Occasional lurker, first time poster here. I am active-duty Security Forces with a rare type of Keratosis and a bit over 7 years TIS. Hoping to stay in and retrain. Currently stationed in Italy.
My condition has flare-ups that, when unchecked, cause dry eyes and extreme loss of visual acuity. Secondary effects from my eyes going from 20/15 to whatever the-blades-of-grass-are-out-of-focus is, are nausea, headaches, light sensitivity, eye strain. It is not correctable by lenses and so far, has only been able to be treated with prednisolone eye drops, which have been doing wonders ever since I started taking it daily a few months ago.
Beginning of Sep 2023 - It is decided that my condition disqualifies me from performing my full SF duties and my Optometrist starts working on the NARSUM.
08 Sep 2023 - Condition goes to IRILO
15 Sep 2023 - CIS signed and submitted
27 Sep 2023 - AFPC determined my case requires a full MEB
02 Oct 2023 - Elected to stay with IDES
17 Oct 2023 - IDES initial brief completed with VA MSC
18 Oct 2023 - 526ez and other forms completed and submitted to VA
16 Nov-18 Dec - VES exams. One of which required a two-day trip to Pisa. (still waiting on reimbursement lol)
15 Dec 2023 - TAP completed
12 Jan 2024 - PEBLO provides VES exam results and requests a copy of the 526ez that I previously completed with VA
18 Jan 2024 - Received a strangely worded email from the MSC "Requested exams. PEBLO notified of exam requests. Provided List of Requested Exams to PEBLO. Waiting for exam results."
22 Jan 2024 - MEB refers case to IPEB, as expected.
02 Feb 2024 - IPEB found me unfit, and concurred with VA rating of 0%. Rating came as a shock and insult to myself, PEBLO, and, later, my ODC rep.
05 Feb 2024 - Talked with ODC who helped me realized that it looks like my 526 and exam results weren't included in the evidence for the VA's decision.
07 Feb 2024 - Turns out VA had a note in my case/file/whatnot that no 526 was submitted by member (hogwash). Evidence of 526 being submitted in Oct is forwarded.
08 Feb 2024 - AF Form 1180 is submitted requesting an FPEB. Email received the same evening with FPEB scheduled for 08 MARCH.
CAO 14 Feb - Working on getting Doctors' endorsements on the stability of my condition and ability to deploy.
Additional notes:
1. Absolutely bonkers that the VA would take my 526, schedule exam results around it, then turn around and say I didn't submit one. THEN. Send my PEBLO the exam results and then not use them to support my rating decision.
2. The main thing holding me back (it seems) is my steroid drops and the general recommended frequency of care to check for pressure build up. The drops have kept my condition stable since we started using them every day and not just for treating flare-ups, so my optometrist and the Pisa doc (who happens to be a navy vet and cornea expert who knows everything about my condition) considering me stable as long as my treatment stays the same. Hopefully my Optometrist and PCM can agree that my check-ups can wait in the rare case of a deployment to an austere location.
3. Was the first time hearing it from the ODC, but it doesn't really make sense that the IPEB won't consider the possibility of retraining but then you can argue it in front of the FPEB. I have the full support of my unit and, tentatively, of my Optometrist. So fingers crossed.
4. If RTD to retrain doesn't work out, we'll be contesting the VA findings. With all the evidence 40-60% from just my eyes should be on the table.
My condition has flare-ups that, when unchecked, cause dry eyes and extreme loss of visual acuity. Secondary effects from my eyes going from 20/15 to whatever the-blades-of-grass-are-out-of-focus is, are nausea, headaches, light sensitivity, eye strain. It is not correctable by lenses and so far, has only been able to be treated with prednisolone eye drops, which have been doing wonders ever since I started taking it daily a few months ago.
Beginning of Sep 2023 - It is decided that my condition disqualifies me from performing my full SF duties and my Optometrist starts working on the NARSUM.
08 Sep 2023 - Condition goes to IRILO
15 Sep 2023 - CIS signed and submitted
27 Sep 2023 - AFPC determined my case requires a full MEB
02 Oct 2023 - Elected to stay with IDES
17 Oct 2023 - IDES initial brief completed with VA MSC
18 Oct 2023 - 526ez and other forms completed and submitted to VA
16 Nov-18 Dec - VES exams. One of which required a two-day trip to Pisa. (still waiting on reimbursement lol)
15 Dec 2023 - TAP completed
12 Jan 2024 - PEBLO provides VES exam results and requests a copy of the 526ez that I previously completed with VA
18 Jan 2024 - Received a strangely worded email from the MSC "Requested exams. PEBLO notified of exam requests. Provided List of Requested Exams to PEBLO. Waiting for exam results."
22 Jan 2024 - MEB refers case to IPEB, as expected.
02 Feb 2024 - IPEB found me unfit, and concurred with VA rating of 0%. Rating came as a shock and insult to myself, PEBLO, and, later, my ODC rep.
05 Feb 2024 - Talked with ODC who helped me realized that it looks like my 526 and exam results weren't included in the evidence for the VA's decision.
07 Feb 2024 - Turns out VA had a note in my case/file/whatnot that no 526 was submitted by member (hogwash). Evidence of 526 being submitted in Oct is forwarded.
08 Feb 2024 - AF Form 1180 is submitted requesting an FPEB. Email received the same evening with FPEB scheduled for 08 MARCH.
CAO 14 Feb - Working on getting Doctors' endorsements on the stability of my condition and ability to deploy.
Additional notes:
1. Absolutely bonkers that the VA would take my 526, schedule exam results around it, then turn around and say I didn't submit one. THEN. Send my PEBLO the exam results and then not use them to support my rating decision.
2. The main thing holding me back (it seems) is my steroid drops and the general recommended frequency of care to check for pressure build up. The drops have kept my condition stable since we started using them every day and not just for treating flare-ups, so my optometrist and the Pisa doc (who happens to be a navy vet and cornea expert who knows everything about my condition) considering me stable as long as my treatment stays the same. Hopefully my Optometrist and PCM can agree that my check-ups can wait in the rare case of a deployment to an austere location.
3. Was the first time hearing it from the ODC, but it doesn't really make sense that the IPEB won't consider the possibility of retraining but then you can argue it in front of the FPEB. I have the full support of my unit and, tentatively, of my Optometrist. So fingers crossed.
4. If RTD to retrain doesn't work out, we'll be contesting the VA findings. With all the evidence 40-60% from just my eyes should be on the table.
