total and permanent?

[xtanker]

Does anyone know how the VA rates MS in regards to being a 'total and permanent' disability?

I'm guessing the permanent part is a given, since there is no cure. But what about the 'total' disability?

I have just started the MEB process and have read that some benefits are only available if you are rated T&R - namely the dependant educational benefits.

I appreciate any info...this MEB process caught me off guard a little so i'm in reaction mode now.

[Scooter24]

Not sure if you are going thru the same claim procedure as it seems you are still active duty. I havebeen out for a long time and the way they rated me was 20% for loss of each leg, and one arm, I have now resubmitted my claim for 100% based on umemployability as I am not able to work any longer and am on Social security disability. It's possible to get this w/o actually being rated at 100%. I know a few in my support group that along with MS also have other problems . 1 is rated at 140% and one is close to 200%.

Hopefully others with more experience as to what you are going thru will chime in. Good luck with your claim.

[xtanker]

Scooter - yes, I am still on AD. They recently started the MEB process because of a change to my permanent profile. No surprise, but I can no longer do all of the events on the annual physical fitness test.

[Scooter24]

I see people talk about MEB but have no idea about it or what it is, I lnow others are going thru it also.

[Bob698]

It sounds like MEBs are like the VA. Everyone's going to have a different experience.
Tanker, there are threads in this forum about active service folks who went thru an MEB. Some got out, some could stay in. (If any of the active service folks want to take the lead, we could probably use an MEB sticky thread).

I'm guessing that disease progression and secondary symtoms was what made the difference. At the end of the day, can you still do your job without putting your buds at risk?

The one silver lining is that you're getting diagnosed while you're still in uniform. Its not like winning on The Price Is Right but the VA process will be a lot smoother for you.

[Bob698]

Oh, just some follow on stuff:

Tanker, how many years do you have in? Sometimes being close to retiring out can make a difference. It might also depend on when you last re-upped (how much time is left on your current enlistment) but at the end of the day your branch of the service has to look at how well you'll be able to do your job.
I also don't want to blow smoke up your, well, you know. MS is a pretty serious disease and that diagnosis can effect just about everything in your life.
Its starting to sound like the Army and Marines are going to take the bigger hit in personnel. That shouldn't play into the MEB's decision, but we all know it will.

Scooter, MEB is a medical eval board. Its that branch of service figuring out if they want to keep you around or send you home.

[xtanker]

I will be at 19 yrs next month. My current enlistment never ends - I have been on indef status for about nine years.

I was dx'd in 2002 and am currently serving in the Army Acquisition Corps. This is the functional area I went to when it was becoming clear I could no longer play on the tactical side like I once did.

The downsizing of the services has definately been on my mind as a reason for the MEB to say it's time to retire.

[Bob698]

This is my opinion, but I would keep shuckin' and jivin' and doing what it took to get to 20.
You get more options when you retire out, and sometimes better deals. You might also want to start looking into Tricare and what it offers for retirees.
I say to start looking into it now because some retired folks I know are starting to squawk a little. Tricare is another of those fed deals where it was important to offer it when they needed us.

Otherwise, you should still have some options in case the MEB comes back and says "Buh Bye". I would try to appeal as long as I could. Worst case, you wouldn't be able to do your remaining time in the Guard, but you might want to look into a fed job. Same deal as the Guard, you'd have to do 2 for 1 to complete your 20, the only trick would be finding a fed agency that's hiring.

I think you're in good shape at 19 years. The military might be heartless but in many cases they aren't that heartless. Then again, I got cut at six years after my contract timed out (plus one month of COG time ). This was post Gulf War I and we were scrapping submarines like no one's business. "You want to re-WHAT???? I got guys coming out of the training pipeline and no where to put them and you want to re-WHAT???"

I know guys who had re-enlisted for bonuses and got bounced for anything they could find. The kicker was that many of them got a friendly letter asking for the bonus back.

[mlissa67]

Hi Xtanker

....I am currently AD and going through the MEB process. Today was 3 weeks since my "packet" was submitted. Apparently the process has changed from what it was before, but I don't know about before so I can only comment on now.

