Hi all,
I'm AD Air Force and am coming up on 18 years in Nov. I have some significant diagnoses that prevent me from effectively doing my job. I'm the senior person in my unit, so no one really knows the extent. Docs said as long as the commander doesn't ask about a med board for me, they are ok with making me non-deployable and continuing to try meds and make specialty appointments.
What I'm trying to figure out is if I can stick it out for the next 2 years to maximize retirement and VA benefits. I don't want to make it all about money, but it is part of the equation. I'm worried that I won't qualify for CRSC. If I do qualify, it's my understanding that would make up the difference.
I've had a couple of deployments, the most significant being to Iraq in Fall - Winter of 07-08.
I have the GWOT service and AF Expeditionary Ribbon with Gold border.
My LOEs and OPRs have captured the significant data such as combat wounded, combat ops support, etc.
I'm a chaplain and worked as the litter carrier and EMEDS chaplain at a forward operating base. I've had exposure to deaths and dying, EPWs, trauma, counseled sexual assault victims, etc. etc. Basically the horrors of war and if you're here, you probably know what I'm talking about.
My diagnoses which I think are qualifying are:
PTSD
Fibromyalgia
Sleep Apnea
Chronic Pain
Chronic Fatigue
Tinnitus
Asymmetric hearing loss
Insomnia
Asthma (mild)
Exercise-induced bronchospasm
Other respiratory conditions due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors (from Tricare Online Problem list)
Compassion fatigue
Possibly: GERD,
There's actually some more, but I don't know that they would be qualifying. (I know, I'm falling apart.)
The main problem I'm having is no one will talk to me unless the MEB process has startred. My RILOS for asthma come back with an ok to continue service. Physically I've been on a profile and haven't had more than a waist measurement done in years. I've tried all the VA help people, asked some official AF people, etc. They all say the same thing... talk to us when the process has started.
How do I get a read on where I'm at to make an informed decision? I've done the VA calculator and it looks like with those diagnoses alone, not including my others (Spinal stenosis, shoulder/rotator cuff issues, herniated discs, knees, etc.) I'm probably at 100%
I'm worried about how well I'll do over the next couple years. it seems my health and well-being, along with my ability to care for others gets worse and worse. At the same time if I don't stick it out over the next couple years that could mean about $30k per year for the next 30 years or so? That's a huge chunk to visit grand-kids, quality of life, etc.
It looks like CRSC could fill in the gap and give me some peace of mind, but I've also heard the Air Force doesn't like to award CRSC? I kept a journal while in Iraq so I have the exact dates of every direct and indirect fire, EMEDS all, alarm red, etc.
Thanks in advance for helping me figure this out.
I'm AD Air Force and am coming up on 18 years in Nov. I have some significant diagnoses that prevent me from effectively doing my job. I'm the senior person in my unit, so no one really knows the extent. Docs said as long as the commander doesn't ask about a med board for me, they are ok with making me non-deployable and continuing to try meds and make specialty appointments.
What I'm trying to figure out is if I can stick it out for the next 2 years to maximize retirement and VA benefits. I don't want to make it all about money, but it is part of the equation. I'm worried that I won't qualify for CRSC. If I do qualify, it's my understanding that would make up the difference.
I've had a couple of deployments, the most significant being to Iraq in Fall - Winter of 07-08.
I have the GWOT service and AF Expeditionary Ribbon with Gold border.
My LOEs and OPRs have captured the significant data such as combat wounded, combat ops support, etc.
I'm a chaplain and worked as the litter carrier and EMEDS chaplain at a forward operating base. I've had exposure to deaths and dying, EPWs, trauma, counseled sexual assault victims, etc. etc. Basically the horrors of war and if you're here, you probably know what I'm talking about.
My diagnoses which I think are qualifying are:
PTSD
Fibromyalgia
Sleep Apnea
Chronic Pain
Chronic Fatigue
Tinnitus
Asymmetric hearing loss
Insomnia
Asthma (mild)
Exercise-induced bronchospasm
Other respiratory conditions due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors (from Tricare Online Problem list)
Compassion fatigue
Possibly: GERD,
There's actually some more, but I don't know that they would be qualifying. (I know, I'm falling apart.)
The main problem I'm having is no one will talk to me unless the MEB process has startred. My RILOS for asthma come back with an ok to continue service. Physically I've been on a profile and haven't had more than a waist measurement done in years. I've tried all the VA help people, asked some official AF people, etc. They all say the same thing... talk to us when the process has started.
How do I get a read on where I'm at to make an informed decision? I've done the VA calculator and it looks like with those diagnoses alone, not including my others (Spinal stenosis, shoulder/rotator cuff issues, herniated discs, knees, etc.) I'm probably at 100%
I'm worried about how well I'll do over the next couple years. it seems my health and well-being, along with my ability to care for others gets worse and worse. At the same time if I don't stick it out over the next couple years that could mean about $30k per year for the next 30 years or so? That's a huge chunk to visit grand-kids, quality of life, etc.
It looks like CRSC could fill in the gap and give me some peace of mind, but I've also heard the Air Force doesn't like to award CRSC? I kept a journal while in Iraq so I have the exact dates of every direct and indirect fire, EMEDS all, alarm red, etc.
Thanks in advance for helping me figure this out.