Hi! I am in the Army Reserve. I was an OCS Candidate - 09S. I had urgent hip pinning (ORIF) surgery. I am now in the MEB review stage of the process.
Side Note: I added additional comments throughout the timeline just to provide more context as to why this has taken so long to reach MEB Review. And hopefully others can avoid!
Make sure you document and save EVERYTHING! And please, make copies of your paperwork.
My Timeline from Injury to Current:
-02/21/2022: Hip Injury
Major hip injury occurred during training.
Fractured R hip (did not have MRI or diagnosis yet but was in excruciating pain and could barely walk) but was told not to seek care during Army BCT. Also, BSI in knees, shin splints (X-ray showed tibia healing), patellar tendon injury in R knee.
Had to finish the Forge and training, injury worsened. Graduated Army BCT 03/10/2022.
-03/16/2022: Hip Surgery
Urgent Hip Pinning Surgery due to severe femoral neck fracture (hip fracture over 50%) Crutches and no weight bearing.
-Sent home on Convalescent leave for 1 month.
-Returned to OCS HHC Fort Benning barracks mid April.
-05/2022: Medical Dismissal & DD220
Medically dismissed from OCS and sent home (Had to return to Reserve unit)
Usually they assess you over 6 months (especially for hip surgery- I’ve talked to others with similar procedure) to see how physical therapy goes and to see if pain, ROM, physical limitations increase or decrease. Mine greatly increased negatively. Also occurrence of mental health conditions secondary to physical conditions during the 6 month post-op period.
09/2022: Army Ortho Referral
Referred for Medical Board review by Army Orthopedic Surgeon 6 months post-surgery with clinical notes, in short, stating NO return to any military training or military school. Soldier is unable to perform duties due to physical injuries. Referral for medical board review.
-11/02/2022: Initial Case Reviewer
Received Case Reviewer through AR-MMC.
I had a brand new case reviewer. My Army Surgeon submitted clinical notes specifically referring me for a medical board initiation. Case reviewer did not realize that is all that is needed to go to next step. A military specialty provider cannot put in a P3 profile for Reservists, I believe they can for Active Duty soldiers. Only civilian providers can submit the permanent profile request. Anyways, I resubmitted my Army Ortho’s notes, medical info release forms, clinical documentation, profiles, medical exam documentation, and permanent profile request packets from civilian physicians.
From end of March 2022 to early February 2023 I was on extended profile.
-02/06/2023:
Permanent Profile approved!
-02/06/2023:
Transitioned to the next stage in case management due to permanent profile (P3). Condition met the Medical Retention Determination Point (MRDP).
The AR-MMC prepared the case for processing in the Disability Evaluation System (DES).
-02/07/2023:
Received a Nurse Case Manager with experience. Very helpful! Told me that my initial reviewer was brand new and should’ve have had my packet sent months ago.
Put in place other condition profiles & documentation as well. Sent everything relevant.
-02/07/2023:
Forms sent to CDR and Unit POC.
ALCON ——— has a medical condition that requires evaluation in accordance with the provisions of AR 40-501, Chapter 3.The AR-MMC will prepare the case file for processing in the Disability Evaluation System (DES).
-03/09/2023:
Deadline for IDES MEB paperwork to be sent through AR-MMC.
This was like pulling teeth.
-03/28/2023:
IDRM approved.
(I have a DD220 from my OCS Medical Dismissal, not a DD214.) However, my “active duty training period” was greater than 90 days. Just FYI.
-04/03/2023:
MEBTO Form received, completed, and sent back to go along with MEB packet.
-04/22/2023:
IDES, Counseling, CDR Statement Forms signed and received from my Unit CDR and Unit POC.
Sent to Nurse Case Manager same day.
-04/25/2023:
Packet sent to MEB for review!
-4-6 Weeks:
Waiting on PEBLO contact. 4-6 weeks approximately.
Side Note: I added additional comments throughout the timeline just to provide more context as to why this has taken so long to reach MEB Review. And hopefully others can avoid!
Make sure you document and save EVERYTHING! And please, make copies of your paperwork.
My Timeline from Injury to Current:
-02/21/2022: Hip Injury
Major hip injury occurred during training.
Fractured R hip (did not have MRI or diagnosis yet but was in excruciating pain and could barely walk) but was told not to seek care during Army BCT. Also, BSI in knees, shin splints (X-ray showed tibia healing), patellar tendon injury in R knee.
Had to finish the Forge and training, injury worsened. Graduated Army BCT 03/10/2022.
-03/16/2022: Hip Surgery
Urgent Hip Pinning Surgery due to severe femoral neck fracture (hip fracture over 50%) Crutches and no weight bearing.
-Sent home on Convalescent leave for 1 month.
-Returned to OCS HHC Fort Benning barracks mid April.
-05/2022: Medical Dismissal & DD220
Medically dismissed from OCS and sent home (Had to return to Reserve unit)
Usually they assess you over 6 months (especially for hip surgery- I’ve talked to others with similar procedure) to see how physical therapy goes and to see if pain, ROM, physical limitations increase or decrease. Mine greatly increased negatively. Also occurrence of mental health conditions secondary to physical conditions during the 6 month post-op period.
09/2022: Army Ortho Referral
Referred for Medical Board review by Army Orthopedic Surgeon 6 months post-surgery with clinical notes, in short, stating NO return to any military training or military school. Soldier is unable to perform duties due to physical injuries. Referral for medical board review.
-11/02/2022: Initial Case Reviewer
Received Case Reviewer through AR-MMC.
I had a brand new case reviewer. My Army Surgeon submitted clinical notes specifically referring me for a medical board initiation. Case reviewer did not realize that is all that is needed to go to next step. A military specialty provider cannot put in a P3 profile for Reservists, I believe they can for Active Duty soldiers. Only civilian providers can submit the permanent profile request. Anyways, I resubmitted my Army Ortho’s notes, medical info release forms, clinical documentation, profiles, medical exam documentation, and permanent profile request packets from civilian physicians.
From end of March 2022 to early February 2023 I was on extended profile.
-02/06/2023:
Permanent Profile approved!
-02/06/2023:
Transitioned to the next stage in case management due to permanent profile (P3). Condition met the Medical Retention Determination Point (MRDP).
The AR-MMC prepared the case for processing in the Disability Evaluation System (DES).
-02/07/2023:
Received a Nurse Case Manager with experience. Very helpful! Told me that my initial reviewer was brand new and should’ve have had my packet sent months ago.
Put in place other condition profiles & documentation as well. Sent everything relevant.
-02/07/2023:
Forms sent to CDR and Unit POC.
ALCON ——— has a medical condition that requires evaluation in accordance with the provisions of AR 40-501, Chapter 3.The AR-MMC will prepare the case file for processing in the Disability Evaluation System (DES).
-03/09/2023:
Deadline for IDES MEB paperwork to be sent through AR-MMC.
This was like pulling teeth.
-03/28/2023:
IDRM approved.
(I have a DD220 from my OCS Medical Dismissal, not a DD214.) However, my “active duty training period” was greater than 90 days. Just FYI.
-04/03/2023:
MEBTO Form received, completed, and sent back to go along with MEB packet.
-04/22/2023:
IDES, Counseling, CDR Statement Forms signed and received from my Unit CDR and Unit POC.
Sent to Nurse Case Manager same day.
-04/25/2023:
Packet sent to MEB for review!
-4-6 Weeks:
Waiting on PEBLO contact. 4-6 weeks approximately.
