Hello From Northeren Virginia

[Deleted member 43454]

To all of you who have responded thus far- Thank You
I've accepted that I will more then likely have to serve out my remaining time. As for knocking time off the 22 months for leave and miscellaneous things I have already accounted for that. My actual ETS would be 30 months from now but with 60 days of leave as I believe that is the max my unit allows for terminal leave and a 6 month work drop it has me sitting at 22months remaining. For those of you advising me to get things documented what exactly are you saying? Yes the doctors have actually tested me (if that's what they want to call it) for ptsd and they do say I have it but I just assumed all that goes into my medical records. Are ya'll advising I need personal copies of all that?

Yea, you should be alright since you are diagnosed it'll be on there.
They just have to look it up on the computer.

 

[Friday]

Try and keep copies of all your records. It will save you a lot of headache later when you or if you seek VA compensation.

^^^^

This. I tried off & on for most of a decade to get my records. Eventually it turned into pure comedy. My records have apparently been destroyed by fire, flood (at least twice), hurricane, acts of terror... I was about to take a bus & a tent to St. Louis to just camp out in their lobby until someone brought me their radioactive soggy ashes... When my attorney made one phone call & got the bastards. (Whoop! They live!) 4k phone call, I shit you not, although I spent about 8k all told. Even so, we only got them less than 24 hours before I had to stand in front of a panel this winter.

Shrug. It's the military. Plan for the most f*cked up combo of events possible to CYA, and sit back in f*cking wonder as things all go according to plan, or don't... And situation normal... Bring on the sandpaper condom, baby.

Snort. My DD214 is still all f*cked up. Has me in for (significantly!) longer than I served, at a lower rank than I was. f*ckers. I'm refusing to deal with it at present. Maybe in another 10 years.

 

[Spock]

...Any help is very much appreciated, thank you.

The answer is a BIG "YES" to everything you are asking to do but you have to play it cool, quiet and respectfully which is hard for us when the beast is raging. The good thing is you have not made any moves apparently beyond the most important which is to get the diagnosis. Build your medical team consensus first, document it, then get your Chain of Command (CoC) to support it, and then add treatment into your duty schedule as a medical accommodation. Pursue a PEB (look it up) and then after you get some treatment decide if you can make the final 22 months with accommodation and decide if you want to try for a MEB (to get Medical Retirement).

Medical Records:

YES you must get and keep copies of “your” medical files—ALL of them. Now!!! There are two part to your records you need: (1) Medical (basic) Records & (2) Behavioral Health (BH) Records. Go to your clinic’s Medical Records section and request a copy of your records; then go back every 3 months and repeat. Put your records in a safe place because you’re gonna need them over the next few years—DON’T LOSE THEM! Also, ask them what form or office you need to go to get copies of your BH records since they have higher level of protection which requires your doctor’s signature release. As a courtesy, let your Psych Doc know right AFTER you do this so they can prepare.

I can tell you how to plan your attack strategy to out flank potential enemies because we already know who they will likely be. Your PTSD will be your biggest issue, as in yourself, and lack of patience but you acknowledge that up front and keep on lid on it at the key points and let it rage when you get home or in group therapy.

The Army has done what it does all the time, put you in a mission that affects [TRIGGERS] your PTSD every day. Funerals are obviously a "trigger" for your PTSD (depression, anxiety, irritable, flashbacks, maybe anger and likely exaggerated startle if cannon/gun salutes are going off). You need to seek medical accommodation for your condition or removing you from certain duties. Certainly the unit has other options while you seek treatment and if they do the right thing they will work with you with a flexible work schedule and allow you to take advantage of your easy access to WRNMMC and you can do your 22 months –or—they will assigned you to the Army Wounded Warrior (AW2) Warrior Transition Brigade (WTB).

KEY: Speak to your Doctor BEFORE you reach out to AW2 and your CoC. The best scenario is to get your Medical Team and AW2 on your side BEFORE you speak to your Chain of Command. If you have a GREAT relationship with your CoC, First SGT or CSM already than you might test the waters to see if they are willing to support you speaking more to AW2 or do what they should do and refer you to AW2. They may be willing to allow you to pursue more treatment by providing you more accommodations at your current duty locations, things that limit your triggers. That is what they are supposed to do and would be the BEST scenario with the least roadblocks for everyone involved, especially you. If you can reduce the bureaucratic drama it will be less negativity for you & everyone overall.

(1) Medical: Find a helpful PsyDoc as an ally to back you on the Medical paperwork end. If you like your current Psych Doc good…do you have recurring follow-ups? What has he/she recommended for treatment? Group? Outpatient programs? Medical accommodations at work? If you already told them what you wrote here than I wonder why they haven’t already suggested some options relating to your work—RED FLAG. So do that first if you haven’t yet, share these concerns and see what they say simply to evaluate them. If they are fully supportive that would be great! If not than you need to find a new doc and it is your right to always request a new one without questions. Start by writing out how working funerals affects you before, during and after: less sleep, overwhelming depression, how anxious you get before and after, intrusive flashbacks, exaggerated startle in response to gun/bugles/explosions/noise/crowds, feeling of detachment, etc.

