Ratings and Speration orders

Sorry yall,

been a pretty busy month or so, so here is my updates.

I received my ratings the 13th of May 2013 got 70% VA 10%DOD  which means that I am getting seperated with service pay. It took just over a month for my ratings to come back and I didnt feel like fighting it.

Rumor Buster:  If you take a severance you have to pay it back with your VA..... True but not all of your va disibility goes to pay back your severance....


I was medboarded for lower back which received 10% both VA and Army, my total VA rating was 70% which with a spouse entitles me to 1402 in disability pay that amount will be reduced by 10% (the amount the army gave you for the med boarded condition) so  10% of 1402 is 140.20 do the math 1261 is now my new disability payment.


I chose not to fight my ratings which it then moved to the seperation phase. After signing the 199 (form for the findings of your PEB that provides your prelim ratings) your packet will be sent to TRANSPOC this is the step where they make your seperation orders and a DD214 worksheet.

Ratings on Monday transpoc by Friday Start clearing the following monday. Finaled out the 31 of may and I am now on transition leave.


TRANSPOC:
---when you hit transpoc you will set your new ETS date
---Requires new ETS Date with in 90 days of hitting transpoc
---You are entitled to 20 days PTDY for House and Job hunting
---Maximum 14 working days of clearning
---Terminal/transition leave time


Severance pay

according to my medical records my condition worsened in a combat zone but was not incurred in a combat zone so my severance is calculated using the following formula

Base pay x 2 x Years of service = $ XXXXX

Initialy taxed how ever the day after your ets date you may file to have the taxes returned to you.

Calculated with a minimum of 3 Years TIS


If your injury was incurred in a combat zone then you will be calculated with a minimum 6 years of service

Base Pay x 2 x 6 yr min or more = $ XXXXXX

Will not be taxed and will not require VA Disablity recoupment.

---Lump Sum + your full VA disability.

UNFIT LETTER

Received my unfit letter about 3 weeks ago. Have not had the chance to update my blog. Sprint gave me a defective phone and 3 defective replacements. Right now. Im just waiting on ratings. The va i was told was backed up usually only a 45 day wait from unfit to ratings is estimated to be 90 to 120 right now.
How ever they have started coming back pretty quick close to the 45 day norm.

Review complete packet to fort Sam

OK so today I reviewed my packet for my med board proceedings. It shows all the things that you failed retention also the things you claimed that meet retention standards. Talked to my Peblo about all this she says that most unfit letters are coming back with in 48 to 72 hours. However remember this is the first step in the physical evaluation board in which the informal board has 15 days to give you an answer. When your packet comes back it will have your Narsum(s) and the medical write up from your qtc appointments. Also they must send documentation of the injury/illness in the form of medical records. This is all done through digital format the only actual signature is your's. Then sent to the peb by email. This also contains your commanders statement where he either recommends you for retention or to kick you out.

Remember you have five days to review and ask questions, and request changes if need be. They were good to me and took one reason that failed retention and basically made it two separate reasons.


Any questions feel free to email me.
Mark.v.Nussbaum@gmail.com


Also I want to let you know that you should get a copy of everything they send to the peb because then you will know why or why not they called you unfit. This is policy that you get a copy of this packet that gets sent to the peb

RESULTS RECEIVED

Today I was informed that my QTC results had come back, and that my NARSUMs both Medical and Psychiatric had been completed and they were ready for my review. I now have 5 days to review these to make sure they are correct and to seek legal help if needed.

Opinion- "That was fast, I wonder how much of it is wrong." Needless to say I have always been confused with other patients/soldiers/officers.  If you go by my military ID it is CPL, if you go by the Air Force Medevac Paper work it is CPT, if you go by medical records its MAJ and if you go by dental records its CW3...... yet when you do an AKO person look up about 3-5 "Nussbaum"s show up, depending on who just enlisted and retired......  "When the DOD and VA process goes fast it worries me cause you're use to Hurry up and Wait"

ACAPed Last Week

If you are in the MEB/PEB you might want to go ahead and set up your ACAP appointments. This is because of the uncertanty of your future. I know when I started my Med board they requested that I give them a copy of my Preseperation counseling form.


