Medical Board information

[SSG BRETADO]

I been having lower back issues since 2004. I've had 3 MRI's, 2 Xrays, started Pain MGMT, and Im sure I will be going through one sometime soon. It has already been brought up, so I would like to get some knowledge from someone that went through it. Anyone?

[SuicideKiller24]

I went through the MRB for my shoulder. They looked at my LOD and said that because the army doc said I am clear for full training with no further issues the MRB said I was G2G. I went to a civilian Doc 3 years later and came to find out that I still had a dislocation along with 3 torn tendons. I took that back to the MRB and they cleared me to get surgery done on it and then did the civilian therapy. The therapist said I was good. Went to the MRB and finally passed my PT and they cleared me to re-up

[jxspyder]

I did back in '05. My back was pretty much shot. I had kind of a backwards experience with mine, though.

I got back from Iraq in '05, was dropped from medical hold and returned to the Guard almost immediately, because they claimed I could do outpatient care. I applied for, and was denied, an Active Guard job due to my back, and was immediately referred to the med-board. The commander of the board insisted I stay in until I had a chance to actually utilize some of the treatment options available to me in the Army. Was medically discharged a year and a half later, because I had pretty much failed all treatment options.

[SSG BRETADO]

I did back in '05. My back was pretty much shot. I had kind of a backwards experience with mine, though.

I got back from Iraq in '05, was dropped from medical hold and returned to the Guard almost immediately, because they claimed I could do outpatient care. I applied for, and was denied, an Active Guard job due to my back, and was immediately referred to the med-board. The commander of the board insisted I stay in until I had a chance to actually utilize some of the treatment options available to me in the Army. Was medically discharged a year and a half later, because I had pretty much failed all treatment options.

Did you get severance pay or did you get Medically retired? Whats your disablity %?

[jxspyder]

Did you get severance pay or did you get Medically retired? Whats your disablity %?

Medical retirement. I'm at 20%, and have been trying to get re-evaluated for the last year.

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[River_Rat_459]

I've never been through a board myself, but while working as a USAR unit administrator I processed plenty of PEB/MMRB/MEB packets to kind of know what to expect as far as how the system works on that side of the house. I thought I heard someone tell me that they've moved all such boards under some sort of accelerated review format due to the number of troops rolling back to the States from Iraq.

I can reference a couple of cases I oversaw. In one case, our NBC NCO had blown out his knee while taking that APFT at WLC. He wound up medically retired, but I couldn't tell you his disability rating.

I had another troop that had injured his shoulder and broke his collar bone in basic, but the doctors at Ft. Leonard Wood didn't find anything majorly wrong with his shoulder other than some swelling. They kept prescribing ibuprofin for him and held him back a few weeks into another training cycle until he was able to make the minimum on the APFT. It turns out he had a tear in his rotator cuff that got worse after he returned home and back to drilling reservist status. After going to his own doctor and discovering what was wrong with his shoulder, that particular troop was giving authorization for surgery, rehab, PT/OT and so on. He kept begging to get boarded because he knew he couldn't hang any more. It took me months to get his packet completed, to include monthly updates from his very uncooperative physician. I was able to get his workers compensation claim processed, so that helped him out a good deal, and he was able to get some disability compensation from the VA at about 20% (I think) . My detachment unit administrator was taking over his case when I retired, as he was awaiting to see when his medical retention board would be.

Based on my experience in processing these things, the biggest thing I can tell you, SSG B, is get copies of EVERYTHING! And if you think you don't need a copy of it, you are wrong...GET COPIES OF EVERYTHING (medical and administrative) and keep it in a safe, easily accessible place. Do NOT rely on anyone else to do it for you. Hands on, or it didn't happen. Seriously....you'll thank yourself later. I can't emphasize this enough.

[jxspyder]

Gonna second River's last bit. More importantly, don't trust.

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[toby2533]

never went through a med board but have been dealing with the VA for years.

[shack_up]

I've never been through a board myself, but while working as a USAR unit administrator I processed plenty of PEB/MMRB/MEB packets to kind of know what to expect as far as how the system works on that side of the house. I thought I heard someone tell me that they've moved all such boards under some sort of accelerated review format due to the number of troops rolling back to the States from Iraq.

I can reference a couple of cases I oversaw. In one case, our NBC NCO had blown out his knee while taking that APFT at WLC. He wound up medically retired, but I couldn't tell you his disability rating.

