Official Fibromyalgia Diagnosis

leeleehope

leeleehope

PEB Forum Regular Member
Well, I went to see my civilian Rheumatologist today and he officially diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia. I have my follow up with my PCM on Thursday to find out what her intentions are with my LIMDU status.

Spoke with PEBLO today also. From talking to him it seems like it is ultimately up to my PCM to decide if she is going to refer my record to an MEB before my 2nd LIMDU period is up.

I've obviously got a lot to think about at this point... Thanks for all your support so far I will keep you updated as I know more about whether or not I will be going to MEB soon.
 
I was diagnosed with moderate to severe fibro. My PEBLO said im done. With everything else. Fibro is odd rate I think.. MY person didnt know shit.
Anyone have any input...



OH while I was is a Psychiatric Ward the military tried to make me sign papers. MEB and other papers. This isnt something the military can so is it?
It was my PEBLO and first shirt(douchey diamond)

Regards,
DD
 
Went in to see the PEBLO and now its 360.
That in the Air Force even MODERATE to SEVERE Fibromyalgia isn't on the MEB list of diagnoses that someone can't be MEB'd for? On the 618 or anything....

IS THIS TRUE?????
 
Going to see my PEBLO on Monday to ask more questions. MEB is in progress. PCM has written her dictation but separate Rheumatology addendum and Psych addendum still to be completed.

Just wanted to give a quick update.... Will let you know if I get some good answers/info to post.

V/R
Amber
 
DruceDeVille said:
Went in to see the PEBLO and now its 360.
That in the Air Force even MODERATE to SEVERE Fibromyalgia isn't on the MEB list of diagnoses that someone can't be MEB'd for? On the 618 or anything....

IS THIS TRUE?????
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DoD Instruction 1332.38 makes Fibromyalgia a condition that requires an MEB:
"E4.2.9. Fibromyalgia. This condition must meet the definition as put forth by the American College of Rheumatology in 1990."

It is true that Fibromyalgia is not listed as a separate condition in AFI 28-123 v2, however, there are other criteria that Fibromyalgia may fall into. For example, "A2.12.16. Other neurological conditions. Any other neurological condition, regardless of etiology, when after adequate treatment, there remain residuals, such as persistent severe headaches, weakness or paralysis of important muscle groups, deformity, incoordination, pain or sensory disturbance, disturbance of consciousness, speech, or mental defects, or personality changes of such a degree as to definitely interfere with the performance of duty." Or "A2.21. General and Miscellaneous Conditions and Defects.
A2.21.1. The individual is precluded from a reasonable fulfillment of the purpose of his or her employment in the military service.
A2.21.2. The individual’s health or well-being would be compromised if he or she were to remain in the military service.
A2.21.3. The individual’s retention in the military service would prejudice the best interests of the government. Questionable cases are referred to MEB or to the appropriate ARC surgeon for those ARC members who are not on EAD and are not authorized disability processing."
 
I was med-boarded in 2006 for Fibro and IBS and originally given a 0% rating, and discharged with Severance pay. I immediately filed a VA claim for the Fibro, IBS, Migraines, Hearing loss, Tinnitus and was awarded 70%. When the PDBR opened up I submitted my case, and the Board overturned my original PEB rating of 0% and retroactively retired me effective the date of my discharge.

This has caused a lot of problems since, because I was one of the very first people to be retired under the new PDBR, however I did get retired and now have Tricare and an ID. My pay is a different issue though. I am fighting that one.

The point is ... you can be Medically retired due to Fibromyalgia.
 
This is a very old post, but I wanted to add a little input to it. My fifth, and final, MEB was for Fibro. I ended up being retired in Sep 2009, for fibro, at 40%. 7 others in my unit were MEB'd around the same time. The others were all medically separated. So, yes, you can be MEB'd for fibro. And the outcome depends on you and the severity of the symptoms.
 
CTI1USNRET said:
I was med-boarded in 2006 for Fibro and IBS and originally given a 0% rating, and discharged with Severance pay. I immediately filed a VA claim for the Fibro, IBS, Migraines, Hearing loss, Tinnitus and was awarded 70%. When the PDBR opened up I submitted my case, and the Board overturned my original PEB rating of 0% and retroactively retired me effective the date of my discharge.

This has caused a lot of problems since, because I was one of the very first people to be retired under the new PDBR, however I did get retired and now have Tricare and an ID. My pay is a different issue though. I am fighting that one.

The point is ... you can be Medically retired due to Fibromyalgia.
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Congrats. I have a similar situation and wanted to ask if you would share some of the details and processes you went through to have the PEB reviewed.

I am rated 100% at the VA for Sleep Apnea (50%), IBS and Hiatal Hernia (30%), Firbromyalgia with Chronic Fatigue (40%), Tinnitus (10%), Unemployability (100%), Trigeminal Neuralgia (0%) and Blood Pressure (0%).

My problem is that I had all of the conditions listed above at the time of my separation, but Fibro was undiagnosed until after I separated. Military doctors were troubleshooting the symptoms, but believed I had MS instead. I didn't meet diagnostic criteria for MS, so I went undiagnosed at my DOS.

I filed two claims with the VA. The first was a total of 70% rating and Fibro was not included due to the fact that I hadn't received a diagnosis. I filed an appeal (still under review 4 years later). I filed the second claim after I went to many doctors and was finally diagnosed with Fibro. The combo of Fibro and IBS is considered disabling by the Am. College of Rheumatology. VA, SSA and it looks like finally the military has a common thought process on this.