Start looking around at Schools and Jobs now! Disability does not kick in on your ETS date I have heard. So my route i chose was school. I have it set up so that if i have to appeal everything (putting me out in january that I will at least have my GI bill to help pay for some bills (Post 9/11 GI has housing allowance). Also if you apply (E5 and below) for financial aid you will most likely get a Pell Grant (do not have to repay). Most college will give you that pell grant back because your GI bill will cover most if not all of the schooling. So that is free money in your pocket just have to take the 15-20 minutes to fill out the application at www.fafsa.gov. I say E5 and below because most E6 and above make to much to recieve the pell grant, how ever it never hurts to apply for it.


Im an E4 with over 3years, and 1 dependent (who doesnt work) and I recieved at 4k dollar pell grant when I go to school that will be kicked back to me from the financial aid office!

VA Rating

So many people are like I got 10% for this 20% for that and 60% for this why is my rating not 90%.


I was described it this way.  You are an apple! 100% there and good.

Your biggest % is a huge bite of that apple so 60% is damaged goods 40% is still good.
The bites come out one by one and based on the "good" part left

Your next biggest % is 20%.  This means 20% of the good 40%.
20%=0.2     40 x .2 = 8%   now you are at 68% leaving and "good" 32% left

The next bite out of that apple is 10% of the 32% that is still "good"

10% of 32 is 3.2 percent (VA rounds so its 3%)  add that 3% to your 68% makes this 71% (VA rounds so your total percent is now 70% disabled


Base your compensation on the table here.  

Timeline for UNFIT

So you were found unfit, and you ask yourself what happens next!?    Well now you are about balls deep in the PEB process depending on how many times you tired to the Fight the DOD.

As far as ratings go, you will receive 2 ratings a DOD rating (>30% medical retirement, <30% severance) and a VA Rating (<30% flat rate, >30% disability compensation is based on %, # of dependents) ***** VA will always be higher than army****


If you were found unfit during the informal physical evaluation board then you will be moved to the VA side of the PEB where they issue your ratings.


15 days - Issue preliminary Rating
----------You will receive a letter that give you an over all rating (rounded to the nearest 10%)
----------Also will be a list of what you were rated for  (i.e. 10% R. Knee, 5% L. Ankle 0% R. Shoulder)


************Soldier can request rating reconsideration*************
                              (Ratings CAN go DOWN)

15 Days - Reconsider your ratings


After your final rating are given to you you go to the Transition Phase

45 Days to process for separation
----------Clearing!
----------If you take PTDY and Terminal Leave this will extend extend this 45 day goal

30 Days post Separation
----------Receive VA Benefits Letter (Goal is 1 months after receipt of DD214)
*********Veteran can appeal this benefits letter*************

IF Found Fit

If you are in a WTU/WTB you know after 6 months you go from being attached to being assigned. If this is you and you are found fit, then you will be Returned to duty.

Timeline looks like this


FIT

45 Days - Unit Reassignment
----------PTDY and leave as necessary but may extend your 45 days

PCS

Timeline

So my wife brought up a good point to me about timelines the whole process can take up to 295 days not counting any terminal leave you take. The process is broken down like so.

Your PCM/Provider recommends you for MEB (P-3 Permenant profile with a 3 or 4 as a limitation) and then the box "Soldier needs referred to MEB" needs to be checked. That starts the process, the profile is then forwarded to the MEB/IDES Clinic. This is where your "treatment phase" stops (treatment can continue but your doctor feels that you have reached your maximum recovery; dont think that the Doc drops you and never sees you again after that).


Over all your first phase post treatment/recovery is called the MEB phase, this is where they find if you meet retention standards for all basic soldiers. If you have heard about the FIT/UNFIT letter this is where you get this. There are no ratings provided in this phase

All the days I am about to provide will be in this format Acitve component/ Reserve component, and all days are calendar days not business days.

DAYS -  PROCESS
             ----what happens here.

