% and discharge me with no retirement. What else you need to know is that while on TDRL I had to maintain standards as I would get a set of orders every 12 to 14months to be re-evaluated at a military hospital and the results would be sent to a med board for a decision, which was either Fit for full Duty, Continue on TDRL (up to a max of 5 years) or Permanent Retirement. If found Fit for Full Duty, the next day you were back in uniform. After my 3rd evaluation I was Permanently Retired. Now since I was considered a Medical Retirement, at this time I am not eligible for Concurrent Receipt.

As the others told you ask questions if you do not understand anything, after all this is going to effect your life. Now some things you should know, 30% is a retirement if things have not changed that much in the medical standards. If you get 20% or more, you become eligible for VA Vocational Rehab, they pay tuition, books, supplies, plus a living allowance. What you have to remember to do is that no matter what the outcome is you need to get into the VA system as soon as you get out.

There is a lot for you to consider, just keep asking questions until you get the answers you need

Good Luck

[Jeriatric]

Search, research, & search the net with every possible question you can come up with, relating to your situation. While you can not believe all you read. The more you research and read, the easier it is to sieve through the BS, and get to the meat. Go visit a DAV officer. Just because he will not be able to help you directly, does not mean he's not well versed in what you may or may not be facing. A good DAV rep that's willing to give you his or her time will prove invalusble. Good luck.

[cptjam]

Does this prevent you from doing your job? If no, ok. If yes, is there a job you can do? If it is a inconvenience, ok. If it is a show stopper, you need to get out. Try to get fixed.
I served 22 years. My disability is rated at 90%. I would have stayed for 30, if I could have. I could not, so, I retired. If your wound keeps you from serving, your med board will compensate you. While it might not be a full pension and a disability, you have to serve the full 20 to be eligible. Good luck

[rugbyruth]

Have you been to a wound spiecalist? Like others who have said, Do you research and write down all the questions you have for your appointment this coming friday.

A little off subject.... Thank You, and all of our american vets/Heroes on this forum For you Service to this great country of ours.

Ruth

[Guesswho]

You guys are so helpful! So after 5 surgeries, I've seen i dont know how many different drs and surgeons. I've even had two plastic surgeons take a crack at sewing it up with little success. It's not even a big wound, maybe like 1 1/2 inches long and not very deep. I've been to a wound specialist for about 10 months with little success there also. Have had baby foreskin applied, a full leg cast and tons of time off work so I don't walk around while it's healing. This doesn't prevent me from doing my job, which is base safety, but it does prevent me from doing a full PT test, which I haven't done one in 2 yrs. and of course I'm not deployable with an open wound, so the PT test and not being deployable is the driving force of this MEB. The wound I think will eventually heal so from what I'm reading from you guys if they do anything I'll prob be temp retired until it does heal. That would be insane of they found me fit for duty after being temp retired and have to go back! How long did your MEB process last? I've heard it can be really quick or drag out for years! I hope mine is quick, they return me to duty and let me go to Korea to get out of MT! Also my wound isn't my only issue, but is the main one, will my other issues also be in this med board package ya think?

[Questions]

Thank you for serving!

[Dan McNally]

Good luck to you, Guesswho, and thanks for your service. I hope things work out in your favor.

[bruiser]

Mt MEB lasted 6 weeks at Keesler AFB. Mississippi. I did not appear before an actual board. I had a week of med exams and testing. The rest of the time was waiting for the results. The assigned doctor did not communicate with me directly as to what was happening. As I said before, I happened to be talking to a flight surgeon in the chow hall one day. He was a cardiologist. I had a heart condition. After I explained to him what was going on he told me not to sign anything until I heard from him. He told me they would probably boot me with no benefits. That's exactly what they tried to do. He got me released back to duty with the only restriction being no PT which, at that time, consisted of a 1.5 mile timed run once a year. My assignment was canceled. I returned to duty at my former base. Shortly after that I received an assignment to England. Once there, the base commander said I had to do the run regardless of my restriction or he would have me discharged. My boss, who was the DCM, politely told him to off. I ran anyway and made it well under the time limit.

You mentioned other issues. If they are medical, they can be included in the package. IMHO not being deployable makes you a prime target for discharge. Especially with the mandated draw down. One of the guys I ride with is an active E9. He tells us what is happening now and how he has been told to start reviewing records of troops.

As others have said, keep good notes. Write down everything, times, dates etc. Make sure everything in your records is correct, I had a typo in my MEB results that caused me to be denied a VA rating. It took me three years to get that corrected. I got temporary 10%. After another four years it was rated permanent. DAV is your best friend. You don't have to be a member.

Good luck my friend.


Edit: Took me 20 years to get 10% for hearing loss. I'm still not compensated for the actual hearing loss, but for tinitus.

[Jeriatric]

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/theorderlyroom/a/medseparation.htm

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/theor...dstandards.htm

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/afreg/p/afi48123.htm

[Cavman]

Something that helped people with diabetes in things that won't heal is taking decompression chamber therapy. It helps the woulds to heal because of the saturated oxygen around the tissues and more if they are breathing the O2. Just a thought.