Cheers,
AlfA01
Dan
 
gsfowler said:
You can apply for a Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR) http://www.va.gov/MS/Veterans/Benefits/Physical_Disability_Board_of_Review_PDBR_for_Veterans.asp

You used the acronym "DOS" does this represent "date of separation? Were you medically retired, received severance or discharged without benefits?

You should contact @maparker and go over the details of your separation, or post them up here.
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Yes, I was referring to date of separation as DOS. I'll speak with @maparker regarding this.

Thanks for the link. I had seen this before, but didn't have time to thoroughly read it.

Cheers,
Dan
 
My daughter just received her MED/VA finding. She was rated 10/60, I am not happy, at all! This diagnosis has changed her physically and mentally. I am encouraging her to fight this with every fiber of her being, but she feels defeated. Any recommendations that this Mom can do to get her to fight for what she deserves?
Thanks
Connie
 
usndt said:
My daughter just received her MED/VA finding. She was rated 10/60, I am not happy, at all! This diagnosis has changed her physically and mentally. I am encouraging her to fight this with every fiber of her being, but she feels defeated. Any recommendations that this Mom can do to get her to fight for what she deserves?
Thanks
Connie
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she can appeal, as long as the evidence is there than they don't have a choice but look at her case over
 
Ok, I just received a copy of her paper work. From VA she received a rating for; Irritable bowel syndrome, Migraine headaches, depressed mood, claimed as insomnia, anxiety, depression and fatigued, which under the Med Board process should fall within the realms of Fibromyalgia, which are not listed on her med board finding. To me, this is grounds for an appeal, am I wrong?
 
The ratings from the VA are for her "claimed" conditions, not what the military considers to be unfitting.

In the conditions that you have listed, I do not see fibromyalgia.

You have listed:
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  • Migranes
  • Depression claimed as insomnia
  • Anxeity, depression and fatigued
What is the unfitting condition that she was referred to the MEB for?
 
Sorry. Fibromyalgia, She received a 10% rating from the Navy, the listed items were not identified in her board results.
 
Here is the rating criteria for Fibromyalgia:

5025 Fibromyalgia (fibrositis, primary fibromyalgia syndrome)

With widespread musculoskeletal pain and tender points, with or without associated fatigue, sleep disturbance, stiffness, paresthesias, headache, irritable bowel symptoms, depression, anxiety, or Raynaud’s-like symptoms:
That are constant, or nearly so, and refractory to therapy.......................... 40
That are episodic, with exacerbations often precipitated by
environmental or emotional stress or by overexertion, but that
are present more than one-third of the time............................................ 20
That require continuous medication for control.......................................... 10

Note: Widespread pain means pain in both the left and right sides of the body, that is both above and below the waist, and that affects both the axial skeleton (i.e., cervical spine, anterior chest, thoracic spine, or low back) and the extremities.

Based upon what you have written, your daughter may want to request a one time VARR for the unfitting condition of Fibromyalgia.
 
One time VA Ratings Reconsideration. You are allowed to request this for any condition that is found unfitting. She will need the assitance of legal counsel to write the memo.
 
usndt said:
Ok, I just received a copy of her paper work. From VA she received a rating for; Irritable bowel syndrome, Migraine headaches, depressed mood, claimed as insomnia, anxiety, depression and fatigued, which under the Med Board process should fall within the realms of Fibromyalgia, which are not listed on her med board finding. To me, this is grounds for an appeal, am I wrong?
Click to expand...
usndt said:
Thanks, what is a VARR?
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From my experiences while in the DoD IDES process via an U.S. Army perspective with attendance at several Formal PEB (FPEB) hearings, it may seem to eventually be in your daughter's best interest to initially consider demanding a FPEB hearing in order to potentially obtain an "unfit for duty" determination on each medical impairment (e.g., "Irritable bowel syndrome, Migraine headaches, depressed mood, claimed as insomnia, anxiety, depression and fatigued") since they already received an individual DoVA rating at this point in time; is this a valid assumption?

In my opinion, via the aforementioned potential avenue of approach, your daughter may have a better opportunity to immediately achieve the DoD - Navy 30% rating or high evaluation for a military disability retirement if their exist medical evidence and/or medical documentation in support thereof.

To that extent, if unsuccessful at the FPEB hearing or you just don't want to be bothered with a FPEB hearing at this point, then request submittal of an one-time VA Rating Reconsideration (VARR) for the unfitting medical condition of "Fibromyalgia" as previously mentioned by @gsfowler.

As such, the VARR will only reconsider the DoD rating(s) via the DoVA D-RAS for medical conditions that the military considers "unfit for duty" while still in the DoD IDES MEB/PEB process; hence the importance of the FPEB hearing initially (if any newly added "unfit for duty" medical condition(s) require a VA re-evaluation for a potentially higher DoVA rating) prior to the one-time VARR submission if applicable.

With that all said, I would strongly suggest to please have your daughter consult with the Navy's IDES legal office for their immediate recommendation(s) to her own specific DoD IDES case file. Take care and I hope for favorable results! :cool:

Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer."

Best Wishes!
 
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Thank you for all of this information!
She met with a Navy Lawyer, who works in the PEB office and she just sent me a copy of her request for a FPEB!
Now I have to write a letter of observation because I go and stay with her to help when she is sick. This should be fun, Thank goodness my husband has a keen eye when he proof reads my letters.
I will keep you posted!
 
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