Diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (Mild) during MEB

Mk45Gunner

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This may seem like the opposite of what others are trying to accomplish, but I was diagnosed with this while I've been going through the MEB process. The VA requested an addendum because of my Fibro diagnosis and scheduled me a visit to see a Navy employed Shrink. I was forced to see a civilian shrink prior to this because of a failed questionnaire and had 3 visits with him with no diagnosis coming from it. I expected that and told him I didn't feel I had any issues worthy of me being there and he agreed.

Fast forward to receiving my NARSUM, unbeknown to me the Navy Shrink had diagnosed me with this. So when I did my C&P exam I told the doc I didn't agree with the diagnosis. He agreed after talking with me for about an hour that it was more of a generalized anxiety and a fear of being in public places.

From the get go I told each Shrink I seen, what I was dealing with and my exact issues are that I basically feel blah and it's very hard to become excited about doing anything. I avoid social situations where there's a large gathering when I don't know anyone. For example, going to a packed bar and being there alone causes me to panic a little and leave. I'm not sad, depressed, suicidal, or anything like that so I'm not sure how this even came about.

I haven't heard anything after that C&P exam so my question is how can I disagree with this diagnosis if it somehow has stayed on my NARSUM that was sent to the PEB? Is this something I can accomplish with a VARR or will this require a formal board request?
 
Fibro and different degrees of mental health distress definitely go hand in hand (which is why I know the AF requires you to see a psych if you get a fibro dx). What are you trying to accomplish by changing your dx? Have you tried another doctor to get a third opinion? You may end up being put on TDRL for this since your condition is "not stable" at the time of your MEB (that is what happened with my case).
 
I'm not really trying to accomplish anything except to be diagnosed correctly. Do I have bouts of a depressed mood......well maybe sometimes, I mean who doesn't have a rough patch here or there especially dealing with all these problems? I just don't think this warrants a diagnosis like Major Depressive Disorder.

I know people fight for P&T but I'm OK if it isn't permanent. I have more than this going on that needs attention still.
 
"I basically feel blah" may be how you ended up with a depression diagnosis. That is very different from anxiety cued by "going to a packed bar." Could it be that you have two things going on?
 
You might be right and I guess my definition of being depressed may differ from that one guys definition. I just don't feel like I warrant that particular diagnosis when 2 other Psychologists I've seen didn't make that diagnosis.

Is this something I should even pursue or just deal with it after this PEB is over with? I guess I'm just trying to make sure all this is done correctly and everything is accurate prior to being retired and having to deal with it as a civilian.
 
In all this exp I’ve learned never to go to medical (I was forced), never speak on any issue. If you can get a major depressive diagnosis from saying you feel blah sometimes it really worries about how easily it is for a doc to get someone out of the military or make them appear worse than they really are.

I think every human being has times when they don’t feel good (temporarily) or experience some anxiety. But to label as a mental disorder? Good grief.
 
In all this exp I’ve learned never to go to medical (I was forced), never speak on any issue. If you can get a major depressive diagnosis from saying you feel blah sometimes it really worries about how easily it is for a doc to get someone out of the military or make them appear worse than they really are.

I think every human being has times when they don’t feel good (temporarily) or experience some anxiety. But to label as a mental disorder? Good grief.
I completely agree. I was diagnosed with MDD and expressed my desire to stay. Felt interrogated by the doctor doing my NARSUM who evaluated me. He was a DOD doctor, not my psychiatrist. Expressed my desire to stay to all my providers and chain of command. They obviously had a different plan for me. In the end when I saw the writing on the wall, I wasn't willing to risk it all to end up hearing them come back and discharge me at 0% when I got the rubber stamp 50% for MDD. They originally pulled the adjustment disorder card and send me out the door. Fought for a ratings increase after I left the Air Force. I never believed anyone who told me "They're going to consider what you want the result to be in the MEB Board." If that was the case, I'd still be in today. I did not have disciplinary issues and it is mentioned in the command letter about whether the SM has had disciplinary infractions. I absolutely laughed when Mental Health came to some Wingman's Day to give briefings saying those who seek help see no adverse actions on their career. Commander said no so that was not the case. Don't mean my post to discourage anyone but this was just reality for me. First Sergeant popped off saying once, you're depressed? Everyone gets depressed and blew it off.
 
In all this exp I’ve learned never to go to medical (I was forced), never speak on any issue. If you can get a major depressive diagnosis from saying you feel blah sometimes it really worries about how easily it is for a doc to get someone out of the military or make them appear worse than they really are.

I think every human being has times when they don’t feel good (temporarily) or experience some anxiety. But to label as a mental disorder? Good grief.
That’s what I’m going through... once they determined that they were putting me in the MEB process they started jacking up everything I would say... so I stopped going... I was being told that I was lying about how I was feeling because I didn’t agree with the MEB...

The said part is I was only going to BH for guidance with handling issues with my Unit..
 
That’s what I’m going through... once they determined that they were putting me in the MEB process they started jacking up everything I would say... so I stopped going... I was being told that I was lying about how I was feeling because I didn’t agree with the MEB...

The said part is I was only going to BH for guidance with handling issues with my Unit..


The whole thing was a nightmare for me. I was made to go to MH, and then was accused of all kinds of things, including making up my symptoms. Ridiculous, military treats ppl like that. I did have a mental breakdown during sleep deprivation, but I would have not gone to MH if was not forced too...and I believe it wld have passsed naturally. In the process my clearance was suspended and ruined my career, in the mil and on the outside. I’m having a hard time getting a job. I’ve had bad depression since the med board started and maybe PTSD by how awfully I was treated. I’m scarred to go to any doc thru the mil or VA. Sad thing is once I got my orders out, they changed everything around, made me seem like I was doing great and took me off medication (try to make me loose benefits)...while the diagnosis sticks, the separation stays and I lose my clearance and have a hard time finding a job. I had to move in with my parents and it’s very hard finding work, my job was very specialised and requires clearance. My whole life has been completely ruined by this. I don’t feel like the same person, I’ve had thoughts of not wanting to continue, but have worked through them.
 
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I would not worry to much about a proper diagnosis during the C&P process. The VA rates most MH diagnoses the same; by impairment of social and occupational functioning.

When you get ready for treatment, then an accurate diagnosis is critical to medication selection (if needed) and establishing therapeutic goals.
 
I feel you. I was diagnosed with an adjustment disorder and when I went for my C&P exam they diagnosed me with MDD and PTSD
 
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