Hello Hadit family. I've been monitoring the site for some time and this is my first post. It will be lengthy and I apologize in advance. I need some therapy so I thank you for allowing the post.
I was an Infantryman 11B. I am an OIF vet medically separated in Jan 05 for back pain due to scoliosis.
Two years before my deployment with the 4th ID, the spring of 02, I was diagnosed at Walter Reed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Depression "other than categorized." Walter Reed was my local medical facility because I was stationed in the Military District of Washington, and was serving in "The Old Guard" executing ceremonies in the Capitol Region and full honors funerals in Arlington Natl Cemetery. While in there in 3D INF my mid back and left rib pain began fall 02 during training for EIB testing. I grunted it out, earned my EIB then later visited sick call at the unit aid station a few times and was given the old take motrin, drink water, drive on treatment. I also fell in the barracks and injured some of the small bones in my right wrist. After visiting off and on for nearly two months, an xray and mri of my wrist was finally ordered. Surprise, there was a fracture and a bone fragment floating around in there. So I grunt these things out for a full year and PCS to 3d BDE 4ID, Fort Carson, CO.
11/03. The unit I was to be assigned A CO 1/8 INF to was already in Iraq and I was going to be deployed with one of the last groups of replacements. I was left with a difficult decision of alerting my new command of my back problem which continued to worsen and looking like a coward, or deploying and possibly becoming a liability to my squad in the event of having to carry an injured squadmember, my back going out and needing help myself. So I decided to give Ft Carson's medical staff a try for a diagnosis, after the drink water take motrin/drive on treatment in Ft Myer. The result was a diagnosis of thoraculumbar scoliosis(mid-back and neck). I was given a P3 profile and had to inform the rear detachment chain of command. The officer of the day's response was, "Can he hold a rifle? Then he's F'n going! Honestly I wanted to go, just prayed my back would hold up. Days later I report to my 1SGt in theater at Camp Paliwada(East Balad, Iraq)with a P3 and become a M-249 Sawgunner We do the Infantry thing and after a couple months redeploy. Back home the back pain increases I seek further remedy, the Docs tell me he Officer of the Day by reg should have sent me. Ten months later I am Medically Separated at 0%, Jan 05 four months before the end of my 4 year enlistment. Oh yeah, the Carson hospital had a CHIROPRACTOR!
On the The VA.
After separation I have been desperately struggle try to readjust and better myself. Back pain and anxiety have overtaken my existence with brief and cherished lapses. Once the $13k separation pay and unemployment ran out the troubles intensify.
-SC 10% for scoliosis lumbar spine (my pain and curvature does not inhibit my range of motion much)
-SC 10% for Dysthymia "(also claimed as anxiety disorder)" this frustrated me greatly that the examiner changed a diagnosis of three years treated by different psychologists to a mood disorder the simply means, extended period of depression.
I also made a HUGE mistake by stating if felt "much better"
My claims for pes planus, acne, and avulsion injury to right wrist were denied.
I failed to appeal due to hopes that things would simply get better and I was just stressed about moving and readjusting to civilian life. I never thought that I would come have to rely on the VA for sustenance.
Where I am today...
Since my separation, I have only been holding jobs for three months at best before insomnia, anxiety, or confusion drives me to resign or face termination. I now face difficulty finding employment due to lack of stability in my resume, on which I omit ALOT of jobs. Being former Infantry also limits my scope of civilian sector skills. I nearly started with the Dept of Corrections as a last resort this week, but was strongly advised not to by my VA psychologist. Last year my annual income was under $9000
I'll follow up tomorrow, sleep meds and pain killers finally taking effect..... Matthew
Question
abnpayne
Hello Hadit family. I've been monitoring the site for some time and this is my first post. It will be lengthy and I apologize in advance. I need some therapy so I thank you for allowing the post.
I was an Infantryman 11B. I am an OIF vet medically separated in Jan 05 for back pain due to scoliosis.
Two years before my deployment with the 4th ID, the spring of 02, I was diagnosed at Walter Reed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Depression "other than categorized." Walter Reed was my local medical facility because I was stationed in the Military District of Washington, and was serving in "The Old Guard" executing ceremonies in the Capitol Region and full honors funerals in Arlington Natl Cemetery. While in there in 3D INF my mid back and left rib pain began fall 02 during training for EIB testing. I grunted it out, earned my EIB then later visited sick call at the unit aid station a few times and was given the old take motrin, drink water, drive on treatment. I also fell in the barracks and injured some of the small bones in my right wrist. After visiting off and on for nearly two months, an xray and mri of my wrist was finally ordered. Surprise, there was a fracture and a bone fragment floating around in there. So I grunt these things out for a full year and PCS to 3d BDE 4ID, Fort Carson, CO.
11/03. The unit I was to be assigned A CO 1/8 INF to was already in Iraq and I was going to be deployed with one of the last groups of replacements. I was left with a difficult decision of alerting my new command of my back problem which continued to worsen and looking like a coward, or deploying and possibly becoming a liability to my squad in the event of having to carry an injured squadmember, my back going out and needing help myself. So I decided to give Ft Carson's medical staff a try for a diagnosis, after the drink water take motrin/drive on treatment in Ft Myer. The result was a diagnosis of thoraculumbar scoliosis(mid-back and neck). I was given a P3 profile and had to inform the rear detachment chain of command. The officer of the day's response was, "Can he hold a rifle? Then he's F'n going! Honestly I wanted to go, just prayed my back would hold up. Days later I report to my 1SGt in theater at Camp Paliwada(East Balad, Iraq)with a P3 and become a M-249 Sawgunner
We do the Infantry thing and after a couple months redeploy. Back home the back pain increases I seek further remedy, the Docs tell me he Officer of the Day by reg should have sent me. Ten months later I am Medically Separated at 0%, Jan 05 four months before the end of my 4 year enlistment. Oh yeah, the Carson hospital had a CHIROPRACTOR!
On the The VA.
After separation I have been desperately struggle try to readjust and better myself. Back pain and anxiety have overtaken my existence with brief and cherished lapses. Once the $13k separation pay and unemployment ran out the troubles intensify.
My VA interaction is as follows. Decided 30Nov05
-SC 10% Degenerative Joint Disease bilateral knees
-SC 0% Bilateral plantar fasciitis
-SC 10% for scoliosis lumbar spine (my pain and curvature does not inhibit my range of motion much)
-SC 10% for Dysthymia "(also claimed as anxiety disorder)" this frustrated me greatly that the examiner changed a diagnosis of three years treated by different psychologists to a mood disorder the simply means, extended period of depression.
I also made a HUGE mistake by stating if felt "much better"
My claims for pes planus, acne, and avulsion injury to right wrist were denied.
I failed to appeal due to hopes that things would simply get better and I was just stressed about moving and readjusting to civilian life. I never thought that I would come have to rely on the VA for sustenance.
Where I am today...
Since my separation, I have only been holding jobs for three months at best before insomnia, anxiety, or confusion drives me to resign or face termination. I now face difficulty finding employment due to lack of stability in my resume, on which I omit ALOT of jobs. Being former Infantry also limits my scope of civilian sector skills. I nearly started with the Dept of Corrections as a last resort this week, but was strongly advised not to by my VA psychologist. Last year my annual income was under $9000
I'll follow up tomorrow, sleep meds and pain killers finally taking effect..... Matthew
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