Good Morning,
This all began while I was going through infertility treatment when the Navy doctors noticed that I had an anomaly in one of the blood test results. This was further tested and determined that I had an extremely rare bleeding disorder (Factor VII deficiency). This disorder basically classified me as a Hemophiliac and as such no longer able to preform my duties as a Military Policeman or be world wide deployable.
I was placed on a PEB just as the IDES program was starting. Along with the blood disorder I also was diagnosed with PTSD. At the end of the PEB I was placed on the TDRL with a rating of 0% for the blood disorder and 50% for the PTSD. My overall VA rating was then determined to be 80% and has recently been upgraded to 90%.
The reason I am posting is that I have just had a terrible update from the DoD/HQMC yesterday. I have a ton of worries and very little information on what my next course of action options are. First I am currently residing on Camp Lejeune as a retiree, so this is now in jeopardy since I have been only given separation with severance. The letter of decision and orders are dated to be effective Nov 30, so I only have 24 days max to figure out my options. Now the lease on the quarters is not up until Dec 28th, so the first question is will I be forced to move off base prior to my lease ending or not? Second one is a multi-part question.
First question is, am I even able to appeal the boards decision to remove me from the TDRL and just separate me with no retirement? If I am able to appeal this decision the time it is being adjudicated will their decision to remove me from the TDRL still be enforced or does the process stop leaving me on TDRL until the appeal process is done?
The next issue I have is that I only learned about the decision from the DoD/HQMC from their package that had my separation orders a certificate of separation.....and an insulting lapel pin as a gift of my service. So should I not have been sent a notice of results from my periodical physical exam prior to getting the separation orders from HQMC? The timing just seems a bit short fused especially considering the possibility of having to move and then source medical insurance since they are stripping me and my family of all Tri-Care benefits (sorry if that comes off with a hint of anger and frustration).
Next is what are my options in general? Because I was over 15 years of service at the time I would have been eligible for the TERA. Will that even be taken into consideration during the appeal process? If all goes down the tubes and I am forced to accept their separation with severance, is the amount of years of service calculated from the time I was originally placed on TDRL (15 years 6 months) or at the time of my final separation (18 years 11 months)?
Lastly is there a vehicle to have my original evaluation and assessment for my PTSD corrected? The write up (done by the VA Doctor) at the time placed my combat related aggravation of systems as a secondary (lower priority as I have been told) factor of the main diagnosis which was generalized anxiety disorder. This way of categorizing has also allowed them to deny a causal-link in the aggravating of the disorder as a result of duties performed in a combat zone. I have filed for CRSC once and was denied and then appealed their denial once which was also denied. In the VA doctors write up it clearly spells out that my symptoms were directly worsened by my duty in Iraq along with the duties CONUS as a Military Policeman.
I know that is a ton of information and this may be a "unique" case but I really am trying to cover all of my bases and arm myself with all of the information I can get so I can make an informed choice for me and my family. On a side note I did contact the WWBn already and they suggested I call the manpower branch at HQMC Monday morning to obtain all of the specifics so I know where I stand before they get involved. The only thing that I know from them is as a result of my last periodic medical evaluation my rating fell below 30% (it was 50%) and no longer fit for active duty reinstatement and will be separated on Nov 30th.
In advance I would like to say thank you for any and all help, guidance, and information provided. I also sincerely appreciate all of the assistance this site, its members, and administrator have provided to all service members to-date.
Semper Fi,
Travis
This all began while I was going through infertility treatment when the Navy doctors noticed that I had an anomaly in one of the blood test results. This was further tested and determined that I had an extremely rare bleeding disorder (Factor VII deficiency). This disorder basically classified me as a Hemophiliac and as such no longer able to preform my duties as a Military Policeman or be world wide deployable.
I was placed on a PEB just as the IDES program was starting. Along with the blood disorder I also was diagnosed with PTSD. At the end of the PEB I was placed on the TDRL with a rating of 0% for the blood disorder and 50% for the PTSD. My overall VA rating was then determined to be 80% and has recently been upgraded to 90%.
The reason I am posting is that I have just had a terrible update from the DoD/HQMC yesterday. I have a ton of worries and very little information on what my next course of action options are. First I am currently residing on Camp Lejeune as a retiree, so this is now in jeopardy since I have been only given separation with severance. The letter of decision and orders are dated to be effective Nov 30, so I only have 24 days max to figure out my options. Now the lease on the quarters is not up until Dec 28th, so the first question is will I be forced to move off base prior to my lease ending or not? Second one is a multi-part question.
First question is, am I even able to appeal the boards decision to remove me from the TDRL and just separate me with no retirement? If I am able to appeal this decision the time it is being adjudicated will their decision to remove me from the TDRL still be enforced or does the process stop leaving me on TDRL until the appeal process is done?
The next issue I have is that I only learned about the decision from the DoD/HQMC from their package that had my separation orders a certificate of separation.....and an insulting lapel pin as a gift of my service. So should I not have been sent a notice of results from my periodical physical exam prior to getting the separation orders from HQMC? The timing just seems a bit short fused especially considering the possibility of having to move and then source medical insurance since they are stripping me and my family of all Tri-Care benefits (sorry if that comes off with a hint of anger and frustration).
Next is what are my options in general? Because I was over 15 years of service at the time I would have been eligible for the TERA. Will that even be taken into consideration during the appeal process? If all goes down the tubes and I am forced to accept their separation with severance, is the amount of years of service calculated from the time I was originally placed on TDRL (15 years 6 months) or at the time of my final separation (18 years 11 months)?
Lastly is there a vehicle to have my original evaluation and assessment for my PTSD corrected? The write up (done by the VA Doctor) at the time placed my combat related aggravation of systems as a secondary (lower priority as I have been told) factor of the main diagnosis which was generalized anxiety disorder. This way of categorizing has also allowed them to deny a causal-link in the aggravating of the disorder as a result of duties performed in a combat zone. I have filed for CRSC once and was denied and then appealed their denial once which was also denied. In the VA doctors write up it clearly spells out that my symptoms were directly worsened by my duty in Iraq along with the duties CONUS as a Military Policeman.
I know that is a ton of information and this may be a "unique" case but I really am trying to cover all of my bases and arm myself with all of the information I can get so I can make an informed choice for me and my family. On a side note I did contact the WWBn already and they suggested I call the manpower branch at HQMC Monday morning to obtain all of the specifics so I know where I stand before they get involved. The only thing that I know from them is as a result of my last periodic medical evaluation my rating fell below 30% (it was 50%) and no longer fit for active duty reinstatement and will be separated on Nov 30th.
In advance I would like to say thank you for any and all help, guidance, and information provided. I also sincerely appreciate all of the assistance this site, its members, and administrator have provided to all service members to-date.
Semper Fi,
Travis