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Getting Out After 10 Years, Need Advice!

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Morning all,

I'm not sure that this is the place for this, but the almost ridiculous security here prevents me from asking anywhere else.

I'm ETS'ing after ten years of service. I was injured in Iraq nearly 5 years ago and now I have had to have surgery to remove some chunks of memory. While doing this the doctors gave me a spinal anesthetic which they screwed up. Now I walk like egor and at a 30 degree angle. Since my ETS is right here a medical chapter was forgone.

Anyway, I have done my part 1 VA physical, given 24 x-rays, all the samples and my what is now list of issues. No doctor seems to want to actually give a label to what is wrong with my spinal cord so I have no idea what to say there. They did an MRI as well and somebody, somewhere said it was normal?

My question to all of you is this. In general what advice do you have for going through this part 2 physical? What are the right and wrong things to say? Maybe what would you have done different? Lastly, where do I stand and what do I do about the fact that nobody will fess up to the fact that my back is screwed, even though I can barely walk on my left leg and can't pick up my friggin' cat?

Obviously my back is my primary complaint and would see the highest disability(since it is). If they base my percentage on anything else to start, I am going to lose on this BIG TIME!

Thank you all for any input and help!

Ray

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I agree with the other members..except for you don't have to steal those records...if you are still active duty just go up to medical records and ask them for a copy of all your medical records...and if they ask why tell them because you need a copy to keep with you in the event you go on leave home...then go to exray and ask them for a copy of any films they may have tell them the same thing if they ask..

This is the best time for you to start a time line...with all information about who, what, and where,

Also get address of all buddies that have knowledge of what happened if possible get them to write out a letter now...while you are still in...now if they give you an address...it might be a good idea to get a permant address like that of there folks...someone who will know where they are just in case.

If you have any photographs of where you have been that can be added to your timeline...

PLEASE I hope you are keeping a daily diary on how you are feeling...

and for goodness sake if they ask you HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY...tell them the truth...first if I didn't feel like s@#t I wouldn't be here talking to you!

If you are married perhaps your wife would be a better one to keep a diary on how your days are going...she would be more to the point...*smile*

I would definaly request a Medical Review in writing and KEEP A COPY OF IT FOR YOURSELF AND WHO SIGNED IT...if you hand it in have it time and date stamped and get a copy of that...things tend to disapear once you get out of the Active Service..

Don't let anyone tell you well once you get out you have a year to file...

YOU WANT IT TO BE LOOKED INTO NOW...NOT TOMORROW...

You did not enlist broken...like that sign say's "if you break it you brought it"

same goes here...if they broke you they have to fix you...and if they can't they need to compensate you...

MT

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  • HadIt.com Elder

I agree with Phil to get a military lawyer if you can because from what I know the disability boards in the military are very adversarial and they just want to get rid of you as cheaply as possible. Much worse than the VA because they really want to screw you and the process is stacked against you. Get a consult with a civilian military lawyer. It will be worth the money you pay him.

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  • HadIt.com Elder

Sometimes when they med board you out they'll give you a lump sum but remember before you'll get any money from VA that lump sum gets paid back to the VA. So don't be blinded by any "lump sum" offer. I still say check with a civilian military law attorney before you do anything. jmo

pr

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Guest Dataman

Ok I understand your enlistment is up.

You were hurt and surgery made it worse.

Me I would want copies of all records.

Part of the Final Outprocessing should include Physical. Make sure they do this and not pencil whip it.

I would ask for MEB myself. I would think (Guess) the VA would give you 40% at least for the back if you cannot stand straight. I got 40% and I am not bad off.

Only problem with getting MEB is it takes forever nowdays and you remain on Active Duty. Apply for SSA Disability as soon as your off Active Duty (termal level etc).

Talk to DAV or someone local!!!!

Don't rely on just us know it alls on this BBS (Sorry).

I went thru 2 MEB's and retired in 1996 (MEB 1993, returned to Duty, Code 20 - No Overseas or Deployments, they never got rid of my AFSC unless you Died)

List every little thing wrong with you on your VA Form. Make sure every thing about you that's wrong is in your medical records!

Wish you luck!

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Dataman -I like what you said:

"Don't rely on just us know it alls on this BBS (Sorry"

I am not offended at all by what you said-you are right--these are new situations that many of us- as well as seasoned vet reps are unfamiliar with-

Veteran -I mean service man----the point this vet made is that you need someone on your side there NOW-

Any vet rep-or military liason to disability benefits- who comprehends your problem-dont they have some sort of transition teams?

The VA Secretary claims you men and women are getting exempliary medical care as well as faster claims processing-

I sure wonder about that.Are you at all ambulatory?

Do you have phone access in your room in the Hosp?

The DAV and AL etc should be coming around the halls from time to time -

or might have a temporary room they use for claims advise there-

the patients rep could advise you when they are there.

I am not sure what the situation you are in really is-Military Hospital? I bet the operator there could switch your call to those who can help you.

like someone said the lump sum is just that and not negotiable-

they could give 40% SC as a lump sum when a VA claim could generate 100%

instead.With date of discharge as the EED.

Edited by Berta

GRADUATE ! Nov 2nd 2007 American Military University !

When thousands of Americans faced annihilation in the 1800s Chief

Osceola's response to his people, the Seminoles, was

simply "They(the US Army)have guns, but so do we."

Sameo to us -They (VA) have 38 CFR ,38 USC, and M21-1- but so do we.

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