Quick intro for those that don't know me. I am one of the original members of this forum. But I found myself spread to thin by trying to help with MEB/PEB issues, fighting Congress to get CR for ALL retirees, and being a Vet Advocate helping Vets win their claims with both the VA and SSA (SSDI). Something had to give.
I have had 2 operations on my Thyroid, 1991 had a goiter removed on active duty and put on synthetic thyroid and returned to duty with no problems. 2018 the other side became cancerous and the remainder of the thryroid has been removed. Also treated with radioactive iodine. I am cancer free and on synthetic thyroid.
The thyroid is serious business and a very important organ. But lets keep things in context, military only. Civilian world care cannot be followed if one wants to keep their military career.
Very rarely problems cannot be cured by simply removing the entire thyroid and placing the patient on a synthetic thyroid medication. Once the correct amount is determined and monitored, the person is fully deployable after about 6 months of treatment. The dosage rarely changes and only requires a blood test once a year to ensure the dosage is still correct.
Some cancers spread beyond the thyroid and are in fact good reason for PEB action and retirement on PDRL.
Disorders like Graves disease can be completely cured by removal of the entire thyroid.
The civilian world provides plenty of time to play around with various types of treatment with full thryroidectomy being the last thing you want to do.
Sure, the offer of retirement from the PEB coupled with the 100% rating from the VA sounds like a good deal. It's NOT. First of all, you don't get your military retirement pay once the VA starts paying you. Second the 100% rating is only temporary. Once the issue is resolved, you will be reduced to 10%. Unless it is a rare cancer that spreads to the rest of the body.
In a perfect world where Ch61 retirees get to keep their retired pay after the VA does their thing, Concurrent Receipt, your pay is NOT going to be the 30 - 100% DoD promised you. It will be 2.5% x length of service x base pay at time of retirement. That's all and no more. If the PEB says you get 50% of your $5000.00 pay, they are lying and they know they are lying.
Bottom line, corner your Dr and ask if the Thyroid problem can be completely cured by it's removal. If the answer is yes, demand the surgery and get on with your life. Most Dr's don't understand the ramification of putting you through an MEB/PEB. They just want to follow procedure/protocol. Unfortunately in this case, that protocol is written for civilian patients with nothing to lose.
Sorry if I rambled. I'll answer any and all questions.
