I'm on a medboard for the following referred conditions (USMC if that matters, 1 year and some change TIS, no disciplinary history, 21 & married)
"M5450 - Low back pain, unspecified
M546 - Pain in thoracic spine" - MEB report unfitting conditions.
NARSUM: "SM had a fall during hike in October 2022 during comm-electronics training and was placed on light duty for 90 days before being placed on LIMDU in May2023. He was initially treated with physical therapy after XR revealed transitional anatomy at T12 which was unhelpful. He was referred to chiropractor which was unhelpful. He was trialed on amitriptyline, duloxetine which was not helpful. MRI Lumbar and thoracic spine 19JUL2023 revealed T6-T8 degenerative changes with mild spinal canal narrowing at T6-7 and dorsal epidural lipomatosis in the upper/mid thoracic spine. Of note, these findings do not explain pain involving multiple segments of upper and lower back. He was referred to pain mgmt and behavioral health with treatments including acceptance and commitment therapy and is has not been helpful. ESR/CRP, RA and SLE lab screening was negative for inflammatory arthropathy. He was evaluated by neurosurgery who does not see any surgical indication. Overall, SM has 12 months of chronic back pain without correlative objective evidence and lack of improvement to all modalities to date. He is unable to perform the duties of his MOS including maintaining USMC standards with CFT/PFT."
A prior PEBLO who is running an insider advice program free of charge to junior enlisted advised me that it's hard to get 30% or above for these referred conditions. My forward flexion is estimated at its highest 20 degrees from physical therapy, and 10 degrees by my sports med doc. From what I understand, this should align with the 40% rating, being 30 degrees forward flexion or less, dictating ROM without pain. Does this sound right? Am I misguided? That prior PEBLO placed MASSIVE importance on getting 30% DoD, even pushing for me to try to get anxiety added into my MEB.
MRI revealed bulging disc + disc protrusion in thoracic spine from a hiking injury for context.
The part I'm worried about is that I was referred to IDES, only to be told it'll be a 3 month wait to be found fit/unfit (I was told 3 month wait to be "accepted" by the PEB. Worried that this is a game. Again that PEBLO told me that this wait time is abnormal. My contact rep (guy I was told to contact before I contact my real PEBLO) told me he has no updates for me at this time.
Perspectives would be great, especially if anyone knows how the C&P exam for back pain goes/what I should expect rating wise.
Relevant MRI results:
Thoracic spine:
Alignment: Normal
Marrow: Mild degenerative endplate bone marrow edema seen at T6-T7. Small hemangioma noted in the T3 vertebral body anteriorly.
Spinal cord: Normal in signal.
Mildly prominent dorsal epidural fat is seen in the upper/mid thoracic spine, greatest at T6-17.
Pertinent levels are as follows:
T6-T7: Disc desiccation with small central disc protrusion measuring 2 mm, which mildly indents the ventral cord. There is mild spinal canal narrowing. No foraminal narrowing.
T7-T8: Disc desiccation with mild diffuse disc bulge. No spinal canal or foraminal narrowing.
I spoke to a neurosurgeon who saw no surgical indication on my back, and reasoned that my issue must be muscular in nature. My doc thinks it could be fibromyalgia. Board began late October if that matters as well.
"M5450 - Low back pain, unspecified
M546 - Pain in thoracic spine" - MEB report unfitting conditions.
NARSUM: "SM had a fall during hike in October 2022 during comm-electronics training and was placed on light duty for 90 days before being placed on LIMDU in May2023. He was initially treated with physical therapy after XR revealed transitional anatomy at T12 which was unhelpful. He was referred to chiropractor which was unhelpful. He was trialed on amitriptyline, duloxetine which was not helpful. MRI Lumbar and thoracic spine 19JUL2023 revealed T6-T8 degenerative changes with mild spinal canal narrowing at T6-7 and dorsal epidural lipomatosis in the upper/mid thoracic spine. Of note, these findings do not explain pain involving multiple segments of upper and lower back. He was referred to pain mgmt and behavioral health with treatments including acceptance and commitment therapy and is has not been helpful. ESR/CRP, RA and SLE lab screening was negative for inflammatory arthropathy. He was evaluated by neurosurgery who does not see any surgical indication. Overall, SM has 12 months of chronic back pain without correlative objective evidence and lack of improvement to all modalities to date. He is unable to perform the duties of his MOS including maintaining USMC standards with CFT/PFT."
A prior PEBLO who is running an insider advice program free of charge to junior enlisted advised me that it's hard to get 30% or above for these referred conditions. My forward flexion is estimated at its highest 20 degrees from physical therapy, and 10 degrees by my sports med doc. From what I understand, this should align with the 40% rating, being 30 degrees forward flexion or less, dictating ROM without pain. Does this sound right? Am I misguided? That prior PEBLO placed MASSIVE importance on getting 30% DoD, even pushing for me to try to get anxiety added into my MEB.
MRI revealed bulging disc + disc protrusion in thoracic spine from a hiking injury for context.
The part I'm worried about is that I was referred to IDES, only to be told it'll be a 3 month wait to be found fit/unfit (I was told 3 month wait to be "accepted" by the PEB. Worried that this is a game. Again that PEBLO told me that this wait time is abnormal. My contact rep (guy I was told to contact before I contact my real PEBLO) told me he has no updates for me at this time.
Perspectives would be great, especially if anyone knows how the C&P exam for back pain goes/what I should expect rating wise.
Relevant MRI results:
Thoracic spine:
Alignment: Normal
Marrow: Mild degenerative endplate bone marrow edema seen at T6-T7. Small hemangioma noted in the T3 vertebral body anteriorly.
Spinal cord: Normal in signal.
Mildly prominent dorsal epidural fat is seen in the upper/mid thoracic spine, greatest at T6-17.
Pertinent levels are as follows:
T6-T7: Disc desiccation with small central disc protrusion measuring 2 mm, which mildly indents the ventral cord. There is mild spinal canal narrowing. No foraminal narrowing.
T7-T8: Disc desiccation with mild diffuse disc bulge. No spinal canal or foraminal narrowing.
I spoke to a neurosurgeon who saw no surgical indication on my back, and reasoned that my issue must be muscular in nature. My doc thinks it could be fibromyalgia. Board began late October if that matters as well.
