Referred to MEB, but need hip surgery

justamarty

Well-Known Member
PEB Forum Veteran
Registered Member
Hi,

I recently went to the MAR2 and was referred to the MEB by my State Surgeon. I'm 70 VA, rating with back, knee, hip, BH, and wrist pain. I happen to be a title 32 tech, so there's a whole other side to my situation. However, I'm considering having hip surgery sooner rather than later after talking to numerous vets that had it and are doing MUCH better. That said, I haven't officially started the MEB. Just wondering what happens if I say yes to hip surgery? They're about 8 months out for scheduling that if I say go. My understanding is the MEB takes 12-18 months at present. For quality of life, I think I should get the surgery, as Ortho told me I'm a little young, but they would do the surgery based if I decided I wanted it now. Anyone experienced this? Currently, my hip rating is only 10 percent, but it's gotten worse since I filed 2 years ago, especially as far as mobility. I have some pain, but I'm used to it.

My thinking is to take care of myself before I lose my tech job bc I get disqualified through the MEB. I have 300+ hours of sick time. Just wondering if getting the surgery may somehow get me kicked out of the MEB process. I know it will probably delay my discharge some, but I really don't want to wait until I get discharged and then have to worry about taking time off from a new job to get the surgery.

I appreciate any insight. I'm not really worried about ratings that much. I have 20 good years in the Guard and enough points that I'll get 30 percent of my high 3 anyway. If my ratings get me more or early Tricare, that would be good. Just wondering if anyone has gotten surgery while in the process....I imagine it resets what is considered an end point of recovery. I'll be perfectly happy if my hip is minimal pain or pain free afterwards, even if I don't get anything for it. Doubt I'll be lucky enough to get rid of my back pain and other issues....

Thanks for any input.
 
Hi,

I recently went to the MAR2 and was referred to the MEB by my State Surgeon. I'm 70 VA, rating with back, knee, hip, BH, and wrist pain. I happen to be a title 32 tech, so there's a whole other side to my situation. However, I'm considering having hip surgery sooner rather than later after talking to numerous vets that had it and are doing MUCH better. That said, I haven't officially started the MEB. Just wondering what happens if I say yes to hip surgery? They're about 8 months out for scheduling that if I say go. My understanding is the MEB takes 12-18 months at present. For quality of life, I think I should get the surgery, as Ortho told me I'm a little young, but they would do the surgery based if I decided I wanted it now. Anyone experienced this? Currently, my hip rating is only 10 percent, but it's gotten worse since I filed 2 years ago, especially as far as mobility. I have some pain, but I'm used to it.

My thinking is to take care of myself before I lose my tech job bc I get disqualified through the MEB. I have 300+ hours of sick time. Just wondering if getting the surgery may somehow get me kicked out of the MEB process. I know it will probably delay my discharge some, but I really don't want to wait until I get discharged and then have to worry about taking time off from a new job to get the surgery.

I appreciate any insight. I'm not really worried about ratings that much. I have 20 good years in the Guard and enough points that I'll get 30 percent of my high 3 anyway. If my ratings get me more or early Tricare, that would be good. Just wondering if anyone has gotten surgery while in the process....I imagine it resets what is considered an end point of recovery. I'll be perfectly happy if my hip is minimal pain or pain free afterwards, even if I don't get anything for it. Doubt I'll be lucky enough to get rid of my back pain and other issues....

Thanks for any input.
Surgery in itself shouldn't get you MEB'd. If you can do your job afterwards you should be fine. If not then you could be MEB'd and be kicked out the Guard and lose your MilT-ech job. However, if that happens you should qualify for disability for your federal job. Since you have 20 good years I would get the surgery if it will help your quality of life. You have little to risk and a lot to gain if the surgery will help you long-term.

@Jmc81 @Guardguy11 Any thoughts on this?
 
Thanks. I'm already on my way to the MEB though...my packet will be ready in the next month. I was MAR2'd (and recommended for MEB). My hip isn't my only disqualifying condition. I imagine that post-surgery it's possible that I would be able to do my job in that regard, but I'd still be dq'd for back and BH. Trying to figure out if there's any reason I can have a surgery while in the MEB, since there's obviously a potentially lengthy recovery period in there before I reach a medical endpoint afterward.
 
If the surgery is medically necessary you will be fine to proceed.
 
If the surgery is medically necessary you will be fine to proceed.
agree with Chaplain Charlie. If its considered an elective procedure they won't allow you to have it during a MEB. They need your conditions to be stable enough to make a proper determination.
 
Agree with all above. Your quality of life is way more important than what the government needs from you via employment. Start from that perspective. Below I will put a couple informative nuggets that you can chew on that will hopefully help you understand the process a bit.

- The deploy or get out DOD edict started by Mattis created a timeline that you have 365 days to get repaired for you are "forced" into an MEB.
- The 365 timer doesn't start until you go on a (air Force) profile AF469. There are two boxes on that form, code 31 and code 37
- Code 31 means you are broken, but your course of treatment should make you deployable again within 365 days
- Code 37 bypasses the 365 timer because your medical team says that your condition is not fixable within 365 days and begins the whole Pre-IDES process

I say all that to say if you are not on a profile at the moment, you are golden IF you want to stay in as a mil-tech. Schedule your surgery, they will code 31 once the surgery happens and if you are fortunate enough to get fixed, profile goes away and you are good. If not, you can cross that bridge when you get there.

I also didn't see anything about LODs or mil status with this injury but that is a whole separate conversation if you want to dive down that rabbit hole.

Godspeed.
 
Had both hips and a knee replaced on Active Guard. Ended up getting a MEB. it took about a year and a half counting recovery time before being put on TDRL. ended up with 75% from service and 100% from VA. I was young being 47 when it happened but
it improved quality of life! Talk about option and type of replacement with your doctor!
 
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