Hello everyone,
I am looking for some insight on my timeline, potential board track, and financial calculations as my unit begins the medical retirement process. I am a traditional M-Day Guard member (E-6/SSG) currently serving in an Airfield Management Element / Aviation Operations Battalion (15P).
My Readiness NCO just uploaded my complete VA packet into MEDCMD, and my case is being routed to a Guard physician to initiate an SMRB packet, with the explicit command intent to move me toward a medical board. I am hearing that this may route through an Active Duty (Component 1) MEB rather than a traditional state Guard board due to upcoming deployment tracking.
Here is my pertinent, non-sensitive data:
I am looking for some insight on my timeline, potential board track, and financial calculations as my unit begins the medical retirement process. I am a traditional M-Day Guard member (E-6/SSG) currently serving in an Airfield Management Element / Aviation Operations Battalion (15P).
My Readiness NCO just uploaded my complete VA packet into MEDCMD, and my case is being routed to a Guard physician to initiate an SMRB packet, with the explicit command intent to move me toward a medical board. I am hearing that this may route through an Active Duty (Component 1) MEB rather than a traditional state Guard board due to upcoming deployment tracking.
Here is my pertinent, non-sensitive data:
- PEBD: September 24, 2008 (Approaching my 18-year Sanctuary mark on September 24, 2026).
- BASD / Split Time: Continuous Active Duty from September 2008 to October 2015 (7 years). Traditional National Guard from October 2015 to Present.
- Rank/TIG: Promoted to SSG (E-6) in August 2025.
- Combat Service: 18 months total boots-on-the-ground combat deployments (Operation Enduring Freedom).
- Current VA Rating: 100% P&T (Recently upgraded from 60%).
- 50% – Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (documented memory gaps, difficulty understanding complex commands)
- 50% – Prostrating Migraines (very frequent, prolonged attacks requiring dark isolation; currently prescribed Propranolol)
- 20% / 20% – Bilateral Psychogenic Upper Extremity Tremors (classified by VA as mild incomplete paralysis during stress/fatigue flare-ups)
- 30% / 30% – Bilateral Knee Tendonitis / Tendonosis (severe permanent limitation of extension measured at 20–29 degrees)
- 20% – Bilateral Pes Planus with Plantar Fasciitis
- Other minor 10% residuals (GERD, Rhinitis, Ankle sprain, Tinnitus)
- My command team is highly supportive and has explicitly stated in writing that I am restricted from weapons range and physical fitness testing for our upcoming August cycle while this cooks. They handed me an Army Fitness Test Functional Capabilities Questionnaire (AFT FCQ) alongside knee and arm questionnaires for my PCP to fill out.
- My VA PCP just balked at signing the functional capacity forms, stating they lack the testing equipment and are routing me back to Physical Therapy and Neurology instead. I am planning to use my TRICARE Reserve Select insurance starting this week to bypass the VA runaround and get these forms signed by a civilian PT clinic I used previously.
- Given that my 100% VA rating is finalized but the underlying C&P exams are over a year old, if this moves on the fast-track Legacy (LDES) path, am I highly likely to be forced into new DoD-specific exams, or should I elect IDES "for DoD purposes only" to freeze the VA out of re-examining my current 100% P&T check?
- With less than 4 months to my 18-year sanctuary mark, how much leverage do I have to delay the process via Independent Medical Reviews (IMR) if an active-duty board tries to push a fast separation before September 24th?