Pilot Program MEBs Not Covering all Conditions?

maparker

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While briefing a SASC staffer last Friday, I had mentioned that the pilot program was helping in terms of ensuring all medical conditions were covered in the MEB but that I had heard a few examples of where a MEB conducted under the pilot program narrowed it scope and did not cover all conditions. I specifically remember such a posting on this site but have yet to find it. I believe it was an Air Force case.

If you have experienced this problem (Specifically pilot program MEBs not covering all medical conditions) please post your experience here so that I can relay it to Congress.

Thanks,
Mike
 
I have gone through the pilot program at Andrews and was sent to the VA in DC; they evaluated every part of me that had a problem. They were very thorough. My two cents.
 
I have gone through the pilot program at Andrews and was sent to the VA in DC; they evaluated every part of me that had a problem. They were very thorough. My two cents.

Likewise...I am going thru an MEB at Andrews. The VA exams were very comprehensive and covered everything. My VA narrative seems to cover everything, although since I am waiting on the NARSUM and the rest of the process I can't be 100% sure. They did at least evaluate and dictate EVERYTHING on the report it seems.

Nate
 
What? Guess why they are combining the two systems? So the can "SCREW" over more Soldiers using only one system and they can get rid of disparities of separate systems and lower your ratings all at once. This is nothing more than the Army and VA working together to give us less disability than we deserve. Streamline nothing! When was the last time the Army, the VA or the Federal Government for that matter, did right by us Veterans? I think there was a cold day in hell about 758850385.4388401/2 years ago, but since then? NADA! Just my two cents! Dave
 
same issue here. my stuff was initiated in nov 2007 and they just kept dropping the ball. i have multiple residual issues realted to a back injury w/3 surgeries (PTSD, seizure disorder and sleep apnea). they continue not to include these items and just keep listing lumbago. what they are doing now is sending me to wilford hall @ lackland to have various appointments w/different specialists but we'll see how that goes.
 
Well I am in month 10 of my MEB in the pilot program and all I can say is the VA doctors that conduct the C&P exams here are absolutely terrible. During the PTSD eval I was seen for 10 minutes where I was asked about 4-5 generic where you from, childhood type, did you get into any trouble before the army... questions. Then he says for me to tell him what my symptoms are, and proceeds to cut me off in the middle of answering each question as he pecked away on his little laptop. After 10 mins I was told that's all you can go now. Low and behold he calls me a liar and says I am exaggerating my symptoms and trying to receive a rating for a condition I don't have because according to him I was interviewed for 45minutes and he went over the questions I had answered and my med file for 2 hours. He then writes that the main reason he believes I am exaggerating, and making up symptoms is because he read my DR notes and the doctor said he thought it was ADJUSTMENT DISORDER. Turns out this genius read incorrect notes and based an entire exam off of them and proceed to call my credibility into question and say I never went through what I did.....

Turns out I proved he lied about the majority of his exam because he was dumb enough to let me get my hands on the writeup he did so I could compare it with the copies of my medical history and all the meds I have been on, which he had all of them incorrect....

In the end I got my diagnosis changed by the head of the psych department and it is now listed correctly as PTSD, Chronic, moderate; fails retention standards. The VA C&P doctor still refuses to change his original PTSD eval in light of this new diagnosis even though he admits in the report that he based the majority of his findings off of the notes from the psych department, the same department that has now fixed their incorrect notes and diagnosis........

The C&P physical was just as bad as the PTSD eval. Every single condition was listed as improved. He asked me for every condition if it had improved or gotten worse I told him not one single time in that appointment that a condition had improved other than the teizes syndrome which has subsided. I have 3 addition hurniated disks in my back since the onset of my DDD and DJD and he listed it as improved because he told me that since my pain pills make the pain bearable that means my condition has improved. Same with my migraines, since my pills and my migraine routine ease the pain and help them subside, he says that means they have improved. I was never given a ROM although he did find it appropriate to give me a ROM score.. of 80 degrees. even though I have results done by the IMA that show 59 degrees.

There are numerous other mistakes and blatant lies in both of my Pilot Program C&P exams. I got the VA reps in charge of the C&P doctors to admit that my evidence proved the doctors either purposely mis-represented my medical information or did it out of ignorance to their own regulations. When I asked the waht the repracusions would be, because after all had I not known any better they could have single handedly made it impossible for me to be given a fair and accurate diagnosis. I was told that they could do nothing to the doctors and most likely not a word would be said because they are the ONLY 2 C&P for the entire post.

These 2 doctors ended up adding over 6 months to the length of my MEB because they felt it necessary to try and dictate what im entitled to before my packet ever left post. In the end I got it fixed but if it didn't this could have ended terribly.
 
So far I have found the VA to be very nit picky on things. Also they have made mistakes that I am trying to get corrected before I accept results of my IPEB.
 
