Potential MEB and looking for advice.

DK80

New Member
Registered Member
I’m a CW2 with 11 years in active duty Army. I'm finally being seen for some issues I have had for years. I was brought up in the Army to only see the doc if I was dying essentially. So I sucked it up and continued to progress throughout my career and it all is finally catching up to me.

Back/Neck Pain. I have had issues with back pain (stiffness and pressure) since 2015 and has become more of an issue. Currently going to physical therapy for it. It has been determined it is a muscular issue.

Wrist pain- I injured myself in SERE back in 2016. We were navigating through the night on our final evasion and I fell. I did know I hurt it but didn't know how bad it was. I decided to continue so I would not have to repeat SERE as a day 0. I saw the doctor at Rucker and all they did was send me to the chiropractor and one visit to PT and I continued flight training. The Issue only got worse throughout my career and I was unable to take care of it at my last unit due to TDY’s, CTC rotations and back to back deployments to eucom. I have limited range of motion, pain and my hand randomly tingles sometimes for a few minutes or times it happens for a few hours. MRI shows a TFCC tear and other ligaments are torn.

Shoulder pain. I tore my shoulder at a CTC rotation at JMRC while deployed in EUCOM in 2019. I was able to get an eval with PT at Fort Riley but was unable to keep up with the treatment due to constantly being TDY/deployed. MRI shows there is scar tissue and arthritis.

Knee pain. My knees hurt standing, sitting, walking, running. X Rays show I have Tri Compartment degenerative changes, Chronic fragmentation of the tibial tuberosity in keeping with old Osgood-Schlatter. MRI’s have shown nothing is wrong with ligaments

I have been referred to orthopedics and Im currently waiting to see a hand surgeon to see if surgery is the best option.

My PA has yet to update my profile and I'm only on a permanent profile for running. I understand the PA is busy but it has been a month now. I don't know if he is waiting for a MEB referral from orthopedics before he puts me on a P3 profile or he is just swamped with work? Should I keep putting pressure on the PA to update my profile? If I deny surgery will that impact the MEB in a negative way? If I go through the MEB what kind of percentages could I be looking at? Would I be able to continue to get tricare for my family? The amount of anxiety just thinking about this is overwhelming. Thank you for any advice you guys provide.
 
I’m a CW2 with 11 years in active duty Army. I'm finally being seen for some issues I have had for years. I was brought up in the Army to only see the doc if I was dying essentially. So I sucked it up and continued to progress throughout my career and it all is finally catching up to me.

Back/Neck Pain. I have had issues with back pain (stiffness and pressure) since 2015 and has become more of an issue. Currently going to physical therapy for it. It has been determined it is a muscular issue.

Wrist pain- I injured myself in SERE back in 2016. We were navigating through the night on our final evasion and I fell. I did know I hurt it but didn't know how bad it was. I decided to continue so I would not have to repeat SERE as a day 0. I saw the doctor at Rucker and all they did was send me to the chiropractor and one visit to PT and I continued flight training. The Issue only got worse throughout my career and I was unable to take care of it at my last unit due to TDY’s, CTC rotations and back to back deployments to eucom. I have limited range of motion, pain and my hand randomly tingles sometimes for a few minutes or times it happens for a few hours. MRI shows a TFCC tear and other ligaments are torn.

Shoulder pain. I tore my shoulder at a CTC rotation at JMRC while deployed in EUCOM in 2019. I was able to get an eval with PT at Fort Riley but was unable to keep up with the treatment due to constantly being TDY/deployed. MRI shows there is scar tissue and arthritis.

Knee pain. My knees hurt standing, sitting, walking, running. X Rays show I have Tri Compartment degenerative changes, Chronic fragmentation of the tibial tuberosity in keeping with old Osgood-Schlatter. MRI’s have shown nothing is wrong with ligaments

I have been referred to orthopedics and Im currently waiting to see a hand surgeon to see if surgery is the best option.

My PA has yet to update my profile and I'm only on a permanent profile for running. I understand the PA is busy but it has been a month now. I don't know if he is waiting for a MEB referral from orthopedics before he puts me on a P3 profile or he is just swamped with work? Should I keep putting pressure on the PA to update my profile? If I deny surgery will that impact the MEB in a negative way? If I go through the MEB what kind of percentages could I be looking at? Would I be able to continue to get tricare for my family? The amount of anxiety just thinking about this is overwhelming. Thank you for any advice you guys provide.
I would just push for a profile that reflects your limitations and not push the MEB just yet. As for surgery that may be the next step. If you get put in a MEB they won't allow you to get surgery unless is life or death. They don't want your condition changing during the process. So they will have you do surgery and PT to see if that gets you off profile or they will put you in MEB eventually. Focus on getting profile that is accurate to your duty limitations and tread lightly pushing for MEB. Its best if that is your docs idea. If you want to know about that option phrase it like this "Doc what is the next course of treatment? At what point am I at the MRDP? I am doing my best to recover and get off profile but none of my treatments are working. At what point do we throw in the towel and put me in a MEB?
 
Do not trust your doc. Treat everyone as the enemy. They are not your friends. Try stay hell away from MEB as long as possible. Copy every record. Consult a civilian doc about your issues, they are impartial. Military docs primary job is keep yer ass mobile ready or get yer ass out so you not a negative to unit. Research everything. It goes meb, make sure you know all your rights! Treat it like you need a lawyer at every step and as they say cover yer ass! Know your rights. Get in those DODm and regs you gotta turn yourself into a med administration troop and Military lawyer.
 
I would just push for a profile that reflects your limitations and not push the MEB just yet. As for surgery that may be the next step. If you get put in a MEB they won't allow you to get surgery unless is life or death. They don't want your condition changing during the process. So they will have you do surgery and PT to see if that gets you off profile or they will put you in MEB eventually. Focus on getting profile that is accurate to your duty limitations and tread lightly pushing for MEB. Its best if that is your docs idea. If you want to know about that option phrase it like this "Doc what is the next course of treatment? At what point am I at the MRDP? I am doing my best to recover and get off profile but none of my treatments are working. At what point do we throw in the towel and put me in a MEB?
 
I would just push for a profile that reflects your limitations and not push the MEB just yet. As for surgery that may be the next step. If you get put in a MEB they won't allow you to get surgery unless is life or death. They don't want your condition changing during the process. So they will have you do surgery and PT to see if that gets you off profile or they will put you in MEB eventually. Focus on getting profile that is accurate to your duty limitations and tread lightly pushing for MEB. Its best if that is your docs idea. If you want to know about that option phrase it like this "Doc what is the next course of treatment? At what point am I at the MRDP? I am doing my best to recover and get off profile but none of my treatments are working. At what point do we throw in the towel and put me in a MEB?
I will keep pushing for my updated Profile. I would not say I'm pushing for a MEB (and I hope it my post did come off like that)it was a topic of conversation in regards to courses of action with my DOC and orthopedics. I'm just trying to gather information so if it does happen I can plan.
 
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