(2) AW2: Go seek them out the WTB at Belvoir or WRNMMC (new Walter Reed-Bethesda) which is very convneient to Ft. McNair via Rocky Creek Blvd). Contact them soonest with the intent to learn more options. You may not be ready to take any action especially with your CoC until you ensure you have your Medical Team onboard. Be deliberate and take your time. Soldiers and Veterans who meet the AW2 eligibility requirements and are not currently enrolled in AW2 should contact the AW2 Call Center for assistance: Nationwide (toll-free): (877) 393-9058 // Overseas DSN: (312) 221-9113

Link Removed

http://www.wwcc.capmed.mil/WTB/SitePages/WRNMMC/HHC_WTB.aspx

Call them directly yourself and ask them what they suggest and if the first call sounds weak call them again, another number and get a second opinion. There are always people that think their job is to keep callers from making them do more work (their job). Be prepared for this frustration but don’t give up.

Tell them you have a diagnosis and your currently duties frequently trigger your combat trauma wounds so you are considering medical accommodation to include (a) accommodation for triggers and to (b) more access to treatment to include group therapy or an outpatient program.

(3) Chain of Command: Be very careful to tread carefully around your chain of command so they end up supporting you not attacking you. This is an unfortunate reality after they pledge to “take care of their troops” but most humans are more focused on taking care of their ego first—so you may have to make it seem it is THEIR IDEA so they own it. This includes how you approach or speak to someone one--PM me if you need specifics or coaching. Call it "manipulation" but it is easier to get people to act in your favor if you plan and don’t just try to shove your agenda up their arse. Otherwise they are more tham willing it seems to become your worst enemy and make your life even worse.

(4) GOAL: The ultimate goal is to build a medical team that will work with --“guide”-- your chain of command so they agree to a medical treatment plan which provides you with a flexible duty schedule that avoids your triggers, allows you to keep working in less difficult environments and have more access to treatment during duty hours. You should get into Group Therapy. If your chain of command feels not involved or gets pissed off than take cover but stick to your guns. The law is on your side and if necessary you can file harassment but you really want to avoid that because it will be just more headaches for you to follow through and you really need to focus on yourself in treatment and building your paperwork for the VA while you are still on AD. You have to carefully manipulate the situation so your CoC feels it is their call to be on your side and live up to their oath to take care of their troops first. That may sound crazy but it is reality far too often.

*** You can do this by approaching them at the right time with the right message in a low key manner AFTER you already have your medical team onboard with your plan. ***

(5) Medical team: you are the boss NOT your doctor. If your doctor is not onboard with what you KNOW are your issues simply get reassigned to another doctor within the system and start with a better explanation/approach. You must lead the FIRST conversation with your doctor (politely) to get them to work with you. This works most of the time because if you are clear about what you want “need” than you make their job easier and they should like this because many patients make treatment a mystery. So get your doctor to fill out section 1 DA Form 2173 of the Line of Duty Determination form before you approach your Chain of Command so the medical basis is established and they cannot disagree with your medical team. Ultimately you want a Line of Duty Determination to get everyone on the same page for your accommodations and later, as documentation for the VA: Link Removed

(6) Medical records: You have to actively BUILD your own medical file and manage it to accurately reflect what you know are your medical issues. You have to make and keep multiple copies yourself. The whole time you are doing this you are building your medical files, for your VA claim. The fact you are still on AD and have gotten beyond the warrior stigma to acknowledge, address your combat trauma is a major advantage. Many people try to be tougher and simply end up drinking (self-medicating) until they can get out if they have not already been kicked out and lost their families.

Do NOT go to the VA, yet! Unless it is for Group Therapy as a final option to find a good group but even then you must be more careful about what you say in session. Many here in the forum report such things can get into your VA files. So you want to document the worst parts of your experience and resulting trauma NOT how you are improving and NEVER that it seems to have “gone away.” If the VA ever gets a record that you indicate the issues have become less debilitating BEFORE they give you a rating you just screwed yourself later whether you meant it that way or not. We need to understand this key difference at all times: talking to your clinic docs about medical problems and treatment is different than the same scenario at the VA because they are also “Evaluators” of your disability. Don’t lie or be a “malingerer” but also be very careful to not to misstate or limit your problems trying to be tougher or a “warrior.” Just be honest and realize these things are with you long term and will get worse with age. For example, I went through an 18-month tinnitus study and got tools so it is easier to live with now but I will never report that it is “better” or gone, because it is permanent. In other words, “I have more tools to cope with it” –not—that it is no longer an issue or even less an issue. It is a subtle difference we frequently misstate in a rush to explain how we are doing and the VA will not correct you but they do seem willing to use it against you and worse, possibly change your disability ratings.

 

[Spock]

As Grizzly noted, do NOT discount a MEB -- even though it takes several months you have enough time left for the whole process to be resolved before you get out and still have the option to leave early. Otherwise, you need to spend enough time to get all your medical documentation done and process leaving early along the timeline required for a BDD process which is the least effort you should at consider, no less:
http://benefits.va.gov/predischarge/claims-pre-discharge-benefits-delivery-at-discharge.asp

 

[ExhaustedandAngry]

WOW, Spock you just held my hand and walked me through everything thank you. Really not down playing the other answers but you were a huge help with your reply.

 

[Spock]

WOW, Spock you just held my hand and walked me through everything thank you. Really not down playing the other answers but you were a huge help with your reply.

Thanks, I was hoping to give you some good advice. I've done this several times for many others.

Once I broke the code and saw what was happening, I started sharing the similar speed bumps others have hit so they new folks could avoid the same speed bumps.

When I first came on here, I was starting a survival guide for AD and Vets on this exact topic but I got so involved in surviving myself and helping others that what you see above is about half of it, the part for AD, the other half is for vets but I have never put it all together. I just tweak it for each case. Again, don't hesitate to reach out to me via a PM--Private Email

Peace :cool: