Was afraid to post my own situation since I have been pretty much dealing with it by myself for a few years now, but a DAV representative I've recently connected to suggested I should to get more help.
Basically I was diagnosed with severe Crohn's Disease while active duty (Air Force) on July 28th, 2014 with a colonoscopy and explicit documentation of related symptoms...inflammation of the entire colon, passing significant blood into the toilet, a 17cm ulcer found in the intestines, excruciating stomach pain, 25 lbs weight loss, just to name a few....However, after going through the entire MEB/IDES process (appeals included), I was given a 0% rating from both the Air Force as well as the VA (from the evaluation at McClellan Hospital in California) and discharged with severance pay.
I tried to fight the case as hard and long as I could during active duty but failed at every encounter. I tried to give it one last shot with NEW and updated evidence explaining the severity of my condition on June 2nd, 2016, a month before my date of separation and formal closing of the IDES. I submitted this evidence with a "VA One Time Reconsideration Form" to which the VA Rep (at that time) said the IDES would be forced to acknowledge before closing it out since I was still technically active duty, and I'm allowed to submit one once during the IDES. The rep actually uploaded it into my IDES file herself through her access to my e-benefits with an annotation forcing the VRO to acknowledge it before closing on my date of separation.
However, after my separation from active duty on July 28th, 2016 I received the VA letter in the mail re-affirming the 0% given, saying that no evidence had been submitted to consider a higher rating. Oddly enough, the new evidence submitted in June was listed under supporting documents. Since then, I have been trying to get any type of help from the government agencies around me (I am currently in Okinawa Japan and am stuck here). The new VA rep appointed will not help me, the attorney's office on base said that can't help me since they are technically "pro government" and will always be on the DOD's side, and even my old PEBLO's office said it's too late to do anything, along with others saying the same. The American Legion here will not respond to me. As of December 2017, I have been rated 30% for Crohn's but don't see the money until my severance gets repaid, so it essentially does nothing.
Because of the rapid pace of which I was forced to separate, I jumped into the first job I could which is why I'm still stuck in Okinawa. I literally can't afford to leave. This job just barely pays the bills and many times I can't even afford my medication which is dangerous in itself, so buy no stretch of the imagination can I afford a lawyer. As much Mr. Jason Perry sounds wonderfully helpful, I can't afford him, so this post is my next best thing.
Do I have a strong enough case to submit this DD Form 149 to the Board of Military Corrections? Everyone person I talked to within reach said I don't have a shot and that it's too late and I read somewhere that you can only do this once? I apologize if I am ignorant on any related subjects as I have been trying to deal with this alone for little while now.
Basically I was diagnosed with severe Crohn's Disease while active duty (Air Force) on July 28th, 2014 with a colonoscopy and explicit documentation of related symptoms...inflammation of the entire colon, passing significant blood into the toilet, a 17cm ulcer found in the intestines, excruciating stomach pain, 25 lbs weight loss, just to name a few....However, after going through the entire MEB/IDES process (appeals included), I was given a 0% rating from both the Air Force as well as the VA (from the evaluation at McClellan Hospital in California) and discharged with severance pay.
I tried to fight the case as hard and long as I could during active duty but failed at every encounter. I tried to give it one last shot with NEW and updated evidence explaining the severity of my condition on June 2nd, 2016, a month before my date of separation and formal closing of the IDES. I submitted this evidence with a "VA One Time Reconsideration Form" to which the VA Rep (at that time) said the IDES would be forced to acknowledge before closing it out since I was still technically active duty, and I'm allowed to submit one once during the IDES. The rep actually uploaded it into my IDES file herself through her access to my e-benefits with an annotation forcing the VRO to acknowledge it before closing on my date of separation.
However, after my separation from active duty on July 28th, 2016 I received the VA letter in the mail re-affirming the 0% given, saying that no evidence had been submitted to consider a higher rating. Oddly enough, the new evidence submitted in June was listed under supporting documents. Since then, I have been trying to get any type of help from the government agencies around me (I am currently in Okinawa Japan and am stuck here). The new VA rep appointed will not help me, the attorney's office on base said that can't help me since they are technically "pro government" and will always be on the DOD's side, and even my old PEBLO's office said it's too late to do anything, along with others saying the same. The American Legion here will not respond to me. As of December 2017, I have been rated 30% for Crohn's but don't see the money until my severance gets repaid, so it essentially does nothing.
Because of the rapid pace of which I was forced to separate, I jumped into the first job I could which is why I'm still stuck in Okinawa. I literally can't afford to leave. This job just barely pays the bills and many times I can't even afford my medication which is dangerous in itself, so buy no stretch of the imagination can I afford a lawyer. As much Mr. Jason Perry sounds wonderfully helpful, I can't afford him, so this post is my next best thing.
Do I have a strong enough case to submit this DD Form 149 to the Board of Military Corrections? Everyone person I talked to within reach said I don't have a shot and that it's too late and I read somewhere that you can only do this once? I apologize if I am ignorant on any related subjects as I have been trying to deal with this alone for little while now.