Medical Discharge

[babyray]

I got a story from a friend of mine who's son need some advice. His son is a 6 year army vet. 2 years ago he was sent to iraq and had a mild heart attack. He was dx w/ heart disease after having a angiogram and was put on meds. 2 months ago after having his arteries cleaned out ( he is station in Virginia now). Now they want to put a pacemaker in his chest and send him to Afghanistan. All conditions are SC and part of his SMR.

He wants to get out of the military. Should he get a medical discharge and if so, how should he go by getting out? Should they automaticly give him one? Can he file for SC disability? This is all I was told about this situattion so maybe someone has enough info to give me a good education guess?

[john999]

There was a national guard guy here a while back who was DX'ed with severe PTSD. He had orders to go back to Iraq or Afghanistan. I think we got him out of it. He was willing to go back and somehow thought he would be better off back in the combat zone. I think this guilt or disordered thinking may be part of the syndrome. The fact that the guard would send a severely emotionally ill soldier back into combat is depressing.

[cooter]

There was a national guard guy here a whi sadle back who was DX'ed with severe PTSD. He had orders to go back to Iraq or Afghanistan. I think we got him out of it. He was willing to go back and somehow thought he would be better off back in the combat zone. I think this guilt or disordered thinking may be part of the syndrome. The fact that the guard would send a severely emotionally ill soldier back into combat is depressing.

Perty sad isn't! Goes to show they just don't give a DAMN!!!

[USNDW]

Service members cannot request a MEB, that has to be done by MTF or Command.

Recommend you tell his son to check out the PEB forum. There are 2 great resources there in Jason & Col. Parker. Either or both should be able to answer questions like serving a tour in Afg with a pacemaker. I seriously doubt that is a good idea, regardless of what his MOS is. He is going to need medical support and if anything serious happens, well, that's probably enough said.

I would be surprised if any MTF examiners would approve him for an overseas tour, and am kind of surprised they have not requested a MEB yet. I will tell you that the Army in FT. Leavenworth, the Col & Maj there did abbreviated MEB and they recommended 3 consecutive periods of Limited Duty of 180 days, and 1 90 day period of light duty and the Navy agreed. Only after all of these periods were over did they, or would they start a MEB to recommend a PEB. My Command was hostile about the whole process and I told them, in fact asked them, when they were bitching about my medical restrictions, to request a MEB so I could get the MEB. The Major at the MTF also told me very clearly that he would not let me retire, made it clear that if I tried to get a Retirement physical before my periods were up that he would not approve the seperation. In the end I realized that he really was looking out for me because I needed the time to get my crap together with the VA and SSA before being retired, which I did.