Greetings.
I just went through my IDES process and got my Army and VA Ratings. I am mostly OK with the Ratings, but I feel I was not treated fairly by the Army, when defining the origin of my back injuries. The Army says these are not Combat-Related. When I went through the Medical Board/Physical Board process, I explained my back injuries (old injuries from Regular Army Service in the 1980's), were aggravated permanently on my 2010-2011 last Tour to Iraq. I was in my mid 40's, and the continuous use of the Armor (SAPI) plates, LCE, Kevlar, water and rifle on 12-hour shifts in an RPAT Yard, pretty much destroyed my back. The gear had to be worn. It was post policy and we were subjected to rocket and mortar attacks on Thursdays-Saturdays or whenever some important iraqi got killed. Sadly, and it is partly my fault for being old-school, tough-it-out, don't complain-kind of person, just took pain pills, laid down on the ground occasionally and toughed-it out. I don't have sick slips or a letter from a doctor from 2011 that I busted my back in Iraq. I only have a Post-PHA Assessment that states it. But the Army wants a Doctor's letter. This situation is slowing down my exit process, after >30 years serving and 3 deployments, I want to move on, now I have to begin a fight to get my injuries recognized as Combat-Related. Is it worth pursuing, or should I count my graces?
Ceasar
I just went through my IDES process and got my Army and VA Ratings. I am mostly OK with the Ratings, but I feel I was not treated fairly by the Army, when defining the origin of my back injuries. The Army says these are not Combat-Related. When I went through the Medical Board/Physical Board process, I explained my back injuries (old injuries from Regular Army Service in the 1980's), were aggravated permanently on my 2010-2011 last Tour to Iraq. I was in my mid 40's, and the continuous use of the Armor (SAPI) plates, LCE, Kevlar, water and rifle on 12-hour shifts in an RPAT Yard, pretty much destroyed my back. The gear had to be worn. It was post policy and we were subjected to rocket and mortar attacks on Thursdays-Saturdays or whenever some important iraqi got killed. Sadly, and it is partly my fault for being old-school, tough-it-out, don't complain-kind of person, just took pain pills, laid down on the ground occasionally and toughed-it out. I don't have sick slips or a letter from a doctor from 2011 that I busted my back in Iraq. I only have a Post-PHA Assessment that states it. But the Army wants a Doctor's letter. This situation is slowing down my exit process, after >30 years serving and 3 deployments, I want to move on, now I have to begin a fight to get my injuries recognized as Combat-Related. Is it worth pursuing, or should I count my graces?
Ceasar