Broken Airman

Sorry, I have to (again) butt in and say that, most likely, this route won't work for you. You may be able to access your digital service record (if you are one of the lucky few that NPRC has scanned your record in), but the assignment data mentioned may not be available to you. The system we use (Soldier Management System or IWS) has only been in use since 2002, so most non-retirees that were discharged prior to then do not have a profile and, therefore, service data is not maintained. Also, having the UIC doesn't help in your situation because, again, it is unit information, not your specific assignment information. I apologize for being such a negative Nancy, but I have dealt with situations like these so may times over the last 7 years that I prefer to be honest about how difficult a case will be rather than give false hope. I am, however, in no way saying it's impossible or that you shouldn't try, just being realistic!

I apologize in advance if this is too long and/or includes too much TMI, but I am going around in circles at the moment and need a redirect from some of the knowledgeable folks here. I plan to meet with a reputable VSO in my area, but it will take several weeks to get an appointment and I am hoping to be pretty prepared when I do meet him. I was discharged January 1998 and had filed my initial VA claim a few months prior. The rep assisting me went through my STRs page by page and claimed anything i had been seen a few times about, most of which was denied SC. I felt that, for the most part, my determination was fair and did not appeal. About a year later (after months of increasing symptoms culminating in almost complete blindness) I was diagnosed with Pseudotumor Cerebri (now known as Intercrainial Hypertension) by a civilian Neurologist. In the course of treating the IH, I was referred to an Endocrinologist to investigate an anomaly on an MRI they had ordered. The Endocrinologist, after discussing my medical history, viewing the MRI and performing tests, diagnosed me with a Prolactinoma. Not long after, I lost my private insurance and began being seen at the VA, where they confirmed the diagnoses and took over treatments. The IH resolved within 6 months, but my vision remained damaged and has only worsened over the years. I attempted treatment for the Prolactinoma several times, but have never been able to tolerate the meds and side effects for long and have largely remained untreated for the last 18 years. Okay, so finally to my current situation. I am planning to file in order to establish service connection for the prolactinoma with residuals of headaches, depression and anxiety and vision loss. I have a few documents from my STRs; labs and treatment notes from my OB/Gyn stating my complaints (Amenorrhea, bilateral galactorrhea, headaches, fatigue, loss of libido, depression) for which she ordered a Prolactin level and found it to be high, but the outcome was a "wait and see" if it resolved itself in 6 months since I was "only" 1 year post-partum. I also have the treatment notes from a GP visit from a few months later where I was seen for worsening of the same symptoms as well as unexplained weight gain; they checked my thyroid and tried to refer me to Mental Health (which was the kiss of death back then), which I declined. I ETS'd soon after without ever having been diagnosed. I have been treated by the VA since 1999, but the medical records from the 6 months I saw civilian doctors has been long gone for years. Do i have enough evidence to A) establish service connection and B) can a nexus also be shown with this? Another question, when I filed originally, many of the symptoms of the (as yet undiagnosed) prolactinoma were claimed but denied. Could I request SC be established as the day after I left service based on this, or is that too much of a stretch? I've read a few board decisions where they did allow it because the diagnosis wasn't made until later, but it has been 19 years... Again, sorry it is so long; I really did try to condense it down! Thanks in advance for any insights!

I am in the gathering evidence stage of preparing to request a rate increase/adding previously left out conditions, so I was already planning to make the request for my back based on decreased ROM. This issue, though, is currently taking precedence because it's affecting my daily living and the pain is making me miserable. I just want the VA to provide the medical care they promised instead of spending so much time denying me care...

Thanks, I have been getting more and more dissatisfied with my PCP (who I have been seeing for 10+ years!) because she has started shutting me down anytime I have a complaint outside of what health concern she wants to concentrate on. It's like a knee jerk reaction now to tell me it's my weight, or my age (in only 41, gimme a break, lol!) and try to shove meds down my throat. I think our "relationship" is no longer repairable after the fight I had to put up to be seen about my knees. Maybe it's simply time to move on to another PCP... BTW, the x-rays were allegedly normal, so not even arthritis. Not sure how they are justifying not pursuing further testing given the severity of the pain.

Thanks for the reply, I may do that if I decide to request an increase to my rating. Right now, though, I don't have private insurance and cannot afford to pay out of pocket for a private specialist, so I was trying to see what options I have for "forcing the issue" within the VA. My biggest concern at the moment is ensuring that I'm not at risk of incurring any further or more permanent damage and, of course, getting my pain back to a more manageable level without drugs (I refuse to take anything stronger than Motrin)...

