Advice: Waiver of MEB or held beyond ETS

I am 12 years active duty Air Force and am in some need of guidance. I have sought treatment off and on since 2012 for lower back pain. It was treated conservatively with meds and physical therapy for years. In 2016 I started to have pain in my leg and foot and was sent to a chiropractor. After over a year of chiropractor visits and not seeing improvement I asked for an MRI and imaging. Once I got the MRI completed it was discovered that I had stenosis in my lumbar region. I have a desk job so physical limitations are not really an issue for my AFSC. That being said I have been on a mobility restriction for about three years. My case was never sent past the DAWG due to me actively seeking treatment.

After the MRI was completed they sent me for injections and pain management. Ultimately they recommended that I try a surgical solutions. I PCS’d in the middle of my treatment and sought assistance at my new duty location. The location I’m at doesn’t have the same resources as a larger base so I was referred off base to a neurosurgeon. She recommended that I have bilateral disectomy with foraminomity on my L5-S1 and L4-L5. I was apprehensive on surgery an elected to not schedule in the hopes things would improve.

About two months after that everything went terribly sideways. I was unable to walk about 10 feet or so and was in terrible pain. Something had to give so I had my co-worker take me to the doctor to schedule the surgery. The surgery was not successful entirely but I was able to walk again without assistance.

During this entire process of years of treatment I have had fitness failures and have been unable to promote for the last three years. Due to administrative actions that ensued as second and third order effects.

At a follow up appointment with my neurosurgeon I was still having terrible pain in my left and right leg and in my right foot. She requested to redo the L5-S1 procedure based off of the imaging. My first surgery was completed in December 2018 and the second was in April 2019. My recovery from the second surgery was long and I am far from symptom free.

At the time all this was happening I was given notification of an administrate separation, for fitness failures. Since I am an NCO it would have to be an admin separation board case and because it was fitness related it would have been an honorable separation. Needless to say I was upset that this was the route that was taken, but everything is a process. I asked my PCM about an MEB because this entire process felt wrong. He told me that I was still in my recovery window and I was going to have to follow up with the VA when I am separated.

As a result of the failed surgery and admin actions I sought treatment from Behavioral Health. I just felt like I couldn’t get anything right and I was about to lose my career and I had no control. Regardless, I fought the administrative separation and the wing commander agreed with my assessment of my medical problems and recommended that I be retained. I provided my entire medical treatment record and nearly a 20 page response regarding my treatment. All this transpired around June 2019.

In November 2019, I went to a follow a appointment with my PCM to update him on my status with the neurosurgeon and told him that they recommended a fusion or using a spinal cord stimulator. I did my homework and decided I did not want to do either procedure and I was just going to separate at the end of my contract. I have been un-deployable for years and it didn’t seem like I was going to be progressing further professionally. There were other factors but that was the gist of it. My PCM said he understood and that he wished me luck in the future.

I requested my ETS separation through AFPC and got my orders. I was out processing and I was not cleared by medical and asked to either waive my MEB or be held past my ETS to have it completed. This whole thing has been frustrating to say the least and part of me just wanted to throw my hand up and say the hell with it.... However, I am not sure if that’s what is best for me given the situation. My leadership is 100% supportive of me whatever I decide but I am kit sure if all the waiting would be worth it or not.

Sorry for the long post but any advice anyone has would be most graciously received.

TRICARE would be one of the primary benefits if you were medically retired with a DoD rating of 30% or more.

I've had four cardiac pacemakers and treatments for cancer since I retired. TRICARE paid a substantial portion of the cost.

Ron

For the possibility of getting Tricare alone I say to take the MEB you would also be receiving VA pay out the gate as well that will ease the transition. Let me tell you something that shocked me when I became a civilian and that is the cost of civilian health insurance, prescriptions et cetera it's CRAZY! Insurance easily looking at 300-800 a month depending if you are married or have a family, and they have deductable caps before they pay a penny (usually 80/20 or 70/30) at outrageous numbers like 5k or 10k. Prescriptions? Insane prices that the insurance will only pay when it comes from a specialist $$$ and not from a PA or NP. Of course you will have VA care but their quality of care differs from hospital to hospital some really good some really bad many of them have unacceptable wait times. The Tricare benefit is a very good entitlement that I don't think you should waive you never know how your health could change down the road.

That makes a lot of sense to me. Prior to joining the Air Force I worked in the civilian world and i agree, even a chance at medical benefits would be worth waiting for. I appreciate the insight from both of you. I am certain that I am only a bit bitter because I had plans set in motion job/school. Although I have been around long enough to know that sometimes the government doesn’t move quickly but a little inconvenience now could result in big dividends later.

Hello Redhat, I hope you decide to MEB and see the benefits you have earned ease your transition into whatever future you decide. I can imagine you will your uncontrollable and inconvenient days with pain that have a tendency to delay plans, in my experience. I would suggest making a strong and consistent MEB argument for yourself. The process has its bureaucracy, but hopefully you will have a positive experience. I never trust the system, but see it all the way. The VA will be your next challenge for sure. Keep a copy of all you do/send. Chances are, you will be sending it again and again. Expect it. It will save you the frustration if you are aware of their Red tape process. See it all the way thru. Do your homework. Utilize your resources. Where there may be 10 people who won’t help you, you may only need that one. I wish you success.