Questions about MS and the med board process

thepencilthief

PEB Forum Regular Member
Registered Member
Hello everyone. My husband has 19.5 yrs in. 18 mo ago he was diagnosed with MS. He started a DMD and continued his work (shore/office). Recently he had a bad flare up and has been on con leave for 10 weeks now. The med board process is starting. I've tried to read what I can here and learn as much as I can since we're at a small navy clinic and the PCMs really are very uneducated with both the process, MS etc.

I have gone through all the civilian med records, made copies, and wrote out an extensive summary of conditions using the charts and his oral medical history to get some idea of what he's looking at in terms of ratings.

MS
tinnitus
radiculopathy/neuralgia R hand, R arm, R leg, torso, L hand
chronic neck pain (mris shows disc bulges and mild stenosis)
chronic low back pain and neuralgia
chronic knee pain
inability to smell -anosmia
scotoma (loss of small area of visual field)
bilateral hearing loss (only 8khz)
L elbow dislocation (from a fall)
L elbow chronic pain
Finger fracture (doesn't bother him, just in record)
chronic adjustment disorder (mixed depression/anxiety)
insomnia
appendectomy (no issues since)
urethral stricture surgery
bladder issues (frequency)
bowel issues (neurogenic bowel)
involuntary eye twitches all day, body jerks at night (no separate diagnosis--just from MS again)
chronic fatigue (this isn't CFS diagnosed--just fatigue associated with and secondary to MS)--can this be rated? Other than the depression, it is a HUGE factor in him not working.

I figure that half of these will get 0% just from what I read online. Only 30% for his aggressive MS too.

Of course he also has a scar from his appendectomy surgery (do we claim that?)

I have seen folks claim "CNS demyelination"--and getting a rating on that AND MS both--isn't that pyramiding? (I am not sure what qualifies and what wouldn't). He does indeed have several MRI reports with an extensive demyelination list most in his spine.

He has MRI reports with "cerebral atrophy" (does he claim that too?)

He has a diagnosis of Vit D deficiency--again--does he claim?

what about "ataxia"? He walks with a cane, PT reports claim he should have a walker. He's unable to drive a car.

I want to be as informed as we can since his PCM really isn't. He wants to "punt" him off to the next person who generally has been even more misinformed. It seems they only want to board him for the MS part. I thought it all had to be listed out if it disqualifies him from his duties....which it is! He hasn't been to work in 10 weeks and last time the doc refused limdu altogether. I don't get it.

Any other advice? or recommendation.

I already have all records and documentation (but I know even with documentation ratings don't always come back in the servicemember's favor).

Thank you
 
It's tough to say how DOD will rate him. The best part you have going is the 19.5 years means that if the IDES process lasts until he hits 20, he will
Collecting both VA and DOD retirement. It is very easy to appeal at every level and make this last long enough.

One place to look is militarydisabilitymadeeasy.com there is a lot of good info there.
 
Hello everyone. My husband has 19.5 yrs in. 18 mo ago he was diagnosed with MS. He started a DMD and continued his work (shore/office). Recently he had a bad flare up and has been on con leave for 10 weeks now. The med board process is starting. I've tried to read what I can here and learn as much as I can since we're at a small navy clinic and the PCMs really are very uneducated with both the process, MS etc.

I have gone through all the civilian med records, made copies, and wrote out an extensive summary of conditions using the charts and his oral medical history to get some idea of what he's looking at in terms of ratings.

MS
tinnitus
radiculopathy/neuralgia R hand, R arm, R leg, torso, L hand
chronic neck pain (mris shows disc bulges and mild stenosis)
chronic low back pain and neuralgia
chronic knee pain
inability to smell -anosmia
scotoma (loss of small area of visual field)
bilateral hearing loss (only 8khz)
L elbow dislocation (from a fall)
L elbow chronic pain
Finger fracture (doesn't bother him, just in record)
chronic adjustment disorder (mixed depression/anxiety)
insomnia
appendectomy (no issues since)
urethral stricture surgery
bladder issues (frequency)
bowel issues (neurogenic bowel)
involuntary eye twitches all day, body jerks at night (no separate diagnosis--just from MS again)
chronic fatigue (this isn't CFS diagnosed--just fatigue associated with and secondary to MS)--can this be rated? Other than the depression, it is a HUGE factor in him not working.

I figure that half of these will get 0% just from what I read online. Only 30% for his aggressive MS too.

Of course he also has a scar from his appendectomy surgery (do we claim that?)

I have seen folks claim "CNS demyelination"--and getting a rating on that AND MS both--isn't that pyramiding? (I am not sure what qualifies and what wouldn't). He does indeed have several MRI reports with an extensive demyelination list most in his spine.

He has MRI reports with "cerebral atrophy" (does he claim that too?)

He has a diagnosis of Vit D deficiency--again--does he claim?

what about "ataxia"? He walks with a cane, PT reports claim he should have a walker. He's unable to drive a car.

I want to be as informed as we can since his PCM really isn't. He wants to "punt" him off to the next person who generally has been even more misinformed. It seems they only want to board him for the MS part. I thought it all had to be listed out if it disqualifies him from his duties....which it is! He hasn't been to work in 10 weeks and last time the doc refused limdu altogether. I don't get it.

Any other advice? or recommendation.

I already have all records and documentation (but I know even with documentation ratings don't always come back in the servicemember's favor).

Thank you
MS is a presumptive condition, with a 30% minimum rating. All secondary conditions to MS should be rated.
 
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