The title of your post made me think of this... as a side note to yourself and any others that read this post, please ensure that all (Army) requests for corrections of any sort (with the exception of discharge upgrades) are submitted to Army HRC first. If you go directly to the Army Review Board/Board of Corrections without having been sent there by HRC, your request will sit in the queue, then be closed without action because you have not exhausted all of your administrative remedies. Just an fyi to save time and effort!

Unfortunately, I don't know why they only list imminent danger pay locations (basically deployments) in block 18 (in your case I believe it would be block 23). Technically, by the reg it is allowable to list all OCONUS assignments, it's just that the transition centers usually can't be bothered unless the Service member insists. Another suggestion for proving service in Germany would be your 2-1, or the citation if you received an ARCOM or AAM for your service time there. If there are errors on your 214 (and you have copies of documents supporting this), you can send a request (internet search for an SF-180 and be sure to ink sign it) and the supporting docs to the Army Human Resource Command HR Service Center (also an internet search for email and/or phone number). The case will come to myself or another analyst in my section, but be aware that there is a wait of 60-90 business days at minimum (sorry, there's only 7 of us servicing every request type for the entire population of Army veterans, retirees and family members). Hope this helps!

Hi all, relatively new here and in desperate need of advice. I am rated 10% for lower back pain (since 1998) and, though I have mentioned it worsening in passing at my PC appointments over the last few years, I never pursued treatment beyond Motrin and sucking it up. Basically, I get it that I am getting older and the nature of DDD is that it gets worse over time, so that combined with being overweight (due to other medical conditions) and not being as active as I should be, I knew it was "normal" for my back to hurt. Recently, though, in the course of normal activity, I felt a very painful pop in my lower back and since then have had my daily pain increase exponentially, as well as a grinding feeling (like bone on bone). If I move the wrong way, the grinding is accompanied by a sharp "shock" that shoots pain around my left side and down my left leg, which has buckled under and nearly dropped me to the floor on several occasions, then my back hurts horribly (an 8) for a few days before calming back down to normal (5 or 6)... My problem is this. I explained this to my PCP, who proceeded to blow me off and say that arthritis is normal and to take more Motrin to reduce swelling. When I mentioned that arthritis does not typically have an acute symptom onset like this, she asked me if I wanted x-rays and begrudgingly ordered them. X-rays for back pain are rarely useful, but I know there is a process they have to follow now to try and solve the problem at the lowest level (i spent over a year just trying to get to Ortho for my knees only to be told I'm still too young for replacements), so I had them taken. No big shock, they claim the film shows no abnormality and that's it. No further testing, no further treatment, just dead in the water because a PCP with only basic knowledge and a useless x-ray say there's nothing wrong. Does anyone have any advice on where I can go from here? I am scared to death that I'm doing more damage to my back or that I'll end up with permanent nerve damage, and frustrated beyond belief that I'm not being taken seriously on this. Sorry for the long post, and thanks in advance for any guidance!

That is true, the Army does have a Unit History archive in DC, however, in this situation it wouldn't help because it does nothing to prove you were assigned there and during what dates. The closest the Army would have to the aforementioned daily deck log are Morning Reports, which can be requested from the Army Human Resources Command, but there again, they have proven next to useless on the rare occasion we were able to locate any.

If you are asking if they compiled databases or copies of paperwork for these types of actions, then no, they act as nothing more than an archive storage and retrieval. If you requested your records and it was not included in their response, you can submit a new request specifying what form(s) you are requesting or for a complete copy of every document in your record. They do only send copies of "pertinent" service documents (especially if your record is large), but will send copies of any omitted documents if you submit a follow-up requests for them. Keep in mind though that many units were not very diligent in maintaining Service member's records, especially with administrative type actions, so the document may simply not exist in your record. If that is the case then, barring you finding a copy in your personal files, the document is essentially gone forever.

I process requests like this daily and, unfortunately, the answer is no. While the medical document may show that you were at that post in Germany on that day, it cannot verify that you were assigned there and from what start date to what end date. Also, service in Germany is generally not annotated on the DD 214, so it is not likely it would have been included to begin with. If you really need to prove you served in Germany, I would suggest you requests your pay stubs from the time period from DFAS as they may show a start and end date based on changes in your locality or other special pay. It's a long shot, but I have had some success in verifying overseas service in this manner.