I'm currently an 0-3 in the Regular Army with 13 years TIS. I've been having cognitive issues, extreme fatigue, balance and dexterity issues, face muscle twitching, photopsia, etc. I can still pass the ACFT and do four mile runs without issues. But I struggle daily with fatigue and mental fog that make me have mental freezes and get words reversed. I saw a friend who is a doctor. He thinks I have MS, but wouldn't give me a formal diagnosis because he's not a neurologist.
I enjoy being a military officer and have a good long-term career I don't want to lose. I'm torn between getting a formal diagnosis so I can get on treatment to slow the disease progression (assuming I have MS or similar illness) and trying to stay under the radar and retire at 20 years (hopefully being promoted to 0-4).
My first wife spent the last year of her life in a hospital fighting for her life. I first assumed my fatigue and cognitive symptoms were from unaddressed ptsd from that. But then I started having other issues like photopsia and face muscle twitching that I knew couldn't be from ptsd.
Just the thought of being medically discharged is difficult for me to accept because I've been working at least one, if not two jobs, continually since I was 14 years old. I've also seen so many abled body people work the DOD/VA medical system to get money without working. These people have created a stigma towards those in the MED board process that I don't want to be associated with .
I have a few questions for those reading my post so I can be better informed if I decide to get a formal diagnosis in the Army healthcare system. I know my career will essentially be over if I'm formally diagnosed with MS.
1. How long did you spend in the MED board process?
2. What was your final MS disability rating?
3. Any advice/pointers from your personal experience going through the process?
Thank you for your time reading and responding to my post.
I enjoy being a military officer and have a good long-term career I don't want to lose. I'm torn between getting a formal diagnosis so I can get on treatment to slow the disease progression (assuming I have MS or similar illness) and trying to stay under the radar and retire at 20 years (hopefully being promoted to 0-4).
My first wife spent the last year of her life in a hospital fighting for her life. I first assumed my fatigue and cognitive symptoms were from unaddressed ptsd from that. But then I started having other issues like photopsia and face muscle twitching that I knew couldn't be from ptsd.
Just the thought of being medically discharged is difficult for me to accept because I've been working at least one, if not two jobs, continually since I was 14 years old. I've also seen so many abled body people work the DOD/VA medical system to get money without working. These people have created a stigma towards those in the MED board process that I don't want to be associated with .
I have a few questions for those reading my post so I can be better informed if I decide to get a formal diagnosis in the Army healthcare system. I know my career will essentially be over if I'm formally diagnosed with MS.
1. How long did you spend in the MED board process?
2. What was your final MS disability rating?
3. Any advice/pointers from your personal experience going through the process?
Thank you for your time reading and responding to my post.