Spondylitis Association of America Forums General Discussion Military & Veterans Board THE BIGGEST OF THANKS!

Dear Mike

Thanx for getting back to me. I am stationed at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah,Ga and I did get the anthrax shot back in 2005 and 2006.One thing I don't like is the doctor that said I have this don't seem to be doing his research on AS,he said he don't think AS is a serious matter which of course he is wrong.What advise do you have for me on this if any.And again thank you for getting back to me so quick.

Thank you so much for this information. I have had a MEB and now the package is ready to go to the PEB or so i thought.

A little background info on me. I am active duty with 19 1/2 years of active service. I have been diagnosed with AS with Xray evidence showing the early stages of Arthritis in my spine, ankles, knees, hips, shoulders and a few of my fingers. I also have bursitis and impingment in both shoulders as well.

I printed the three DVA worksheets and took them with me to review the package that was going to be sent out today. I discovered that the physical therapist here as Keesler AFB did not follow ANY of the worksheets. She did not document any of the pain, she merely pushed my arms (and other joints) through the pain to get a range of motion. My arms were lifted for me over my head as i cringed in pain... giving me a full range of motion with no mention to the pain that i was in.

I talked to the PEBLO here at Keesler AFB about my concerns and she told me that she could not discuss it with me because she was not there in the room. She was absolutely no help.

I (on my own) went back to my Primary Care Provider and showed him the worksheets and the limited results of her ROM test, he agreed that what she provided did not come close to the worksheet. He is requesting a second opinion from a nuetral (i.e. civilian) provider.

I am new to this forum, i found this forum a few hours before my appointment to review my package and i was going to let the PEBLO send it forward...with alot of missing information that would have most likely resulted in an inadequate rating.

Is there anything else that i should be watching out for? What advice do you wish you would have received BEFORE the package went out?

Once again thank you for the help you have already provided.

Joe Willams

It sounds like you are on the right track. Having them use all of the VA worksheets related to this disease is very important.

If found unfit, it will be important that they rate you per the 5002 VA rating criteria.

Mike

WOW most of the people dealing with this process on the MEB side makes this system seems like a huge "Charlie Foxtrot" (as we used to call it when i was in the Army).

I asked for a second opinion for my range of motion test (mentioned in previous post) and it was signed off complete because they already did a range of motion test and "I did not need another test".

My PEBLO here at Keesler AFB is telling me that "they dont need the DVA worksheets" and "they dont need to follow DoDI 1332.38 because they have a email that was sent to her and the physical therapist doing the range of motion test". She then said that "IF they need anything else they will call and ask for it".

What can I do or who should I be complaing too? This PEBLO certanily does not appear to be looking out for my interest.

Any suggestions?

First line of defense is to write a rebuttal to attach to your MEB board explaining what you believe to be in error or missing. Try to tie your points to regulatory and policy requirements.

Mike

I personally whould request a copy of the email that states they are exempt from following DoDI 1332.38 because unless I've become retarded overnight the directive for them is to follow the 38 CFR and unless they have a Congressional approved allowance to deviate from those gidelines then inform them that with all due respect they need to stop blowing smoke up you third point of contact.

Slight error,

The DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY (DON) DISABILITY EVALUATION MANUAL is SECNAV INSTRUCTION 1850.4E