Considering your at 19, it's quite conceivable to believe you could make it to 20 before they could get you MEB done. Once the decision is made, they have to make VA appts. for you to go to be evaluated for your various ailments. Once that's done, they have to wait on that paperwork, then the commander's letter, and finally, the PCM narrative summary, so it takes some time.

My email is on my profile, email me and we can discuss this some more if you'd like.

[AF PA]

MEB info

I am also more than happy to help explain the MEB process. I wrote around 30 MEB's last year for various medical issues and work daily with PEBLO. I have 7 years AD and was returned to duty last year,C-2. I am one of the fortunate ones and with the new shift in force shaping more and more of my pt's are being discharged.

With 19 years in service is seems that your PCM has too much time on his/her hands. Worst case scenario will be forced retirement, however, I agree that it will likely not get processed prior to your 20 year mark. I would have had you wait until you were ready to retire and claim it on your retirement DD for 2796, unless you plan on doing 25! MEB's are lots of work by everyone involved.

If I had a clue on how to start a thread on MEB's I would do it b/c I know how stressful the process can be. Alas, if this was at work, I would have one of my young enlisted troops figure it out for me!

Hope everything works out for you.

[KatieDidNOT]

Hey All...

I have only been retired for a few years and was a personnelist. Hopefully things have not changed in that short time. Please correct me if they have.

- If you make it to 12 years of AD and get MEBed out, you will be retired vs. separated. You will get 2.5% of your base pay for each year served. For example if you get MEBed out at 15 years, you will get 37.5% of your base pay, plus COLA for life and all military retiree benefits.

- If you make it to 18 years, that is what is called "Sanctuary". Unless you have done something really bad, you will retire with 20 years and 50% of your base pay. For every year after that add 2.5% for a maximum of 75%.

- I believe the difference between "total" and "permanent" is MS is a "permanent" disability....it can never go away. "Total" is also permanent but includes employ-ability...can you work even part time?

- The MEB and VA process are two completely different animals...no connection whatsoever. However like Bob said...getting everything together before you leave AD will make the VA Process much easier. VA disability checks are different from you military retirement check.

-Unfortunately, with any draw down, people with medical profiles (undeployable) are the first to go unless the have hard-to-get specialties. The exception to this is people in Sanctuary. For example during the Desert Storm draw down, the Air Force started taking out people with Asthma.

Cheers-Katie

[xtanker]

This whole thing started when my profile was updated as a P3. I questioned if it was really worth the effort when told the process could take nine months to complete. If that's the case I could complete 20yrs with terminal leave.

The PEBLO also said I could request a Continuation of Active Duty (COAD) to get to 20.

Not exactly how I envisioned crossing the finish line!

[Bob698]

AF PA; Don't get yourself in hot water, but the way I always start stuff is to keep it simple at first then start filling in the blanks.

"What's an MEB and how could it effect my career?"

And now, over to you..


BTW, anyone on Tricare. Feel free to chime in.

[Bob698]

However like Bob said...getting everything together before you leave AD will make the VA Process much easier.

Katie; Awesome post. Just to clear up any potential confusion on my part, I'm not saying the VA is always the way to go when it comes to health care. I guess I also need to be clear when it comes to which VA we're talking about. There's the over-all VA which oversees care for veterans (AKA, The FEDs) and VA hospitals and clinics.
MS and Neurology can be very foreign things to understand. Depending on where you live, sometimes you can get better care at a VA hospital (IE, finding a Neuro you can trust and work with) than a specialist hospital.
MS in my experience is a very "point of contact" disease. That one Dr. can make a world of difference. Are they doing enough or trying to do too much? Note that a lot of this depends on our point of view.

[Bob698]

Not exactly how I envisioned crossing the finish line!

As long as you get to walk out the door, don't sweat it. I used my sharpest salute the day I stepped off a submarine for the last time. I still had all my fingers and toes, I guess I owed them one.

I don't need to add this, but I would be sure I was the perfect little trooper from now on. Don't give them ANY other reasons to bounce you.