I had another troop that had injured his shoulder and broke his collar bone in basic, but the doctors at Ft. Leonard Wood didn't find anything majorly wrong with his shoulder other than some swelling. They kept prescribing ibuprofin for him and held him back a few weeks into another training cycle until he was able to make the minimum on the APFT. It turns out he had a tear in his rotator cuff that got worse after he returned home and back to drilling reservist status. After going to his own doctor and discovering what was wrong with his shoulder, that particular troop was giving authorization for surgery, rehab, PT/OT and so on. He kept begging to get boarded because he knew he couldn't hang any more. It took me months to get his packet completed, to include monthly updates from his very uncooperative physician. I was able to get his workers compensation claim processed, so that helped him out a good deal, and he was able to get some disability compensation from the VA at about 20% (I think) . My detachment unit administrator was taking over his case when I retired, as he was awaiting to see when his medical retention board would be.

Based on my experience in processing these things, the biggest thing I can tell you, SSG B, is get copies of EVERYTHING! And if you think you don't need a copy of it, you are wrong...GET COPIES OF EVERYTHING (medical and administrative) and keep it in a safe, easily accessible place. Do NOT rely on anyone else to do it for you. Hands on, or it didn't happen. Seriously....you'll thank yourself later. I can't emphasize this enough.

River is dead on. I went through my board back in 99" and it took me over a year to go thru the process and I thought they were going to wait for my ETS date to come up in May 0f 00' so I would have to be a medical HO or just ETS and go thru VA. I was lucky I got my MR 3 months before my ETS date and they gave me a lump sum. Don't go payment route if they give you money.

PS: not only get copies of everything but make copies of the copies. Also get your dental records and when they do your evaluation mention everything has issues even if it doesn't hurt now. The only thing bad about afterwards is that if you use a private insurance the insurance company will give you grief since they want you to go thru the government instead of private but I wasn't goig to let some surgeon test on me and not be able to sue the guy since he is military.

[SSG BRETADO]

Thanks for all the advice, My records are going to be reviewed mid this month. Im being told they'll look at MAR2 (reclass) and if no MOS are available then it defaults to MEB. Only thing that sucks is that I have a 93 GT, Im a E6, and from the sounds of it...I wont get time to bump up my ASVAB scores. Hopefully It all works out, I dont want to get out anytime soon though. :(

[kamlman]

Just keep going in an getting evaluated for every pain you have. If/when you get out it will make things with the Va that much easier. Couldn't tell you how many times while i was active duty I went into the emergency room because of my back locking up and they always played it off and doped with every pain med you can think of. Once I got our and had an evaluation done by a civilian spine specialist they informed me that i had fractured my spine some time while on active duty. Took forever for the VA to consider it service related. Good luck.

[Rickety Rob]

I been having lower back issues since 2004. I've had 3 MRI's, 2 Xrays, started Pain MGMT, and Im sure I will be going through one sometime soon. It has already been brought up, so I would like to get some knowledge from someone that went through it. Anyone?

Sorry to hear that bro. Can't help ya but good luck with this situation

[illking51]

Has anyone else gone through the MEB/PEB process? I'm about to sign my narrative summary (narsum) on Tuesday and am just trying to figure out if there's anything I need to lok out for and how much longer I have left in the process as a whole.

[WHIT3C3LL]

Hey man I have a few buddies almost done with this up there and by how I've heard it takes 9 months to a year to get through maybe longer depending


Sent by some white guy lost in the desert with a green alien

[Rickety Rob]

Hey man I have a few buddies almost done with this up there and by how I've heard it takes 9 months to a year to get through maybe longer depending


Sent by some white guy lost in the desert with a green alien

I've seen the same thing at my last duty station. I'm glad I didn't have to go through it. I would have hated it

[USMCramirez]

Hows the medboard going for you? Corpsman are putting one through for me, I'm kinda curious as to how this process goes.

[SSG BRETADO]

Has anyone here gone through a Med Board and now receiving disability compensation from the VA?

I have a few questions.....

[SMG29]

I'm going through one now for my shoulder. Just started it thou.


Sent from my 1990's Zack Morris phone

[iamthesgt]

I'm pretty sure this is the 5th or 6th post on the subject I've seen recently. I'm not criticizing I'm saying it would be great if we could make it easier to find this info on the site as it seems to be a popular topic.

[ssandersjr]

I'm pretty sure this is the 5th or 6th post on the subject I've seen recently. I'm not criticizing I'm saying it would be great if we could make it easier to find this info on the site as it seems to be a popular topic.

Yes, if it has been that popular, then how about a sticky?

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[iamthesgt]

[QUOTE=ssandersjr;140047]Yes, if it has been that popular, then how about a sticky?/QUOTE]

I do not have sticky powers. Maybe a mod could combine all the relevant threads and sticky the result?

[ssandersjr]

[QUOTE=ssandersjr;140047]Yes, if it has been that popular, then how about a sticky?/QUOTE]

I do not have sticky powers. Maybe a mod could combine all the relevant threads and sticky the result?

PM sent to request a sticky.

