LIMDU/possible MEDBOARD

Good Morning All.

I’m in a unique situation right now. I just came off of LIMDU for mental back in January of this year/2023. Reported to my new ship in April. Since I have been there all the same things are happening all over, plus my body is breaking down (especially my back). I am about to start receiving steroid injections for my back. I asked medical if this would constitute for LIMDU and they said yes. I also spoke to my PHYSC on the ship and she said she really wants to help push for LIMDU and not mental health. The reason being is because she would write up a MEDBOARD. This scares me because I’m at 19 years 5 months and I have an approved FLEET RESERVED LETTER!!! this is what makes it harder because I’m approved to get out!! My EAOS is December of 2024 but I just can’t take it anymore. Physically and mentally I am struggling. It seems medical on my ship is on my side but at the same time I really don’t want to MEDBOARD because I don’t want to lose my pension. If they don’t do LIMDU for my back and go the MEBOARD for mental health, what are the chances I would make it through to see my pension? Is that even an option??? Any help, advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
 
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Brazzi said:
Good Morning All.

I’m in a unique situation right now. I just came off of LIMDU for mental back in January of this year/2023. Reported to my new ship in April. Since I have been there all the same things are happening all over, plus my body is breaking down (especially my back). I am about to start receiving steroid injections for my back. I asked medical if this would constitute for LIMDU and they said yes. I also spoke to my PHYSC on the ship and she said she really wants to help push for LIMDU and not mental health. The reason being is because she would write up a MEDBOARD. This scares me because I’m at 19 years 5 months and I have an approved FLEET RESERVED LETTER!!! this is what makes it harder because I’m approved to get out!! My EAOS is December of 2024 but I just can’t take it anymore. Physically and mentally I am struggling. It seems medical on my ship is on my side but at the same time I really don’t want to MEDBOARD because I don’t want to lose my pension. If they don’t do LIMDU for my back and go the MEBOARD for mental health, what are the chances I would make it through to see my pension? Is that even an option??? Any help, advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
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I would beg them to let you stay on and finish since a MEB can easily take longer than 7 months. There are no worries about losing your pension. Read posts on this board and you will find out that you can definitely delay and ensure you hit 20 years. There is no way to lose your pension if you make it to 20 active duty years in regards to a MEB.

There are some advantages of getting a chapter 61 depending on the results but in your case it may take you longer to get out and the upside is minimal compared to those who can't hit their 20 year regular retirement. If you don't mind going past your 20 year retirement date then there isn't a downside to being put in a MEB but for most Soldiers they are eager to get out and seek treatment without the confines of the military telling them what they can or cannot do.

Make sure to save all of your leave for terminal leave and continue to read up here. If put in MEB (IDES) I would let your PEBLO and everyone know how close you are to your 20 year regular retirement as they can take their time if they know you are trying to go as slow as possible.
 
Thank you for taking the time to respond. Yeah, from what I had read and heard the MEB takes a minute. I just can’t get out of my head and stop thinking and stressing about it. I will continue to read on this forum, thanks for that recommendation. What is a chapter 61? Thank you again, I greatly appreciate it.
 
Brazzi said:
Thank you for taking the time to respond. Yeah, from what I had read and heard the MEB takes a minute. I just can’t get out of my head and stop thinking and stressing about it. I will continue to read on this forum, thanks for that recommendation. What is a chapter 61? Thank you again, I greatly appreciate it.
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Chapter 61 is a medical retirement. If you are found unfit you will get the higher of the 2 which is your longevity which in this case would be about 50% or your DOD% which is the % of total disability from your unfitting conditions. Since you would have 20 AFS you would qualify for CRDP so getting a higher DOD% wouldn't help as you would already be maxed out since maximum compensation is capped out at your longevity + VA disability compensation. So retiring with chapter 61 won't normally net you any more compensation compared to a regular retirement with CRDP (Concurrent Receipt of Disability Pay)
 
Provis said:
Chapter 61 is a medical retirement. If you are found unfit you will get the higher of the 2 which is your longevity which in this case would be about 50% or your DOD% which is the % of total disability from your unfitting conditions. Since you would have 20 AFS you would qualify for CRDP so getting a higher DOD% wouldn't help as you would already be maxed out since maximum compensation is capped out at your longevity + VA disability compensation. So retiring with chapter 61 won't normally net you any more compensation compared to a regular retirement with CRDP (Concurrent Receipt of Disability Pay)
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Might as well tell you the exception. If you have a higher DOD% than your earned pension in this case it would be about 50% AND one of your unfitting conditions was designated by the PEB then your net compensation would be higher since your pension would be exempt from federal income taxes. This max net compensation could be be reached from a regular retirement and 100% ratings from CRSC. You can only get one or the other so if you apply and get CRSC then you would choose that over CRDP. Basically when you reach 20 AFS you are in an amazing place financially and the differences between a Chapter 61 retirement and a regular retirement shrink.
 
Provis said:
Might as well tell you the exception. If you have a higher DOD% than your earned pension in this case it would be about 50% AND one of your unfitting conditions was designated by the PEB then your net compensation would be higher since your pension would be exempt from federal income taxes. This max net compensation could be be reached from a regular retirement and 100% ratings from CRSC. You can only get one or the other so if you apply and get CRSC then you would choose that over CRDP. Basically when you reach 20 AFS you are in an amazing place financially and the differences between a Chapter 61 retirement and a regular retirement shrink.
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Damn it all sounds really confusing.
 
Brazzi said:
Damn it all sounds really confusing.
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It is! The main thing to know is that hitting 20 years active duty and qualifying for regular retirement pretty much gets you max compensation. To get higher you would need a lot of things to work out perfectly. For example if you know that your conditions they would refer you to MEB are not combat related then you are maxed out by getting regular retirement + CRDP. For CRDP you only need regular retirement and a VA total rating of 50% or higher.
 
Yeah my conditions are not combatant related. All I can hope for is if it does go the MEB route, then hopefully I can easily hit my 20 years during the process. I just don’t know any these last 19 years and change be for nothing
 
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