I have 23 years of service; 15+ active. Currently in the Air National Guard as a TACP. I battled waivers for childhood asthma for over 25 years at every step of the way. BL: post-COVID, I started experiencing "dyspnea" aka trouble breathing. Felt like an elephant on my chest with heart palpitations. After consultations with several specialists, I was diagnosed with sleep apnea, allergies, and asthma. I was just notified that I have a code 37 and am facing an MEB. The flight doctor was optimistic that I would receive a waiver. I'm not totally convinced, but I am not an SME in this area.
Questions:
1. Does the IRILO (not sure if this is the correct reference for this stage) and the MEB/PEB consider a wholistic view of my overall medical diagnoses? I am going up for an asthma waiver...will they ignore the other diagnoses that are apparently unqualifying for my specialty, but also have a precedent for being waived and found fit for duty? Otherwise stated/asked: asthma, allergies, and sleep apnea are all waiver-able conditions, but will all 3 be waivered in combination (difficult question to answer - looking for anyone with experience or precedent).
2. I am confident that any asthma condition I'm experiencing was by definition "service aggravated" - I have been on continuous active duty orders for the last 5 years when all of this stuff came up. Will the ANG see it that way?
3. The nature of the program I'm involved with in the military is such that it experiences unreliable funding. We are "Guard bums" but it often works out that our "orders" are extended. I've worked with guys that have received active duty retirements from our program. With the uncertainty, I submitted my initial VA claim 2 years ago, and have subsequently updated it as the diagnoses continued to roll in. My case is still under review after nearly 2 years. Is this a blessing in disguise considering the IDES? Can I expect the VA claims process to be expedited?
4. I graduated from the Air Force Academy (ok, ok...let the berating begin!) - I was an intercollegiate athlete and had a number of injuries/surgeries. The VA currently shows 2 of those specifically claimed injuries as "not service connected" even though I was a cadet. Anyone have specific service-Academy experience? Is it an automatic denial that has to be fought out with the VA?
Thanks in advance,
RC
Questions:
1. Does the IRILO (not sure if this is the correct reference for this stage) and the MEB/PEB consider a wholistic view of my overall medical diagnoses? I am going up for an asthma waiver...will they ignore the other diagnoses that are apparently unqualifying for my specialty, but also have a precedent for being waived and found fit for duty? Otherwise stated/asked: asthma, allergies, and sleep apnea are all waiver-able conditions, but will all 3 be waivered in combination (difficult question to answer - looking for anyone with experience or precedent).
2. I am confident that any asthma condition I'm experiencing was by definition "service aggravated" - I have been on continuous active duty orders for the last 5 years when all of this stuff came up. Will the ANG see it that way?
3. The nature of the program I'm involved with in the military is such that it experiences unreliable funding. We are "Guard bums" but it often works out that our "orders" are extended. I've worked with guys that have received active duty retirements from our program. With the uncertainty, I submitted my initial VA claim 2 years ago, and have subsequently updated it as the diagnoses continued to roll in. My case is still under review after nearly 2 years. Is this a blessing in disguise considering the IDES? Can I expect the VA claims process to be expedited?
4. I graduated from the Air Force Academy (ok, ok...let the berating begin!) - I was an intercollegiate athlete and had a number of injuries/surgeries. The VA currently shows 2 of those specifically claimed injuries as "not service connected" even though I was a cadet. Anyone have specific service-Academy experience? Is it an automatic denial that has to be fought out with the VA?
Thanks in advance,
RC