Pilot Program MEBs Not Covering all Conditions?(Update+problem...need HELP!!)

Hello,

I have another thread going on my long drawn out MEB for combat injuries in Iraq: PTSD, TBI, ear damage, vertigo, migraines, etc. I was successful in getting the AF to put all these in the NARSUM and some other conditions I listed the VA took a look at (deviated septum, acne, scars, etc.) which the AF is NOT boarding me for because it does not effect my job. I understand all this and had no problems.

While I was right in the middle of the MEB process my right wrist began to hurt. (I'm right handed). Initially I thought I had just overdone it on the pushups one day, so I took the next few days off and iced it. I became more of a chronic problem...where it would just "hurt"--never did I think it was injured or did I get the feeling it was serious. This started sometime after I returned from Iraq in Spring of 08. I was on profile for a lot of aerobic activity because of the TBI/Vertigo, so I was doing a lot more of the machines/weight/push ups.

One of my claims on my VA was for "residuals from a right wrist fracture". I fractured this same wrist inm a motorcycle accident when I was in ROTC in 1999. It has always been kinda stiff and felt old, but the AF knew about it and it never posed a problem in 10 yrs of service and 2 combat deplyments (and 1000s of pushups!). During the VA exam of my wrist the wrist was a little sore (but it wasn't during one of the flare ups after PT) and I did have decreased ROM, so it was noted on the VA narrative as a residual. Just to be safe, he ordered an x-ray of my wrist. He called me a few hrs later (after I had left the VA) to tell me I had a bone chip fracture of the rt wrist. A visit to the ER confirmed this. Being the military...the ER would not treat the chip fracture...just splint as a precaution...and follow up with your PCM.

My PCM referred me to Bethesda hand specialist who said the bone chip was indeed in there but was not the source of my pain....they believed I had a torn TFCC ligament. An MRI confirmed this. They suggested conservative therapy first (for 6 wks) then surgery if that doesn't work.

Over the next few weeks the pain gets much worse. Can't use rt hand for anything anymore. Can't grip anything--can't even hold a pencil anymore so surgery becomes necessary. PEBLO "flips out" that I'm having surgery in the middle of an MEB....

Surgery on 15 Jan 10. Repair of a huge tear in my TFCC. Also, Surgeon sees that my scaphodlunate(sp?) ligament is completely torn and will probably have to be surgically repaired later. 3 wks conv leave. 4 weeks in a full arm cast with my rt hand useless. 4 weeks in a short arm cast. Just got my cast off (arm is in a splint) and I start PT next week.

So here's my problem.....

My package is ready to go the IPEB. The narrative summary is done, CC letter, etc. Yet there is no mention of my wrist injury. I consider this to be a serious issue. Right now, post surgery...I can barely move my wrist maybe 1cm up/down side/side...that's it. And I probably will have to have a second surgery to correct it. I asked my PCM and the hospital commander to hold off a few weeks until I at least get some PT done so we could get an indication on how I was progressing. His response was my wrist injury is not "boardable".

Not boardable? I can't even lift a briefcase with my right wrist. Right now it is swollen to the size of an orange and I can barely move it. And don't forget the other torn ligament in there. My other conditions outstanding, there is no way I could ever shoot a weapon, carry a pack or even function in a deployed environment. They denied my request for a delay and refuse to put it in as a boardable condition. My PCM did sneak a lengthy paragraph in the previous medical history and suggest I write a letter to the board.

It seems like I am a victim of bad timing. If they had found the wrist injury earlier, I would have been pushing the 1 yr mark and I would have had a stronger case to push to include it. We have no idea when this injury occured. It could have occured with the blast injury, and then made worse. It could be subsequent to the blast. Who knows. It just seems I'm being penalized here.

So here's where I stand...

1. Major wrist injury not included in IPEB(prognosis unknown)
2. Will I have enough time left in the AF to complete 2nd surgery + full recovery (PT) before my sep/ret date?
3. Wrist injury NOT truly/completely covered by VA pilot program exam. It simply says residuals from fracture. Does not mention anything about the problems I'm having with pain, ROM, and nothing at all abouty torn ligaments, surguries, etc.

Question: Should I write a letter to the IPEB about my wrist? What would I say? I don't want to assume the worst. All I really wanted was a delay....I don't want $$ that doesn't belong to me, but I don't want to end up 12 months from now with a wrist that doesn't work and no compensation either....

Can anyone help??

Nate
 
Pilot Program MEBs Not Covering all Conditions?(Update+problem...need HELP!!)

If you have not signed your MEB, I would consider asking for an impartial review of your case and rebut the MEB (this does several things, it gives you a fresh set of eyes on the issue, gives you more time, requires a written response to your concerns and gets your rebuttal and response inserted into your MEB case file).
 
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