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[jxspyder]

Given that the topic was already posted...in this forum......3 posts down.....with only 6 posts in total...........doesn't leave a lot of hope for a sticky doing any good. But sure.

[jxspyder]

There's several threads floating around, I'll try to merge them all here.

In the meantime, if you have questions about the med board process, want to share your story of the VA experience, or simply want some info....come here.

[SSG BRETADO]

Thanks for the sticky. I will post me questions once I get back home. currently out of state. If anyone has questions about the MED board though... I been through it so I'll try and answer I best as I can.

[USMCramirez]

I've never been through a board myself, but while working as a USAR unit administrator I processed plenty of PEB/MMRB/MEB packets to kind of know what to expect as far as how the system works on that side of the house. I thought I heard someone tell me that they've moved all such boards under some sort of accelerated review format due to the number of troops rolling back to the States from Iraq.

I can reference a couple of cases I oversaw. In one case, our NBC NCO had blown out his knee while taking that APFT at WLC. He wound up medically retired, but I couldn't tell you his disability rating.

I had another troop that had injured his shoulder and broke his collar bone in basic, but the doctors at Ft. Leonard Wood didn't find anything majorly wrong with his shoulder other than some swelling. They kept prescribing ibuprofin for him and held him back a few weeks into another training cycle until he was able to make the minimum on the APFT. It turns out he had a tear in his rotator cuff that got worse after he returned home and back to drilling reservist status. After going to his own doctor and discovering what was wrong with his shoulder, that particular troop was giving authorization for surgery, rehab, PT/OT and so on. He kept begging to get boarded because he knew he couldn't hang any more. It took me months to get his packet completed, to include monthly updates from his very uncooperative physician. I was able to get his workers compensation claim processed, so that helped him out a good deal, and he was able to get some disability compensation from the VA at about 20% (I think) . My detachment unit administrator was taking over his case when I retired, as he was awaiting to see when his medical retention board would be.

Based on my experience in processing these things, the biggest thing I can tell you, SSG B, is get copies of EVERYTHING! And if you think you don't need a copy of it, you are wrong...GET COPIES OF EVERYTHING (medical and administrative) and keep it in a safe, easily accessible place. Do NOT rely on anyone else to do it for you. Hands on, or it didn't happen. Seriously....you'll thank yourself later. I can't emphasize this enough.

This. is important. My records were lost. Everything. Every note, every bit of paper work from the time I enlisted. When I got back, I was supposed to be put through for a medboard, since we could not track down my records, the board was a no go. Needless to say, I'm trying to find everything. The important stuff, the stuff from deployment is gone though. Make copies of everything, keep the originals, and put the copies into your folder.

[Rickety Rob]

Thanks for the sticky. I will post me questions once I get back home. currently out of state. If anyone has questions about the MED board though... I been through it so I'll try and answer I best as I can.

Holy shit! He's back from the grave

[iamthesgt]

Holy shit! He's back from the grave

Man haven't seen you in forever Bretado

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[BigFreeze99]

This. is important. My records were lost. Everything. Every note, every bit of paper work from the time I enlisted. When I got back, I was supposed to be put through for a medboard, since we could not track down my records, the board was a no go. Needless to say, I'm trying to find everything. The important stuff, the stuff from deployment is gone though. Make copies of everything, keep the originals, and put the copies into your folder.

I am seeing this post late, but I hope I can add my 2 cents to help. RiverRat nails it here... Make a copy of everything. I went through PEB while I was in. I was lucky to have a Naval Captain working on my case. He was set to retire soon, he wasn't holding to the line of saving government funds while diminishing my benefits ....
His advice (and mine to you) is to see the 'Retired Affairs Officer' on you base/installation PRIOR to signing off on any PEB (Board). Most Retired Affairs Officers are not trying to save the Government money by getting you out with the minimum compensation. Many exiting service memebers, that sign these things blindly and at times under duress, usually see guys like me to back track the process to open new claims that were overlooked or minimized on the way out. With that said, even if you sign the board findings and prepare to exit the service, you can ALWAYS reopen any claims for your benefits.
I would suggest in this case; avoid seeing your county or state VA offices t and go straight to a Veteran's Service Organization (VFW, DAV, Am Legion...). Don't accept that everything is final.
Sorry to be so long winded... I just love doing this work for the Vets.
On a final point, the Retired Affairs Officer is not just for retirees, he/she is also there to support anyone exiting the service.

Take Care and Semper-Fi
Mike

[UH1FE]

Because of the horror stories I have heard I go in about every three months and ask for copies of my medical records. They will only give you the whole thing once but will give you copies of everything that has accumulated since you requested the last copy. Dont forget to get copies from any civilian docs you happen to see too.

[Brian]

So it's been a while since this three was touched. I'm starting the process now and was wondering if anyone else has advise they would like to add.


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