10/30 - Referral to MEB
------------First contact with your PEBLO and PEBLO Assistant
------------PEBLO forwards your case to the VA Claims development section of IDES (intergrated disability evaluation System)





10/30 - Claim Development
------------VA will contact you to make your initial claim.  The claim will be based on why you do not meet retention standards.
------------VA will also allow you to claim at this time on a separate sheet everything that can be claim (i.e  R. Knee Tendonitis, R. Ankle Tendonitis, Scars, Allergies, etc.)
------------My PEBLO prior to this appointment with VA gave me a "problem list" everytime a doctor sees you its call an "encounter" and when they open that new medical record on you they see everything that you have been seen by a provider for like the past 2-3 month or longer depends how often you are seen.




45/45 -  Medical Evaluation
------------ You will receive a packet from QTC through FedEx which will have appointments DO NOT MISS THESE!!!!! TRUST ME YOU DONT WANT THAT HELL TO COME DOWN ON YOU. Also follow the instructions to the T.
------------This is the part you hear about people talking about QTC appointments and C&P exams. A QTC appointment is where you are referred off post to a medical evaluation company called QTC (it doesn't stand for anything)
------------Males be prepared to turn your head and cough, have a UA (unsupervised for druggies) and a blood draw, a chest x-ray, and if you have joint problems be prepared to have every angle x-rayed.
------------Your doctor will go over your paper work (from the packet) with you.
------------If you have mental/behavioral issues you will see a civilian psychiatrist
------------Also includes an audiology appointment


35/35  -  MEB Stage
-----------This is where the results from the QTC appointment are given to the VA and the Army to determine if you are fit for duty.
-----------Results can atleast 3 weeks to get back!!!! So remember that this part is going to take some time. These times are not necessarily mandatory for the ARMY and VA. It can exceed these time frames but they try not to.
-----------When your results are recieved back at VA they are forwarded to IDES (peblo) where he/she will forward them to your MEB doctor who will write your NARSUM. If you have mental/ behavioral issues they will have a separate psychiatric NARSUM.

**********AT this point you have 5 CALENDAR DAYS to look over your narsum and make sure it is written correctly for the correct condition.********************

-----------After you approve your NARSUM they package it all together and ship it to FT Sam Houston (east of carson) (west of carson to to Joint Base Lewis-McCord)


15/15- Informal Physical Evaluation Board
--------Findings will provide FIT/UNFIT letter and preliminary preliminary DOD Rating


***********Soldier can Request a Formal Physical Evaluation Board************


30/30 - Formal Physical Evlauation Board
--------- You will be given the chance to appear in front of a board of medical personel and plead your case. You do have a right during your MEB/PEB stage to seek legal counsel, if you choose to go the FPEB then I would use them. You can issue subpoenas to military medical personal to testify on your behalf about your condition, and you can have civilian providers come down on your behalf.
**Note the DOD will pay for you and military medical personnel, civilians are on their own dime and time**

*************If you do not like the findings of the FPEB you can rebuttal and request a reconsideration**************


30/30 - Reconsideration
----------This is your final DOD rating and FIT/UNFIT chance.

QTC Appointment Blood Work

So today I recieved a nice little letter from QTC about my lipid panel (cholesterol check) being abnormal. We shall see how this plays into the med board.

MEB Start

7 February 2013 I meet with my PCM at WTU and he asks me do you want Medboarded or do you want to return to your unit with a Permenant No Running/ Sit up/ Push up/ <40lb lifting and walk at own pace and distance. I tell him I want medboarded because im thinking about my future and if i were somehow to pull the points out of my ass to become an NCO how am i to lead troops........... Its unfair to the soldiers I would have been leading.



12 February 2013 - Meet with my PEBLO (Physical Evaluation Board Liaison Officer) to discuss the MEB/PEB process and notify me of my rights to legal counsel.


19 February 2013 - File initial VA compensation Claim to get C&P exams (aka QTC appointments)

9 March 2013 - Pop in my back while setting down a box (under 20lbs, profiled allows upto 40lbs)

11 March 2013 - Receive Packet with QTC appointments

13 March 2013 - MRI and follow up at Neurosurgeon
         ---- MRI shows Reherniated L5 (8mm)
         ---- FML

21 March 2013 - All QTC (C&P) exams complete awaiting VA Results (at minimum 3 weeks)

That brings us to today 28 March 2013