[Gray Ghost]

Took me 20 years to get 10% for hearing loss. I'm still not compensated for the actual hearing loss, but for tinitus.

I have the tinnitus issue too, just like a lot of vets. Have you looked into the VA for hearing aids? If you don't have HAs now, and you find yourself agreeing to things just so you don't have to ask people to repeat themselves for the fifth time, do yourself a favor and get checked. Quality of life is a lot better when you can hear more of what is going on around you.

[Guesswho]

Something that helped people with diabetes in things that won't heal is taking decompression chamber therapy. It helps the woulds to heal because of the saturated oxygen around the tissues and more if they are breathing the O2. Just a thought.

Yup! My plastic surgeon just suggested that last week! IDK why no one let me do that before! So hopefully my Dr on base agrees and lets me do that. I think they are sick of spending money on me tho.

[bruiser]

I have the tinnitus issue too, just like a lot of vets. Have you looked into the VA for hearing aids? If you don't have HAs now, and you find yourself agreeing to things just so you don't have to ask people to repeat themselves for the fifth time, do yourself a favor and get checked. Quality of life is a lot better when you can hear more of what is going on around you.

Yep. Just ask my wife. The VA denied hearing aids. Said that it wouldn't help because of the tinnitus.

[Bob Denman]

I don't know anything about the nightmares that the Military can create for you right now...
But I sure DO know about closing up wounds!
Diabetic Ulcerations can be a real bitch to get closed...
I had one that was open for 23 Months, and the last one took a full year to get healed-up.
They resorted to "Derma-Graft" on the last one... It's sort of like an artifcial skin that they put in the wound...
I had good results with it; I hope that you find a way to get yours healed-up also.
I never had to use the "Air Chamber"; they put you in a high pressure atmosphere to get lots of oxygen into the wound...
Good luck with the woune, AND whatever they throw at you!

[Bob Ledford]

Gad what a mess!

First off, with your type of injury I would fight them long and hard rather then just accept the ese
2, If you cannot get 20 good years, then don't settle for less then 100% disability which amounts to a 50% retirement w/benefits.

3. The MC that does your exiting the MEB examination should ask you if you want to continue or call it quits. Say NO your still mission capable with restrictions. If you're NMC n your present MOSQ ask for retraining or refresh a secondary MOS.

4. I had to do a MEB for a surgical removing of a bowel resection and I was at 23 years of service wanting 30 or more. Then I had a Cubital Tunnel Syndrome surgery on my left elbow got through that one Ok Then at 34 years of total service 19 years of AGR (full time unit support) I had to have another Cubital Tunnel surgery on the same spot to remove adhesions which resulted in a year of physical rehab. Then another MEB which I managed to beat again. Then I got caught up in a retention board which I got a year extension out of them at my OIC's recommendation I just happened to be his unit NCOIC. Which was the medical unit in charge of the medical readiness of the Florida Army National Guard pertaining to immunizations and physical examinations. I retired as one very lucky NCO, I had 10 years of various grades made E-7 held E-7 for 20 made my 8 and held it for 7 years 6 months. Retired at age 60.

[Gray Ghost]

Said that it wouldn't help because of the tinnitus.

That's strange, my tinnitus was not a disqualifier for me.

[spydrn]

So I'm in the AF, have almost 15 yrs in and my dr told me last week I have to go thru the dreaded MEB (Medical eval board) process! nooooo! All because 2 years ago i had a tiny mole removed from my leg and it's never closed. I've had 5 surgeries on it since then and the @#$% won't close! So the dr has no clue what to do with me now. And to make things worse, today I got an assignment to Osan AB Korea...currently i'm stuck in ***** hole MT....so I should be super excited about getting out of here...but as far as I know as long as I'm going thru the MEB process I won't be going anywhere any time soon. Anyone been thru this MEB process and can give me some insite on how it works? I see the dr again next friday so he can go over it with me and build my package but would like some clue what i'm getting into before I see him again. What kinda questions should I ask him at the appt? Thanks for any and all insite on this!!!

I just went through a MEB but a few weeks was returns to duty. Mine was for my sleep disorder. What I would be worrie about right now is the current state of the Air Force. With the 25k that they want to cut. Also What about PT and deployments. Are you able to do both. I'm sitting at 19 years as of 1 march. I'm retiring using TERA hopefully 6 months.

[Jeriatric]

Guesswho,

If you get TPC (the pentagon channel) you should give it a view. Lots of force reduction conversations currently taking place. fwiw

[Oldmanzues]

I never went thru this board, but I agree with most of the things said. At the same time I believe Brusier has it nailed down right. From talking to actual active duty personnel of all services, they are using any reason to kick you out, with as little as possible.
Good Luck and best hopes for you
28 USAF, 30 retired, 10%disabled
Oldmanzues

[Guesswho]

Saw the Dr today and told him about my orders. He said there is no way Korea would accept me so he's pretty sure my orders will be getting cancelled But now he is going to make me see a dermatologist to see what they say, so the MEB is on hold for now until I see tham and the dr is trying to come up with another game plan on what to do with me. So no real answers today except I'll never leave this MF base! At this point i'm done with the AF and the BS that is being thrown my way, so bring on medical retirement!